Prospective Freshman Applicants
High school students interested in the UCLA BA in Public Affairs should complete the general UC application and select Public Affairs as a pre-major preference. Please note that the Public Affairs pre-major is housed in the UCLA College of Letters and Science. Freshman students who are admitted to UCLA as public affairs pre-majors are admitted to the College of Letters and Science and must apply to the major no later than winter quarter of their second year to be admitted to both the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the Public Affairs major. More information about the public affairs major application process for UCLA students can be found here.
For more information about applying to UCLA as a freshman applicant, please click the links below:
- UCLA Undergraduate Admission
- UCLA Admission Information for Freshman Applicants
- UCLA Admission Information for International Students
- Contact the UCLA Admission Office
- Contact Your UCLA Admission Representative
Transfer Credit for Freshman Applicants
Freshman applicants may be eligible to receive UCLA degree credit for transferable coursework and Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate exams completed prior to matriculation to UCLA. To learn about transfer credit and the type of credit you will earn at UCLA for your Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate exams, visit the UCLA Undergraduate Admission website here. Please note that students pursuing the BA in Public Affairs should click the link for AP/IB credit for the College of Letters & Science.
Prospective Transfer Applicants
UCLA is committed to being a transfer-friendly institution. A strong academic preparation and performance make you a more competitive candidate during the admission review process. Refer to the Transfer Admission Guide for the Public Affairs guidelines and articulation agreements. Applicants should use the Transfer Admission Guide, www.assist.org (for California Community College Students), and www.transferology.com to determine which specific courses you should take at your institution. This guide is not a substitute or replacement for your college counselor who can advise you about requirements for multiple universities.
Transfer students must be admitted into the pre-major upon their admission into UCLA to be eligible to pursue the Public Affairs major. Transfer students who were not admitted into the pre-major are not eligible for the major.
For more information about applying to UCLA as a freshman applicant, please click the links below:
- UCLA Undergraduate Admission
- UCLA Admission Information for Transfer Applicants
- UCLA Admission Information for International Students
- Contact the UCLA Admission Office
- Contact Your UCLA Admission Representative
Completing the Public Affairs Major Preparation Requirements Prior to Transfer
The Public Affairs major requires six major preparation courses: Public Affairs 40, Public Affairs 60, Public Affairs 80, and three additional major preparation courses from Public Affairs 10, 20, 30, 50, 70.
To be competitive for admission, it is strongly recommended that transfer students complete four (4) major preparation courses including Microeconomics and Introduction to Statistical Reasoning, by the end of the fall prior to transfer. Students must take all major preparation courses for a letter grade and receive a B grade or better in these courses to be competitive. Additional major preparation should be completed by the end of the spring term prior to transfer.
The chart below outlines the course substitutions for the eight lower division Public Affairs major preparation courses. Prospective transfer students should use the Transfer Admission Guide, www.assist.org (for California Community College Students), and www.transferology.com to determine the courses you should complete at your institution.
Use the chart below to determine which course substitutions will satisfy the Public Affairs major preparation requirements. You can download the major worksheet here.
| Major Preparation Courses | Course Substitutions based on course articulations1 | |
| PUB AFF 10. Social Problems and Social Change (5 units) | Limited articulations and no course substitutions; usually must be completed at UCLA | |
| PUB AFF 20. Power, Politics, and Policy Change (5 units) | Political Science 40. Introduction to American Politics | |
| PUB AFF 30. Comparative Analysis of Wealth, Policy, and Power (5 units) | Political Science 50. Introduction to Comparative Politics | |
| PUB AFF 40. Microeconomics for Public Affairs (5 units) | Economics 1. Principles of Economics | |
| PUB AFF 50. Foundations and Debates in Public Thought (5 units) | Political Science 10. Introduction to Political Theory | |
| PUB AFF 60. Using Data to Learn about Society: Introduction to Empirical Research and Statistics (5 units) | Statistics 10. Introduction to Statistical Reasoning | |
| PUB AFF 70. Information, Evidence, and Persuasion (4 units) | No articulations or course substitutions, must be completed at UCLA | |
| PUB AFF 80. How Social Environments Shape Human Development (4 units) | No articulations or course substitutions, must be completed at UCLA or petition transfer coursework2 | |
| 1 Once admitted to UCLA, students must consult with a Luskin Academic Counselor to discuss course substitutions and determine which major preparation courses must be completed at UCLA. 2 PUB AFF 80 may be satisfied with a transferable lifespan or human development course. | ||
Transfer Credit for Transfer Applicants
Transfer applicants may be eligible to receive UCLA degree credit for transferable coursework and Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate exams completed prior to matriculation to UCLA. To learn more about transfer credit and the type of credit you will earn at UCLA for your Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate exams, visit the UCLA Undergraduate Admission website here. Please note that students pursuing the BA in Public Affairs should click the link for AP/IB credit for the College of Letters & Science.
