Double Majors & Simultaneous Degrees

Overview

Pursuing double majors or simultaneous degrees can be a great way to fulfill your intellectual interests and gain depth in two academic disciplines. However, it is a significant commitment that should be considered and planned for carefully. This page will help you consider when planning a double major or simultaneous degree, as well as requirements and petition steps.

Definitions

  • A double major refers to the declaration of two majors in the College of Letters & Science.
  • A simultaneous degree refers to the declaration of majors in different Colleges at UC Berkeley.

Deadlines

  • Double Majors: Petitions must be submitted prior to the first day of classes in the term in which you intend to graduate as reflected in your double major petition and program plan.
    • For Summer EGTs, petitions must be submitted prior to the first day of Summer Session A.
  • Simultaneous Degrees: Petitions should be submitted at least two terms prior to to the term in which you intend to graduate (in order to meet residence requirements) and no later than the last day of that term (i.e. last day of finals).
    • In other words, the petition should be submitted during the term before your intended EGT as reflected in your simultaneous degree petition and program plan.
    • For example, if you have an intended EGT of Spring 2026, you must submit your simultaneous degree petition by the last day of finals for the Fall 2025 semester.

*EGT = Expected Graduation Term. Read more about EGTs on our Preparing for Graduation page. 

Declaring a Double Major

Step 1: Review Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements:

  • Approval from L&S Undergraduate Major Advisers in each department.
  • No more than two upper division courses overlapping between majors (meaning, no more than two upper division courses can count for both majors).
  • Petitions for double majors must be submitted by the appropriate deadlines. 
  • Completed petitions must include a program plan that demonstrates that you will be able to finish all degree requirements for both majors within nine semesters if you started as freshmen, or five semesters if you started as a junior transfer (counting enrollments in all institutions attended) or by the end of the semester in which you exceed 136 units (whichever comes second). 

Step 2: Complete Double Major Petition

  1. Download the Double Major Petition.
  2. Meet with an L&S Undergraduate Major Adviser in each department to review/create a program plan and to complete the Double Major Petition.
    1. You can find your L&S Undergraduate Major Adviser contact information at the bottom of the applicable Advising Neighborhood page. 
  3. If you have questions or concerns about your proposed program plan and/or completing all degree requirements within the unit ceiling, meet with an L&S College Adviser to review your petition.
  4. Submit completed petition to L&S Advising at lspetitions@berkeley.edu.

L&S students: Declaring a Simultaneous Degree

Step 1: Review Eligibility Requirements

Applies if your home college is L&S. (You are currently declared or undeclared in L&S)

Petitions should be submitted at least two terms prior to to the term in which you intend to graduate (in order to meet residence requirements) and no later than the last day of that term (i.e. last day of finals).

You may pursue a simultaneous degree after meeting the following criteria:

  • Have completed at least one semester at UC Berkeley (unless you are a transfer student who must declare a capped major in your first semester).
  • An overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Approval from your L&S Undergraduate Major Adviser.
  • Approval from the other College.
  • No more than two upper division courses overlapping between majors (meaning, no more than two upper division courses can count for both majors).
  • Meet the appropriate deadlines.
  • Completed petitions must include a program plan that demonstrates that you will be able to finish all degree requirements for both majors within nine semesters if you started as freshmen, or five semesters if you started as a junior transfer (counting enrollments in all institutions attended) or by the end of the semester in which you exceed 136 units (whichever comes second). 

Important note: while these are eligibility requirements for L&S students, there may be other requirements at your intended second college. Please refer to the second college for additional eligibility requirements.

Step 2: Complete Simultaneous Degree Petition

Simultaneous Degree Petition

  1. Please fill out the form, and include your student signature.
  2. Acquire signature from your current L&S Undergraduate Major Adviser. 
    1. You can find your L&S Undergraduate Major Adviser contact information at the bottom of the applicable Advising Neighborhood page. 
  3. Acquire L&S Advising approval.
    1. Email the Simultaneous Degree petition to L&S Advising at lspetitions@berkeley.edu
    2. L&S College Advising will send the signed petition back to you upon approval, so that you can complete the process with your second college. 
    3. Allow 10 business days for L&S Advising to process your petition. Other Colleges may have their own deadlines and processing times.
  4. Acquire signature and approval from second College.

Non-L&S students: Declaring a Simultaneous Degree

Step 1: Review Eligibility Requirements

Applies if your home college is not L&S. (You are declared in another School or College first.)

Petitions should be submitted at least two terms prior to the term in which you intend to graduate (in order to meet residence requirements) and no later than the last day of that term (i.e. last day of finals).

