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. Formally, your diploma will read "Bachelor of Arts."

    A Bachelor of Arts degree is typically focused on humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary learning, while a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree includes more coursework in traditional STEM areas like math and natural sciences.
  • What is the difference between major advisors and college advisors?

  • College Advisors (for example, the College of Letters and Science) 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 including 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. 

    Major Advisors only advise students in their major and do not provide advising on university and college requirements. They can assist you with creating academic plans, understanding major requirements, discussing your educational and career goals, preparing for grad school, and learning about field-related opportunities. We also assist students with registration, course selection, and adding courses with a PTA.

    major versus college advisors

    What's the difference between major advisors and college advisors?

    YouTube video
  • I live with a disability, an illness, or different abilities. How can I get accommodations in my classes?
  • The Student Disability Center (SDC) supports students who seek accommodations in their classes due to a documented physical, mental, or learning difference. Accommodations are meant to bridge gaps and remove barriers in a student's classroom learning experience. 

    The SDC website explains the process for getting registered with this service, including the documentation that you must provide.

 

 

New Students - First Years

  • How do I build my Fall schedule?
  • Step 1 - Complete Aggie 101

    Step 2 - Complete Aggie Advising Canvas Modules

    Step 3 - Utilize your online resources. Carefully read about your GE requirements, major requirements, and sample schedules.
       •  College of Letters & Science Resources
       • Psychology, Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and STS New Students and Major Requirements

    Step 4 - Meet with an advisor for in-depth questions. First-Years can meet with a college advisor. They can also meet with a major advisor through Drop-In Advising.
  • How will my AP credit transfer over?
  • Read here - Advanced Placement (AP) Credit & Chart
  • What is the difference between a lower division and upper division course?
  • UC Davis classifies undergraduate courses as lower or upper division
    •  001 to 099 courses are lower division
    •  100 to 199 courses are upper division
    •  200 to 499 courses are graduate level

    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?
  • Yes, most students will need to take units outside of their major in order to graduate. These include General Education courses, University Requirements, and College Requirements. Your major courses might cover some of these, but not all!

    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

New Students - Transfers

  • How do I build my Fall schedule?
  • Step 1 - Complete Aggie 101

    Step 2 - Complete Aggie Advising Canvas Modules

    Step 3 - Utilize your online resources. Carefully read about your GE requirements, major requirements, and sample schedules.
       •  College of Letters & Science Resources
       • Psychology, Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and STS New Students and Major Requirements

    Step 4 - Meet with a major advisor for in-depth questions.
  • 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 Fall quarter begins. 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.

    This page explains how your transfer credit gets reviewed for major credit.
  • What is the difference between a lower division and upper division course?
  • UC Davis classifies undergraduate courses as lower or upper division
    •  001 to 099 courses are lower division
    •  100 to 199 courses are upper division
    •  200 to 499 courses are graduate level

    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. Please note that community college courses only transfer as lower-division.

    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.
  • Do I need to take any courses outside of my major?
  • Yes, most students will need to take units outside of their major in order to graduate. These include General Education courses, University Requirements, and College Requirements. Your major courses might cover some of these, but not all!

    For transfer students specifically, you need to fulfill the following in addition to your major requirements, even if you came in with an IGETC:
    •  64 upper division units
    •  180 units total
    •  Upper Division Writing Class

    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

 

Majors and Minors

  • 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.

  • Where can I learn about minors? Will I be able to complete a minor? Can I overlap classes?
  • It's reasonable to expect that you will have the flexibility in your degree requirements to fit a minor. We encourage you to explore the minors at UC Davis and discuss your ideas with us or the department your minor of interest falls under. 

    Once you have completed the courses required for the minor or have completed all courses but one and are enrolled in the last one, submit the Minor Declaration form in OASIS for approval (under the Forms & Petitions tab).

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

 

Registering for Courses

  • 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: 

    •  Student Level Restriction: These courses are reserved for students belonging to a certain level (e.g. undergraduate and graduate). Most of these restrictions are removed in Pass Two registration.
    •  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 .
  • How do Pass Times work?
  • See the Registration Calendar.

    Pass One
    •  Your first opportunity to register for the upcoming quarter
    •  After your Pass One appointment ends, you have limited access to make changes to your schedule
    •  Many course restrictions are active
    •  You are limited to 17 units maximum
    •  Waitlists are open; waitlisted units count toward the 17-unit limit

    Pass Two
    •  Your second opportunity to register for the upcoming quarter and make changes to your schedule
    •  Many course restrictions end (e.g. Pass 1 major-restrictions) 
    •  The maximum unit threshold raises to 19 units
  • 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

    The truth about seat availability in Schedule Builder:
    •  For many classes, we reserve seats for incoming students. The seats are divided amongst students in certain majors and colleges. If you encounter an error that you don't qualify for a reserved seat, it may mean that the seats are reserved for a different college/major. Please try a different section.
    •  During Pass Two, many continuing students modify their schedule, meaning that seats in full classes may open up. 
    •  Continuing students had their Pass One appointments in May, so many seats were filled prior to your admission to UC Davis. Know that your Pass One appointment time will get better and better with each quarter.

  • 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.

 

Psychology

  • 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 makes little to no difference whether you choose A.B. or B.S. As long as you take the necessary prerequisite courses for the grad programs that interest you, an A.B. is usually sufficient if you'd rather not choose a B.S. emphasis.

    You should plan courses and co-curricular activities that prepare you for graduate school, no matter what your major is. This strategy will shape you into a better grad school candidate than completing a B.S. major 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?
  • Our Psychology 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 Psychology?
  • Check out our Career & Grad School website to explore and prepare for careers related to your major.

 

 

Cognitive Science

  • 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 makes little to no difference whether you choose A.B. or B.S. As long as you take the necessary prerequisite courses for the grad programs that interest you, an A.B. is usually sufficient if you'd rather not choose a B.S. emphasis.

    You should plan courses and co-curricular activities that prepare you for graduate school, no matter what your major is. This strategy will shape you into a better grad school candidate than completing a B.S. major 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

  • Where can I learn about philosophy major requirements?
  • Right here! - Philosophy Major Requirements
  • How do I get involved with research?
  • Explore research opportunities in these ways:
    •  Ask your instructor(s) if you can do a research project with them
    •  Read the 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

  • Where can I learn about STS major requirements?
  • Right here! - Science and Technology Studies Major Requirements
  • How do I get involved with research?
  • Explore research opportunities in these ways:
    •  Ask your instructor(s) if you can do a research project with them
    •  Read the 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.