Understanding UCSD's Capped Majors?

Hello all, I've been hearing about this concept of 'capped majors' at UCSD. Just a bit confused about what it means. Does it limit students' freedom to choose their majors? Would love to get some clarity on this.

Sure, happy to clarify this for you. At UC San Diego, a “capped major” is essentially a term for a major that has enrollment limits due to high demand and limited resources. These majors are called "capped" because the University caps, or limits, how many students can declare and pursue that given major.

Capped majors typically have additional eligibility criteria that students must meet in order to declare the major. This can include completing specific courses or achieving a certain GPA. The exact criteria can vary between different capped majors, so be sure to check the specific faculty or department web page for the criteria for your interested major.

The primary implications for students related to capped majors are:

1) Prospective students must indicate their intent to pursue a capped major at the time they apply to UCSD. This makes the admissions process more competitive for students selecting capped majors because there are more students applying for fewer spots.

2) Once at UCSD, undeclared students or students wishing to change their major to a capped major must apply to change/declare the capped major and meet the specific eligibility criteria. At this point, even if you meet the criteria, admission into the major isn’t guaranteed and depends upon the space availability.

This process can limit student freedom to change majors, but it's designed to ensure that there are sufficient resources available for current students in those majors. So, if you know you are interested in a capped major, it's generally best to apply for it directly out of high school.