Frequently Asked Questions

You've got questions, and we've got answers!

General Questions

What is an A.B. degree? Is it the same as a B.A.?
A.B. is the abbreviation of Artium Baccalaureus, the Latin form of Bachelor of Arts. At UC Davis, you will hear A.B. and B.A. used interchangeably but they are the same. Formally, your diploma will read "Bachelor of Arts."
What is the difference between an A.B. and B.S. degree?
A Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) degree is typically focused on humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary learning.
A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree includes more coursework in traditional STEM areas like math and natural sciences.

New Students - First Years

When can I meet with an advisor?
You will be able to meet with a College of Letters and Science Advisor starting June 8th, 2026 after you complete Aggie 101 AND Aggie Advising. You can meet with Yellow Cluster Advising through Drop-In Advising starting [TBD]. First-year students will not be able to make an appointment with Yellow Cluster Advising until their second year.
What is the difference between College of Letters and Science advisors and Yellow Cluster advisors?
College of Letters and Science Advisors serve all students who are pursuing a major under the College of Letters and Science. They advise on requirements that apply to all L&S students, regardless of major. This includes university and college requirements, like General Education. They do not provide major advising. They also advise on academic probation and minimum progress, Pass/No Pass grading restrictions, and dropping courses with a PTD.

Yellow Cluster Advisors only advise students majoring in Psychology, Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and Science & Technology Studies. We do not advise on university and college requirements. We can assist you with creating academic plans, understanding major requirements, course scheduling, discussing your educational and career goals, preparing for grad school, and learning about field-related opportunities.
How do I build my Fall schedule?
Step 1 - Complete Aggie 101

Step 2 - Complete the Aggie Advising Canvas Modules. These modules will you provide you the bulk of what you need to know to create your Fall schedule.

Step 3 - Utilize your online resources. Carefully read about your university, college, and major requirements.
• Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree in the College of Letters and Science
• Major Requirements

Step 4 - Meet with an advisor for in-depth questions. You can make appointments with a college advisor and meet with us through Drop-In Advising.
What is the difference between a lower division and upper division course?
UC Davis classifies undergraduate courses as lower or upper division through a numbering system
• 001 to 099 courses are lower division
• 100 to 199 courses are upper division

Lower-division courses are designed for students in their first two years of college. These courses focus on subject-matter breadth, skill-building, and foundational knowledge.

Upper-division courses are designed for more experienced college students, those in their third year and beyond. These courses focus on the depth of a subject or topic and often require prerequisite knowledge.
What courses should I take in addition to my major courses?
Students will need to take courses that satisfy university and college Requirements. Your major courses might cover some of these, but not all!

Also consider these options
• Courses that can go towards a minor
• Courses that prepare your for your career interests (e.g. pre-health STEM courses, pre-credential education courses)
• Courses, in any discipline, that interest you
• First-Year Seminar or First-Year Aggie Connection
How will my AP credit transfer over?
Read here - Advanced Placement (AP) Credit & Chart

New Students - Transfers

When can I meet with an advisor?
You will be able to meet with a College of Letters and Science Advisor starting July 13th, 2026 after you complete Aggie 101 AND Aggie Advising. You can meet with Yellow Cluster Advising through Appointments or Drop-In Advising starting [TBD].
What is the difference between College of Letters and Science advisors and Yellow Cluster advisors?
College of Letters and Science Advisors serve all students who are pursuing a major under the College of Letters and Science. They advise on requirements that apply to all L&S students, regardless of major. This includes university and college requirements, like General Education. They do not provide major advising. They also advise on academic probation and minimum progress, Pass/No Pass grading restrictions, and dropping courses with a PTD.

Yellow Cluster Advisors only advise students majoring in Psychology, Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and Science & Technology Studies. We do not advise on university and college requirements. We can assist you with creating academic plans, understanding major requirements, course scheduling, discussing your educational and career goals, preparing for grad school, and learning about field-related opportunities.
How do I build my Fall schedule?
Step 1 - Complete Aggie 101

Step 2 - Complete Aggie Advising Canvas Modules. These modules will you provide you the bulk of what you need to know to create your Fall schedule.

