History Major Declaration Instructions
***The history major does not have any qualification requirements. History majors are encouraged to declare early! You are advised (but not required) to complete at least one lower division history course (HIS 1 - 99) before declaring.***
STEP 1. Submit a Petition for Major/Minor via MyUCSC
Log into MyUCSC (very important first step!) and submit a Petition for Major/Minor.
This petition can also be accessed by navigating to the Student Homepage in MyUCSC and selecting the Undergraduate Student eForms tile > Petition for Major/Minor.
Planning Tools
You may find it helpful to reference the major requirements for your region of concentration when creating your history plan:
History majors typically take 1-2 history courses per quarter.
STEP 2. Create a History Major Course Plan
2a. If you don't already have one, copy a History Major Planning Worksheet appropriate for your plan of study to your UCSC Google Drive:
2b. Add your completed, in-progress, and future history courses to your History Major Planning Worksheet:- Completed Courses: If you need help remembering what requirement(s) your completed UCSC history courses satisfy, consult the History Catalog of Course Requirements.
- Transfer students may apply up to three history courses completed at a California Community College (or other domestic university) to their history major requirements. Community college courses all count for lower division credit.
- Current and Future Courses: Use the Annual History Curriculum Sheet to identify history courses you plan to take in Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters (look for the page tabs located in the upper left corner of your browser window). Select 1-2 history courses per quarter and add them to your History Major Planning Worksheet.
Major requirements that you intend on completing after the current academic year may be left blank on your worksheet. Don't worry about making your plan perfect, just try your best!
STEP 3. Virtually Meet with the History Advisor
Schedule an advising appointment with the History Undergraduate Program Coordinator using Navigate Slug Success. Select "Declaring/Adding/Changing a Major/Minor" as the reason for your appointment. During your appointment you will have an opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback or suggestions on your history major plan. You are now officially declared!
OPTIONAL: Double Major or Minor Declaration
To declare a double major or a minor, you must also complete a UCSC Academic Planning Form with both of your major/minor advisors. If you don't already have one, the History Undergraduate Program Coordinator will provide you with a signed UCSC Academic Planning Form during your declaration advising appointment.
To add history as a second declared major, your UCSC Academic Planning Form must be current and up to date: reviewed and approved by your first major advisor within the last academic quarter. You may need to update your UCSC Academic Planning Form with your first major advisor before petitioning to declare history as a second major.
Major Declaration Deadlines
Students who enter UCSC as frosh are required to declare a major before enrolling in their third year (or equivalent). Upper division transfer students are required to declare a major by their second term at UCSC. Consult the UCSC Academic and Administrative Calendar for the quarterly "Declaration/Change of Major/Minor" deadline. Students who do not declare a major by the aforementioned deadlines will not be able to enroll in their classes for the following term.
Questions about declaring the history major? Contact the History Undergraduate Program Coordinator.