American River College to SDSU
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
ARC has a match for 9 of SDSU's 15 Mechanical Engineering prep courses. M E 190, M E 202, M E 220 and M E 230 and 2 more have no ARC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
American River College
To
San Diego State University
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at American River College that satisfy San Diego State University's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at American River College | Satisfies at SDSU | Units |
|---|---|---|
| No ARC match | M E 190 — Computer-Aided Design | — |
| ENGR 420 — Statics | M E 200 — Statics | 3 |
| No ARC match | M E 202 — Computer Programming and Applications | — |
| No ARC match | M E 220 — Dynamics | — |
| No ARC match | M E 230 — Basics of Mechatronics | — |
| ENGR 412 — Properties of Materials | M E 240 — Introduction to Engineering Materials | 4 |
| No ARC match | M E 241 — Materials Laboratory | — |
| No ARC match | A E 280 — Methods of Analysis | — |
| CHEM 400 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 200 — General Chemistry (choose 1) | 5 |
| BIOL 300 — The Foundations of Biology | BIOL 100 — General Biology (choose 1) | 3 |
| MATH 400 — Calculus I | MATH 150 — Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 401 — Calculus II | MATH 151 — Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 402 — Calculus III | MATH 252 — Calculus III | 5 |
| 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
SDSU's Mechanical Engineering program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five American River College courses cover foundation requirements every CSU accepts. Start here.
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 |
SDSU Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
SDSU says its own GE pattern, not Cal-GETC or CSU GE certification, is what engineering majors commonly use.
4 semesters minimum for MATH 370 onward
MATH 370 through ENGR 420: 4 courses, each needing the one before, so 4 semesters minimum. Start MATH 370 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
6 SDSU requirements have no ARC match
ARC lists no course for M E 190, M E 202, M E 220 and M E 230 and others. Check SDSU's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with MATH 370 and BIOL 300
MATH 370 and BIOL 300 sit at the start of their sequences for this route, so they fit your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
What SDSU looks for
All major prep in the SDSU catalog must be done by the end of spring 2027. Summer 2027 courses do not count.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at ARC for SDSU Mechanical Engineering?
ENGR 420, ENGR 412, CHEM 400, BIOL 300, MATH 400, MATH 401 and MATH 402, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 9 of the 15 prep courses SDSU lists for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't ARC cover for SDSU Mechanical Engineering?
M E 190, M E 202, M E 220, M E 230 and M E 241 and 1 more. ARC lists no course for them, so check SDSU's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does ARC ENGR 420 transfer to SDSU?
Yes, for Mechanical Engineering. ARC ENGR 420 (Statics) is the match for SDSU M E 200 (Statics) in the transfer agreement.
What should I take first at ARC for SDSU Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 370 and BIOL 300, plus ENGL C1000 for English composition. They sit at the start of their sequences.
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Related Transfer Plans
American River College students transferring to San Diego State University for Mechanical Engineering can match 9 of 15 lower-division prep courses at ARC, including ENGR 420 and ENGR 412. M E 190 and M E 202 have no American River College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. MATH 370 and BIOL 300 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 Mechanical Engineering, semester by semester.
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