On this page

  1. Change of Major Process
    1. Declaring Your Major
    2. Change of Majors
    3. Course Repeats
    4. Course Clearance Requests
  2. Other Petitions
    1. Graduate Course Petition
    2. PSTAT 199 Independent Research
    3. PSTAT 193: Internship in Statistics
    4. Substitutions (Clarification of Enrollment)

Change of Major

PSTAT Change of Major Form

Student Success Hub

Proposed Schedule Template

Other Petitions

PSTAT Graduate Course Petition

PSTAT 199

PSTAT 193

Substitutions (Clarification of Enrollment)

Change of Major Process

Declaring Your Major

  • Students declaring the Statistics and Data Science or Actuarial Science pre-major must have at least two MATH courses from UCSB (or another UC) on their transcript before they will be considered.
    • Students can apply while their courses are in progress, but petitions will be put on hold until grades are finalized. 
    • Math 34AB does not apply to the two math course requirement for declaration. 
  • Students declaring the full Actuarial Science or Statistics and Data Science major must meet meet the following requirements:
    1. Students must complete all pre-major courses with a 2.5 or higher UC GPA. All pre-major courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
    2. Students are permitted to repeat up to a maximum of two pre-major courses. Only one repeat is allowed in each course. In the case of a letter grade below C, students must repeat the course at UCSB. 
  • Students must complete both CMPSC 8 and CMPSC 9 (or 16) with a grade of “C” or better in each course prior to declaring the full major. Grades in CMPSC 8 and CMPSC 9 (or 16) are excluded from the pre-major GPA, but will apply to the overall major GPA.

Change of Majors

  • Use the PSTAT Change of Major Google Form to switch to or advance in ACTSC/STSDS majors, add as a double major, or change emphasis (BA ↔︎ BS).

    • You will need to design a study plan for the major you intend to pursue.

    • This form will let you select clearance for required courses for the following quarter registration given you are in-progress/meeting prerequisites.

  • Student Success Hub: Once you submit the google form you must indicate your change to the college via Student Success Hub.

  • Deadlines: If any required course is in progress, apply by end of week 10 of the given quarter.

  • Special Cases: Students interested in Financial Math & Statistics should apply with the Mathematics department here. FMS students should still submit the PSTAT Change of Major Google Form to request clearance for PSTAT courses. 

Course Repeats

PSTAT does not endorse any petitions for second repeats for any PSTAT major courses, including all PSTAT courses as well as courses in other departments required for major preparation or premajor requirements. All students may repeat a course only once, per College of Letters and Science policy, given that they received a C- or below (or NP). Such courses may be repeated for a letter grade if the course is so offered, and if the student is eligible for that option. Courses may also be repeated for pass/no pass, however all courses required for the major or preparation for the major/premajor must be completed with a letter grade only.

We are dedicated to seeing our students succeed and want to ensure that all students are able to graduate in a timely manner. While we appreciate that sometimes everyone struggles or makes mistakes, and we understand that sometimes people might need a second chance, we have to balance this with ensuring that students are able to move forward through the major. It's important to take your courses seriously each and every quarter to ensure that you get good grades and continue to move forward - if you're having trouble passing your courses please be aware that there are resources available to assist students. For assistance, contact CLAS.

Clearance Requests for Course Registration

Earlier Pass Times during course registration:

  • Students applying for the pre-major or full major will have the ability to request clearance for Pass 1 and Pass 2 in the Change of Major Google Form. Transitioning students will only be able to request required courses with respect to their major requirements.
    • Pre-major: PSTAT 8, 10, 120A
    • STSDS: PSTAT 120B, 122, 126
    • ACTSCI: PSTAT 120B, 126, 160A, 170, 171, 174
    • FMS: PSTAT 120B, 160A, 160B, 170
  • PSTAT cannot provide clearance for courses outside the department (i.e., Math, Econ, CMPSC). Students will have to wait until their major change is official on Gold to receive earlier registration times for required courses outside of PSTAT. 
  • Clearance is only guaranteed if submitted a week prior for each respective pass time. Late submissions will be processed on a rolling basis in the order received. 

Prerequisite Clearance

  • The PSTAT department does not waive prerequisite requirements for any PSTAT courses. All PSTAT majors must meet prerequisites for the courses they intend to take.
  • You cannot take a prerequisite course concurrently with the course the prerequisite is intended for. 
  • The PSTAT department does not have any petitions/test-out options for any courses.

CCS/CMPEN/GEOGP Majors

We require prerequisites to be complete or in-progress to request clearance.

