What is the difference between pre-major and major standing?
Students in the Psychology Department will start out as a pre-majors (pre-Psychology, pre-Psychobiology, or pre-Cognitive Science). Pre-major status is required for enrollment in certain major preparation coursework (i.e. Psychology 100A and 100B). Without pre-major standing, students will not be able to advance into the major.
Once all major preparation courses are completed prior to their respective deadlines, students can declare the Psychology, Psychobiology, or Cognitive Science majors. Students can review the major requirements for more information about major preparation coursework and deadlines.
Major standing students with senior class standing have highest priority to enroll in Psychology courses. This is to ensure senior students can enroll in their required coursework by graduation. Students with pre-major standing have access to enroll in select Psychology courses on the first pass. See the Enrollment Information page to learn more about the coursework you can enroll in as a pre-major.
Here is some additional information related to pre-major and major standing:
How do I become a pre-major?
As a student who entered as a freshman, you will need to contact the Psychology Undergraduate Advising Office via Message Center on myUCLA to request to declare the pre-major if you’ve completed a prep course to establish a prep GPA, or to consult with an advisor about your eligibility.
As a transfer student, you should have been admitted as a pre-psychology, pre-psychobiology, or pre-cognitive science major. If you were not, you are not eligible to pursue these majors at UCLA. This is a UCLA Admission policy, and there are no exceptions to this rule.
How do I switch from pre-major standing to major standing?
Once all final grades for all preparation courses are posted to your degree audit report (DAR), you can contact the Psychology Undergraduate Advising Office via Message Center on myUCLA to declare the major. Pre-Psychology majors who entered as freshmen must complete the online application to apply for major standing. Pre-Cognitive Science majors who entered UCLA as a freshman Fall 2023 or after must also complete an online application to apply for major standing.
How will I know once my major has changed or been declared?
The results of all major change requests are communicated through MyUCLA. You will receive a response to your message confirming whether or not your major was able to be changed.
I was approved to change or declare my major, but MyUCLA still lists my previous major. Why is this?
Your MyUCLA front page updates only once a quarter. The major listed on your DAR is the one that you are declared as. If it’s wrong, please message the Psych Advising Office to inquire about this.