Change of Major into and within the College of Engineering

Current UCSB students, admitted as freshmen, in a non-engineering major, as well as students wishing to change from one engineering major to another, are welcome to apply after the satisfactory completion of a pre-defined set of coursework. However, due to the current demand for engineering majors, students are cautioned that it is a very competitive process and not all applicants will be able to change their majors due to limited space availability.

Students who enter UCSB as transfer students are only permitted to major in a College of Engineering major if they were directly admitted into that specific major when they matriculated as a transfer student. Transfer students may not petition to change or to add an engineering major.

Students who began as freshmen who plan to enter an engineering major or to change from one engineering major to another will be expected to complete at least 30 units at UCSB before petitioning for a change of major. The College of Engineering will not approve students' change of major petitions (within the COE or from a different college at UCSB) after they have completed six regular quarters (not including summer), regardless of their expected total number of units accrued or total quarters complete at the time of graduation. Students may be in their last required change of major course(s) in their sixth quarter. Some majors require that students be accepted to their major before their sixth regular quarter. The college will not approve exceptions to the requirements listed here or on the individual major websites. Please see below for specific requirements and details for each major. Students who take a break from UCSB and complete courses at another institution will have those terms counted toward their completed quarters. [effective Fall 2023]

Notwithstanding any of the major-specific requirements described below, we caution that the capacity of any given program to accept new students changes, sometimes substantially, from year to year. It is incumbent upon students to continue to make progress in a backup major while pursuing a new major in the College of Engineering, and to periodically consult academic advisors in both the desired major as well as the backup major regarding the viability of pursuing the change of major.

Note: Students who identify the Physics major as their backup major should take the PHYS 20 sequence instead of the PHYS 7 sequence. All COE majors will accept the PHYS 20 sequence toward major requirements. The Physics major does not accept the PHYS 7 sequence. Taking the PHYS 7 sequence over the PHYS 20 sequence will remove the Physics major as a backup option. The first course of the PHYS 20 sequence (PHYS 21) is offered in fall and winter quarters and students need to start the sequence during the first year to stay on track in the Physics major. Please consult a Physics advisor for more information. 

Chemical Engineering

Admission to the Chemical Engineering major is highly competitive and determined by a number of factors, including each student's academic performance and trajectory, as well as current enrollments in Chemical Engineering classes. Freshmen should apply during the spring term of their freshman year, and may reapply during their sophomore year. Sophomores may only apply one time during the spring term of their sophomore year. All students interested in changing into Chemical Engineering must meet with the Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Advisor, during fall quarter to go over the process and the requirements. Please visit this website for more information. 

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or above, and satisfactorily complete the following courses or their equivalents: Math 3A, 3B, 4A; CHEM 3A, 3B-2AL, and 3C-2BL. Freshman (first-year) applicants are required to take CHE 5 (may be taken concurrently at time of application). Sophomore (second-year) applicants are required to take CHE 5, 10, and 110AB (110B may be taken concurrently at time of application). Recommended courses include: ENGR 3 and Physics 7A-B; please note that the Physics 7 series is a graduation requirement for Chemical Engineering, and those students intending to change majors must enroll in this sequence.

Computer Engineering

Acceptance into the major will be based on UC grade point averages, applicable courses completed, and space availability. All students considering changing into Computer Engineering are required to to meet with the ECE Academic Advisor during their first year. It is highly recommended that the CE program curriculum is followed to be best prepared to switch into CE, concurrently keeping a backup major plan if the department is not able to accommodate your request to change into CE. Denied change of major applications will not be reconsidered for either major (CE or EE). Please visit this website for more information. 

Students admitted to Fall 2025 (prior years consult GEAR): 

Students may petition to enter the Computer Engineering major at any time both of the following requirements are met:

1. An overall UCSB grade point average of at least 3.5.
2. Satisfactory completion at UCSB, with a grade point average of 3.5 or better, of any five classes, including at least two Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) classes and two Computer Science (CMPSC) classes, from the following: ECE 10A/L, 10B/L, 10C/L (each count as one course), ECE 15A, CMPSC 16, 24, 32, 40. First attempt only. 

