I've read the information on the main undergraduate page, and I'm interested in changing my major to Global Studies! Where do I start?

Please read the following CAREFULLY to avoid delays in processing your application, which involves two main steps: 1) Filling out our Google Form here, and 2) submitting a change of major petition on Student Success Hub (the link to do this will appear later in the Google form).

If you are a current pre-major (and enrolled in and completing your last pre-major courses this quarter), you are eligible to apply to the full major and should use this form instead.

Requests are processed once a week, typically on Fridays. As long as you submit by end of day Thursday, in most cases, your request will be processed by that Friday. If you have not seen your major change take effect by 10 days after you submitted the request, please email us at global-advising@ucsb.edu.

For help with the major change process, please complete the following steps (and see the resources section, below, for the links you'll need to complete these steps):

1. Run your Major and GE Progress Check on GOLD (under the Progress tab) for the "Pre-Global Studies" major and check the major requirements sheet (keep reading - it's further down) to see what courses and requirements you have and have not completed towards the pre-major and prep for the major requirements:
    

   
    

2. We recommend checking out the "changing your major (there's a longer version with more detail and a shorter version with less)," "foreign language requirement FAQ," and "Pre-Global Studies/Application to the full major" videos on our YouTube channel. (you are also welcome to explore other videos on the channel at this time; these are the three we'd recommend you familiarize yourself with first!).

   If you don't have the time just yet to watch all of our YouTube videos, we at least recommend watching this one (the short version about the major change process) and visiting the Foreign Language Requirement page on our website for some information on this trickiest part of our major requirements, along with our pre-major info sheet.
    

3. Decide if you want to book an appointment (for longer questions/more complex situations) or attend drop-in advising (quick questions and clarifications) to discuss your change of major.
    
4. Submit the paperwork to initiate the change of major, clicking the button below (for both single and double major changes.) For current pre-major students eligible to apply to the full major (finishing their last pre-major courses in the current quarter), click here.
    
5. Watch GOLD periodically the next two weeks. Make schedule plans for the following quarter accordingly if you are changing your major shortly before your registration passes - plan to work on other degree requirements or parts of the Global Studies major sheet that do not require being an already-declared major!
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   • What classes should you take while you're waiting for a major change to become official? Check out page two of our pre-major info sheet for ideas if you are blocked from Global Studies courses due to a pending major change.
      
   • While you wait for your major to officially change, you will start receiving emails from us from two emails lists - one with regular registration updates, and one with interesting opportunities for Global Studies majors (jobs, internships, clubs, events, etc.)

Tools you will find helpful with the above steps:  

• Visit our YouTube channel for refreshers on:
  
  • Reading your Major and GE Progress Check on GOLD
  • The foreign language requirement
  • The Pre-Global Studies major to the full major application process
  • You can also view each of these videos as Google Slides, if you prefer - you can download them in the description boxes under each video)
• Major requirements sheet + suggested plan of study + a Global Studies major course planning tool for you to fill out if desired
  • 2024-2025 major requirements + suggested plan of study
  • Global Studies major course planning sheet (updated July 2022 with the addition of Global 140 - for students who declared the full major in spring 2022 and earlier, please check the Major Requirements and Course Planning page for a version of this that reflects your major requirements)
     
• For new major changes (including double major adds, but not Pre-Global Studies students applying to the full major!):
  • Use this Google Form to start your request, then finalize it on Student Success Hub at the link towards the end of the form. We check the requests queue once weekly, typically on Fridays, and process the change of major from there.
  • Once we process your change of major requirement, your major should change relatively quickly and be reflected on GOLD soon. Reach out to us if you do not see an update within 10 days.

• Still have questions about the major change process? Book an appointment (great for longer questions, especially with the foreign language requirement or double majoring questions) with us or visit us in drop-ins (best for shorter questions and clarifications after you've done your initial research) by returning to our main Undergraduate Advising page. 

I'm in the Pre-Global Studies major - what do I need to know next?

• See our Major Requirements & Course Planning page for more details on pre-major requirements and the process you'll follow to apply to the full major.