El Camino College to UCSB
Political Science Transfer Plan
El Camino has a match for all four UCSB pre-major options, and you need three, plus both economics courses. POL S 15, the research methods course, has no El Camino match.
From
El Camino College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Political ScienceUC Santa Barbara TAG
El Camino students are eligible for UCSB's Transfer Admission Guarantee at a 3.4 GPA, which covers Political Science pre-major status. Full major status is separate, requiring a 2.6 GPA in UC courses.
Major Requirements
Political Science Major Preparation
Courses at El Camino College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Political Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at El Camino College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLI 7 or PHIL 117 — Political Philosophy | POL S 1 — Introduction to Political Philosophy (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLI 2 — Introduction to Comparative Politics | POL S 6 — Introduction to Comparative Politics (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLI 10 or POLI 10H — Introduction to International Relations | POL S 7 — Introduction to International Relations (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLS C1000 or POLS C1000H — American Government and Politics | POL S 12 — American Government and Politics (choose 3) | 3 |
| No El Camino match | POL S 15 — Introduction to Research in Political Science | — |
| ECON 102 — Principles of Economics: Microeconomics Theory | ECON 1 — Principles of Economics-Micro | 3 |
| ECON 101 or ECON 101H — Principles of Economics: 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 El Camino College
Complete these five courses at El Camino 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.
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 |
El Camino semesters convert to UCSB quarters
El Camino's political science and economics courses run 3 semester units; the UCSB courses they satisfy are worth 5 quarter units each. After transfer, expect three shorter terms a year.
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
Political philosophy has two department options
POLI 7 or PHIL 117 satisfies POL S 1 at El Camino. Either one counts, so take whichever section fits your schedule.
Take ECON 101 before ECON 102
El Camino's economics sequence runs ECON 101 into ECON 102 to cover UCSB's ECON 2 and ECON 1. Starting with 101 keeps you on track for both.
POL S 15 waits for UCSB
No El Camino course matches POL S 15. It's required regardless, so it lands on your first-year schedule after transfer.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Which El Camino classes count toward UCSB Political Science?
POLI 7 (or PHIL 117), POLI 2, POLI 10 and POLS C1000 match all four of UCSB's pre-major options, and you need three. ECON 101 and ECON 102 cover the economics requirement.
Does El Camino ECON 102 transfer to UCSB?
Yes, ECON 102 matches UCSB's ECON 1, and ECON 101 matches ECON 2. Both are required as part of major preparation.
What isn't covered at El Camino for this major?
POL S 15, the research methods course, has no El Camino equivalent. It's completed at UCSB after transfer.
What's the admit rate for UCSB Political Science?
In 2025, 63% of all transfer applicants to UCSB Political Science were admitted, a figure covering the entire applicant pool for the major.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
El Camino College students working toward Political Science at UC Santa Barbara can complete most of the pre-major preparation locally. POLI 7 or PHIL 117 satisfies POL S 1, while POLI 2 and POLI 10 cover two more of UCSB's four pre-major options. ECON 101 and ECON 102 handle both required economics courses, best taken in that order. POL S 15 remains unmatched at El Camino and is finished at UCSB after transfer. Transfermatic keeps this course order and matching current for El Camino students planning their schedule.
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