Step 3 - Utilize your online resources. Carefully read about your university, college, and major requirements.
• Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree in the College of Letters and Science
• Major Requirements

Step 4 - Meet with an advisor for in-depth questions. You can make appointment with a college advisor and your major advisors (that's us!)
What is the difference between a lower division and upper division course?
UC Davis classifies undergraduate courses as lower or upper division through a numbering system
• 001 to 099 courses are lower division
• 100 to 199 courses are upper division

Lower-division courses are designed for students in their first two years of college. These courses focus on subject-matter breadth, skill-building, and foundational knowledge.
Upper-division courses are designed for more experienced college students, those in their third year and beyond. These courses focus on the depth of a subject or topic and often require prerequisite knowledge
Important for transfers, read below

Please note that community college coursework is considered lower division only.
What courses should I take in addition to my major courses?
As a transfer student, you will need to fulfill the following in addition to your major requirements, even if you came in with an IGETC.
• Upper Division Writing Class
• 64 upper division units total (your major requirements will cover some of this)
• 180 units total (your major requirements will cover some of this)

Also consider these options
• Courses that can go towards a minor
• Courses that prepare your for your career interests (e.g. pre-health STEM courses, pre-credential education courses)
• Courses, in any discipline, that interest you
• First-Year Seminar or First-Year Aggie Connection
How will my AP credit transfer over?
Read here - Advanced Placement (AP) Credit & Chart
How will my coursework transfer to UC Davis and how will it apply to my major?
Your transfer credit takes time to process, and you may not see your transfer credit in OASIS until closer to Fall quarter. The Undergraduate Admissions office will determine what courses transfer and how many total units will transfer. Admissions will also determine which of your courses can be credited for specific courses at UC Davis. However, some coursework may require additional steps to determine whether they can satisfy major/minor requirements.

Yellow Cluster Advising will provide you a Transfer Credit Evaluation before registration explaining how your coursework applies to your major requirements, even if your credit has not been officially posted to your OASIS account.

See How Transfer Credit Works

Adding and Changing Majors

I want to double major. How does that work? Can I overlap classes?
Many majors have flexibility for a double major but there are some factors that can make double majoring complex. It's best to plan ahead with your major advisor and an advisor for your intended double major.

There is no limit to overlapping lower division courses (001-099) between majors.

Students may only overlap 20% of upper-division units (001-199) between two majors. This is typically 8 units (2 courses), but could be more or less depending on which two majors you are pursuing. Please consult with a major advisor.

How to Calculate Overlap Allowance Between 2 Majors
1. Find the minimum # of upper division units for each major. You can find this information in the University Catalog.
2. Identify the major that has the fewer minimum # of upper div units and multiply by 0.20.
3. The result you get is the number of overlap units allowed.

Find the overlap policy on the College of Letters and Science website.
How do I change my major?
At a minimum, you will need to wait until your second quarter at UC Davis and be in Good Academic Standing to change your major. Some majors may have additional requirements to declare their major. Check the website for your intended major for their declaration requirements and change of major process. Once you meet your intended major's declaration process, you will need to submit the Change of Major form in OASIS.

If you are looking to switch into one our Yellow Cluster majors, check out the links below
Psychology Major Requirements
Cognitive Science Major Requirements
Philosophy Major Requirements
Science and Technology Studies Major Requirements

Minors

Where can I learn about minors? Will I be able to complete a minor? Can I overlap classes?
You can learn about minors here.

It's reasonable to expect that you will have the flexibility in your degree requirements to fit a minor. We encourage you to discuss your ideas with us or the department your minor of interest falls under.

Students can only overlap 1 course (lower or upper division) between a major and a minor.

Course Registration

I keep getting errors when trying to register. Help!
Registration errors may occur because you have exceeded the maximum units for the registration period, have not taken the prerequisites, or encountered one of the following course restrictions:
• College Restriction: These courses are reserved for students declared in a major belonging to a certain college (e.g. College of Ag and College of Biological Sciences). Most of these restrictions are removed in Pass Two registration.
• Major Restriction: These courses are reserved for students declared in a certain major(s). Most of these restrictions are removed in Pass Two registration.
• Class-Level Restriction: These courses are reserved for students belonging to a certain class-level (e.g. juniors and seniors). Most of these restrictions are removed in Pass Two registration.
• Duplicate Course, Section, Equivalent, or Crosslist: You may not enroll in more than one section of a course or a course equivalent, including cross-listed courses.
• Time Conflict: You may not enroll in two courses scheduled at the same time. Occasionally, two courses with unique meeting times will have conflicting times for the final exam.
I completed the prerequisite, but Schedule Builder is saying I don't have it!
It's most likely due to one of the reasons below:
1. Undergraduate Admissions has not uploaded your AP scores or transfer credit into your Academic Record yet
2. Your transfer credit was uploaded but the prerequisite you completed isn't showing up accurately

