Choosing a major can be a tough task that makes you weigh your interests, career goals, strengths, and weaknesses. According to a new report by UC San Diego’s Senate-Administration Workgroup on Admissions, a major weakness among many UC San Diego students is mathematics. The report found that “Between 2020 and 2025, the number of students whose math skills fall below middle-school level increased nearly thirtyfold.”
This troubling trend was also pointed out by UCSD students who noticed that 9 out of the 10 most failed classes for the Fall 2024 quarter at UC San Diego were math classes, with failure rates sometimes as high as 44%. For that reason, it’s no surprise that math is a subject that many students actively avoid.
If you’re a student who’s deciding your major and you’re trying to avoid math, this article will go over 10 majors offered at UC San Diego that don’t require any math classes as of 2025.
Please keep in mind, some majors may still involve math, even if math is not listed as a required class to fulfill the major requirements.
This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be taken as academic advising. Major requirements can change, and individual college requirements may vary.
Human Developmental Sciences (B.A.)
UC San Diego’s Human Developmental Sciences program covers “a broad spectrum of issues in biological, psychological, and socio-cultural development” according to the department’s information page.
The B.A. program requires that students take a total of 19 courses. HDS 60 – “Introduction to Statistical Analysis” is the only math-related course required in this major. HDS 60 is a lower-division requirement that focuses on “descriptive and inferential statistics, core tools in the process of scientific discovery, and the interpretation of research” according to the UCSD General Catalog.
Click this link to learn more about the Human Developmental Sciences (B.A.) major.
Media Industries & Communication (B.A.)
The Media Industries & Communication (MIC) major focuses on providing students with “critical and practical skill sets to analyze an increasingly complex media and communication landscape” as per the department’s information page.
Students are required to complete 16 courses for this program, none of which are in the math department.
This B.A. major might be of interest to you if you’re considering a career in media-related fields, such as film, journalism, advertising, publishing, television, or public relations.
Click this link to learn more about the Media Industries & Communication (B.A) major.
Cinematic Arts (B.A.)
Students in the Cinematic Arts major not only study film but also gain hands-on experience in cinematography, editing, and visual effects.
This B.A. degree requires that students take a total of 19 courses. None of those courses include math. Instead, students learn about the fundamentals of cinematography in lower-division classes, then proceed to the study and production of film in upper-division coursework.
Click this link to learn more about the Cinematic Arts (B.A.) major.
History (B.A.)
The History major at UC San Diego teaches students to analyze sources, read critically, and communicate effectively through speech and writing. This major can open up multiple career paths, including law, education, and even business. All of these careers require analytical skills and strong communication abilities that this major provides.
Students are required to complete 15 courses for a B.A. in History, none of which are math-related.
Click this link to learn more about the History (B.A.) major.
Urban Studies and Planning (B.A.)
The Urban Studies and Planning major is great for students looking for careers in housing and community development, real estate, and even local government. This program teaches students “a variety of perspectives for understanding the development, growth, and culture of cities and the communities within them,” according to the department’s webpage.
Students need to complete a total of 18 courses, mostly within the Urban Studies and Planning department. No math classes are listed as requirements.
Click this link to learn more about the Urban Studies and Planning (B.A.) major.
Biological Anthropology (B.A.)
Biological Anthropology (B.A.) is a major offered by the UCSD Anthropology Department. This major “offers a broad understanding of human evolution, the human brain, and the human genome/epigenome” while addressing the “culture-bearing capacity” of humans.
Course requirements for this major include 3 core courses, 4 upper-division “concentration” courses, and 5 upper-division electives.
Click this link to learn more about the Biological Anthropology (B.A.) major.
Sociology (B.A.)
UCSD’s Sociology major teaches students the “composition, organization, culture, and development” of society. This major also offers “concentration” courses, allowing students to study sociology with a focus on a specific field, including economy and society, law and society, and science and medicine.
All coursework for this program consists of sociology courses, making this a good choice for students who want to avoid math.
Click this link to learn more about the Sociology (B.A.) major.
Media (B.A.)
The Media (B.A.) major can be a great choice for students who are interested in photography, video, and film. “The program provides historical, social and aesthetic backgrounds for the understanding of modern media, and emphasizes creativity, versatility and intelligence over technical specializations,” according to the UCSD Visual Arts Department.
In total, Media majors are required to take 20 courses to complete the program. Math is not a required course!
The department recommends that students see a department adviser before entering UCSD.
Click this link to learn more about the Media (B.A.) major.
Linguistics (B.A.)
UCSD’s Linguistics (B.A.) major introduces students to the study of human language, its acquisition, processing, and role in society. This program also develops writing, research, and critical thinking skills, making this major a good choice for those seeking careers in education, law, and healthcare.
To get this degree, students are required to complete 12 upper-division courses and satisfy a language proficiency requirement.
Click this link to learn more about the Linguistics (B.A.) major.
Global Health (B.A.)
The Global Health (B.A.) major provides students with an “in‐depth understanding of factors related to illness, health, and healing from a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective” according to the program’s information page. Global Health students need to complete 17 courses in order to earn the B.A. degree.
This major does require one statistics course, which can be fulfilled by taking POLI 30/30D, PSYC 60, COGS 14B, or MATH 11/11L.
Click this link to learn more about the Global Health (B.A.) major.
We hope this article was helpful to you. Please keep in mind that even though these majors don’t require any math classes, some UCSD colleges may still require you to take math classes as part of their general education requirements.
