Selective Majors
A selective major is a major that limits enrollment.
If you choose a selective major on your admissions application, we highly recommend that you also select an alternate major that is not selective.
If you are a prospective applicant and you have further questions, please contact Admissions.
It may not be possible to change to a selective major as a continuing student.
Beginning in Summer 2025, currently enrolled students who want to switch into a selective major will be able to apply to selective majors once per year (between Summer and Fall quarters). The selection criteria for entry to the major will consider academic achievement in the specified screening courses and will also be aligned with UC San Diego’s priorities of serving California residents, first-generation college students, and students from low-income families. Continuing students who apply to switch to a selective major must have completed the required screening courses for that major and be in good academic standing. They will then be considered for the major using a point system that awards one point each for having a 3.0 GPA or higher in the major screening courses; California residency; Pell Grant eligibility; and first-generation college status (as determined by information received at the time of initial admission to UC San Diego).
Students with the highest number of points will be admitted until all available spaces within the major have been filled. Ties will be broken using random selection. Being a double-major does not disqualify a student from consideration.
For more information on screening courses, see additional information found in the undergraduate section on the academic department websites linked below.
Majors with selective status – for all students:
- School of Biological Sciences
- Data Science
- Public Health
- Jacobs School of Engineering – all majors in these departments: