American River College to SDSU
Computer Science Transfer Plan
ARC has a match for 10 of SDSU's 14 Computer Science prep courses. CS 150L, CS 160L, CS 210 and CS 250 have no ARC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
American River College
To
San Diego State University
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at American River College that satisfy San Diego State University's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at American River College | Satisfies at SDSU | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CISP 401 — Object Oriented Programming with Java | CS 150 — Introduction to Computer Programming | 4 |
| No ARC match | CS 150L — Introductory Computer Programming Laboratory | — |
| CISP 430 — Data Structures | CS 160 — Intermediate Computer Programming | 4 |
| No ARC match | CS 160L — Intermediate Computer Programming Laboratory | — |
| No ARC match | CS 210 — Data Structures | — |
| CISP 310 — Computer Architecture and Organization | CS 240 — Computer Organization | 4 |
| No ARC match | CS 250 — Introduction to Software Systems | — |
| MATH 400 — Calculus I | MATH 150 — Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 401 — Calculus II | MATH 151 — Calculus II | 5 |
| CISP 440 — Discrete Structures for Computer Science | MATH 245 — Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 410 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 254 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| STAT C1000 or STAT C1000H — Introduction to Statistics | STAT 250 — Statistical Principles and Practices | 4 |
| PHYS 410 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYS 195, PHYS 195L | 5 |
| PHYS 421 — Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 196, PHYS 196L | 4 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at San Diego State University after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at American River College
Complete these five courses at American River College to start your SDSU GE pattern. Finishing full IGETC/Cal-GETC at the CC is ideal — these five give you the broadest head start, and CCN-tagged courses stay portable if you switch community colleges.
BIOL 300
The Foundations of Biology
CHEM 305
Introduction to Chemistry
HIST 300
History of Europe and the Mediterranean to 1500
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at American River College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 300 — The Foundations of Biology | 3 |
Physical Science | CHEM 305 — Introduction to Chemistry | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 300 — History of Europe and the Mediterranean to 1500 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
4 semesters minimum for CISP 300 onward
CISP 300 through CISP 430: 4 courses, each needing the one before, so 4 semesters minimum. Start CISP 300 in your first semester. Placing higher shortens it.
Preview
Your First Semester
A preview of what Transfermatic generates — exact courses, in the right order, every semester.
Watch Out
Common Mistakes for This Transfer Path
4 SDSU requirements have no ARC match
ARC lists no course for CS 150L, CS 160L, CS 210 and CS 250. Check SDSU's Computer Science page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with CISP 300 and STAT C1000
CISP 300 and STAT C1000 sit at the start of their sequences for this route, so they fit your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
More than one way to cover STAT 250
For SDSU STAT 250, ARC accepts STAT C1000 or STAT C1000H. You need only one of them, so pick whichever fits your schedule.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at ARC for SDSU Computer Science?
CISP 401, CISP 430, CISP 310, MATH 400, MATH 401, CISP 440 and MATH 410, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 10 of the 14 prep courses SDSU lists for Computer Science.
What doesn't ARC cover for SDSU Computer Science?
CS 150L, CS 160L, CS 210 and CS 250. ARC lists no course for them, so check SDSU's Computer Science page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does ARC CISP 401 transfer to SDSU?
Yes, for Computer Science. ARC CISP 401 (Object Oriented Programming with Java) is the match for SDSU CS 150 (Introduction to Computer Programming) in the transfer agreement.
What should I take first at ARC for SDSU Computer Science?
CISP 300 and STAT C1000, plus ENGL C1000 for English composition. They sit at the start of their sequences.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
American River College students transferring to San Diego State University for Computer Science can match 10 of 14 lower-division prep courses at ARC, including CISP 401 and CISP 430. CS 150L and CS 160L have no American River College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. CISP 300 and STAT C1000 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in American River College and San Diego State University, and you get the classes you need for Computer Science, semester by semester.
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