Declaring the Major

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Requirements for Declaring the Major

To declare the major, you must be enrolled in or have completed two community studies five-unit courses: one must be a CMMU 100A-Z Theory and Practice course and the other can be a lower or upper-division course (excluding CMMU 42's and independent/field studies).

Instructions for Declaring the Major

1. Attend a department orientation held at the beginning of Fall and Winter quarters (check the website for date/time/location).
   
2. Choose and enroll in the appropriate Community Studies 100(A-Z) seminar. If you are accepted into the class, a permission number will allow you to register; you can then move on to the next step.
   
3. Print out a Declaration of Major petition from http://advising.ucsc.edu, fill in the University General Education and College Requirements portion, and obtain the signature of your college adviser. Complete the Application for Admission to Community Studies. Prepare an academic study plan on a separate piece of paper with your plans for completing all requirements for the major including field study and selection of directed electives.
4. Write a three- to four-page essay (typewritten) explaining:
   • Why you think that the community studies major is the best way for you to pursue your academic and social change interests and how your focus matches the emphasis of your gateway seminar.
   • The type of social change or social justice organization with which you expect to work.
   •The classes you have taken and/or plan to take, in addition to Community Studies 100(A-Z), to prepare you to work with this organization.
   •Your social location (defined as the intersections of nationality, immigration history, ethnicity, racial privilege, class, gender, age, urban/rural/suburban/ex-urban upbringing, and/or sexuality) and how it may influence and/or be influenced by your proposed six-month field placement. For this part of the essay we encourage you to think deeply about all of these aspects although you are not required to reveal details about any individual category listed nor will you be accepted or rejected from the major on the basis of any of these categories. Keep in mind that the department is interested in both the substance of your essay and your ability to express yourself in written form.
5. Meet with your Community Studies 100(A-Z) seminar professor to discuss your essay, field-study plans, and other application materials. Be prepared to list which electives you plan to take to fulfill your directed elective requirements although you may need to be flexible on your elective choices as your faculty adviser may make other recommendations. Obtain the faculty signature on the application form. Bring any evaluations or progress reports from currently enrolled courses to support your application to the major.
6. Well before the deadline for the declaration of major, bring your completed Declaration of Major petition, draft study plan, signed application form, and essay to the Community Studies Department office (231 Oakes College) for final approval and processing. You are not officially declared until step 6 is finalized.

   Note: you cannot begin course 102 without declaring the major and, in addition, submitting the approved and fully signed Field Study Goals and Objectives form to either of the Field Study Coordinators by 5 PM, Monday, March 15, 2010. Failure to do so will defer your progress in the major until the following year when the 102 course is next offered (spring only).

Declaration of Major Deadlines for 2009-10 are:

Fall Quarter: Friday, October 23, 2009
Winter Quarter: Friday, February 5, 2010
Spring Quarter: Friday, April 30, 2010

A student may be directed to another department of study on campus in those instances where his/her needs do not correspond with the orientation and goals of this program.

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