There’s nothing common about our knowledge

At UC San Diego, our diverse selection of majors are offered through eight academic schools. Within each school, students have access to unique support through various academic departments and programs that emphasize real-world experience, cutting-edge research and public service.

Arts and Humanities
  • National Rankings

    7 Time-Based Media/New Media
  • National Rankings

    10 Fine Arts
  • National Rankings

    33 Arts and Humanities Regional Research Reputation
  • Careers

    Professions in Arts & Humanities

    From composers and directors to actors and artists, check out all of the opportunities available to Arts & Humanities majors.

    Explore Arts & Humanities Careers
Biological Sciences

Majors

Biological Sciences
Departments & Majors

Autumn, General Biology

"After visiting campus, I realized that UC San Diego would provide opportunity and resources that I couldn't get at any other school. Also, it’s a plus that as a biology major most of the required general education courses are classes that I truly enjoy–things like labs, calculus and chemistry."

Autumn General Biology

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  • National Rankings

    5 Neuroscience/Neurobiology
  • National Rankings

    10 Biological Sciences
  • National Rankings

    10 Biochemistry
  • Careers

    Professions in Biological Sciences

    Biological Sciences opens doors to careers ranging from microbiology to pharmacology and beyond.

    Explore Biological Sciences Careers
Data Science

Majors

Data Science
Departments & Majors

*Selective major. Please refer to the Selective Major section on the First-Year and Transfer requirements pages.

Rajesh Gupta, Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute Director

We have 26 full-time or part-time faculty who work on areas as diverse as machine learning, artificial intelligence, biomedical data sciences, and neurosciences. Undergraduate students have multiple opportunities to do various projects all the way up to their final year, featuring capstone projects with a dedicated faculty or industry mentor.

Rajesh Gupta Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute Director

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  • National Rankings

    16 Best Undergraduate Data Science Program
  • Careers

    Data Scientists

    Data Scientists help solve some of the world's most pressing problems in in science, technology, engineering, government, the arts, and humanities.

    Data Science Careers
Engineering

Majors

Engineering
Departments & Majors

Watch videos about the different Engineering Majors.

*Selective major. Please refer to the Selective Major section on the First-Year and Transfer requirements pages.

Naveen, Electrical Engineering

"There are always a lot of opportunities around UC San Diego, especially for engineering students interested in the tech industry. Right now, I’m working for a particle physics professor doing a computation. I’m learning about real-life technologies where I can apply the theoretical things I learn in class directly to my work."

Naveen Electrical Engineering

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  • National Rankings

    9 Jacobs School of Engineering
  • National Rankings

    11 Bioengineering
  • National Rankings

    14 Computer Engineering
  • Careers

    Engineering Professions

    Engineers figure out how things work and find practical uses for scientific discoveries. There are many options available for these talented innovators.

    Explore Engineering Careers
Health Sciences

Majors

Health Sciences
Departments & Majors

*Selective major. Please refer to the Selective Major section on the First-Year and Transfer requirements pages.

Jackie, Public Health

"I was looking for something that would allow me to work with underserved populations, so I did some research on what majors would allow me to do that and I found Public Health. I've had an opportunity to be a part of Health Frontiers in Tijuana (HFIT), which is a group of students who go down to Tijuana every Saturday to work at a free clinic. As a Public Health major, it's a great chance to work with the populations I want to serve and helped me gain confidence by getting hands-on experience in the field."

Jackie Public Health

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  • National Rankings

    10 Pulmonology
  • National Rankings

    13 Geriatrics
  • National Rankings

    22 Neurology/Neurosurgery
  • Careers

    Medical Professions

    Whether you want to be a doctor, nurse, medical researcher or anything in between, a career in the medical field is an exciting path.

    Explore Medical Careers
Physical Sciences
  • National Rankings

    33 Mathematics Regional Research Reputation
  • National Rankings

    17 Physics
  • National Rankings

    8 Biochemistry
  • Careers

    Professions in Physical Sciences

    From mathematicians to environmental scientists, many career options are open to Physical Science majors.

    Explore Physical Science Careers
Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Majors

Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Departments & Majors

View the Scripps Institution of Oceanography YouTube Channel.

Isabella, Marine Biology

"I love my major! I initially fell in love with the ocean as a child, and now recognizing there are things like climate change and pollution that we need to address, I wanted to help find new ways to protect the ocean, so Marine Biology was the perfect fit for me. Obviously, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography was a big reason I chose to come to UC San Diego."

Isabella Marine Biology

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  • National Rankings

    1 Algae Biofuels Research
  • National Rankings

    1 Oceanography, Atmospheric Sciences, and Meteorology
  • National Rankings

    1 Earth and Environmental Research
  • Careers

    Professions in Marine Sciences

    Careers in Oceanography involve global concern, the environment, climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable resources.

    Explore Marine Sciences Careers
Social Sciences

Majors

Social Sciences
Departments & Majors

*Selective major. Please refer to the Selective Major section on the First-Year and Transfer requirements pages.

Thomas, Cognitive Science

"The coolest thing about UC San Diego is that there is a lab or opportunity for every interest. I’m a Cognitive Science major, so the summer before I started, I emailed the Autism Center to see if they had any research opportunities available. "

Thomas Cognitive Science

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  • National Rankings

    12 Neuroscience and Behavior
  • National Rankings

    8 Cognitive Psychology
  • National Rankings

    12 Economics