In these cases, if you think you have completed ALL prerequisites for the course, complete the Prerequisite Petition that appears in Schedule Builder. An instructor will review your review, but submitting the petition will allow you to register for the course in the meantime.

Note: Psychology course prerequisites are strictly enforced. Exceptions are considered only in highly unusual circumstances and require instructor approval.
How do Pass Times work?
See the Registration Calendar.

Pass 1 Begins: This is the first opportunity for students to register for classes. Students can enroll up to 17 units. This includes waitlisted courses, but waitlisted courses do not count towards the 12 unit minimum for full-time status.
- Some courses will have Pass 1 restrictions or “field of study” restrictions. This means that some courses will only be available to specific majors. For example, ECS 36A is restricted to Computer Science, Computer Science & Engineering, & Computer Engineering majors only. Any student who does not fall within that requirement will have to wait until Pass 2 or Schedule Adjustment.
- After a student’s Pass 1 ends (even if they didn’t register for courses during that window), students can use Open Hours (M-F 8pm-midnight or weekend 10am-6pm) to change their schedule.
Pass 2 Begins: This is the second opportunity for students to register for classes. Students can enroll up to 19 units. Field of study restrictions may or may not be lifted/loosened.
How do waitlists work?
Waitlists open in Pass One. In Schedule Builder, when you add a course that has 0 seats, you will be added to the waitlist. When you are on a course's waitlist, you are NOT registered for the course. The waitlist is an ordered list of students who will be added to the course when registered students drop the course. When you become #1 on the waitlist and a registered student drops the course, you will automatically be registered for the open seat.

If you are still on the waitlist for a course after the quarter begins, your chances of enrollment decrease every day. It is crucial that you are fully registered for at least 12 units by the first day of classes.
Everything I want to take is full. What should I register for?
Consider these options
• Courses that can go towards a minor
• Courses that prepare your for your career interests (e.g. pre-health STEM courses, pre-credential education courses)
• Courses, in any discipline, that interest you (here are some upper division suggestions)
• First-Year Seminar or First-Year Aggie Connection
What are the add/drop deadlines?
Use the Quarter Dates & Deadlines Calendar keep track of all University deadlines. You can add these calendars to your personal google calendar by clicking the Subscribe option.

The last day to add classes without a Permission to Add code is the 10th day of instruction
The last day to drop classes is either the 10th day or the 20th day of instruction depending on the class. You can see the drop deadline for your courses in Schedule Builder.
How do I drop a class after the deadline?
You will need to connect with a dean's advisor from the College of Letters and Science, as they are responsible for approving Late Drops. You must connect with them to initiate this process. Please note there are specific conditions you must meet to be eligible.

Psychology Major and Minor

Where can I learn about psychology major requirements?
Right here! - Psychology Major Requirements
I applied as an B.S major, but OASIS says I'm a A.B. major! Why is that, and how do I change it?
As of Fall 2025, all students are admitted as the A.B. by default. If you plan to do the B.S. option, you can follow the B.S. requirements.

In your second quarter, as long as you are in Good Academic Standing, you can officially switch to the B.S. by submitting a Change of Major form in OASIS.
How do I declare an emphasis for my major?
You do not need to "declare an emphasis". You will just follow the major requirements for your PSC AB, PSC BS Biology, or PSC BS Quantitative major.
I plan to go to graduate school. Will I be more competitive for graduate school if I choose a B.S. emphasis?
It depends on what kind of graduate school you are interested in. For some graduate programs, a B.S. emphasis and additional science or math coursework may better align with prerequisite requirements. For many other graduate programs, however, there is little to no difference between choosing an A.B. or B.S.
What matters most is whether you complete the prerequisite courses, gain relevant experience, and participate in meaningful co-curricular activities related to your goals. Research experience, internships, leadership, clinical work, volunteer experience, strong grades, and faculty relationships often make a bigger difference in graduate school admissions than the specific degree designation alone.