Public Affairs Events for Newly Admitted Bruins
Every spring quarter, the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program hosts events for newly admitted students. Events for admitted freshmen students are typically held in April. Events for admitted transfer students are typically held in May.
We invite all newly admitted students and their families and community to participate in these events. If you are unable to attend these events, and/or if you have questions about the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program, please contact the Luskin academic counselors at undergraduateinfo@luskin.ucla.edu.
The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs welcomes admitted first-years and their families to UCLA!
Join us at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Open House for Admitted First-Years to learn more about the Public Affairs major and the opportunities available to undergraduate students. The event will feature the Chair of the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program, the Public Affairs Student Services team, and a facilitated panel of current Public Affairs students. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask faculty, Luskin counselors, and student panelists questions about the major and student life.
Event Details
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Open House
- Saturday, April 11, 2026
- 12:00pm – 1:00pm (PST)
- 2355 Public Affairs Building or remotely via Zoom
Click the links below register to attend the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Open House.
- Register here to attend in-person (link forthcoming) | Access the campus map here
- Register here to attend remotely via Zoom (link forthcoming)
If you are attending in-person, you can access the interactive campus map here. The closest parking structure to the Public Affairs Building in Parking Structure 3. You can purchase a daily parking permit via the Bruin ePermit Portal.
If you are unable to attend the Open House, we invite you to schedule an appointment with a Public Affairs academic counselor. Please contact undergraduateinfo@luskin.ucla.edu with questions or to schedule a meeting with a Public Affairs academic counselor.
The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs welcomes admitted transfer and their families to UCLA!
Join us at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Open House for Admitted Transfer Students to learn more about the Public Affairs major and the opportunities available to undergraduate students. The event will feature the Chair of the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program, the Public Affairs Student Services team, and a facilitated panel of current Public Affairs students. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask faculty, Luskin counselors, and student panelists questions about the major and student life.
Event Details
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Open House
- Saturday, May 16, 2026
- 9:00am – 10:00am (PST)
- 2355 Public Affairs Building or remotely via Zoom
Click the links below register to attend the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Open House.
- Register here to attend in-person (link forthcoming) | Access the campus map here
- Register here to attend remotely via Zoom (link forthcoming)
If you are attending in-person, you can access the interactive campus map here. The closest parking structure to the Public Affairs Building in Parking Structure 3. You can purchase a daily parking permit via the Bruin ePermit Portal.
If you are unable to attend the Open House, we invite you to schedule an appointment with a Public Affairs academic counselor. Please contact undergraduateinfo@luskin.ucla.edu with questions or to schedule a meeting with a Public Affairs academic counselor.
Every year, newly admitted students are invited to participate in the UCLA Bruin Day events, where they can learn more about the opportunities UCLA has to offer. By attending Bruin Day, students have the opportunity to speak with campus representatives and current UCLA students, attend informational sessions, and tour the UCLA campus.
The Bruin Day event for admitted freshmen is typically held in early April. The Bruin Day event for admitted transfer students is typically held in early May.
Students who are unable to attend Bruin Day are welcome to schedule an appointment with a Public Affairs academic counselor.
Please contact undergraduateinfo@luskin.ucla.edu with questions or to schedule a meeting with a Public Affairs academic counselor.
he Luskin School of Public Affairs offers scholarships for undergraduate students pursuing the B.A. in Public Affairs and Luskin minors. These scholarships are intended to support students’ participation in experiential learning, internships, and departmental honors.
The Luskin School of Public Affairs offers the following undergraduate scholarships:
- Llewellyn Eugene Dudley Centennial Undergraduate Scholarship
- Shell Family Centennial Scholarship
- Michael S. Dukakis Internship in Public Service Award
- Experiential Learning Internship Support
- Public Affairs Departmental Honors Funding
- UCLA Internship Alumni Network Alex White Scholarship
- Congresswoman Lynn Schenk Capstone Scholarship
- H. Pike Oliver Scholarship
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Undergraduate Scholarship
Public Affairs pre-majors and majors, and Luskin minors (when applicable), are encouraged to apply to the Luskin scholarships. To learn more about the scholarships’ eligibility criteria and application process, please visit the Luskin Scholarships website here.