UC Santa Barbara Geography
Transfer Acceptance Rate, GPA and Classes

For fall 2025, 78% of transfer applicants to UC Santa Barbara Geography were admitted (63 of 81). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.46–3.91.

The major preparation UC Santa Barbara lists for Geography transfers starts with GEOG 3, GEOG 4 and GEOG 5; the full list is below.

115 California community colleges have a current transfer agreement with UCSB for this major. Pick yours below to see which of its classes count.

78%

UCSB Geography transfer admit rate, fall 2025

3.46–3.91

GPA range of admitted transfers

Transfer applicants, 63 admitted

115

California community colleges with a transfer agreement for Geography

Source: UC Information Center, Fall 2025 transfer admissions by major.

Your community college

Which classes count at your community college?

Pick your college to see its class for each UCSB requirement.

Major Requirements

UC Santa Barbara Geography Major Preparation

The courses UC Santa Barbara lists as Geography major preparation for transfer applicants, for the 2025-26 academic year. Course numbers are UCSB's own; pick your community college above to see the matching class there.

Preparation for the major

Complete all of these

GEOG 3 Oceans and Atmosphere
GEOG 4 Land, Water and Life
GEOG 5 People, Place and Environment
GEOG 12 Maps and Spatial Reasoning

Complete 1 of these options

CHEM 1A General Chemistry · EEMB 2 Introductory Biology II - Ecology and Evolution · EEMB 2LL Introductory Biology Laboratory II · EEMB 21 General Botany · ENV S 2 Introduction to Environmental Science · EARTH 2 Principles of Physical Geology · EARTH 4 Introduction to Oceanography · MCDB 20 Concepts of Biology · PHYS 6A Introductory Physics · PHYS 6AL Introductory Experimental Physics
ANTH 2 Introductory Cultural Anthropology · ANTH 5 Introductory Biological Anthropology · COMM 1 Introduction to Communication · ECON 1 Principles of Economics-Micro · ECON 2 Principles of Economics-Macro · ENV S 3 Introduction to the Social and Cultural Environment · LING 20 Language and Linguistics · POL S 7 Introduction to International Relations · PSY 1 Introduction to Psychology · SOC 1 Introduction to Sociology
GEOG 6 Sex, Drugs, & Geography · GEOG 8 Introduction to Global Warming · GEOG 20 Geography of Surfing

Complete 1 of these

PSTAT 5A Understanding Data
PSTAT 5LS Statistics for Life Sciences
COMM 87 Statistical Analysis for Communication

Also listed by UCSB

UCSB lists these under the headings shown, apart from the list above.

Strongly recommended

MATH 3A Calculus with Applications, First Course
CMPSC 8 Introduction to Computer Science

Where a list says “courses listed”, or options are separated by a dot, UCSB's own Geography requirements say exactly which of those courses you need.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UC Santa Barbara Geography transfer acceptance rate?

For fall 2025, 78% of transfer applicants to UC Santa Barbara Geography were admitted (63 of 81). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.46–3.91.

Does UC Santa Barbara have a Geography major for transfer students?

Yes. UC Santa Barbara offers Geography (B.A.) and lists the major preparation it expects transfer applicants to complete.

What classes do I need to transfer to UC Santa Barbara for Geography?

UC Santa Barbara's Geography major preparation includes GEOG 3, GEOG 4, GEOG 5, GEOG 12, CHEM 1A and EEMB 2, with more courses in the list on this page. Pick your community college on this page to see which of its classes match.