UC Santa Barbara Approved New Education Major
The Gevirtz Graduate School of Education will launch a Bachelor of Arts degree for students starting in 2027.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in College Applications
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UC Santa Barbara approved a new Bachelor of Arts degree in education and society in May 2026. The program will welcome its first cohort of 75 students beginning in the fall of 2027.
Why it matters
The major is designed to prepare undergraduates for diverse career paths in public service, policy, and nonprofit work. It aims to bridge the gap between academic research and community-based professional roles.
The curriculum requires 52 total units, consisting of 12 for preparation, 16 for core areas, and 24 for advanced pathways. These pathways include a minimum of 20 units in advanced topics and 4 units of practicum courses.
The players
UC Santa Barbara
This public research university is part of the University of California system and hosts the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education.
Gevirtz Graduate School of Education
This institution is the graduate school at UC Santa Barbara that oversees the new undergraduate major in education and society.
The details
The program integrates practice-based learning, requiring students to engage in research teams or field activities. Faculty from the hard sciences, social sciences, and humanities will collaborate to provide an interdisciplinary education.
Timeline
The Gevirtz Graduate School of Education proposed the new major in February 2026.
University officials officially approved the Bachelor of Arts degree in May 2026.
Incoming students will be able to enroll in the major beginning in Fall Quarter 2027.
Roadmap
The creation of this major aligns with a broader trend of research universities expanding undergraduate access to specialized professional training. It positions UC Santa Barbara to compete with other institutions offering direct career preparation in social and policy sectors.
Prospective students in Santa Barbara now have a new undergraduate track focused on entrepreneurial and public service career preparation. This major provides an alternative to existing minor programs in applied psychology and educational studies.
The takeaway
This new program offers undergraduates a structured path into policy and nonprofit work through interdisciplinary study. Students should review the unit requirements early to determine how the core areas and advanced pathways fit into their four-year academic plan.
What happens next
High school seniors can apply for this new major during the upcoming application cycle for the 2027 academic year.
Further reading
High school seniors can explore more about College Applications and academic programs on our site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Nexus.
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