Declaring Environmental Studies or Hydrology Major

To officially declare one of the three undergraduate majors within the Environmental Studied Program a student must complete the following steps:

1) Do you qualify? Although the ES Program does not have a "pre-major" that must be completed before applying, students should have completed at least one of the lower-division ES courses (Env S 1, 2, or 3) and at least one additional lower-division course required as part of the Preparation for the Major.

There is no minimum GPA requirement to declare the ES major. A student should just be in good academic standing (overall GPA of 2.0 or higher) at the time they submit the change of major forms.

Also, please note the College of L&S has a rule that no Freshman may officially declare or change majors (including undeclared students) until they have completed a minimum of two quarters at UCSB (one quarter for Transfer students).

2) Complete an Environmental Studies Program Major Worksheet for the degree you wish to declare. You will check all courses you have completed and circle those that you are currently enrolled in or taking. These forms are available for download as .pdfs from this webiste (click here) or may me obtained from either the ES Academic or Peer advisor or the ES Program's Main office.

3a) "Undergraduate Petition to Change Major, Emphasis, or College" form: Pick up and complete this golden colored College of L&S's form from the ES Student Peer Advisors, the ES Program Main Office, the ES Academic Advisor, or the College of Letters and Science main office in Cheadle Hall. Be sure to indicated which ES major you wish to declare (B.A. or B.S.).

3b) "Memo of Understanding for Double Majors" petition: If you are declaring or adding a double major, you will need to fill out this additional green colored form. You may obtain it from the same locations where you can pick up the "Undergraduate Petition to Change Major."

4) Printout of your Course History - obtained by going to "New" GOLD <https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/gold/login.aspx>, Click on "Academic History", then Click "Course History" - includes all test scores (AP & IB), UCSB, and transfer work accepted at UCSB.

5) Self Addressed Stamped Envelope: address a standard envelope with your current mailing address and a standard rate postage stamp. You will turn this in along with the above forms and it will then be used to mail back confirmation once your application has been processed.

That is it! You will then return all required forms to the Environmental Studies Program Main office in Bren 4312 or to the ES Student Peer Advisors in Bren 4313. It will take approximately one week for the application to be processed and the change be reflected on GOLD.

Summary:

• Completed the appropriate Major Worksheet
• Gold Change of Major Petition (plus green Memo of Understanding for Double majors)
• Printout of your Course History
• Self Addressed Stamped Envelope
• Turn all forms in to the ES Program Main Office in Bren 4312.

If you have any additional questions please stop in and see the ES Peer Advisors or the ES Academic advisor or email: esprogram@es.ucsb.edu.