City College of San Francisco to UCI
Biological Sciences Transfer Plan
CCSF has a match for 7 of UCI's 9 Biological Sciences prep courses. BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99 have no CCSF match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
City College of San Francisco
To
UC Irvine
Biological SciencesUC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
UCI offers TAG for Biological Sciences for fall 2027 applicants, with a minimum 3.4 GPA. File during the TAG window the fall before you transfer, and check UCI's TAG page, since its list of eligible majors changes.
Major Requirements
Biological Sciences Major Preparation
Courses at City College of San Francisco that satisfy UC Irvine's Biological Sciences major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at City College of San Francisco | Satisfies at UCI | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 100A — General Biology | BIO SCI 93 — DNA to Organisms | 5 |
| BIO 100B — General Biology | BIO SCI 94 — Organisms to Ecosystems | 5 |
| CHEM 101B + CHEM 101A — General College Chemistry + General College Chemistry | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B, CHEM 1C, CHEM 1LC, CHEM 1LD | 11 |
| CHEM 212B + CHEM 212A — Organic Chemistry II + Organic Chemistry I | CHEM 51A, CHEM 51B, CHEM 51LB, CHEM 51C, CHEM 51LC | 12 |
| BIO 51 — Introduction to Genetics | BIO SCI 97 — Genetics | 3 |
| No CCSF match | BIO SCI 98 — Biochemistry | — |
| No CCSF match | BIO SCI 99 — Molecular Biology | — |
| PHYC 2AC + PHYC 2A + PHYC 2AL + PHYC 2BL + PHYC 2B + PHYC 2BC — Introductory Physics I-Calculus Supplement + Introductory Physics I + Introductory Physics Laboratory I + Introductory Physics Laboratory II + Introductory Physics II + Introductory Physics II-Calculus Supplement | PHYSICS 3A, PHYSICS 3B, PHYSICS 3LB, PHYSICS 3C, PHYSICS 3LC (choose 1) | 9 |
| PHYC 4B + PHYC 4BL + PHYC 4A + PHYC 4AL — Electromagnetism for Scientists and Engineers + Electromagnetism Laboratory for Scientists and Engineers + Classical Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers + Mechanics Laboratory for Scientists and Engineers | PHYSICS 7C, PHYSICS 7LC, PHYSICS 7D, PHYSICS 7LD, PHYSICS 7E (choose 1) | 8 |
| MATH 110A (or another listed option) — Calculus I | Mathematics Requirement | 5 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Irvine after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at City College of San Francisco
UCI's Biological Sciences program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five City College of San Francisco courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
BIO 10
Animal Biology
CHEM 101A
General College Chemistry
HIST 1
The United States Since 1900
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at City College of San Francisco | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIO 10 — Animal Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 101A — General College Chemistry | 6 |
Humanities | HIST 1 — The United States Since 1900 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
UCI Biological Sciences: full GE notes
UCI says IGETC may not be recommended for science majors like Biological Sciences, so El Camino students should place chemistry and biology ahead of general education.
5 semesters minimum for CHEM 40 onward
CHEM 40 through CHEM 212B: 5 courses, each needing the one before, so 5 semesters minimum, more than four fall and spring terms. Start CHEM 40 first or plan on summer. Placing higher shortens it.
CCSF semesters, UCI quarters
CCSF 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
2 UCI requirements have no CCSF match
CCSF lists no course for BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99. Check UCI's Biological Sciences page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with CHEM 40 and BIO 51
CHEM 40 and BIO 51 sit at the start of their sequences for this route, so they fit your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
What UCI looks for
Complete a year each of general chemistry with lab, organic chemistry with lab and biology (Bio Sci 93/94) with a C or better, by the end of spring. Minimum GPA is 3.0.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at CCSF for UCI Biological Sciences?
BIO 100A, BIO 100B, CHEM 101B, CHEM 101A, CHEM 212B, CHEM 212A and BIO 51, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 7 of the 9 prep courses UCI lists for Biological Sciences.
What doesn't CCSF cover for UCI Biological Sciences?
BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99. CCSF lists no course for them, so check UCI's Biological Sciences page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does CCSF BIO 100A transfer to UCI?
Yes, for Biological Sciences. CCSF BIO 100A (General Biology) is the match for UCI BIO SCI 93 (DNA to Organisms) in the transfer agreement.
Can I use TAG for UCI Biological Sciences?
UCI lists Biological Sciences as TAG-eligible for fall 2027, with a minimum 3.4 GPA. Check UCI's TAG page before you count on it for a later term.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
City College of San Francisco students transferring to UC Irvine for Biological Sciences can match 7 of 9 lower-division prep courses at CCSF, including BIO 100A and BIO 100B. BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99 have no City College of San Francisco equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. CHEM 40 and BIO 51 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in City College of San Francisco and UC Irvine, and you get the classes you need for Biological Sciences, semester by semester.
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