Change of Major

ALL students enter the Department as a Pre-Chemistry major regardless of which full major they will declare. Students who meet all of the Pre-Chemistry major requirements described on the Pre-Chemistry Major Sheet will be eligible to declare a full major. Please note that you must receive a cumulative 2.0 GPA per sequence. There are 6 unique sequences for the pre-major. 

Please note that Math 6A and Physics lab courses will need to be completed before enrolling in Year 3 courses. See the major sheets for reference.

Prerequisite - Prerequisites are strictly enforced. Most Chemistry courses build upon prerequisite or preparatory course work. Students who have not successfully completed the prerequisites for a course will not be allowed to register.
  • Specific course prerequisite information can be found on GOLD or in the UCSB Catalog. If you are unsure if you meet a prerequisite or need to repeat a course, please email us at ugrads@chem.ucsb.edu.

How to Declare Your Major 

Instructions for Current Pre-Chemistry Majors

Students must complete all of the Pre-Chemistry Major requirements to declare full major. Please run a major progress check on GOLD to check completion. 
  • Please review the FAQ section below. 
  • If you are ready to declare the full major, please click the link below to access the electronic form for Change of Major. 
  • Note: Your petition will be declined if you submit this petition prior to all applicable grades being reported on GOLD. Therefore, do not submit your petition until you have received all your grades and they are present on GOLD.
  • Students completing the Pre-Chemistry Major during the Spring or Summer quarters, please expect an email from ugrads@chem.ucsb.edu in the Spring to initiate your change of major process.

Change of Major Petition

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Instructions for Non Pre-Chemistry Majors

Students must complete 2 quarters of Chemistry, Math, and Physics courses at UCSB to be eligible to declare the Pre-Chemistry Major.
  • Please review the FAQ section below. 
  • If you are ready to declare the full major, please click the link below to access the electronic form for Change of Major and review common FAQs.
  • To clarify, this is a total of 6 courses, 2 courses per subject. 
  • Non Pre-Chemistry students will have to complete the change of major petition twice. First to be admitted to the Pre-Chemistry Major and then to advance to the full major.

Change of Major Petition

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Instructions for Double Majors

Students must complete the respective requirements listed above. If you are planning to double major, please first visit our advising staff during our walk-in hours where we will review the double major process with you. Afterwards, use the link below to begin the process. 

  • Please review the FAQ section below. 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long will it take for my major to change on GOLD?

A: Within 6-8 weeks after your petition has been fully processed, your major should be officially changed on GOLD. Please check the "Registration" tab on GOLD to view your major change. For more details of the timeline, click here. 

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Q: I am currently a Pre-Chemistry major. How do I know if I can declare a full major?

 
A: Our department offers three full major options, Chemistry B.A., Chemistry B.S., and Biochemistry B.S. Once you have completed all six (6) sequences of the Pre-major, with a UC GPA of a 2.0 or higher, you are then eligible to declare a full major. 
 
Click here to use the UCSB GPA calculator to calculate your GPA per sequence. 
 
For example, a student received a B in Chemistry 1A, an A- in Chemistry 1B, and a C+ in Chemistry 1C. The average of these grades totals a 3.0 GPA. Therefore, for this sequence, the student would have satisfied the 2.0 GPA minimum. This standard is needed for all six (6) sequences. 
 
 

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Q: How do I know which full major is best for me?
 
A: This is a great question and multiple factors will need to be considered to best answer this. These factors include prospective careers, graduate/professional schools, desired graduation timeline, and interest in the subject. We recommend that you connect with a faculty advisor to discuss which major might be best for you. They have great insight into what directions your degree can take you. We also recommend you connect with your career services counselor for additional helpful insight. See below for useful links to help you make your decision. 
 
Resources:

 

How to Declare the Chemistry Minor

If you are interested in declaring the Chemistry Minor, please click here to learn more. 
 
 

Declaring Candidacy to Graduate

You must declare your candidacy in order to graduate. Declaring candidacy for graduation is a separate process from participating in commencement ceremonies. Please click here to follow the instructions provided by the Office the Registrar.