Irvine Valley College to UCSB
Political Science Transfer Plan
IVC has a match for all four UCSB pre-major courses, most with honors alternatives, plus both economics requirements. POL S 15 is the one course IVC can't provide.
From
Irvine Valley College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Political ScienceUC Santa Barbara TAG
IVC students can secure Political Science pre-major status through UCSB's Transfer Admission Guarantee at a 3.4 GPA. Full major status is a separate step, requiring a 2.6 GPA in UC-taken courses.
Major Requirements
Political Science Major Preparation
Courses at Irvine Valley College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Political Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Irvine Valley College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 5 or PHIL 5 — Political Philosophy | POL S 1 — Introduction to Political Philosophy (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLS 12 or POLS 12H — Comparative Politics | POL S 6 — Introduction to Comparative Politics (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLS 14 or POLS 14H — 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 IVC match | POL S 15 — Introduction to Research in Political Science | — |
| ECON 1 or ECON 1H — Principles of Economics - Micro | ECON 1 — Principles of Economics-Micro | 3 |
| ECON 2 or ECON 2H — Principles of Economics - Macro | 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 Irvine Valley College
Complete these five courses at Irvine Valley 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.
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 |
IVC's semester classes, UCSB's quarters
IVC's political science and economics courses are worth 3 semester units; UCSB's matching courses run 5 quarter units. After transfer, expect three shorter terms a year instead of two.
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 departments
POLS 5 or PHIL 5 both satisfy POL S 1 at IVC. Either department's version counts, so pick whichever fits your schedule.
Honors options cover nearly everything
POLS 12H, POLS 14H, POLS C1000H, ECON 1H and ECON 2H all articulate the same as their standard sections.
POL S 15 is the one gap
IVC covers all four pre-major options and both econ courses, but has nothing for POL S 15. That one waits for UCSB.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Which IVC classes count toward UCSB Political Science?
POLS 5 (or PHIL 5), POLS 12, POLS 14 and POLS C1000 cover all four of UCSB's pre-major options; you only need three. ECON 1 and ECON 2 complete the economics requirement.
Does IVC ECON 1 transfer to UCSB?
Yes, IVC's ECON 1 and ECON 2 match UCSB's ECON 1 and ECON 2 directly, honors sections included. Both are required.
What isn't covered at IVC for this major?
POL S 15, the research methods course, has no IVC match. You'll complete it at UCSB after transfer.
What's the admit rate for UCSB Political Science transfers?
The 2025 admit rate for UCSB Political Science was 63%. It applies to all transfer applicants to the major, not IVC students specifically.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Irvine Valley College gives Political Science transfers to UC Santa Barbara a match for every pre-major option. POLS 5 or PHIL 5, POLS 12, POLS 14 and POLS C1000 satisfy all four, with honors versions accepted for most of them, and ECON 1 and ECON 2 handle the economics requirement outright. Only POL S 15 stays unmatched, so you'll finish it after transfer. Transfermatic pulls this course-by-course match from the current ASSIST agreement, so IVC students can register with the honors option confirmed instead of guessed at.
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