El Camino College to UCLA
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
El Camino matches every one of UCLA's 11 required Mechanical Engineering courses. The tradeoff is time: the chain from MATH 170 through PHYS 1D runs seven semesters, so math has to start in your first term.
From
El Camino College
To
UCLA
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at El Camino College that satisfy UCLA's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at El Camino College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1B + CHEM 1A — General Chemistry II + General Chemistry I | CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B, CHEM 20L | 10 |
| MATH 190 — Single Variable Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 191 — Single Variable Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 5 |
| MATH 220 — Multi-Variable Calculus | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 220 — Multi-Variable Calculus | MATH 32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 270 — Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 5 |
| MATH 270 — Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | MECH&AE 82 — Mathematics of Engineering | 5 |
| CADD 7 — Solid Modeling, Assemblies and Two Dimensional (2D) Drawings | MECH&AE 94 — Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Drafting | 3 |
| PHYS 1D + PHYS 1C + PHYS 1A — Optics and Modern Physics + Electricity and Magnetism + Mechanics of Solids | PHYSICS 1A, PHYSICS 1B, PHYSICS 1C, PHYSICS 4AL, PHYSICS 4BL | 12 |
| ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000H — Academic Reading and Writing | ENGCOMP 3 — English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language (choose 1) | 4 |
| ENGL 1B (or another listed option) — Literature and Composition | English composition courses (choose 1) | 3 |
| (CSCI 1 and CSCI 2) or CSCI 30 — Problem Solving and Program Design Using C++ | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I (choose 1) | 4 |
| CSCI 17 — Computer Programming in MATLAB | C&EE M20 — Introduction to Computer Programming with MATLAB (choose 1) | 4 |
| CSCI 1 or CSCI 3 or CSCI 30 or CSCI 17 — Problem Solving and Program Design Using C++ | Computer programming courses: C, C++, Java or Matlab (choose 1) | 4 |
| No El Camino match | EC ENGR 100 — Electrical and Electronic Circuits (recommended) | — |
| ENGR 12 — Circuit Analysis Laboratory | EC ENGR 110L — Circuit Measurements Laboratory (recommended) | 1 |
| No El Camino match | MECH&AE 101 — Statics and Strength of Materials (recommended) | — |
| No El Camino match | MECH&AE 102 — Dynamics of Particles and Rigid Bodies (recommended) | — |
| No El Camino match | MAT SCI 104 — Science of Engineering Materials (recommended) | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at El Camino College
UCLA's Mechanical Engineering program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five El Camino College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
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 |
UCLA Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
Samueli applicants skip Cal-GETC/IGETC by design: it isn't required, a partial certification is turned away, and UCLA doesn't recommend it for this major.
Seven semesters from MATH 170
MATH 170, then MATH 180, MATH 190, MATH 191 and MATH 220, then PHYS 1C and PHYS 1D: seven semesters minimum. With prep due by the spring before transfer, start math immediately.
El Camino semesters, UCLA quarters
El Camino runs on semesters while UCLA runs quarters, so credit splits unevenly. MATH 220, one El Camino course, matches both UCLA's MATH 32A and MATH 32B.
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
The required chain runs seven semesters
MATH 170 leads all the way through PHYS 1D: seven semesters with physics extending past the math sequence. Start math your very first term to keep this run on track.
CAD is a single early course
CADD 7, Solid Modeling, Assemblies and Two Dimensional Drawings, covers MECH&AE 94 alone. It fits well alongside English in a first semester.
Programming has several El Camino paths
Any one of CSCI 1, CSCI 3, CSCI 30 or CSCI 17 meets UCLA's programming requirement. CSCI 17 is the match for C&EE M20, UCLA's preferred MATLAB course, and it needs MATH 190 first.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at El Camino for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 190, MATH 191 and MATH 220 for calculus, MATH 270 for linear algebra and MECH&AE 82, CHEM 1A and CHEM 1B, PHYS 1A, PHYS 1C and PHYS 1D, CADD 7 for CAD, ENGL C1000, and one programming course such as CSCI 17.
Does El Camino cover every UCLA Mechanical Engineering requirement?
Yes. ASSIST lists an El Camino match for all 11 required courses. The catch is the prerequisite chain, which runs seven semesters from MATH 170 to PHYS 1D.
What isn't covered by El Camino for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
All 11 required courses have a match. Among the five recommended electives, only EC ENGR 110L, through ENGR 12, has an El Camino equivalent.
How hard is UCLA Mechanical Engineering to get into?
UCLA's Samueli School admitted 12% of all 2025 transfer applicants to the major and requires a minimum 3.4 GPA, figures that apply regardless of your college.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
El Camino College students preparing for Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles can complete all 11 of UCLA's required prep courses at El Camino, from MATH 190 through MATH 220 to CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B and PHYS 1A, 1C and 1D. The tradeoff is length: the chain from MATH 170 through PHYS 1D runs seven semesters. Samueli's 2025 transfer admit rate for the major was 12%, with a 3.4 GPA floor. Transfermatic can map that seven-semester run against your other El Camino coursework.
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