Irvine Valley College to UC Davis
Biological Sciences Transfer Plan
IVC covers all the UC Davis Biological Sciences prep that selective major review checks: biology through BIO 80 and BIO 81 (or BIO 16, BIO 2 and BIO 5), CHEM 1A and CHEM 1B, and MATH 3A and MATH 3B. Every course on the ASSIST list has an IVC match.
From
Irvine Valley College
To
UC Davis
Biological SciencesUC Davis TAG
UC Davis offers TAG for Biological Sciences with a 3.20 cumulative GPA minimum. Each prep series also needs its own 2.50, and a grade below C in any of them rules TAG out. TAG sits on top of selective major review, so the series still finish by spring.
Major Requirements
Biological Sciences Major Preparation
Courses at Irvine Valley College that satisfy UC Davis's Biological Sciences major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Irvine Valley College | Satisfies at UC Davis | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 16 or BIO 81 or BIO 81H — Cellular Biology | BIS 002A — Introduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth | 4 |
| (BIO 2 and BIO 5) or BIO 80 or BIO 80H — Plant Biology | BIS 002B, BIS 002C | 4 |
| (CHEM 1B and CHEM 1A) or (CHEM 1B and CHEM 1AH) — General Chemistry II | CHE 002A, CHE 002B, CHE 002C | 5 |
| MATH 3A (or another listed option) — Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | MAT 021A, MAT 021B | 5 |
| (MATH 3B and MATH 4A) or (MATH 3BH and MATH 4A) — Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | MAT 021C, MAT 021D | 5 |
| CHEM 12A + CHEM 12B — Organic Chemistry + Organic Chemistry | CHE 118A, CHE 118B, CHE 118C | 10 |
| PHYS 2A + PHYS 2B — Introduction to Physics + Introduction to Physics | PHY 007A — General Physics | 8 |
| PHYS 2A + PHYS 2B — Introduction to Physics + Introduction to Physics | PHY 007B — General Physics | 8 |
| PHYS 2A + PHYS 2B — Introduction to Physics + Introduction to Physics | PHY 007C — General Physics | 8 |
General Education
Foundation GE at Irvine Valley College
Complete these five courses at Irvine Valley College to start your UC Davis 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 |
Five semesters from MATH 124
MATH 124, CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B, then CHEM 12A and CHEM 12B, each one gating the next: five semesters. Organic is optional, but general chemistry also gates biology, so begin with MATH 124 or CHEM 1A.
IVC semesters cover Davis quarter series
Davis uses quarters, so a two-semester IVC sequence often covers a three-quarter series: CHEM 1A and CHEM 1B for CHE 002A-C, and PHYS 2A and PHYS 2B for PHY 007A-C. BIO 80 covers two quarter courses by itself.
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
BIO 80 covers two Davis courses
BIO 80 or BIO 80H alone covers both BIS 002B and BIS 002C. The other route takes two courses, BIO 2 and BIO 5. Pair BIO 80 with BIO 81 for BIS 002A and biology is done in two semesters.
Chemistry has to come first
BIO 16, BIO 81 and BIO 81H all require CHEM 1A or CHEM 1AH, and CHEM 1A needs MATH 124. When you take MATH 124 or CHEM 1A decides when biology can start.
Organic and physics: recommended only
Davis rates organic chemistry and physics highly recommended, not required. At IVC, CHEM 12A and CHEM 12B cover CHE 118A-C, and PHYS 2A with PHYS 2B covers PHY 007A-C. Add them once the required series are on track.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at IVC for UC Davis Biological Sciences?
BIO 81 (or BIO 16) and BIO 80, or BIO 2 and BIO 5 in place of BIO 80; CHEM 1A and CHEM 1B; and MATH 3A and MATH 3B, with honors versions accepted. CHEM 12A, CHEM 12B, PHYS 2A and PHYS 2B are recommended if you have space.
Does IVC CHEM 1A transfer to UC Davis?
Yes, paired with CHEM 1B. CHEM 1A (or CHEM 1AH) plus CHEM 1B cover CHE 002A-C, the full general chemistry series Davis requires. CHEM 1A needs MATH 124 first, so plan that math early.
Which UC Davis Biology courses can't be taken at IVC?
None. Every course ASSIST lists for this major has an IVC match, from BIS 002A to PHY 007C, so the whole list can be done before transfer.
What is the transfer admit rate for UC Davis Biological Sciences?
UC Davis admitted 58% of all transfer applicants to the major in 2025, a rate for every applicant rather than IVC students. You'll need a 2.8 cumulative GPA, a 2.50 in each prep series and no grade below C.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Irvine Valley College students can complete the required prep for the UC Davis Biological Sciences B.S. at IVC. Biology takes BIO 81 and BIO 80, general chemistry is CHEM 1A and CHEM 1B, and calculus is MATH 3A and MATH 3B. Organic chemistry and physics are recommended, and IVC matches both. UC Davis admitted 58% of 2025 transfer applicants to the major, and TAG is open at a 3.2 GPA. Transfermatic can schedule the chemistry that has to come before IVC's biology courses.
Build your Irvine Valley College → UC Davis plan
Personalized, semester-by-semester. Free to start.
Get My Transfer Plan