Double Majors & Major/Minor Combinations

Double Major or Major/Minor Combinations Policy

Students in EEB-sponsored majors cannot double major/minor in:

• any other major/minor offered by the EEB Department (Biology BA, Ecology and Evolution BS, Marine Biology BS, or Plant Sciences BS); 

• nor in majors sponsored by the Departments of  

  • Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology; or 

  • MCD Biology, including the Global and Community Health B.S. major.

• nor with Biochemistry and Molecular Biology BS.

Should a student choose to double major, they must qualify for and complete the disciplinary communication and comprehensive requirements for each of the majors.

Double Major or Major/Minor Declaration Process

Every UCSC undergraduate is required to complete a major program. Some students choose to pursue a double major, or a major/minor program. Pursuing a double major or major/minor program is a highly individual decision, and should be based on a student's educational and career goals. For many students, pursuing a single major and including enrichment such as: internships, research opportunities, or more classes than are required in their major discipline is just as challenging and rewarding as a double major. Talk with faculty in your major, your academic advisors, and Career Coaches about the benefits and drawbacks of pursuing more than a single major.

To declare a double major or major/minor program, declare your first major. Once your first major is approved and declared, add your second major or minor using the process on the same page. Be sure to let your advisors know that you're planning a double major or major/ minor program! You must file a quarter-by-quarter academic plan showing that you are able to complete the program within the maximum number of quarters of enrollment available to you at UCSC. Students who enter as frosh are expected to complete their degree requirements in four years of enrollment (and are allowed a maximum of five years of enrollment), and students who enter as junior transfer students are expected to complete their degree requirements in two years of enrollment (and are allowed a maximum of three years of enrollment). See the Catalog for more information about limits on the number of enrollment terms and credits allowed.

NOTE:  For students utilizing federal financial aid, whether or not you can complete a double major or major/minor within four years or within the minimum 180 credits required for graduation may depend on your indivisual financial aid package. Please visit this link to read about Federal financial aid updates for 2026-2027.

Double Count Policy

Beginning Fall 2008, UCSC allows overlap or "double‐counting" of courses at the upper‐division level. (In other words, upper‐division courses may simultaneously satisfy requirements of distinct majors and/or minors.) 

• Each major must have 40 distinct upper-division units not used to satisfy the upper-division requirements of any other major or minor. 

• Each Minor must have 25 distinct upper division units not used to satisfy the upper division requirements of any other major or minor.

See an EEB undergraduate advisor for questions about double counting and incorporating these courses into your official academic plan.

Overlap of program requirements at the lower‐division level has always been unrestricted.