Declare Our Majors
Learn how to declare Pre-Economics, Pre-Business Economics, the Economics major, or the Business Economics major, including deadlines, eligibility rules, forms, and next steps.
Start with the right major
The Economics Department houses two majors:
Economics
and
Business Economics.
We also offer a major in Mathematics/Economics, which is housed in the
Mathematics Department.
Students interested in pursuing one of our majors must complete all pre-major requirements and declare the major by the applicable deadline. If you have questions or would like to speak with an advisor about our majors, we encourage you to
contact us.
Deadlines
Know your declaration timeline
Declaration deadlines vary depending on whether you entered UCLA as a freshman admit or transfer admit.
Freshman Admits
Students must complete all pre-major requirements and declare the major before completing 135 units, excluding units earned prior to starting at UCLA.
Beginning Fall 2025, for non-transfer students, the deadline to complete the pre-major requirements for the Economics or Business Economics major will be by the end of the 8th regular quarter, excluding summer terms. Students should apply to the major as soon as grades for their final pre-major requirement have posted to DARS.
Transfer Admits
Transfer students must declare after their third regular quarter.
Transfer students must be directly admitted to UCLA as Pre-Economics or Pre-Business Economics in order to pursue either major. Transfer students may not switch into the department after admission into UCLA.
2025–2026 Transition Year
For the 2025–2026 academic year, the department will honor both deadlines.
Beginning in Fall 2026, only the term deadline will apply.
Declare a Pre-Major
Declare Pre-Economics or Pre-Business Economics
Students interested in Economics or Business Economics may begin by requesting one of the department’s pre-majors.
If you are interested in declaring either the Pre-Economics or Pre-Business Economics major, please complete the Pre-Major Request Form. It may take up to two weeks for your request to be processed. During busier times, it may take a few days longer. Requests will not be processed during Week 10 or Finals Week.
Pre-Major Deadline
You must complete all pre-major requirements prior to completing 135 units, not including units earned prior to your start at UCLA.
Beginning Fall 2025, for non-transfer students, the deadline to complete the pre-major requirements for the Economics or Business Economics major will be by the end of the 8th regular quarter, excluding summer terms.
For the 2025–2026 academic year, the department will honor both deadlines. Beginning in Fall 2026, only the term deadline will apply.
If you request to declare a pre-major and an advisor has concerns about your ability to complete the pre-major or major on time, we may ask you to submit a
Degree Plan.
If you are switching to one of our majors from another school, such as Engineering or Arts & Architecture, you will need to submit a Program Change Petition. If you are not a student in the College of Letters & Science and would like to add a pre-major to your currently declared major, please submit a Program Change Petition.
Transfer students who were not admitted into UCLA as either Pre-Economics or Pre-Business Economics may not pursue these majors.
Declare the Economics Major
Once you have completed all pre-major coursework for the Economics major and meet all eligibility requirements, you can request to declare the Economics major.
The deadline to apply is before completing 135 units (excluding AP/IB units and units earned prior to starting at UCLA) for freshman admits and after the third regular term for transfer admits.
Beginning Fall 2025, for non-transfer students, the deadline to complete the pre-major requirements for the Economics or Business Economics major will be by the end of the 8th regular quarter, excluding summer terms.
To officially declare the Economics major, submit an Economics Major Request Form. Requests may take up to two weeks to process and will not be processed during Week 10 or Finals Week.
Declare the Business Economics Major
Once you have completed all pre-major coursework for the Business Economics major and meet all eligibility requirements, you are eligible to apply to the major.
The Business Economics major application is available Weeks 1 through 3 of each regular quarter and Summer Session A. Information about the application will be sent via Econ-Alert when it becomes available.
Please do not submit an application unless you have completed all pre-major courses and meet all eligibility criteria.
Double Majors and School Changes
Double majors and school changes
Review these guidelines if you are pursuing a double major or switching into the College of Letters & Science from another UCLA school.
Pursuing Economics as a double major
If you are interested in pursuing a double major within the College of Letters & Science, please review the College’s eligibility requirements and procedures.
If you are in another school, such as Engineering or Arts & Architecture, please contact your school advisor for information about double majoring.
If you have completed the pre-major requirements for the Economics or Business Economics major but are not yet able to officially declare your double major, you must still complete the pre-major requirements on time and submit your Economics Major Request Form or Business Economics Major Application by the deadline.
We will review your request and “unofficially” declare you in the major if you meet all eligibility criteria. We will then honor that you met the declaration deadline, even if you submit your double major forms afterward.
When you are ready to submit your double major forms to an Economics counselor to be signed, please send your forms via MyUCLA Message Center.
Switching into the College of Letters & Science
If you are switching to one of our majors from another UCLA school, such as Engineering or Arts & Architecture, you will need to submit a Program Change Petition.
If you are not currently a student in the College of Letters & Science and would like to add a pre-major to your currently declared major, you must also submit a Program Change Petition.
Benjamin Graham Value Investing Program
The Economics Department offers one concentration in value investing.
The Benjamin Graham Value Investing Program consists of an academic concentration in Value Investing with coursework taught by real-world practitioners known as Investors in Residence.
The program also includes the Simon Fellowship, a recruitment platform created to provide exceptional undergraduates with avenues to explore careers at hedge funds, private equity firms, and other buy-side roles.
