El Camino College to UC Berkeley
Computer Science Transfer Plan
El Camino College covers all three courses UC Berkeley requires for Computer Science admission, but the math chain ending at MATH 270 runs six semesters from MATH 170. CSCI 2 and CSCI 30 together also match the recommended COMPSCI 61B.
From
El Camino College
To
UC Berkeley
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at El Camino College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at El Camino College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 190 — Single Variable Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | MATH 51 — Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 191 — Single Variable Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | MATH 52 — Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 270 — Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | MATH 54 — Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (choose 1) | 5 |
| No El Camino match | COMPSCI 61A — The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (recommended) | — |
| CSCI 2 + CSCI 30 — Introduction to Data Structures + Advanced Programming in C++ | COMPSCI 61B — Data Structures (recommended) | 9 |
| No El Camino match | COMPSCI 61C — Machine Structures (recommended) | — |
| No El Camino match | COMPSCI 70 — Discrete Mathematics and Probability Theory (recommended) | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley 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 |
Six semesters of math at El Camino
MATH 170 through MATH 270 takes six semesters at El Camino: 170, 180, 190, 191, 220, 270. Get your math placement right away, since a late start likely misses the spring deadline.
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
Six semesters if you start at MATH 170
El Camino's chain to MATH 270 runs MATH 170, 180, 190, 191, 220, then 270. Berkeley needs every required course done by the end of spring before fall enrollment, so start math your first term.
CSCI 2 is the gate to 61B
CSCI 30 needs CSCI 2 first, which itself needs CSCI 1. Start programming courses in your first year so the pair finishes before you apply.
61C and 70 have no El Camino path
COMPSCI 61A, 61C, and 70 all show no El Camino match. Only 61B is reachable here, through the CSCI 2 and CSCI 30 pair.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes do I need at El Camino for UC Berkeley computer science?
MATH 190 and MATH 191 for calculus, then MATH 270 for linear algebra and differential equations. Those three are every major course Berkeley requires; you also need the UC 7-course pattern by spring. CSCI 2 plus CSCI 30 add the recommended COMPSCI 61B.
What doesn't El Camino cover for Berkeley CS?
Nothing required is missing. On the highly recommended list, COMPSCI 61A, 61C, and 70 lack an El Camino match. You'd pick those up at Berkeley, and the department offers the 61 series in its summer session.
How hard is it to transfer into Berkeley computer science?
Very hard. UC Berkeley admitted 5% of 2025 transfer applicants to Computer Science across every college that sends students, not El Camino specifically. Applying with a different major closes off adding CS after admission.
Is IGETC required for Berkeley CS?
No. The College of Computing, Data Science, and Society treats Cal-GETC and IGETC as recommended, not required, for CS admission. What's actually required is the UC 7-course pattern, finished by the spring before you enroll.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
El Camino College students aiming for the Computer Science, B.A. at UC Berkeley can clear all three required admission courses, but the path is long: MATH 190, MATH 191, then MATH 270 sits at the end of a six-semester math chain. CSCI 2 and CSCI 30 pick up the recommended COMPSCI 61B along the way. Transfermatic maps that full sequence against El Camino's math placement so students see, early, whether the spring deadline is realistic.
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