Computer Science

The application process is extremely competitive. A limited number of change of major applications to Computer Science will be approved. Students may apply for consideration to the Computer Science major when the following requirements are met; no exceptions are made for these requirements and meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission to the Computer Science major:

1. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0;
2. Satisfactory completion of Computer Science 16, 24, and 40 with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher (first takes only);
3. Satisfactory completion of Math 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (first takes only) 
4. Consult the CS "Prospective Student" page for additional stipulations and information.

Denied change of major applications will not be reconsidered. 

Electrical Engineering

Acceptance into the major will be based on UC grade point averages, applicable courses completed, and space availability. All students considering changing into Electrical Engineering are required to to meet with the ECE Academic Advisor during their first year. It is highly recommended that the EE program curriculum is followed to be best prepared to switch into EE, concurrently keeping a backup major plan if the department is not able to accommodate your request to change into EE. Denied change of major applications will not be reconsidered for either major (CE or EE). Please visit this website for more information.

Students admitted to Fall 2025 (prior years consult GEAR):

Students may petition to enter the Electrical Engineering major once both of the following requirements are met:

1. An overall UCSB grade point average of at least 3.5.
2. Satisfactory completion at UCSB, with a grade point average of 3.5 or better, of at least five classes, including at least two mathematics classes, from the following: Math 4B, Math 6A, Math 6B, ECE 10A/L, 10B/L, 10C/L (each count as one course), ECE 15A. First attempt only.  The calculation of the minimum GPA will be based on all classes completed from this list at the time of petitioning.

Mechanical Engineering

All first year students interested in changing to Mechanical Engineering are required to contact the Mechanical Engineering Advisor during the fall quarter to get added to the list of interested students and initiate their core GPA spreadsheet. Students may only petition for the change of major at the end of fall quarter of their second year, no exceptions. Only eligible students will be considered, but there are no guarantees of acceptance. For planning, we suggest always having a plan B major in mind. Please refer to our program of study to help with course planning each quarter. 

Before petitioning for a change of major to Mechanical Engineering, a minimum of eight (8) of the following core courses or their UC equivalents must be completed: Math 3A-B (or 2A-2B); Math 4A-B; Math 6A-B; PHYS 7A-B; ENGR 3; CHEM 1A-1B; ME 10; ME 14; ME 15; ME 17 (three of the eight courses must include ENGR 3, ME 14, and ME 17).

After each quarter, students must report their grades from their selected core courses to the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Advisor. Grades listed in an email will suffice. Students must achieve at least a 3.3 core GPA through the fall quarter of their second year to remain eligible for a change of major. A minimum core GPA of 3.3 is needed to receive an add code for any ME course. If students drop below this GPA they are not eligible for change of major. Acceptance into the major will be based on course grade point averages, applicable courses completed, and available space. Please visit this website for more information.

Individual Major in the College of Engineering

Students will only be considered for a change of college into the College of Engineering in order to pursue an Individual Major if they have taken coursework and earned a GPA comparable to students who have recently changed major into the most closely affiliated major in the College of Engineering. Students petitioning for an Individual Major are subject to the policies described above. Review and approval of a change of college request for Individual Majors is at the discretion of the Associate Dean. Please consult an academic advisor for more information and before submitting your petition and proposal.

Change of Major out of the College of Engineering

Students thinking about changing their major out of the College of Engineering are encouraged to meet with advisor(s) in the major they are interested. 

College of Letters and Science: http://duels.ucsb.edu/advising

College of Creative Studies: https://ccs.ucsb.edu/apply

Other helpful resources for students considering a change of major are Career Services, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) counselors, and faculty in the perspective major.  Students should understand, once a student changes out of the College of Engineering, they will not be able to change back.  Advisors in the College of Engineering are happy to advise students as they try to determine if they will change their major or not.