Diablo Valley College to UCSB
Economics Transfer Plan
DVC covers four of UCSB Economics' six prep courses: ECON 221, ECON 220 and a calculus pair, either MATH 192 and MATH 193 or MATH 182 and MATH 183. ECON 10A and a statistics course have no DVC equivalent, so UCSB expects you to take them there.
From
Diablo Valley College
To
UC Santa Barbara
EconomicsUCSB Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
DVC students who reach a 3.4 GPA can apply for UCSB's TAG in Economics. It guarantees a spot as a Pre-Economics pre-major, not the finished major, which still requires the 2.85 GPA in ECON 1, 2 and 10A after transfer.
Major Requirements
Economics Major Preparation
Courses at Diablo Valley College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Economics major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Diablo Valley College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 221 — Principles of Microeconomics | ECON 1 — Principles of Economics-Micro | 3 |
| ECON 220 — Principles of Macroeconomics | ECON 2 — Principles of Economics-Macro | 3 |
| MATH 192 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | MATH 3A — Calculus with Applications, First Course (choose 1) | 5 |
| MATH 182 — Calculus for Management, Life Science, and Social Science I | MATH 34A — Calculus for Social and Life Sciences (choose 1) | 4 |
| MATH 193 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | MATH 3B — Calculus with Applications, Second Course (choose 1) | 5 |
| MATH 183 — Calculus for Management, Life Science, and Social Science II | MATH 34B — Calculus for Social and Life Sciences (choose 1) | 4 |
| No DVC match | ECON 10A — Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | — |
| No DVC match for any of 2 options | ECON 5 — Statistics for Economics and others (choose 1) | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Santa Barbara 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 UCSB 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 |
DVC semesters become UCSB quarters
UCSB converts each DVC semester unit into one and a half quarter units. Your two DVC calculus courses still map one-to-one onto UCSB's MATH 3A and MATH 3B, or MATH 34A and MATH 34B.
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
Business calculus takes two DVC courses
DVC has no single class covering both UCSB calculus terms. You need MATH 182 then MATH 183 for the business track, or MATH 192 then MATH 193 for the standard sequence.
AP economics exams aren't accepted
UCSB doesn't let AP scores in micro or macro substitute for ECON 221 or ECON 220. Both must be completed at DVC, or another college, with a grade of C or higher.
2.75 average across four courses
UCSB averages ECON 221, ECON 220 and your calculus pair into a single GPA. You need 2.75 or better overall, and no individual grade below C, no matter how strong the others are.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What DVC classes count toward UCSB economics?
ECON 221 for micro, ECON 220 for macro, and either MATH 192 then MATH 193, or MATH 182 then MATH 183 for calculus. Each needs a C or higher for UCSB's screen.
Can DVC students finish UCSB's calculus requirement in one class?
No. DVC's business option, MATH 182 and MATH 183, is two separate courses, same as the standard option of MATH 192 and MATH 193. Plan on two semesters of calculus either way.
What doesn't DVC cover for UCSB economics?
ECON 10A and a statistics course, either ECON 5 or PSTAT 120A. DVC has no articulated match for either, and UCSB requires both to be taken on campus after you transfer.
What's the admit rate for UCSB economics transfers?
62% of all 2025 transfer applicants to UCSB Economics were admitted, a figure for the whole major, not DVC specifically. You're admitted to Pre-Economics first, and the full major needs a 2.85 GPA later in ECON 1, 2 and 10A, counting only UC grades.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Diablo Valley College students transferring into UC Santa Barbara's Economics major can finish most of the screen before they leave: ECON 221, ECON 220, and calculus through either MATH 192 and MATH 193 or MATH 182 and MATH 183. UCSB scores that group at a 2.75 GPA with no grade below C, and TAG opens at 3.4. ECON 10A and a statistics course are left for UCSB itself. Transfermatic can turn this DVC route into a semester-by-semester plan before you apply.
Build your Diablo Valley College → UCSB plan
Personalized, semester-by-semester. Free to start.
Get My Transfer Plan