  • CCS majors can request PSTAT courses for Pass 2.
    • CPTCS & MATCS can request for PSTAT 120A Pass 1 & 2, all other PSTAT courses for Pass 2.
  • CMPEN majors can request PSTAT 120A Pass 1 & 2.
  • GEOGP majors can request PSTAT 120A for Pass 2
  • Clearance is only guaranteed if submitted a week prior for each respective pass time. Late submissions will be processed on a rolling basis in the order received. 

Please submit your clearance petition HERE.

 

 

Other Petitions

Graduate Course Petition

Petition to Enroll in a Graduate Level PSTAT Courses - deactivated until pass 3 (12/1/2025)

  • Students must be enrolled in the undergraduate version of the course (if applicable) for their graduate petition to be considered. 

  • Winter 2026 petitions will be accepted starting in Pass 3 of Winter 2026 registration.

    • Courses without a concurrent undergraduate version of the course (i.e. PSTAT 207A) will be reviewed once Pass 3 begins. 

    • Courses with a concurrent undergraduate version of the course (PSTAT 231 and PSTAT 274) will be reviewed once the waitlist deactivates after the 5th day of instruction. Student must be enrolled in PSTAT 131/PSTAT 174 to have their PSTAT 231/274 petition be considered; graudate course petitions cannot be used to skip the waitlist. You will be dropped from PSTAT 131/PSTAT 174 if your PSTAT 231/274 petition is approved. 

    • Enrollment codes listed on the petition must be for a section of the graduate course offering. Graduate course enrollment codes can be viewed using the advanced search on GOLD. 

    • Petitions must specify whether you are taking the course with a Letter Grade or P/NP. Letter Grades must be used if the course is satisfying major requirements. 

 

PSTAT 199 Independent Research

PSTAT 199 provides an opportunity for advanced students in the major to work closely with a professor on a research project. Interested students should review the following requirements and procedures before enrolling in the course. Do not start the project without full approval from the professor and an add-code so you can register for the course!

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Have upper-division standing (90 completed units).
  • Must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA for the preceding three quarters at UCSB.
  • Have completed at least two upper-division courses in Statistics.
  • Have obtained permission of a professor to sponsor your work.
  • Complete a proposal and obtain approval prior to enrolling in the course.
  • Students may not have more than 12 units of 199 combined.
  • Submit a final report or other written work, as determined by the sponsoring professor.
    • The written work/report must be submitted to the sponsoring professor before a grade will be assigned for the course.

Enrollment Procedure: 

  1. Obtain a PSTAT faculty sponsor and decide on a research project.
  2. Draft a research proposal answering the questions listed below. The proposal will serve as a mini-syllabus or contract; therefore it should be completed with the professor with whom you will be working. Make a copy of the proposal for yourself, so that you can refer back to it throughout the quarter. Proposals should explain exactly what you will be doing, and how it applies to your PSTAT major. Proposals should clearly denote the academic and research components of the project.
  3. Fill out and sign the PSTAT 199 Petition using the form here. 
    • Proposals are due by the second Wednesday of the quarter. Once your proposal is approved, an add code will be emailed to you so that you can officially enroll.
    • Research proposals will need to be attached to your petition submission.

Research Proposal:

Consult with your sponsoring professor to discuss instructions for any written assignments that they expect you to complete. If your sponsoring professor has no other written work planned for you, the following are some suggested questions they may ask you to address in a written report at the end of the quarter.

  1. What are the goals of the research project on which you have worked? How do these goals refine, extend, or apply existing theory or knowledge in the area?
  2. What key findings might be expected from this research? What is the value of the knowledge? How can or will it be applied/used?
  3. What is the project’s approach to defining and measuring key variables of interest? How have decisions in these areas influenced the outcomes of the study? Are there alternative definitions and measures that might have been used? How would the findings of the study likely differ if these strategies had been employed?
  4. Identify and discuss other important strengths, weaknesses, or limitations associated with the research design for the project.
  5. After this study is completed, what further research should follow?

PSTAT 193: Internship in Statistics 

PSTAT 193 is designed to provide course credit for internships under specific circumstances. Please see this chart to ensure that you qualify before filling out the request form below. Course requirements include a 7-10 page final paper, due to the instructor of record at the end of the quarter in which you are enrolled.

Apply here!

International students need to apply to PSTAT 193 to be eligible for a CPT letter of recommendation to provide to OISS if you belong to one of the PSTAT majors. 

Substitutions (Clarification of Enrollment)

College of Letters & Science Students can submit a Credit & Enrollment petition to request special permission for course enrollment or credit that would otherwise not fall within UCSB policies. For example, a student would use this petition to:

  • Request a Legal Repeat to retake a course at another UC campus, with approval from the UCSB home department.
  • Request a Second Repeat to retake a course for the second time, with major department approval for required courses.
  • Students not in good academic standing can request a Concurrent Enrollment to take classes at another institution while enrolled at UCSB.