UC Santa Cruz Earth Sciences
Transfer Acceptance Rate, GPA and Classes

For fall 2025, 94% of transfer applicants to UC Santa Cruz Earth Sciences were admitted (253 of 268). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.22–3.84.

The major preparation UC Santa Cruz lists for Earth Sciences transfers starts with MATH 11A, MATH 19A and CHEM 3A; the full list is below.

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

94%

UCSC Earth Sciences transfer admit rate, fall 2025

3.22–3.84

GPA range of admitted transfers

268

Transfer applicants, 253 admitted

115

California community colleges with a transfer agreement for Earth Sciences

Source: UC Information Center, Fall 2025 transfer admissions by major (published as Earth Science).

Your community college

Which classes count at your community college?

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

Major Requirements

UC Santa Cruz Earth Sciences Major Preparation

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

Required major preparation courses

Complete 1 of these

MATH 11A Calculus with Applications
MATH 19A Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

Complete 1 of these options

CHEM 3A General Chemistry · CHEM 3B General Chemistry · CHEM 3BL General Chemistry Lab · CHEM 3C General Chemistry · CHEM 3CL General Chemistry Lab
CHEM 4A Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity · CHEM 4AL Advanced General Chemistry Lab · CHEM 4B Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity · CHEM 4BL Advanced General Chemistry Lab

Complete 1 of these options

PHYS 5A Introduction to Physics I · PHYS 5L Introduction to Physics I Laboratory · PHYS 5B Introduction to Physics II · PHYS 5M Introduction to Physics II Laboratory
PHYS 6A Introductory Physics I · PHYS 6L Introductory Physics I Laboratory · PHYS 6B Introductory Physics II · PHYS 6M Introductory Physics II Laboratory

Complete 1 of these options

EART 5 California Geology · EART 5L California Geology Laboratory
EART 10 How the Earth Works · EART 10L Geologic Principles Laboratory
EART 20 Environmental Geology · EART 20L Environmental Geology Laboratory

Also listed by UCSC

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

Recommended preparation

1 of these

MATH 11B Calculus with Applications
MATH 19B Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

Additional major preparation courses

1 of these

MATH 22 Introduction to Calculus of Several Variables
MATH 23A Vector Calculus
EART 111 Mathematics in the Earth Sciences

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

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UC Santa Cruz Earth Sciences transfer acceptance rate?

For fall 2025, 94% of transfer applicants to UC Santa Cruz Earth Sciences were admitted (253 of 268). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.22–3.84.

Does UC Santa Cruz have an Earth Sciences major for transfer students?

Yes. UC Santa Cruz offers Earth Sciences (B.S.) and lists the major preparation it expects transfer applicants to complete.

What classes do I need to transfer to UC Santa Cruz for Earth Sciences?

UC Santa Cruz's Earth Sciences major preparation includes MATH 11A, MATH 19A, CHEM 3A, CHEM 3B, CHEM 3BL and CHEM 3C, with more courses in the list on this page. Pick your community college on this page to see which of its classes match.