El Camino College to SDSU
Biology Transfer Plan
El Camino College covers general chemistry, calculus and both physics sequences for SDSU's Biology major, but has no ASSIST match for either biology course, organic chemistry or Biostatistics. SDSU expects all catalog major prep done by the end of spring 2027, so those four gaps matter.
From
El Camino College
To
San Diego State University
BiologyMajor Requirements
Biology Major Preparation
Courses at El Camino College that satisfy San Diego State University's Biology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at El Camino College | Satisfies at SDSU | Units |
|---|---|---|
| No El Camino match | BIOL 203, BIOL 203L | — |
| No El Camino match | BIOL 204, BIOL 204L | — |
| No El Camino match | BIOL 215 — Biostatistics | — |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry I | CHEM 200 — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 1B — General Chemistry II | CHEM 201 — General Chemistry | 5 |
| No El Camino match | CHEM 232, CHEM 232L | — |
| MATH 190 — Single Variable Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | MATH 150 — Calculus I (choose 1) | 5 |
| PHYS 2A or PHYS 3A — General Physics | PHYS 180A, PHYS 182A | 4 |
| PHYS 2B or PHYS 3B — General Physics | PHYS 180B, PHYS 182B | 4 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at San Diego State University after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at El Camino College
Complete these five courses at El Camino College to start your SDSU 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.
BIOL 10
Fundamentals of Biology
CHEM 1A
General Chemistry I
HIST 101
United States History to 1877
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at El Camino College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 10 — Fundamentals of Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 1A — General Chemistry I | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 101 — United States History to 1877 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
Five semesters from MATH 170 to physics
MATH 170 leads to MATH 180, then MATH 190, then PHYS 3A and PHYS 3B. That's five semesters minimum on the calculus-based physics track, so start math your first term at El Camino.
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
No biology courses match at El Camino
Neither BIOL 203 nor BIOL 204 has an El Camino equivalent on ASSIST, even though chemistry and physics line up. SDSU's deadline for all catalog major prep is the end of spring 2027.
Organic chemistry is also a gap
CHEM 232 and CHEM 232L have no El Camino match either. With the biology courses and BIOL 215 Biostatistics, that's four SDSU prep requirements with no El Camino course, all due by the end of spring 2027.
Physics sits at the end of math
The longest chain is MATH 170, MATH 180, MATH 190, then PHYS 3A and PHYS 3B: five semesters. PHYS 2A and PHYS 2B also count for physics, and PHYS 2A needs only MATH 170.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does El Camino's MATH 190 transfer to SDSU calculus?
Yes. MATH 190 satisfies SDSU's MATH 150 calculus requirement on its own. It needs MATH 180 first.
What doesn't El Camino cover for SDSU Biology?
El Camino has no match for either biology course, BIOL 203 or BIOL 204, for organic chemistry, CHEM 232, or for Biostatistics, BIOL 215. General chemistry, calculus and both physics sequences are covered.
What GPA does SDSU require for Biology applicants?
SDSU's published fall 2027 minimum for Biology B.A./B.S. is a 2.80 GPA, and the major is impacted like every SDSU program. Applicants above that floor, or from SDSU's local admission area, rank higher; El Camino sits outside that local area.
How long is El Camino's longest prerequisite chain?
Five semesters: MATH 170, MATH 180, MATH 190, then PHYS 3A and PHYS 3B, each a prerequisite for the next. General chemistry is shorter: CHEM 4, then CHEM 1A, then CHEM 1B.
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Related Transfer Plans
El Camino College students planning to transfer into Biology, B.A. and B.S. at San Diego State University finish general chemistry, calculus and both physics sequences at El Camino, with MATH 190 alone covering SDSU's calculus requirement. Neither biology course, organic chemistry nor Biostatistics has an El Camino match on ASSIST, and SDSU wants all catalog major prep done by the end of spring 2027. Transfermatic checks El Camino's catalog against SDSU's full requirement list so you can see exactly which courses carry over and which don't.
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