American River College to UCSB
Computer Science Transfer Plan
ARC has a match for 10 of UCSB's 11 Computer Science prep courses. PSTAT 120A has no ARC match, so plan for it before you apply.
From
American River College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at American River College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at American River College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 400 — Calculus I | MATH 3A — Calculus with Applications, First Course | 5 |
| MATH 401 — Calculus II | MATH 3B — Calculus with Applications, Second Course | 5 |
| MATH 410 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 4A — Linear Algebra with Applications | 3 |
| MATH 420 — Differential Equations | MATH 4B — Differential Equations | 4 |
| CISP 300 or CISP 360 or CISP 480 — Algorithm Design/Problem Solving | CMPSC 16 — Problem Solving with Computers I | 3 |
| CISP 430 — Data Structures | CMPSC 24 — Problem Solving with Computers II | 4 |
| CISP 440 — Discrete Structures for Computer Science | CMPSC 40 — Foundations of Computer Science | 3 |
| CISP 400 — Object Oriented Programming with C++ | CMPSC 32 — Object Oriented Design and Implementation (recommended) | 4 |
| CISP 310 — Computer Architecture and Organization | CMPSC 64 — Computer Organization and Logic Design (recommended) | 4 |
| MATH 402 — Calculus III | MATH 6A — Vector Calculus with Applications, First Course | 5 |
| PHYS 410 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYS 1 — Basic Physics (choose 2) | 5 |
| PHYS 421 + PHYS 410 + PHYS 431 — Electricity and Magnetism + Mechanics of Solids and Fluids + Heat, Waves, Light and Modern Physics | PHYS 2 — Basic Physics (choose 2) | 13 |
| PHYS 431 + PHYS 421 — Heat, Waves, Light and Modern Physics + Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 3, PHYS 3L (choose 2) | 8 |
| PHYS 360 + PHYS 350 — General Physics + General Physics | PHYS 6A, PHYS 6AL, PHYS 6B, PHYS 6BL, PHYS 6C, PHYS 6CL (choose 2) | 8 |
| PHYS 410 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYS 7A — Basic Physics (choose 2) | 5 |
| PHYS 410 + PHYS 421 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids + Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 7B — Basic Physics (choose 2) | 9 |
| No ARC match | PSTAT 120A — Probability and Statistics | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Santa Barbara after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at American River College
UCSB's Computer Science 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 |
UCSB Computer Science: full GE notes
UCSB's Engineering college has applicants prioritize major coursework over IGETC or Cal-GETC, with general education left until after transfer for students on a three-year timeline.
4 semesters minimum for MATH 370 onward
MATH 370 through MATH 410: 4 courses, each needing the one before, so 4 semesters minimum. Start MATH 370 in your first semester. Placing higher shortens it.
ARC semesters, UCSB quarters
ARC runs on semesters and UCSB on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCSB'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
PSTAT 120A has no ARC match
ARC lists no course for PSTAT 120A. Check UCSB's Computer Science page for whether it has to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover it.
Start with MATH 370 and CISP 300
MATH 370 and CISP 300 sit at the start of their sequences for this route, so they fit your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
More than one way to cover CMPSC 16
For UCSB CMPSC 16, ARC accepts CISP 300 or CISP 360 or CISP 480. You need only one of them, so pick whichever fits your schedule.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at ARC for UCSB Computer Science?
MATH 400, MATH 401, MATH 410, MATH 420, CISP 300 or CISP 360 or CISP 480, CISP 430 and CISP 440, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 10 of the 11 prep courses UCSB lists for Computer Science.
What doesn't ARC cover for UCSB Computer Science?
PSTAT 120A. ARC lists no course for it, so check UCSB's Computer Science page for whether it has to be finished before you transfer.
Does ARC MATH 400 transfer to UCSB?
Yes, for Computer Science. ARC MATH 400 (Calculus I) is the match for UCSB MATH 3A (Calculus with Applications, First Course) in the transfer agreement.
What is UCSB's transfer admit rate for Computer Science?
12% of all transfer applicants to UCSB 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 Santa Barbara for Computer Science can match 10 of 11 lower-division prep courses at ARC, including MATH 400 and MATH 401. PSTAT 120A has no American River College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. MATH 370 and CISP 300 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in American River College and UC Santa Barbara, and you get the classes you need for Computer Science, semester by semester.
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