Diablo Valley College to UCSB
Political Science Transfer Plan
DVC has a course matching all four of UCSB's pre-major options, so you only need to pick three, plus both economics courses. POL S 15 has no DVC match and waits until after transfer.
From
Diablo Valley College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Political ScienceUC Santa Barbara TAG
DVC students qualify for UCSB's Transfer Admission Guarantee with a 3.4 GPA. It guarantees the Political Science pre-major, not the full major, which needs its own 2.6 GPA in UC-taken courses.
Major Requirements
Political Science Major Preparation
Courses at Diablo Valley College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Political Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Diablo Valley College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 240 — Political Theory | POL S 1 — Introduction to Political Philosophy (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLS 220 — Comparative Politics | POL S 6 — Introduction to Comparative Politics (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLS 250 — International Relations | POL S 7 — Introduction to International Relations (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLS C1000 — American Government and Politics | POL S 12 — American Government and Politics (choose 3) | 3 |
| No DVC match | POL S 15 — Introduction to Research in Political Science | — |
| ECON 221 — Principles of Microeconomics | ECON 1 — Principles of Economics-Micro | 3 |
| ECON 220 — Principles of Macroeconomics | ECON 2 — Principles of Economics-Macro | 3 |
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's political science and economics courses run at 5 quarter units apiece, more than DVC's 3-unit semester classes. After transfer you'll register for three shorter terms a year instead of two.
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
Pick any three pre-major courses
POLS 240, POLS 220, POLS 250 and POLS C1000 all articulate, covering every option UCSB lists. Take any three; there's no wrong combination.
ECON 220 and 221 are both required
DVC's ECON 221 and ECON 220 cover UCSB's ECON 1 and ECON 2. Neither substitutes for the other, so plan on completing both.
Research methods comes after transfer
POL S 15 has no DVC equivalent. It stays on your UCSB schedule regardless of how much else you finish at DVC.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Which DVC classes count toward UCSB Political Science?
POLS 240, POLS 220, POLS 250 and POLS C1000 each satisfy one of UCSB's four pre-major courses; you only need three. ECON 221 and ECON 220 cover the economics requirement.
Does DVC ECON 221 transfer to UCSB?
Yes, ECON 221 matches UCSB's ECON 1, and ECON 220 matches ECON 2. Both are required as part of major preparation.
What can't I finish at DVC before transferring?
POL S 15, Introduction to Research in Political Science, has no DVC match. You'll take it at UCSB after you arrive.
What's the admit rate for UCSB Political Science?
The 2025 admit rate was 63%, counting all transfer applicants to UCSB Political Science, not only those coming from DVC.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Diablo Valley College gives Political Science transfers to UC Santa Barbara a match for every pre-major option. POLS 240, POLS 220, POLS 250 and POLS C1000 each cover one of the four courses UCSB lets you choose from, and you need three. ECON 221 and ECON 220 handle both required economics courses. The one piece DVC can't provide is POL S 15, which you'll finish at UCSB. Transfermatic lays out that full match so DVC students know exactly what's left before they move.
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