American River College to UCSB
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
ARC has a match for 15 of UCSB's 20 Mechanical Engineering prep courses. ENGR 3, ME 15, ME 16 and ME 12S and 1 more have no ARC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
American River College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at American River College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Mechanical Engineering 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 |
| PHYS 410 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYS 7A — Basic Physics | 5 |
| PHYS 410 + PHYS 421 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids + Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 7B — Basic Physics | 9 |
| PHYS 431 — Heat, Waves, Light and Modern Physics | PHYS 7C — Basic Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 421 + PHYS 431 — Electricity and Magnetism + Heat, Waves, Light and Modern Physics | PHYS 7L — Physics Laboratory | 8 |
| No ARC match | ENGR 3 — Introduction to Programming | — |
| ENGR 420 — Statics | ME 14 — Statics | 3 |
| CHEM 400 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 1A, CHEM 2AL | 5 |
| CHEM 400 + CHEM 401 — General Chemistry I + General Chemistry II | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry (recommended) | 10 |
| MATH 402 — Calculus III | MATH 6A — Vector Calculus with Applications, First Course | 5 |
| MATH 402 — Calculus III | MATH 6B — Vector Calculus with Applications, Second Course | 5 |
| ENGR 401 — Introduction to Electrical Circuits and Devices | ME 6 — Basic Electrical and Electronic Circuits | 4 |
| DESGN 301 or ENGR 312 — Introduction to Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) | ME 10 — Engineering Graphics: Sketching, CAD, and Conceptual Design | 3 |
| No ARC match | ME 15 — Strength of Materials | — |
| No ARC match | ME 16 — Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics | — |
| PHYS 421 + PHYS 431 — Electricity and Magnetism + Heat, Waves, Light and Modern Physics | PHYS 7D — Basic Physics | 8 |
| No ARC match | ME 12S — Introduction to Machine Shop | — |
| No ARC match | ME 17 — Mathematics of Engineering | — |
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 Mechanical Engineering 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 Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
UCSB tells College of Engineering transfers to prioritize major coursework over Cal-GETC or IGETC; general education can wait until after transfer for students planning a three-year stay.
5 semesters minimum for MATH 370 onward
MATH 370 through ENGR 401: 5 courses, each needing the one before, so 5 semesters minimum, more than four fall and spring terms. Start MATH 370 first or plan on summer. 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
5 UCSB requirements have no ARC match
ARC lists no course for ENGR 3, ME 15, ME 16 and ME 12S and others. Check UCSB's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with MATH 370 and DESGN 301
MATH 370 and DESGN 301 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 ME 10
For UCSB ME 10, ARC accepts DESGN 301 or ENGR 312. 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 Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 400, MATH 401, MATH 410, MATH 420, PHYS 410, PHYS 421 and PHYS 431, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 15 of the 20 prep courses UCSB lists for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't ARC cover for UCSB Mechanical Engineering?
ENGR 3, ME 15, ME 16, ME 12S and ME 17. ARC lists no course for them, so check UCSB's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does ARC MATH 400 transfer to UCSB?
Yes, for Mechanical Engineering. ARC MATH 400 (Calculus I) is the match for UCSB MATH 3A (Calculus with Applications, First Course) in the transfer agreement.
What should I take first at ARC for UCSB Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 370 and DESGN 301, plus ENGL C1000 for English composition. They sit at the start of their sequences.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
American River College students transferring to UC Santa Barbara for Mechanical Engineering can match 15 of 20 lower-division prep courses at ARC, including MATH 400 and MATH 401. ENGR 3 and ME 15 have no American River College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. MATH 370 and DESGN 301 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in American River College and UC Santa Barbara, and you get the classes you need for Mechanical Engineering, semester by semester.
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