American River College to UCSD
Computer Science Transfer Plan
ARC has a match for 9 of UCSD's 11 Computer Science prep courses. CSE 29 and CSE 21 have no ARC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
American River College
To
UC San Diego
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at American River College that satisfy UC San Diego's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at American River College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CISP 401 — Object Oriented Programming with Java | CSE 11 — Introduction to Programming and Computational Problem Solving - Accelerated Pace | 4 |
| CISP 430 — Data Structures | CSE 12 — Basic Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design | 4 |
| No ARC match | CSE 29 — Systems Programming and Software Tools | — |
| CISP 440 — Discrete Structures for Computer Science | CSE 20 — Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| No ARC match | CSE 21 — Mathematics for Algorithms and Systems | — |
| CISP 310 — Computer Architecture and Organization | CSE 30 — Computer Organization and Systems Programming | 4 |
| MATH 410 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 400 — Calculus I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 401 — Calculus II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 402 — Calculus III | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| BIOL 420 (or another listed option) — Principles of Zoology | BILD 1 — The Cell (choose 1) | 5 |
| BIOL 400 (or another listed option) — Principles of Biology | BILD 2 — Multicellular Life (choose 1) | 5 |
| BIOL 420 (or another listed option) — Principles of Zoology | BILD 3 — Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (choose 1) | 5 |
| CHEM 400 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I (choose 1) | 5 |
| CHEM 401 + CHEM 400 — General Chemistry II + General Chemistry I | CHEM 6B — General Chemistry II (choose 1) | 10 |
| PHYS 410 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics (choose 1) | 5 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC San Diego 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 UCSD 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, UCSD quarters
ARC runs on semesters and UCSD on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCSD'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
2 UCSD requirements have no ARC match
ARC lists no course for CSE 29 and CSE 21. Check UCSD'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
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 UCSD looks for
UCSD strongly recommends listing a non-selective alternate major on the UC application.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at ARC for UCSD Computer Science?
CISP 401, CISP 430, CISP 440, CISP 310, MATH 410, MATH 400 and MATH 401, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 9 of the 11 prep courses UCSD lists for Computer Science.
What doesn't ARC cover for UCSD Computer Science?
CSE 29 and CSE 21. ARC lists no course for them, so check UCSD's Computer Science page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does ARC CISP 430 transfer to UCSD?
Yes, for Computer Science. ARC CISP 430 (Data Structures) is the match for UCSD CSE 12 (Basic Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design) in the transfer agreement.
What is UCSD's transfer admit rate for Computer Science?
17% of all transfer applicants to UCSD Computer Science were admitted in 2025. That figure covers applicants from every college, so it isn't specific to ARC.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
American River College students transferring to UC San Diego for Computer Science can match 9 of 11 lower-division prep courses at ARC, including CISP 401 and CISP 430. CSE 29 and CSE 21 have no American River College equivalent in the 2026-2027 agreement. CISP 300 is a good first-semester pick. On Transfermatic, put in American River College and UC San Diego, and you get the classes you need for Computer Science, semester by semester.
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