Irvine Valley College to SDSU
Biology Transfer Plan
Irvine Valley College covers eight of SDSU's nine Biology requirement groups, including both biology courses, general chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus and both physics sequences. Only BIOL 215, Biostatistics, has no IVC match on ASSIST.
From
Irvine Valley College
To
San Diego State University
BiologyMajor Requirements
Biology Major Preparation
Courses at Irvine Valley College that satisfy San Diego State University's Biology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Irvine Valley College | Satisfies at SDSU | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 16 — Cellular Biology | BIOL 203, BIOL 203L | 4 |
| BIO 2 + BIO 5 — Plant Biology + Animal Biology | BIOL 204, BIOL 204L | 8 |
| No IVC match | BIOL 215 — Biostatistics | — |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry I | CHEM 200 — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 1B — General Chemistry II | CHEM 201 — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 12A — Organic Chemistry | CHEM 232, CHEM 232L | 5 |
| MATH 3A or MATH 3AH — Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | MATH 150 — Calculus I (choose 1) | 5 |
| PHYS 2A — Introduction to Physics | PHYS 180A, PHYS 182A | 4 |
| PHYS 2B — Introduction to Physics | PHYS 180B, PHYS 182B | 4 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at San Diego State University after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Irvine Valley College
Complete these five courses at Irvine Valley College to start your SDSU 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.
BIO 1
The Life Sciences
CHEM 12A
Organic Chemistry
HIST 1
The History of World Civilizations to 1500
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Irvine Valley College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIO 1 — The Life Sciences | 3 |
Physical Science | CHEM 12A — Organic Chemistry | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 1 — The History of World Civilizations to 1500 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
Four terms from MATH 124 to organic chem
IVC's MATH 124 comes before CHEM 1A, then CHEM 1B, then CHEM 12A. That's four terms minimum, so clear MATH 124 your first semester at IVC.
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
Biostatistics is IVC's one gap
IVC has a match for every SDSU Biology requirement except BIOL 215. SDSU wants all catalog major prep, Biostatistics included, done by the end of spring 2027.
Honors calculus works the same way
MATH 3AH, IVC's honors calculus, satisfies SDSU's MATH 150 requirement exactly like standard MATH 3A. Neither track has an advantage on ASSIST, so pick whichever section fits.
Organismal biology takes two IVC classes
SDSU's BIOL 204 needs both BIO 2 and BIO 5; either one alone leaves it open. Both list BIO 1 as a prerequisite option, so fit BIO 1 in before them.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does IVC's BIO 16 transfer to SDSU as cell biology?
Yes. BIO 16 alone satisfies SDSU's BIOL 203 and BIOL 203L, the cell and molecular biology course and its lab. It's a single IVC course covering both parts of that requirement.
What doesn't IVC cover for SDSU's Biology major?
BIOL 215, Biostatistics, is the only SDSU Biology requirement without an IVC match on ASSIST. Cell and molecular biology, organismal biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus and both physics courses all have IVC equivalents.
What GPA does SDSU expect for Biology transfers?
Fall 2027 applicants to SDSU's Biology B.A./B.S. need at least a 2.80 GPA. Every SDSU major is impacted, so a higher GPA or applying from SDSU's local admission area moves an applicant up; IVC is not in that area.
How long is IVC's chain to organic chemistry?
Four terms: IVC's MATH 124 feeds CHEM 1A, which feeds CHEM 1B, which feeds CHEM 12A. Falling behind on MATH 124 delays chemistry, and organic chemistry with it, by a full term or more.
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Related Transfer Plans
Irvine Valley College students transferring into Biology, B.A. and B.S. at San Diego State University complete both biology courses, general chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus and the full physics sequence before they leave IVC, with BIO 16 alone covering SDSU's cell and molecular biology course and lab. The one gap is Biostatistics, BIOL 215, which has no IVC match on ASSIST. Transfermatic checks IVC's own catalog against SDSU's requirements so you can see that single missing course clearly.
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