UC Santa Cruz Environmental Sciences
Transfer Requirements and Classes

The major preparation UC Santa Cruz lists for Environmental Sciences transfers starts with CHEM 3A, CHEM 3B and CHEM 3BL; 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.

115

California community colleges with a transfer agreement for Environmental Sciences

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 Environmental Sciences Major Preparation

The courses UC Santa Cruz lists as Environmental 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 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 all of these

MATH 11A Calculus with Applications
MATH 11B Calculus with Applications
PHYS 6A Introductory Physics I
PHYS 6L Introductory Physics I 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

PHYS 6B Introductory Physics II
PHYS 6M Introductory Physics II Laboratory

Additional major preparation courses

ENVS 25 Environmental Politics, Economics and Justice
ESCI 30 Biological Principles of Environmental Sciences

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

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. UC Santa Cruz offers Environmental 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 Environmental Sciences?

UC Santa Cruz's Environmental Sciences major preparation includes CHEM 3A, CHEM 3B, CHEM 3BL, CHEM 3C, CHEM 3CL and CHEM 4A, with more courses in the list on this page. Pick your community college on this page to see which of its classes match.

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