So, you’re making the major switch
The concentration of study that becomes the central focus of your work at UC Berkeley, your major, is something that takes time, interest, and commitment. Up until your expected graduation term, your major is never set in stone, and is always subject to your judgment and consideration, keeping in mind that making changes means your required courses for graduation may change as well. People start and end at a variety of positions when considering their major — they might start undeclared and find the major for them, add one of the university’s 80+ minors on top of their current major, or change their major from one to another.
If you decide to pursue the latter option of changing your major, the process can get a bit tricky. The aim of this blog is to help you navigate the process of changing your major.
Find your starting point
The most consequential factor determining the length and difficulty of the process for changing your major is your starting point — what college you’re currently in, what college your target major is in, and whether or not your target major is a high-demand major. These factors directly inform your next steps for changing your major, and so I’ll go over each.
If you’re in a different college than the college your target major is in, you’ll have to firstly concern yourself with completing the latter college’s prerequisite requirements, as these vary from college to college. For example, students applying for a change of major to one in the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS) must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher and have completed at least one semester at UC Berkeley, along with other requirements. Completing requirements such as these may be more time consuming than, say, completing the requirements for a change of major to one in the College of Letters and Science (L&S). These requirements are available for view on the websites of each of UC Berkeley’s colleges and schools respectively.
If your target major is a high-demand major in L&S, admission is not based on completion of a set of prerequisite requirements, but rather on a comprehensive review which may include a short essay statement, transcripts, and your resume. L&S’s current high-demand majors are Art Practice, Public Health, Operations Research & Management Science, Political Economy, and Social Welfare, though this classification is subject to change, and the most up-to-date information can be found on the L&S high-demand majors websites.
Utilize your advisor
If you’re stressed and wondering if and how to change to your major, know that you’re not alone. Other students are going through this too, and there are dedicated professionals in your college and major program available to be your guide — they’re your advisors!
Your advisors can help you understand major prerequisites and requirements, your four- or two-year plan, and what classes you should take depending on your academic goals, among many other things. They’ll help draw out your path forward, whether that be the classes needed to change to your next major, or the classes you’ll need to take once you’re declared. They’re a great resource for any student in need of guidance, clarity, or advice. Additionally, advisors are especially helpful if your academic situation is more complex than what an article such as this can account for. If your situation is complicated by factors such as high-demand majors, past changes of major, a change of college, or re-entry student status, I would strongly recommend consulting with an advisor about your individual situation.
Each college at UC Berkeley has in-house advisors for their students; for example, the Berkeley School of Education has dedicated undergraduate advisors for students majoring in Educational Sciences or minoring in Education, available via appointment. Other colleges, such as L&S, offer alternative advising resources such as live advising support online, quick email conversations, and satellite advisors available in spaces including the Fannie Lou Hamer Black Resource Center and B-North Building.
On top of these, if you are declared in your major or minor, you have your own assigned major or minor advisor, whose contact information is available in the “Academics” tab on CalCentral. These people are the most informed on issues and experiences specific to your concentration of study, and can help you if you need answers to questions such as “Does the Department of English sponsor any study abroad programs?” or “Do architecture majors get key card access to Wurster Hall?”
The Undergraduate Academic Building, the new home of L&S Advising for the 2026-2027 school year. Photo courtesy of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Submit forms and petitions
Perhaps the most tedious — and confusing — part of changing your major is submitting all the necessary forms and petitions.
The process to change a major to one in the same college is the same as declaring a major for the first time, and so you will have to navigate to your chosen major’s website and find the specific form you’re required to fill out. This can range from a Google form linked on the home page for a department to a PDF you find after purveying the site for your desired major. Admittedly, these forms can sometimes feel hidden in a random tab. For me, my search to declare my major took me to the Philosophy Department’s website, and through three webpages until I found the major declaration form in the FAQ section. If you’re not looking to major in philosophy, I can only wish you luck with this process for your desired major.
As you can see, the philosophy major declaration form can be clearly found under “How do I declare the major?” in the “FAQ” subtab of the “Undergraduate” tab of the Philosophy Department website.
The rest of the village
The university is built to foster student success — to that end, there are a myriad of optional and helpful resources on campus to support your academic journey and guide you through experiences, including but not limited to changing your major.
In the MLK Student Union’s BNorth Community Space, the Educational Opportunity Program’s (EOP) peer academic counselors are available from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. from Monday through Friday for drop-in appointments, during which you can talk to current undergraduates serving as student-to-student advisors about your thought process, any issues you’re having in your process, and any resources you’re having trouble accessing.
If you live in on-campus housing, one place you might not have thought to look for guidance is a room on your floor — your residential assistant’s (RA) room! RA duties include providing assistance to residents in navigating campus resources, and as they tend to be older students, they may be able to give you insight on their experience with declaring or changing a major. Resources are around each and every corner.
The decision to change your major should be hard-thought, but the process doesn’t need to be hard-fought. Consider your academic standing, your academic and career goals, and how changing your major would affect your college experience. Note the additional time, requirements, and workload a new major may add to your stay at UC Berkeley. If, after ruminating on these things, you decide to change your major, then check your eligibility. Consult with an advisor. Get those forms in. Go for it. You’ve got this, Golden Bear!
Let not your apprehension, but your ambition, determine what you spend your time studying in college — and have fun while doing it.
Joseph Burney, Class of 2029, is majoring in philosophy and minoring in journalism. Cover photo courtesy of the Berkeley Gallery.
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