UC Santa Cruz Environmental Studies
Transfer Acceptance Rate, GPA and Classes

For fall 2025, 59% of transfer applicants to UC Santa Cruz Environmental Studies were admitted (64 of 108). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.20–3.75.

The major preparation UC Santa Cruz lists for Environmental Studies transfers starts with ENVS 23, CHEM 3A and CHEM 4A; 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.

59%

UCSC Environmental Studies transfer admit rate, fall 2025

3.20–3.75

GPA range of admitted transfers

108

Transfer applicants, 64 admitted

115

California community colleges with a transfer agreement for Environmental Studies

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 UCSC requirement.

Major Requirements

UC Santa Cruz Environmental Studies Major Preparation

The courses UC Santa Cruz lists as Environmental Studies 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 2 of these options

ENVS 23 The Physical and Chemical Environment · CHEM 3A General Chemistry · CHEM 4A Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity
AM 3 Precalculus for the Social Sciences · MATH 3 Precalculus · AM 11A Mathematical Methods for Economists I · MATH 11A Calculus with Applications · MATH 16A Mathematics for Life Sciences · MATH 19A Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

Complete all of these

STAT 7 Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences
STAT 7L Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory

Complete 1 of these

ENVS 25 Environmental Politics, Economics and Justice
ECON 1 Introductory Microeconomics: Resource Allocation and Market Structure
ECON 2 Introductory Macroeconomics: Aggregate Economic Activity

Complete 1 of these

ANTH 2 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
BME 80G Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society
PHIL 22 Introduction to Ethical Theory
PHIL 24 Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues
PHIL 28 Environmental Ethics
SOCY 1 Introduction to Sociology
SOCY 10 Issues and Problems in American Society
SOCY 15 World Society

Also listed by UCSC

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

Recommended preparation

1 of these

BIOE 20C Ecology and Evolution
ENVS 24 General Ecology

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

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UC Santa Cruz Environmental Studies transfer acceptance rate?

For fall 2025, 59% of transfer applicants to UC Santa Cruz Environmental Studies were admitted (64 of 108). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.20–3.75.

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

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

What classes do I need to transfer to UC Santa Cruz for Environmental Studies?

UC Santa Cruz's Environmental Studies major preparation includes ENVS 23, CHEM 3A, CHEM 4A, AM 3, MATH 3 and AM 11A, with more courses in the list on this page. Pick your community college on this page to see which of its classes match.