American River College to UCI
Computer Science Transfer Plan
ARC has a match for every one of UCI's 5 Computer Science prep courses, so you can finish all of the listed prep at ARC. Start with CISP 300.
From
American River College
To
UC Irvine
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at American River College that satisfy UC Irvine's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at American River College | Satisfies at UCI | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CISP 400 + CISP 430 — Object Oriented Programming with C++ + Data Structures | I&C SCI 31, I&C SCI 32, I&C SCI 33 | 8 |
| MATH 400 — Calculus I | MATH 2A — Single-Variable Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 401 — Calculus II | MATH 2B — Single-Variable Calculus | 5 |
| CISP 400 + CISP 360 — Object Oriented Programming with C++ + Introduction to Structured Programming | I&C SCI 45C — Programming in C/C++ as a Second Language (choose 1) | 8 |
| CISP 400 + CISP 430 — Object Oriented Programming with C++ + Data Structures | I&C SCI 46 — Data Structure Implementation and Analysis (choose 1) | 8 |
| CISP 440 — Discrete Structures for Computer Science | I&C SCI 6B — Boolean Logic and Discrete Structures (choose 1) | 3 |
| MATH 410 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 3A — Introduction to Linear Algebra (choose 1) | 3 |
General Education
Foundation GE at American River College
Complete these five courses at American River College to start your UCI 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.
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
ARC covers all 5 listed courses
Every UCI Computer Science 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 CISP 300
CISP 300 sits at the start of its sequence for this route, so it fits your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
What UCI looks for
Requires a B or better in two terms of calculus, a year of programming in one object-oriented language, and one more approved course. Minimum GPA is 3.0.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at ARC for UCI Computer Science?
CISP 400, CISP 430, MATH 400, MATH 401, CISP 360, CISP 440 and MATH 410. Together they match 5 of the 5 prep courses UCI lists for Computer Science.
What doesn't ARC cover for UCI Computer Science?
Nothing in the transfer agreement. Every UCI Computer Science prep course listed has a ARC match.
Does ARC MATH 400 transfer to UCI?
Yes, for Computer Science. ARC MATH 400 (Calculus I) is the match for UCI MATH 2A (Single-Variable Calculus) in the transfer agreement.
What should I take first at ARC for UCI Computer Science?
CISP 300, plus ENGL C1000 for English composition. It sits at the start of its sequence.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
American River College students transferring to UC Irvine for Computer Science can match 5 of 5 lower-division prep courses at ARC, including CISP 400 and CISP 430. Every listed course has a American River College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. CISP 300 is a good first-semester pick. On Transfermatic, put in American River College and UC Irvine, and you get the classes you need for Computer Science, semester by semester.
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