Undergraduate Advising
Advising support from our staff
Students interested in declaring a legal studies major can meet with our staff advisor to develop an academic plan, and current majors can get help with updating their academic plans and ensuring progress toward graduation.
Fall Hours (appointment via zoom):
- Monday (9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.)
- Tuesday (9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.)
- Wednesday (9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.)
- Thursday (9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.)
- Friday (10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.)
Fall Hours (drop-in via zoom):
- Monday (2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.)
- Tuesday (2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.)
- Wednesday (2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.)
- Thursday (2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.)
- Friday (1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.)
Peer advising
Peer advisors are currently enrolled students who answer questions about major and minor requirements, assist with academic planning, help prepare a declaration of major/minor paperwork, and provide guidance on UCDC, UC Sacramento, and study abroad program requirements. Peer advisors can also be reached via Google Meet. Add us to your Google contacts: lgstpoli@ucsc.edu.
Peer advising is available in Merrill 8 (in person and virtually) as follows:
Monday (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – In person /drop-in
Thursday (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) – Online by appointment
Meet your advisors
Yanin , Legal Studies Undergraduate Advisor & Program Coordinator
Hi! My name is Yanin (she/her), and I am the undergraduate advisor for legal studies. I am a UCSC alumnus (double major in legal studies and sociology), and education has always been important to me. Being a first-generation Latina student, I faced many challenges along the way, but I received a lot of support from both faculty and staff, which drove my desire to help other students navigate through their undergraduate careers. During my free time, I spend most of my time hanging out with my two dogs.
Jerry Diaz, Politics Undergraduate Advisor & Assistant Manager
Jerry is a Banana Slug alumnus (sociology & education minor) from the Class of 1999. He has a Master’s degree in Higher Education with an emphasis in student development theories from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Jerry has exercised a lifelong passion for student affairs work in academic advising and guidance since 2012. He resides in the area with his family, which includes his turtle Shelly. When not in the office, he enjoys running, cooking, and reading good books. Jerry is committed to your academic success and invites you to connect for an academic advising session.
Lesly Lizarraga, Politics & Legal Studies Peer Advisor
Hello everyone! My name is Lesly Lizarraga (she/her) and I’m currently a senior pursuing a major in politics and minor in legal studies. Beyond my education, I enjoy reading, journaling, and going on spontaneous adventures either by myself or with friends. After graduation, I plan on attending law school in hopes of becoming an immigration lawyer and maybe even move back to Tucson, Arizona (where I was born). In addition to being a politics and legal studies peer advisor, I’m also a Perk employee and a mentor for the Mentor Collective Program. I’m more than excited to be joining the POLI/LGST advising team and can’t wait to provide my peers with both support and guidance as they embark on their academic journey.
Hakim Moghaddami , Legal Studies Peer Advisor
Hello everyone! My name is Hakim (he/him) and I am currently a second year student double majoring in Politics and Legal Studies with a minor in History. Outside of academics, I enjoy staying active in the gym, hiking, and challenging myself with a good game of chess. After graduating, I plan on attending law school or pursuing a masters degree, specializing in the financial aspects of international investment law. I also currently work as a Learning Support Services tutor and am very excited to be a part of the Legal Studies and Politics advising team to help support my peers in their academic journeys.
Yadira Velazquez, Legal Studies Peer Advisor
Hello everyone! My name is Yadira Velazquez (she/her) and I am currently a second-year student majoring in Legal Studies with a minor in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies (CRES). I am a proud first generation Latina student and Spanish speaker, and I plan to attend law school after graduation to pursue a career as an immigration lawyer. Alongside academics, I work at the Stevenson Dining Hall, volunteer at local animal shelters, enjoy going to the gym, and love spending time at the beach. As a Legal Studies Peer Advisor, my goal is to help students feel welcomed into the major and supported throughout their journey so they can thrive and succeed. I am so excited to be part of the Legal Studies advising team and to connect with you all!
Major and minor degree requirements
Major checklists
These checklists are only for the legal studies major. Double majors/minors require verification from all declared departments. Colleges provide general education and unit verification.
Declaring the legal studies major/minor
Step 2
Complete LGST 10 with a passing grade, “P”/”C” or better.
Making the most of your learning experience
The Legal Studies Program encourages students to participate in program events, such as our Speakers’ Series, and to undertake law-related experiential learning opportunities, like internships, field study, and travel learning programs. Find more details on our Undergraduate Experiential Learning page and through the UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) and UCSC Global Learning.
Course substitutions
Students may petition for up to three course substitutions toward the legal studies major, with no more than two courses from the Education Abroad Program (EAP). This limit includes travel study programs such as Global Learning, UCDC, and UC Center Sacramento, as well as independent study courses. Courses completed through Global Learning are not pre-approved. Courses completed at a Community College are not eligible to be petitioned as substitutes for upper-division courses. After official grades are posted on MyUCSC, students may submit a course substitution request using the link below. All syllabi will be reviewed by the legal studies program director. All decisions are final.
Honors in the major
To be considered for honors or highest honors at graduation, a student must have taken a minimum of nine graded courses in the major. P/NP grades are not included when calculating GPA in the major. “Honors” and “Highest Honors” classifications will be awarded to graduating students who achieve GPAs of 3.67 and 3.8 respectively, based on classes taken within the legal studies major. Per UCSC policy, generally, no more than 15% of the graduating class earns honors or highest honors in the major. There are no honors for the minor.
Legal studies pass/no pass grading policy
- Pass / No Pass (Major): Up to three LGST courses may be taken as P/NP towards the major. If a student wishes to qualify for honors, the amount of P/NP courses should be no more than two.
- Pass / No Pass (Minor): Up to two LGST courses may be taken as P/NP towards the minor.
Graduate school resources
Faculty, students, and alumni from our program have put together advice and resources to support students who are interested in attending law school or other graduate programs after completing a B.A. in Legal Studies.