Creating your academic plan

Review your major’s required courses, prerequisites, sequencing, and major-qualification (MQ) criteria. All of this information is available in the General Catalog as well as from the major/ department advisor. 

Start by learning which classes are required for the major you hope to pursue, and which of those classes have prerequisites and/or need to be taken in a particular quarter.  You’ll also need to know whether there are qualification requirements to declare your major (courses completed and/or GPA requirements). 

Example

This sample shows how a student might begin planning for a Sociology major using the 2022–23 catalog requirements. It is only an example to demonstrate the planning process and may not reflect the specific requirements for your major or the catalog year you are following.

** Declare major this quarter if meeting major qualification requirements (course and GPA requirements)

If your preferred major has specific MQ or GPA requirements, consider identifying a realistic alternate major as a backup.

If you are not 100% sure of your first-choice major, or if it has qualification requirements that include earning high grades in introductory courses, it’s a good idea to identify a back-up major, just in case.  Taking introductory classes for an alternate major that may be of interest to you will help you clarify your goals, and may help you stay on track to a timely degree if you decide your first-choice major isn’t a good fit for you.  If your first-choice major is course-intensive or sequential, you may not be able to fit introductory classes for an alternate major into your academic plan — but keep this in the back of your mind as you plan.

Below is the academic plan for the student we identified in Step 1 — the student has included introductory courses for the politics major, both to test it out as a possible interest and in case she doesn’t meet the sociology major’s qualification requirements.  (Of course, if she decides on a politics major, the remainder of her plan will need to change to reflect the politics major’s requirements!).  If she takes the classes listed and earns the grades required, she can declare the sociology major at the end of her first year.  Please note that this plan is an example used to demonstrate the academic planning process; it may not reflect accurate requirements for the major or GE catalog you are following.

** Declare major this quarter if meeting major qualification requirements (course and GPA requirements)

Incorporate experiences such as study abroad, internships, research, minors, or upper-division coursework aligned with your goals.

Next, identify the times in your four-year plan when you can take classes to individualize your education.  Some students do this by pursuing education abroad, internships, or research under faculty supervision.  Some students choose to take more classes in an area of their major that’s particularly fascinating to them.  Still others choose to pursue a minor in a different discipline.  This part is ENTIRELY UP TO YOU!  Be sure you consider your educational goals and what you’ll need to reach them.  For example, if you plan to apply to law school, you might choose to take some legal studies classes and/or other classes that will improve your ability to do well on the LSAT.  If you are planning to become a teacher, you might consider a minor in education.  Do your research early, and talk with advisors and others — if there are specific things you need to include in your education to meet your goals, it’s important you identify them while there’s still time to include them in your plan.  Taking a proactive and intentional approach will ensure your education is best for you!

See our student example below, in which she adds in classes and experiences to further the goal of graduating with fluency in Spanish and an abroad experience. Please note that this plan is an example used to demonstrate the academic planning process; it may not reflect accurate requirements for the major or GE catalog you are following.

Regularly review and adjust your plan. Classes may fill, course offerings change, and your interests will evolve—adapt accordingly.

Once you’ve devised a plan, it’s important you review it to make sure it will meet all graduation requirements.  It’s also important that you remain flexible: your plans, interests, and goals will change while you’re at the university.  It’s normal and natural and good that while you’re a student you’ll become fascinated with ideas and possibilities you’d never imagined before, and it’s important you allow your plans to change as that happens.  (That said, it becomes more difficult to change your major the further along you are in your education.  So explore majors early, and with intention.)  You may not get into a class in the quarter in which you had it in your plan, and that will require you to make adjustments.  The important thing to remember is that this is not a plan that’s set in stone — it’s a structure that allows you to consider how your time at UCSC will best support you in becoming the person you want to be.

Review your plan regularly to ensure you’re on track, and talk with advisors if you have questions.