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Transition Advising

CNAS Transition Advising

The mission of the CNAS Transition Advising Program is to provide specialized high-touch academic advising and programming to UCR students who are transitioning out of CNAS due to lack of progress towards a CNAS degree, or realizing a potential for better major fit outside of their current college.  The Transition Advisor, along with Transition Peer Advisors and academic advisor liaisons from other UCR colleges, will guide, motivate, and provide academic resources to all CNAS transition students in an effort to encourage them to “Choose To Succeed.”

What is Transition Advising?

As a CNAS student, you may find yourself in a situation where a CNAS major no longer fits your academic plan, either by choice or due to academic challenges. Transition Advising is way to help you navigate the process of switching majors into CHASS. 

If you have decided that a science major is not for you, or if you are Undeclared and will not meet any CNAS Change of Major criteria by the time you reach 75 units, you may benefit from meeting with the Transition Advisor, who will assist you in creating a transition plan to move forward outside of CNAS.

What to Expect During Transition Meetings

  • Your initial transition meeting will be most effective as a scheduled appointment. To schedule an appointment with a Transition Advisor, please see "Schedule a Transition Advising Support Meeting" section below.
  • During the initial meeting, the Transition Advisor will discuss with you the details of your current situation and help you develop a Transition Plan, which will include your options for continued academic success, an outline of appropriate next steps, major and career exploration, petition instructions (if applicable), etc.
  • If needed, the Transition Advisor will advise to schedule follow-up appointments with herself or refer to the Transition Peer Advisors.
  • At the end of the meeting or shortly after, you might be given a Transition Plan to keep for your reference, depending on the complexity of your transition.

Additional Transition Advising Information

  • The CNAS Transition Advisor and the CNAS Transition Liaison from the CHASS Student Affairs Office host quarterly workshops for CNAS students who are interested in exploring CHASS majors.  

    CNAS to CHASS Transition Workshop Schedule - Please check back Fall 2026 for updated workshop dates.
     
    For assistance, please contact liliana.aguila@ucr.edu

  • Students pursuing majors in BCOE must be eligible to declare a BCOE major within their first year of residency.  For most students, this means the end of their Spring quarter of Freshmen year. 

    Students who place into MATH003 or MATH 6A should hold off on meeting with the Transition Advisor until successful completion of MATH 6B with a C- grade or higher.

    Students must pass all BCOE major change course requirements on their first attempt to avoid delays in declaring a BCOE major.  Students who receive a grade below C- must check in with Transition Advisor to confirm if they can still work towards a BCOE major change.  Grades below a C- are not permitted for major change criteria.

    Students are required to meet quarterly with the CNAS Transition Liaison to monitor progress towards BCOE majors.   A CNAS to BCOE transition student must meet with the Undeclared/College Advisor assigned to their alpha-split, as noted below:

  • To schedule an appointment or view advisor availability, please visit the Slate Student Success Portal.

    • From the drop-down menu select:
      • What can we help you with today -Degree Planning
      • Option that best describes concerns or needs-Major Change Declaration,
      • Who would you like to meet with to discuss this?- CNAS Advisor
      • Declaring Major for: - Undeclared Life Sciences
      • Refer to the image below for step by step instructions on how to schedule an appointment.
    • If you know you will be late or unable to attend your appointment, please contact Transition Advisor Liliana Aguila-Barajas at liliana.aguila@ucr.edu.
    • Please arrive on time for your appointment. Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late will be considered a no show and will need to reschedule.
    Screen grab of how to make undeclared advising appointment

  • Here are some important resources to help you narrow your list options for your new major:

    CHASS Majors and Major Change Criteria
    BCOE Majors and Major Change Criteria
    Pre-Professional Advising Center
    Academic Resource Center
    UCR Counseling Center
    UCR Career Center
    Careers In Your Major
    UCR Student Affairs Case Manager

CNAS Transition Peer Advisors

Meet the CNAS Transition Peer Advisors who are available to assist students transitioning to a different college.  Click on the student's photo to read more about their experience transitioning to their current majors. 

Transition Peer Advisors will not be available during the Spring 2026 term. Please reach out to Liliana Aguila-Barajas with questions or concerns. 

 Yuridia's Zoom LinkJasmine's Zoom Link

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