El Camino College to UCSD
Computer Science Transfer Plan
El Camino matches 8 of UC San Diego's 11 Computer Science requirements. CSE 21, CSE 29 and CSE 30 have no El Camino course, and since none is on UCSD's spring screening list, those three wait until after transfer.
From
El Camino College
To
UC San Diego
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at El Camino College that satisfy UC San Diego's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at El Camino College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CSCI 3 — Object-Oriented Programming in Java | CSE 11 — Introduction to Programming and Computational Problem Solving - Accelerated Pace | 4 |
| CSCI 2 — Introduction to Data Structures | CSE 12 — Basic Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design | 5 |
| No El Camino match | CSE 29 — Systems Programming and Software Tools | — |
| MATH 210 — Introduction to Discrete Structures | CSE 20 — Discrete Mathematics | 5 |
| No El Camino match | CSE 21 — Mathematics for Algorithms and Systems | — |
| No El Camino match | CSE 30 — Computer Organization and Systems Programming | — |
| MATH 270 — Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 5 |
| MATH 190 — Single Variable Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 191 — Single Variable Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 220 — Multi-Variable Calculus | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| (BIOL 110 and BIOL 120) or (BIOL 110H and BIOL 120H) — Cell and Molecular Biology | BILD 1 — The Cell (choose 1) | 5 |
| (BIOL 110 and BIOL 120) or (BIOL 110H and BIOL 120H) — Cell and Molecular Biology | BILD 2 — Multicellular Life (choose 1) | 5 |
| (BIOL 110 and BIOL 120) or (BIOL 110H and BIOL 120H) — Cell and Molecular Biology | BILD 3 — Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (choose 1) | 5 |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I (choose 1) | 5 |
| CHEM 1A + CHEM 1B — General Chemistry I + General Chemistry II | CHEM 6B — General Chemistry II (choose 1) | 10 |
| PHYS 1A — Mechanics of Solids | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics (choose 1) | 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 El Camino College
Complete these five courses at El Camino 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.
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 to reach linear algebra
El Camino's chain runs MATH 170, 180, 190, 191, 220, then MATH 270: six semesters minimum. Start math your very first term or you'll be finishing it late.
El Camino semesters, UCSD quarters
El Camino teaches in semesters, but UCSD runs three quarters a year, so a course like MATH 190 covers UCSD material on a different pace once you arrive. Plan accordingly after transfer.
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
Computer organization has no El Camino match
CSE 30 has no El Camino course in this agreement, while CSE 11, CSE 12 and CSE 20 all do. UCSD does not screen on CSE 30, so plan on taking it at UCSD after you transfer.
Honors biology counts the same as regular
BIOL 110H and BIOL 120H match the same UCSD requirement as BIOL 110 and BIOL 120. Either track satisfies the science requirement, so pick based on your schedule.
Three requirements stay open until UCSD
CSE 29, CSE 21 and CSE 30 have no El Camino equivalent. None of the three is on UCSD's spring screening list, so budget extra units for them after transfer.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at El Camino for UCSD computer science?
CSCI 3 for CSE 11, CSCI 2 for CSE 12, MATH 210 for discrete math, and MATH 190 through MATH 220 for the calculus sequence into MATH 270 for linear algebra. Computer organization has no El Camino match.
What doesn't El Camino cover for UCSD computer science?
CSE 29, CSE 21, and CSE 30, Computer Organization and Systems Programming. ASSIST lists no El Camino course for any of the three, so they're finished at UCSD instead of before transfer.
What is the UCSD computer science transfer admit rate?
17% for 2025, tallied across every transfer applicant to Computer Science, not El Camino students specifically. UCSD screens this major, so the math, programming and science courses due by spring matter more than that number.
Does El Camino's CHEM 1A count for UCSD computer science?
Yes. CHEM 1A, and CHEM 1A with CHEM 1B, satisfy UCSD's chemistry options for the science requirement. It's one of several paths, alongside biology and physics, that cover the same requirement.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
El Camino College students transferring into UC San Diego's Computer Science B.S. complete 8 of the 11 lower-division requirements at El Camino. CSCI 3 and CSCI 2 cover programming and data structures, and MATH 190 through MATH 220 carries calculus toward MATH 270 for linear algebra. CSE 29, CSE 21 and CSE 30, Computer Organization and Systems Programming, have no El Camino match. Transfermatic tracks El Camino's six-semester math chain against UCSD's spring prep deadline so it doesn't run late.
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