New students should obtain academic counseling before enrolling in classes at UCLA. Counselors can help new students formulate degree objectives based on interests, abilities, and career goals. As students begin to decide on a major, counselors can help them start fulfilling College or school requirements as well as the department requirements necessary for completion of the degree program.
Regulations and procedures for declaring a major vary for the College and each school. Students in the College of Letters and Science do not need to declare a major in their first year, and can attend with an undeclared major until the end of their sophomore year. Certain schools require students to choose a major when applying for admission, or require early declaration. Check specific policies for declaration with the school or department adviser.
All students must declare a major by the beginning of their junior year (90 quarter units). To declare a major, obtain a petition to declare a major at the College or school office. There is no fee for the petition.
Changing majors requires the approval of the department of the new major. Changing majors involving a change in College or school requires the approval of the College or school. To change majors, obtain a program change petition online or at the department office.