American River College to UC Berkeley
Molecular and Cell Biology Transfer Plan
ARC has a match for every one of UC Berkeley's 8 Molecular and Cell Biology prep courses, so you can finish all of the listed prep at ARC. Start with CHEM 310.
From
American River College
To
UC Berkeley
Molecular and Cell BiologyMajor Requirements
Molecular and Cell Biology Major Preparation
Courses at American River College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Molecular and Cell Biology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at American River College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 410 (or another listed option) — Principles of Botany | BIOLOGY 1A, BIOLOGY 1AL | 5 |
| (BIOL 400 and BIOL 410) or (BIOL 415 and BIOL 400) — Principles of Biology | BIOLOGY 1B — General Biology (Plant Form & Function, Ecology, Evolution) | 5 |
| CHEM 400 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1AL | 5 |
| CHEM 401 — General Chemistry II | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 420 — Organic Chemistry I | CHEM 3A, CHEM 3AL | 5 |
| CHEM 421 — Organic Chemistry II | CHEM 3B, CHEM 3BL | 5 |
| MATH 400 — Calculus I | MATH 51 — Calculus I (choose 2) | 5 |
| MATH 420 + MATH 401 — Differential Equations + Calculus II | MATH 52 — Calculus II (choose 2) | 9 |
| MATH 402 — Calculus III | MATH 53 — Multivariable Calculus (choose 2) | 5 |
| MATH 420 + MATH 410 — Differential Equations + Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 54 — Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (choose 2) | 7 |
| CISP 440 — Discrete Structures for Computer Science | MATH 55 — Discrete Mathematics (choose 2) | 3 |
| No ARC match | PHYSICS 8A — Introductory Physics (recommended) | — |
| PHYS 410 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYSICS 7A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (recommended) | 5 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley 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 |
5 semesters minimum for CHEM 310 onward
CHEM 310 through CHEM 421: 5 courses, each needing the one before, so 5 semesters minimum, more than four fall and spring terms. Start CHEM 310 first or plan on summer. 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
ARC covers all 8 listed courses
Every UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology prep course in the transfer agreement has a ARC match, so none of the listed prep has to wait. Take them all before you apply.
Start with CHEM 310
CHEM 310 sits at the start of its sequence for this route, so it fits your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
What UC Berkeley looks for
Admitted transfers who chose MCB go directly into the major. This has applied since fall 2023.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at ARC for UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology?
BIOL 410, BIOL 400, CHEM 400, CHEM 401, CHEM 420, CHEM 421 and MATH 400, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 8 of the 8 prep courses UC Berkeley lists for Molecular and Cell Biology.
What doesn't ARC cover for UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology?
Nothing in the transfer agreement. Every UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology prep course listed has a ARC match.
Does ARC CHEM 401 transfer to UC Berkeley?
Yes, for Molecular and Cell Biology. ARC CHEM 401 (General Chemistry II) is the match for UC Berkeley CHEM 1B (General Chemistry) in the transfer agreement.
What is UC Berkeley's transfer admit rate for Molecular and Cell Biology?
23% of all transfer applicants to UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology were admitted in 2025. That figure covers applicants from every college, so it isn't specific to ARC.
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Related Transfer Plans
American River College students transferring to UC Berkeley for Molecular and Cell Biology can match 8 of 8 lower-division prep courses at ARC, including BIOL 410 and BIOL 400. Every listed course has a American River College equivalent in the 2026-2027 agreement. CHEM 310 is a good first-semester pick. On Transfermatic, put in American River College and UC Berkeley, and you get the classes you need for Molecular and Cell Biology, semester by semester.
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