El Camino College to UCSD
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
El Camino clears 11 of UCSD's 17 Mechanical Engineering requirements, with CSCI 17 alone clearing the MATLAB requirement. MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no El Camino match, so those wait for UCSD.
From
El Camino College
To
UC San Diego
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at El Camino College that satisfy UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at El Camino College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CSCI 17 — Computer Programming in MATLAB | MAE 8 — MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis | 4 |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I | 5 |
| 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 |
| MATH 270 — Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | MATH 20D — Introduction to Differential Equations | 5 |
| MATH 220 — Multi-Variable Calculus | MATH 20E — Vector Calculus | 5 |
| PHYS 1A — Mechanics of Solids | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 1C — Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 2B — Physics - Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 1B — Fluids, Heat and Sound | PHYS 2C — Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics | 3 |
| No El Camino match | MAE 20 — Elements of Materials Science | — |
| No El Camino match | MAE 3 — Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design | — |
| No El Camino match | MAE 11 — Thermodynamics | — |
| No El Camino match | MAE 30A — Statics & Introduction to Dynamics | — |
| No El Camino match | MAE 30B — Dynamics & Vibrations | — |
| No El Camino match | MAE 40 — Linear Circuits | — |
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 through the calculus chain
MATH 170 leads into 180, 190, 191, 220 and 270, six semesters minimum. UCSD wants Math 18 and 20A-D finished by the spring before transfer, so start this chain as early as possible.
El Camino runs semesters, UCSD runs quarters
El Camino's courses run on a semester calendar; UCSD covers the same ground in shorter quarters. Once you transfer, your remaining courses follow that faster pace.
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
CSCI 17 alone clears MAE 8
El Camino's CSCI 17 satisfies UCSD's MATLAB requirement on its own, no separate math or engineering course needed alongside it.
MAE 20 and MAE 40 are recommended only
El Camino has no match for either course. UCSD's notes recommend both before transfer but don't list them among the courses required for admission, so neither blocks your application.
PHYS 1C waits on MATH 220
PHYS 1A needs PHYS 2A and MATH 190, and PHYS 1B needs PHYS 1A. PHYS 1C needs MATH 220, so the last physics course can't start until your third calculus course is done.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does El Camino's CSCI 17 transfer to UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
Yes, CSCI 17 clears MAE 8, UCSD's MATLAB programming requirement, on its own.
What doesn't El Camino cover for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no El Camino match. MAE 20 and MAE 40 are open too, but UCSD's notes call both recommended rather than required before you apply.
Does El Camino's semester calendar cause problems for UCSD transfer?
No, but plan for a quicker pace afterward. El Camino teaches on semesters; UCSD covers the same material in shorter quarters, so your remaining courses move faster once you're at UCSD.
What's the admit rate for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
UCSD's 2025 transfer data shows 31% of Mechanical Engineering applicants were admitted, across every applicant to the major, not just those from El Camino.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
El Camino College students transferring into UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering, B.S. program clear eleven of seventeen requirements, with CSCI 17 alone clearing MAE 8, the MATLAB requirement. MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no El Camino match, and MAE 20 and MAE 40 are recommended rather than required before you apply. On our platform, put in your CC and your transfer university and Transfermatic checks El Camino's course list against UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering requirements automatically.
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