For Psychology majors, you may find that for some health programs, like medical school, you can complete most pre-health requirements by choosing the PSC B.S. Biology emphasis. Please note that the PSC BS Bio does not include ALL of the required/recommended prerequisites needed for pre-health careers. Pre-health students should consult with Health Professions Advising https://hpa.ucdavis.edu.
How do I get involved with research?
Read our Psychology research page.

Students may also pursue lab/research opportunities outside of their major department. Every academic discipline at UCD engages in research! Psychology and Cognitive Science students have worked for labs in Human Development, Linguistics, Communication, Philosophy, Computer Science, Biological Science, and the Medical Center, to name a few.

You should also check out the programs in the Undergraduate Research Center!
How can I explore careers related to Psychology?
Check out our Career & Grad School website to explore and prepare for careers related to your major.

Cognitive Science Major

Where can I learn about cognitive science major requirements?
Right here! - Cognitive Science Major Requirements
I applied as an B.S major, but OASIS says I'm a A.B. major! Why is that, and how do I change it?
As of Fall 2025, all students are admitted as the A.B. by default. If you plan to do the B.S. option, you can follow the B.S. requirements.

In your second quarter, as long as you are in Good Academic Standing, you can officially switch to the B.S. by submitting a Change of Major form in OASIS.
How do I declare an emphasis for my major?
You do not need to "declare an emphasis". You will just follow the major requirements for your CGS A.B., CGS B.S. Computational, or CGS B.S. Neuroscience major.
I plan to go to graduate school. Will I be more competitive for graduate school if I choose a B.S. emphasis?
It depends on what kind of graduate school you are interested in. For some graduate programs, a B.S. emphasis and additional science or math coursework may better align with prerequisite requirements. For many other graduate programs, however, there is little to no difference between choosing an A.B. or B.S.
What matters most is whether you complete the prerequisite courses, gain relevant experience, and participate in meaningful co-curricular activities related to your goals. Research experience, internships, leadership, clinical work, volunteer experience, strong grades, and faculty relationships often make a bigger difference in graduate school admissions than the specific degree designation alone.
How do I get involved with research?
Our Cognitive Science research website helps you explore research opportunities and prepare to apply for research positions.

Students may also pursue lab/research opportunities outside of their major department. Every academic discipline at UCD engages in research! Psychology and Cognitive Science students have worked for labs in Human Development, Linguistics, Communication, Philosophy, Computer Science, Biological Science, and the Medical Center, to name a few.

You should also check out the programs in the Undergraduate Research Center!
How can I explore careers related to Cognitive Science?
Check out our Career & Grad School website to explore and prepare for careers related to your major.

Philosophy Major and Minors

Where can I learn about philosophy major requirements?
Right here! - Philosophy Major Requirements
How do I get involved with research?
• Ask your instructor(s) if you can do a research project with them
• Read our Yellow Cluster Advising newsletters; they sometimes announce research opportunities
• Reach out to your major faculty advisor, Dr. Rohan French, to ask about how to get started

You should also check out the programs in the Undergraduate Research Center!
How can I explore careers related to Philosophy?
Check out our Career & Grad School website to explore and prepare for careers related to your major.

Science & Technology Studies Major and Minors

Where can I learn about STS major requirements?
Right here! - Science and Technology Studies Major Requirements
How do I get involved with research?
• Ask your instructor(s) if you can do a research project with them
• Read our Yellow Cluster Advising newsletters; they sometimes announce research opportunities
• Reach out to your major faculty to ask about how to get started, Dr. Gerardo Con Diaz (faculty advisor) and/or Dr. Colin Milburn (program director)

You should also check out the programs in the Undergraduate Research Center!
How can I explore careers related to Science & Technology Studies?
Check out our Career & Grad School website to explore and prepare for careers related to your major.

Frequently Asked Questions

You've got questions, and we've got answers!

General

New Students

Majors and Minors

Registration

Yellow Cluster Majors and Minors

Other Important Topics