American River College to UCI
Biological Sciences Transfer Plan
ARC has a match for 6 of UCI's 9 Biological Sciences prep courses. BIO SCI 97, BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99 have no ARC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
American River College
To
UC Irvine
Biological SciencesUC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
UCI offers TAG for Biological Sciences for fall 2027 applicants, with a minimum 3.4 GPA. File during the TAG window the fall before you transfer, and check UCI's TAG page, since its list of eligible majors changes.
Major Requirements
Biological Sciences Major Preparation
Courses at American River College that satisfy UC Irvine's Biological Sciences major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at American River College | Satisfies at UCI | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 400 — Principles of Biology | BIO SCI 93 — DNA to Organisms | 5 |
| BIOL 415 or BIOL 420 — Introduction to Biology: Biodiversity, Evolution, and Ecology | BIO SCI 94 — Organisms to Ecosystems | 5 |
| CHEM 401 + CHEM 400 — General Chemistry II + General Chemistry I | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B, CHEM 1C, CHEM 1LC, CHEM 1LD | 10 |
| CHEM 420 + CHEM 421 — Organic Chemistry I + Organic Chemistry II | CHEM 51A, CHEM 51B, CHEM 51LB, CHEM 51C, CHEM 51LC | 10 |
| No ARC match | BIO SCI 97 — Genetics | — |
| No ARC match | BIO SCI 98 — Biochemistry | — |
| No ARC match | BIO SCI 99 — Molecular Biology | — |
| PHYS 410 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYSICS 3A, PHYSICS 3B, PHYSICS 3LB, PHYSICS 3C, PHYSICS 3LC (choose 1) | 5 |
| PHYS 421 + PHYS 410 — Electricity and Magnetism + Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYSICS 7C, PHYSICS 7LC, PHYSICS 7D, PHYSICS 7LD, PHYSICS 7E (choose 1) | 9 |
| MATH 400 (or another listed option) — Calculus I | Mathematics Requirement | 5 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Irvine after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at American River College
UCI's Biological Sciences program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five American River College courses cover foundation requirements every UC 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 |
UCI Biological Sciences: full GE notes
UCI says IGETC may not be recommended for science majors like Biological Sciences, so El Camino students should place chemistry and biology ahead of general education.
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.
ARC semesters, UCI quarters
ARC runs on semesters and UCI on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCI's quicker quarter schedule.
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
3 UCI requirements have no ARC match
ARC lists no course for BIO SCI 97, BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99. Check UCI's Biological Sciences page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
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.
ARC gives you options here
For UCI BIO SCI 94, ARC accepts BIOL 415 or BIOL 420. You need only one of them, so pick whichever fits your schedule.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at ARC for UCI Biological Sciences?
BIOL 400, BIOL 415 or BIOL 420, CHEM 401, CHEM 400, CHEM 420, CHEM 421 and PHYS 410. Together they match 6 of the 9 prep courses UCI lists for Biological Sciences.
What doesn't ARC cover for UCI Biological Sciences?
BIO SCI 97, BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99. ARC lists no course for them, so check UCI's Biological Sciences page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does ARC BIOL 400 transfer to UCI?
Yes, for Biological Sciences. ARC BIOL 400 (Principles of Biology) is the match for UCI BIO SCI 93 (DNA to Organisms) in the transfer agreement.
Can I use TAG for UCI Biological Sciences?
UCI lists Biological Sciences as TAG-eligible for fall 2027, with a minimum 3.4 GPA. Check UCI's TAG page before you count on it for a later term.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
American River College students transferring to UC Irvine for Biological Sciences can match 6 of 9 lower-division prep courses at ARC, including BIOL 400 and BIOL 415 or BIOL 420. BIO SCI 97 and BIO SCI 98 have no American River College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. CHEM 310 is a good first-semester pick. On Transfermatic, put in American River College and UC Irvine, and you get the classes you need for Biological Sciences, semester by semester.
Build your American River College → UCI plan
Personalized, semester-by-semester. Free to start.
Get My Transfer Plan