Bakersfield College to UCSB
Political Science Transfer Plan
Bakersfield has a match for 5 of UCSB's 6 Political Science prep courses. POL S 15 has no Bakersfield match, so plan for it before you apply.
From
Bakersfield College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Political ScienceUC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
UCSB offers TAG for Political Science for fall 2027 applicants, with a minimum 3.4 GPA. File during the TAG window the fall before you transfer, and check UCSB's TAG page, since its list of eligible majors changes.
Major Requirements
Political Science Major Preparation
Courses at Bakersfield College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Political Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Bakersfield College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLS B4 — Introduction to Political Theory | POL S 1 — Introduction to Political Philosophy (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLS B2 — Comparative Government | POL S 6 — Introduction to Comparative Politics (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLS B3 — International Politics | POL S 7 — Introduction to International Relations (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLS C1000 — American Government and Politics | POL S 12 — American Government and Politics (choose 3) | 3 |
| No Bakersfield match | POL S 15 — Introduction to Research in Political Science | — |
| ECON B1 — Principles of Economics - Micro | ECON 1 — Principles of Economics-Micro | 3 |
| ECON B2 — Principles of Economics - Macro | ECON 2 — Principles of Economics-Macro | 3 |
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 Bakersfield College
Complete these five courses at Bakersfield College to start your UCSB 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 B11
Concepts of Biology
CHEM B10
Chemistry and Society
HIST B1
World History to 1500
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Bakersfield College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL B11 — Concepts of Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM B10 — Chemistry and Society | 3 |
Humanities | HIST B1 — World History to 1500 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
Bakersfield semesters, UCSB quarters
Bakersfield 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
POL S 15 has no Bakersfield match
Bakersfield lists no course for POL S 15. Check UCSB's Political Science page for whether it has to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover it.
Start with POLS B4 and ECON B1
POLS B4 and ECON B1 sit at the start of their sequences for this route, so they fit your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
What UCSB looks for
Full major status needs a 2.6 GPA in the lower-division political science courses, counting only grades earned at a UC campus. Community college grades transfer as credit only.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at Bakersfield for UCSB Political Science?
POLS B4, POLS B2, POLS B3, POLS C1000, ECON B1 and ECON B2. Together they match 5 of the 6 prep courses UCSB lists for Political Science.
What doesn't Bakersfield cover for UCSB Political Science?
POL S 15. Bakersfield lists no course for it, so check UCSB's Political Science page for whether it has to be finished before you transfer.
Does Bakersfield POLS B4 transfer to UCSB?
Yes, for Political Science. Bakersfield POLS B4 (Introduction to Political Theory) is the match for UCSB POL S 1 (Introduction to Political Philosophy) in the transfer agreement.
What is UCSB's transfer admit rate for Political Science?
63% of all transfer applicants to UCSB Political Science were admitted in 2025. That figure covers applicants from every college, so it isn't specific to Bakersfield.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Bakersfield College students transferring to UC Santa Barbara for Political Science can match 5 of 6 lower-division prep courses at Bakersfield, including POLS B4 and POLS B2. POL S 15 has no Bakersfield College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. POLS B4 and ECON B1 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Bakersfield College and UC Santa Barbara, and you get the classes you need for Political Science, semester by semester.
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