Diablo Valley College to UCSD
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
DVC clears 14 of UCSD's 17 Mechanical Engineering requirements, including MAE 11, Thermodynamics, through ENGIN 210. MAE 3, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no DVC match and aren't on UCSD's admission screening list, so you'd take them at UCSD.
From
Diablo Valley College
To
UC San Diego
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Diablo Valley College that satisfy UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Diablo Valley College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENGIN 136 or COMSC 140 — Computer Programming for Engineers Using MATLAB | MAE 8 — MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis | 4 |
| CHEM 120 — General College Chemistry I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I | 5 |
| MATH 194 — Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 192 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 193 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 292 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 294 — Differential Equations | MATH 20D — Introduction to Differential Equations | 5 |
| MATH 292 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | MATH 20E — Vector Calculus | 5 |
| PHYS 130 — Physics for Engineers and Scientists A: Mechanics and Wave Motion | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 230 — Physics for Engineers and Scientists B: Heat and Electro-Magnetism | PHYS 2B — Physics - Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 231 + PHYS 230 — Physics for Engineers and Scientists C: Optics and Modern Physics + Physics for Engineers and Scientists B: Heat and Electro-Magnetism | PHYS 2C — Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics | 8 |
| ENGIN 240 — Properties of Engineering Materials | MAE 20 — Elements of Materials Science | 4 |
| No DVC match | MAE 3 — Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design | — |
| ENGIN 210 — Thermodynamics | MAE 11 — Thermodynamics | 3 |
| No DVC match | MAE 30A — Statics & Introduction to Dynamics | — |
| No DVC match | MAE 30B — Dynamics & Vibrations | — |
| ENGIN 230 — Introduction to Circuits and Devices | MAE 40 — Linear Circuits | 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 Diablo Valley College
Complete these five courses at Diablo Valley College 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.
ANTHR 115
Primate Evolution and Adaptation
CHEM 107
Integrated Inorganic, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
HIST 120
History of the United States before 1865
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Diablo Valley College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | ANTHR 115 — Primate Evolution and Adaptation | 3 |
Physical Science | CHEM 107 — Integrated Inorganic, Organic, and Biological Chemistry | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 120 — History of the United States before 1865 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
Five semesters through calculus and physics
MATH 192 leads into MATH 193, MATH 292, MATH 294 and PHYS 231, five semesters minimum. UCSD wants Math 18 and 20A-D finished by the spring before transfer, so plan around that chain early.
DVC runs semesters, UCSD runs quarters
DVC's courses are built around semesters, while UCSD splits the same material into shorter quarter terms. Once you transfer, expect your remaining Mechanical Engineering courses to move at that faster pace.
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
ENGIN 210 covers MAE 11
DVC's ENGIN 210 clears UCSD's MAE 11, Thermodynamics, outright. It needs CHEM 120 first, so it fits after your chemistry semester rather than alongside it.
Only three requirements stay open
MAE 3, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no DVC match. None of them is on UCSD's screening list, so you'd take them at UCSD. Everything else in the 17-course list, including materials science and circuits, clears at DVC.
Chemistry needs CHEM 108 first
DVC's CHEM 120, which clears UCSD's CHEM 6A, requires CHEM 108 first. Line that up early so chemistry doesn't slip a semester.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DVC's ENGIN 210 transfer to UCSD as Thermodynamics?
Yes. ENGIN 210 clears MAE 11, UCSD's Thermodynamics requirement. It needs CHEM 120 first.
What doesn't DVC cover for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
Just MAE 3, MAE 30A and MAE 30B, which have no DVC match. They aren't among the courses UCSD screens for admission, so you'd take them after you transfer. DVC covers the rest of the 17-course list, including materials science and circuits.
Does DVC's semester calendar cause problems for UCSD transfer?
Not a blocker, but a change in pace. DVC teaches on semesters, while UCSD splits the same material into shorter quarter terms, so your remaining courses move faster once you arrive.
What's the admit rate for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
UCSD admitted 31% of all Mechanical Engineering transfer applicants in 2025, a figure covering every applicant to the major, not just those coming from DVC.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Diablo Valley College students transferring into UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering, B.S. program clear fourteen of seventeen requirements at DVC. ENGIN 210 clears MAE 11, Thermodynamics, and ENGIN 240 clears MAE 20, Elements of Materials Science. What's left is MAE 3, MAE 30A and MAE 30B, which have no DVC match and are taken at UCSD. On our platform, put in your CC and your transfer university and Transfermatic checks DVC's course list against UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering requirements automatically.
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