De Anza College to UCLA
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
De Anza College covers 10 of the 11 UCLA Mechanical Engineering prep requirements; math takes longest, MATH 1A through MATH 1D, then MATH 2A and MATH 2B. The gap is MECH&AE 94, the CAD course, which has no De Anza match, and UCLA wants prep done by spring before you enroll.
From
De Anza College
To
UCLA
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at De Anza College that satisfy UCLA's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at De Anza College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1C (or another listed option) — General Chemistry III | CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B, CHEM 20L | 5 |
| MATH 1A or MATH 1AH — Calculus I | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 1C (or another listed option) — Calculus III | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 5 |
| MATH 1C or MATH 1CH — Calculus III | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 1D or MATH 1DH — Calculus IV | MATH 32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 2B or MATH 2BH — Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 5 |
| MATH 2A or MATH 2AH — Differential Equations | MECH&AE 82 — Mathematics of Engineering | 5 |
| No De Anza match | MECH&AE 94 — Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Drafting | — |
| PHYS 4A + PHYS 4B + PHYS 4C — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics + Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Electricity and Magnetism + Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Fluids, Waves, Optics and Thermodynamics | PHYSICS 1A, PHYSICS 1B, PHYSICS 1C, PHYSICS 4AL, PHYSICS 4BL | 18 |
| ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000H — Academic Reading and Writing | ENGCOMP 3 — English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language (choose 1) | 5 |
| COMM 9 (or another listed option) — Argumentation: Analysis of Oral and Written Communication | English composition courses (choose 1) | 5 |
| (CIS 22B or CIS 22BH or CIS 29) or CIS 27 — Intermediate Programming Methodologies in C++ | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I (choose 1) | 4.5 |
| CIS 22A or CIS 27 or CIS 29 — Beginning Programming Methodologies in C++ | Computer programming courses: C, C++, Java or Matlab (choose 1) | 4.5 |
| No De Anza match | EC ENGR 100 — Electrical and Electronic Circuits (recommended) | — |
| No De Anza match | EC ENGR 110L — Circuit Measurements Laboratory (recommended) | — |
| No De Anza match | MECH&AE 101 — Statics and Strength of Materials (recommended) | — |
| No De Anza match | MECH&AE 102 — Dynamics of Particles and Rigid Bodies (recommended) | — |
| No De Anza match | MAT SCI 104 — Science of Engineering Materials (recommended) | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at De Anza College
UCLA's Mechanical Engineering program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five De Anza College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
BIOL 10
Introductory Biology
CHEM 10
Introductory Chemistry
HIST 17A
History of the United States to Early National Era
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at De Anza College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 10 — Introductory Biology | 5 |
Physical Science | CHEM 10 — Introductory Chemistry | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 17A — History of the United States to Early National Era | 4 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 5 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 5 |
UCLA Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
For Samueli engineering majors, UCLA doesn't require IGETC or Cal-GETC, doesn't accept it partially complete, and doesn't recommend it.
Six quarters of math from MATH D043H
From MATH D043H you need MATH 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D before MATH 2A or MATH 2B: six quarters. With prep due by the spring before transfer, math can't sit out a quarter.
Preview
Your First Quarter
A preview of what Transfermatic generates — exact courses, in the right order, every quarter.
Watch Out
Common Mistakes for This Transfer Path
No MATLAB match, so go C++
UCLA prefers MATLAB, but ASSIST shows no De Anza course for C&EE M20. The C++ route works: CIS 22B, CIS 22BH, CIS 27 or CIS 29 covers COM SCI 31, and CIS 22A meets the general programming option.
Stay in one chemistry track
ASSIST accepts CHEM 1A, 1B and 1C, or the honors trio CHEM 1AH, 1BH and 1CH, for UCLA's CHEM 20A, 20B and 20L. It lists no mix, so if you start in honors, plan to finish there. CHEM 1A needs CHEM 25 or CHEM 30A.
Run physics a quarter behind calculus
PHYS 4A needs MATH 1B (or PHYS 50), and PHYS 4B needs PHYS 4A plus MATH 1C. Keeping physics one quarter behind math means each course has its calculus in place when you register.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at De Anza for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, then MATH 2A and MATH 2B; CHEM 1A, 1B and 1C (or the honors set); PHYS 4A, PHYS 4B and PHYS 4C; one programming course such as CIS 22B; and one composition course, for example ENGL C1000 or EWRT 1B.
Does De Anza MATH 1B transfer to UCLA as MATH 31B?
Only together with MATH 1C. ASSIST pairs them, so MATH 1B and MATH 1C (or their honors versions) jointly cover MATH 31B, while MATH 1C also covers MATH 32A. Finish MATH 1A through MATH 1D and both are handled, with MATH 1D covering MATH 32B.
What won't transfer from De Anza for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
MECH&AE 94, Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Drafting, has no De Anza match. It isn't on the list UCLA screens applicants on, but UCLA says prep should be finished by the end of spring before fall enrollment. The strongly recommended courses, such as MECH&AE 101, have no De Anza match either, and aren't required.
How hard is it to get into UCLA Mechanical Engineering as a transfer?
Very. UCLA admitted 12% of all 2025 transfer applicants to the major, a figure for every applicant, not De Anza students specifically. You also need at least a 3.4 GPA, and Samueli won't consider you for a backup major.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
De Anza College students aiming for UCLA Mechanical Engineering can finish 10 of the 11 required prep courses at De Anza; MECH&AE 94, the CAD course, has no De Anza match. The math is the long part: MATH 1A through MATH 1D, then MATH 2A for differential equations and MATH 2B for linear algebra, alongside CHEM 1A to 1C and PHYS 4A to 4C. UCLA's Samueli School admitted 12% of 2025 transfer applicants to the major and sets a 3.4 GPA minimum. Transfermatic can fit the six-quarter math chain into a plan.
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