City College of San Francisco to UCSD
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
CCSF has a match for 11 of UCSD's 17 Mechanical Engineering prep courses. MATH 20E, MAE 3, MAE 11 and MAE 30A and 2 more have no CCSF match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
City College of San Francisco
To
UC San Diego
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at City College of San Francisco that satisfy UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at City College of San Francisco | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENGN 38 — Introduction to Programming Concepts and Methodologies for Engineers | MAE 8 — MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 101A — General College Chemistry | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I | 6 |
| MATH 120 or MATH 130 — Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 110A — Calculus I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 110B — Calculus II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 110C — Calculus III | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 125 or MATH 130 — Differential Equations | MATH 20D — Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| No CCSF match | MATH 20E — Vector Calculus | — |
| PHYC 4A — Classical Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYC 4B — Electromagnetism for Scientists and Engineers | PHYS 2B — Physics - Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| PHYC 4C — Waves and Thermodynamics for Scientists and Engineers | PHYS 2C — Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics | 3 |
| ENGN 45 — Materials Science | MAE 20 — Elements of Materials Science | 3 |
| No CCSF match | MAE 3 — Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design | — |
| No CCSF match | MAE 11 — Thermodynamics | — |
| No CCSF match | MAE 30A — Statics & Introduction to Dynamics | — |
| No CCSF match | MAE 30B — Dynamics & Vibrations | — |
| No CCSF match | MAE 40 — Linear Circuits | — |
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 City College of San Francisco
Complete these five courses at City College of San Francisco 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.
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 |
4 semesters minimum for MATH 110A onward
MATH 110A through MATH 130: 4 courses, each needing the one before, so 4 semesters minimum. Start MATH 110A in your first semester. Placing higher shortens it.
CCSF semesters, UCSD quarters
CCSF 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
6 UCSD requirements have no CCSF match
CCSF lists no course for MATH 20E, MAE 3, MAE 11 and MAE 30A and others. Check UCSD's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with MATH 110A
MATH 110A sits at the start of its sequence for this route, so it fits your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
More than one way to cover MATH 18
For UCSD MATH 18, CCSF accepts MATH 120 or MATH 130. You need only one of them, so pick whichever fits your schedule.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at CCSF for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
ENGN 38, CHEM 101A, MATH 120 or MATH 130, MATH 110A, MATH 110B, MATH 110C and MATH 125 or MATH 130, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 11 of the 17 prep courses UCSD lists for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't CCSF cover for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 20E, MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B and 1 more. CCSF lists no course for them, so check UCSD's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does CCSF ENGN 38 transfer to UCSD?
Yes, for Mechanical Engineering. CCSF ENGN 38 (Introduction to Programming Concepts and Methodologies for Engineers) is the match for UCSD MAE 8 (MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis) in the transfer agreement.
What is UCSD's transfer admit rate for Mechanical Engineering?
31% of all transfer applicants to UCSD Mechanical Engineering were admitted in 2025. That figure covers applicants from every college, so it isn't specific to CCSF.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
City College of San Francisco students transferring to UC San Diego for Mechanical Engineering can match 11 of 17 lower-division prep courses at CCSF, including ENGN 38 and CHEM 101A. MATH 20E and MAE 3 have no City College of San Francisco equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. MATH 110A is a good first-semester pick. On Transfermatic, put in City College of San Francisco and UC San Diego, and you get the classes you need for Mechanical Engineering, semester by semester.
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