Overview
As a freshman at UC Santa Cruz, you have the opportunity to explore a wide range of academic interests by declaring one or more minors. A minor is a secondary area of study that complements your major. It can help you to develop new skills, knowledge, and perspectives, and it can make you a more competitive candidate for jobs and graduate school.

Benefits of Minoring
There are many benefits to minoring at UC Santa Cruz, including:
- Enhance your knowledge and skills. A minor can help you to develop new skills and knowledge in a specific area of interest. This can be helpful for your career, your personal life, or your future studies.
- Become more competitive in the job market. Employers are increasingly looking for candidates with a well-rounded education. A minor can help you to stand out from the competition and make you a more attractive candidate for jobs.
- Prepare for graduate school. If you are planning to pursue a graduate degree, a minor can help you to prepare for the rigors of graduate-level study. It can also give you a competitive edge in the admissions process.
- Personal enrichment. A minor can help you to explore your interests and develop your passions. It can also help you to become a more well-rounded and informed individual.
How to Declare a Minor
Declaring a minor is a simple process. You can do so by completing the Declaration of Minor form and submitting it to the Office of the Registrar. The form is available online at the Registrar’s website.
Once you have declared a minor, you will need to complete the required coursework for that minor. The coursework for each minor is listed in the UC Santa Cruz General Catalog.
Minors Offered at UC Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz offers a wide range of minors, including:
-
Arts
- Art
- Film and Digital Media
- History of Art and Visual Culture
- Music
- Theater Arts
-
Humanities
- American Studies
- Anthropology
- Classics
- Comparative Literature
- East Asian Studies
- Economics
- English
- Environmental Studies
- Feminist Studies
- French and Italian
- Germanic Studies
- History
- Jewish Studies
- Latin American and Latino Studies
- Linguistics
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Russian
- Sociology
- Spanish
-
Natural Sciences
- Applied Mathematics
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Environmental Studies
- Marine Biology
- Mathematics
- Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology
- Neuroscience
- Ocean Sciences
- Physics
- Plant Sciences
- Psychology
- Statistics
-
Social Sciences
- Anthropology
- Community Studies
- Economics
- Education
- Environmental Studies
- Feminist Studies
- History
- Latin American and Latino Studies
- Politics
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Women’s Studies
Tips for Choosing a Minor
When choosing a minor, it is important to consider your interests, your career goals, and your future plans. Here are a few tips for choosing a minor:
- Consider your interests. What are you passionate about? What do you enjoy learning about? A minor can help you to explore your interests and develop your passions.
- Consider your career goals. What kind of career do you want to pursue? A minor can help you to develop the skills and knowledge that you need for your desired career.
- Consider your future plans. Are you planning to pursue a graduate degree? If so, a minor can help you to prepare for the rigors of graduate-level study. It can also give you a competitive edge in the admissions process.
Conclusion
Minoring at UC Santa Cruz is a great way to enhance your education, develop new skills and knowledge, and become a more well-rounded individual. If you are interested in minoring, I encourage you to explore the many options that are available.
1. How many minors can I declare?
You can declare up to two minors.
2. Do I need to declare a minor when I apply to UC Santa Cruz?
No, you do not need to declare a minor when you apply to UC Santa Cruz. You can declare a minor after you have enrolled.
3. How do I declare a minor?
You can declare a minor by completing the Declaration of Minor form and submitting it to the Office of the Registrar. The form is available online at the Registrar’s website: https://registrar.ucsc.edu/forms/
4. What are the requirements for each minor?
The requirements for each minor are listed in the UC Santa Cruz General Catalog: https://catalog.ucsc.edu/Current/General-Catalog/Minors
5. Can I use courses from my major to satisfy the requirements for a minor?
In most cases, you can use courses from your major to satisfy the requirements for a minor. However, there may be some restrictions. Please consult with the department offering the minor to learn more.
6. Can I declare a minor in a department that is different from my major?
Yes, you can declare a minor in a department that is different from your major.
7. Can I declare a minor in a language that I am already fluent in?
Yes, you can declare a minor in a language that you are already fluent in. However, you will need to take additional coursework to complete the minor.
8. What are the benefits of minoring?
There are many benefits to minoring at UC Santa Cruz, including:
- Enhancing your knowledge and skills
- Becoming more competitive in the job market
- Preparing for graduate school
- Personal enrichment
Table 1: Minors Offered at UC Santa Cruz
| Arts | Humanities | Natural Sciences | Social Sciences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art | American Studies | Applied Mathematics | Anthropology |
| Film and Digital Media | Anthropology | Astronomy and Astrophysics | Community Studies |
| History of Art and Visual Culture | Classics | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Economics |
| Music | Comparative Literature | Biology | Education |
| Theater Arts | East Asian Studies | Chemistry | Environmental Studies |
| Economics | Computer Science | Feminist Studies | |
| English | Earth and Planetary Sciences | History | |
| Environmental Studies | Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | Latin American and Latino Studies | |
| Feminist Studies | Environmental Studies | Politics | |
| French and Italian | Marine Biology | Psychology | |
| Germanic Studies | Mathematics | Sociology | |
| History | Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology | Women’s Studies | |
| Jewish Studies | Neuroscience | ||
| Latin American and Latino Studies | Ocean Sciences | ||
| Linguistics | Physics | ||
| Philosophy | Plant Sciences | ||
| Politics | Psychology | ||
| Psychology | Statistics | ||
| Religious Studies | |||
| Russian | |||
| Sociology | |||
| Spanish |
Table 2: Requirements for Minors at UC Santa Cruz
| Minor | Required Courses |
|---|---|
| Art | 12 upper-division courses in art |
| Film and Digital Media | 12 upper-division courses in film and digital media |
| History of Art and Visual Culture | 12 upper-division courses in history of art and visual culture |
| Music | 12 upper-division courses in music |
| Theater Arts | 12 upper-division courses in theater arts |
| American Studies | 12 upper-division courses in American studies |
| Anthropology | 12 upper-division courses in anthropology |
| Classics | 12 upper-division courses in classics |
| Comparative Literature | 12 upper-division courses in comparative literature |
| East Asian Studies | 12 upper-division courses in East Asian studies |
| Economics | 12 upper-division courses in economics |
| English | 12 upper-division courses in English |
| Environmental Studies | 12 upper-division courses in environmental studies |
| Feminist Studies | 12 upper-division courses in feminist studies |
| French and Italian | 12 upper-division courses in French and Italian |
| Germanic Studies | 12 upper-division courses in Germanic studies |
| History | 12 upper-division courses in history |
| Jewish Studies | 12 upper-division courses in Jewish studies |
| Latin American and Latino Studies | 12 upper-division courses in Latin American and Latino studies |
| Linguistics | 12 upper-division courses in linguistics |
| Philosophy | 12 upper-division courses in philosophy |
| Politics | 12 upper-division courses in politics |
| Psychology | 12 upper-division courses in |