You may pursue a simultaneous degree with L&S after meeting the following criteria:

  • Have completed at least one semester at UC Berkeley (unless you are a transfer student who must declare a capped major in your first semester).
  • An overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Approval from your home College.
  • Approval from your intended L&S Undergraduate Major Adviser.
  • Nor more than two upper division courses overlapping between majors (meaning, no mroe than two upper division courses can count for both majors).
  • Completed petitions must include a program plan that demonstrates that you will be able to finish all degree requirements for both majors and colleges within nine semesters if you started as freshmen, or five semesters if you started as a junior transfer (counting enrollments in all institutions attended) or by the end of the semester in which you exceed 136 units. See our Degree Requirements page for details about L&S requirements. 

Step 2: Complete Simultaneous Degree Petition

Simultaneous Degree Petition

  1. Please fill out the form, and include your student signature.
  2. Acquire signature(s) from your home College (and major adviser, if applicable).
  3. Acquire signature from your intended L&S Undergraduate Major Adviser.
    1. You can find your L&S Undergraduate Major Adviser contact information at the bottom of the applicable Advising Neighborhood page.
  4. Acquire L&S Advising approval.
    1. Email the Simultaneous Degree petition to L&S Advising at lspetitions@berkeley.edu
    2. Allow 10 business days for L&S Advising to process your petition and for your CalCentral to update. 

Double Majors and Simultaneous Degrees FAQs

Will a double major help me get a job or gain admission to graduate school?

Not necessarily

A double major or simultaneous degree does not necessarily give you a competitive advantage for career opportunities or admission to graduate school after college. Many students make the assumption that engaging in more coursework will make them more impressive to employers or graduate programs. While this can be true in certain cases, most often, employers and graduate programs are interested in candidates that have a combination of skills, experiences, and qualifications that match the role or program.

Focus on building skills

Many of the important transferable skills that employers and graduate programs value can be developed through participation in experiential learning opportunities such as leadership in student organizations, internships, public service, research, study abroad, volunteer work, and more. Committing yourself to a second major or degree can be a valuable experience, but if it impedes your ability to engage in these types of skill-building experiences, you may want to examine whether taking on an additional major is actually helping you achieve your goals.

Do your research before committing

If you’re motivated to pursue a second major or degree in order to gain a competitive advantage in the job market or for graduate school, it is important to do your research first to determine whether this will help you achieve your goals. Resources like the Career Counseling Library and advising at Berkeley Career Engagement can assist you with this.

What will I gain from a double major or simultaneous degree?

Gain depth in two different areas of study

A double major or simultaneous degree allows students to explore two interests, especially interests in different areas. If you find yourself curious about two fields of study and two majors fit in with your academic plan without making sacrifices to hands-on learning experiences, a double major or simultaneous degree can be a great option. It can also be a way to explore an area you enjoy even when it is not aligned with any particular future goal.

A double major or simultaneous degree may support building transferable skills in multiple areas as well, but it is always valuable to consider whether a major, minor, or hands-on experience is the best way to gain the skill you’re interested in.

A double major or simultaneous degree can also be valuable if you are interested in researching or innovating at the intersection of two fields.

Two majors in similar areas of study

Keep in mind that while students are often attracted to adding a second major that is similar to their primary major, it is often adding a major that is significantly different than your first major that may make doing so more worth your time. For example, an employer may view the foundational skills from Psychology and Sociology as fairly similar, while the range of skills developed through a Psychology and Classics double major may be viewed as more broad. That is not to say that pursuing two similar majors does not have value--many students find great personal fulfillment through their double majors--but as the differences are more subtle, the value may be more personal or be more useful in the research field, where such nuances are better understood.

Quality over quantity

While the number of majors you have has not been shown to impact your competitive advantage for jobs, graduate school, or professional school, there are still great reasons to consider a double major. If a double major ever becomes an obstacle to your success, your goals, or if you lose interest in one major, then do not hesitate to focus on a single major.

Unit limits for double major/simultaneous degrees

Students declared in two majors or simultaneous degrees must finish all degree requirements within 9 semesters (counting enrollments in all institutions attended) or by the end of the semester in which they exceed 136 units. For more information, read about the Unit Ceiling. 

Can I drop my second major or simultaneous degree if I change my mind?

Yes. If you have declared a double major or simultaneous degree that you no longer wish to complete, meet with an L&S College Adviser to request this change to your academic plan. Dropping a double major or simultaneous degree may shift your semester limits and unit ceiling, so it is important to discuss how this may impact your timeline to finish your degree.  

If I drop a major, can I add it back?

If you drop a major or simultaneous degree, you cannot re-declare that same major. For example, if you are declared in Media Studies and Environmental Sciences and drop Environmental Sciences, you cannot then later re-declare Environmental Sciences. 

If you drop a major or simultaneous degree, you can apply to declare a different major as part of a double major or simultaneous degree. For example, if you are declared in Media Studies and Environmental Sciences and drop Environmental Sciences, you could then apply for a double major in Media Studies and Geology. 

These rules apply to both L&S double majors and simultaneous degrees. 

Still Have Questions?

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Related Pages

Create a Long-Term Program Plan

Unit Ceiling and Semester Limit

Explore Majors and Minors

College Advising vs. Major Advising