College of the Canyons to UCSD
Computer Science Transfer Plan
COC has a match for 8 of UCSD's 11 Computer Science prep courses. CSE 29, CSE 21 and CSE 30 have no COC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
College of the Canyons
To
UC San Diego
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at College of the Canyons that satisfy UC San Diego's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at College of the Canyons | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CMPSCI 111L + CMPSCI 111 — Introduction to Algorithms and Programming Lab + Introduction to Computer Algorithms and Programming/JAVA | CSE 11 — Introduction to Programming and Computational Problem Solving - Accelerated Pace | 4 |
| CMPSCI 182 + CMPSCI 182L — Data Structures and Program Design + Data Structures & Program Design Lab | CSE 12 — Basic Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design | 4 |
| No COC match | CSE 29 — Systems Programming and Software Tools | — |
| CMPSCI 256 — Discrete Structures | CSE 20 — Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| No COC match | CSE 21 — Mathematics for Algorithms and Systems | — |
| No COC match | CSE 30 — Computer Organization and Systems Programming | — |
| MATH 214 — Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 211 — Calculus I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 212 — Calculus II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 213 — Calculus III | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| (BIOSCI 107 and BIOSCI 106) or (BIOSCI 107H and BIOSCI 106H) — Molecular and Cellular Biology | BILD 1 — The Cell (choose 1) | 4 |
| (BIOSCI 107 and BIOSCI 106) or (BIOSCI 107H and BIOSCI 106H) — Molecular and Cellular Biology | BILD 2 — Multicellular Life (choose 1) | 4 |
| (BIOSCI 106 and BIOSCI 107) or (BIOSCI 106H and BIOSCI 107H) — Organismal and Environmental Biology | BILD 3 — Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (choose 1) | 4 |
| CHEM 201 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I (choose 1) | 5 |
| CHEM 202 + CHEM 201 — General Chemistry II + General Chemistry I | CHEM 6B — General Chemistry II (choose 1) | 10 |
| PHYSIC 220 — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics (choose 1) | 4 |
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 College of the Canyons
Complete these five courses at College of the Canyons 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.
ANTHRO 101
Physical Anthropology
CHEM 100
Chemistry and Society
HIST 101
History of Western Civilization: The Pre-Industrial West
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at College of the Canyons | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | ANTHRO 101 — Physical Anthropology | 3 |
Physical Science | CHEM 100 — Chemistry and Society | 3 |
Humanities | HIST 101 — History of Western Civilization: The Pre-Industrial West | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
5 semesters minimum for MATH 102 onward
MATH 102 through MATH 214: 5 courses, each needing the one before, so 5 semesters minimum, more than four fall and spring terms. Start MATH 102 first or plan on summer. Placing higher shortens it.
COC semesters, UCSD quarters
COC 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
3 UCSD requirements have no COC match
COC lists no course for CSE 29, CSE 21 and CSE 30. Check UCSD's Computer Science page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with MATH 102 and CMPSCI 111L
MATH 102 and CMPSCI 111L sit at the start of their sequences for this route, so they fit your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
What UCSD looks for
UCSD strongly recommends listing a non-selective alternate major on the UC application.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at COC for UCSD Computer Science?
CMPSCI 111L, CMPSCI 111, CMPSCI 182, CMPSCI 182L, CMPSCI 256, MATH 214 and MATH 211, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 8 of the 11 prep courses UCSD lists for Computer Science.
What doesn't COC cover for UCSD Computer Science?
CSE 29, CSE 21 and CSE 30. COC lists no course for them, so check UCSD's Computer Science page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does COC CMPSCI 256 transfer to UCSD?
Yes, for Computer Science. COC CMPSCI 256 (Discrete Structures) is the match for UCSD CSE 20 (Discrete Mathematics) in the transfer agreement.
What is UCSD's transfer admit rate for Computer Science?
17% of all transfer applicants to UCSD Computer Science were admitted in 2025. That figure covers applicants from every college, so it isn't specific to COC.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
College of the Canyons students transferring to UC San Diego for Computer Science can match 8 of 11 lower-division prep courses at COC, including CMPSCI 111L and CMPSCI 111. CSE 29 and CSE 21 have no College of the Canyons equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. MATH 102 and CMPSCI 111L are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in College of the Canyons and UC San Diego, and you get the classes you need for Computer Science, semester by semester.
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