Irvine Valley College to UCLA
Computer Science Transfer Plan
IVC matches 14 of UCLA's 15 Computer Science prep requirements, from CS 37 and CS 41 through calculus, physics and discrete math. The one gap is COM SCI 35L, Software Construction Laboratory, which has no IVC course on ASSIST, so you'll take it at UCLA.
From
Irvine Valley College
To
UCLA
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at Irvine Valley College that satisfy UCLA's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Irvine Valley College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CS 37 — C++ Programming | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I | 3 |
| CS 41 — Data Structures | COM SCI 32 — Introduction to Computer Science II | 3 |
| CS 40B + CS 40A — Computer Organization and Assembly Language II + Computer Organization and Assembly Language I | COM SCI 33 — Introduction to Computer Organization | 6 |
| No IVC match | COM SCI 35L — Software Construction Laboratory | — |
| ENGR 31 — Introduction to Digital Systems | COM SCI M51A — Logic Design of Digital Systems (choose 1) | 3 |
| ENGR 31 — Introduction to Digital Systems | EC ENGR M16 — Logic Design of Digital Systems (choose 1) | 3 |
| MATH 3A or MATH 3AH — Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 3B or MATH 3BH — Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 5 |
| MATH 4A or MATH 4AH — Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 4A or MATH 4AH — Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | MATH 32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 26 or MATH 26H — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 4 |
| MATH 24 or MATH 24H — Elementary Differential Equations | MATH 33B — Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 6B + MATH 6A — Computer Discrete Mathematics II + Computer Discrete Mathematics I | MATH 61 — Introduction to Discrete Structures | 6 |
| PHYS 4C + PHYS 4B + PHYS 4A — General Physics + General Physics + General Physics | 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 |
| LIT 1 or ENGL C1001 or ENGL C1001H — Introduction to Literature | English composition courses (choose 1) | 3 |
| CS 37 — C++ Programming | Computer programming courses: C++ preferred (choose 1) | 3 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Irvine Valley College
UCLA's Computer Science program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Irvine Valley College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
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 |
UCLA Computer Science: full GE notes
UCLA's engineering school doesn't require or recommend IGETC or Cal-GETC for Computer Science applicants, and partial certification isn't accepted.
Logic design sits four semesters deep
ENGR 31, IVC's match for UCLA's logic design course, ends a chain: MATH 124, then MATH 2, then ENGR 20, then ENGR 31. That's four semesters minimum, so start the math side in your first term.
IVC semesters, UCLA quarters
IVC runs semesters and UCLA runs quarters, so course counts won't line up one to one. PHYS 4A, PHYS 4B and PHYS 4C stand in for five UCLA physics courses, and one semester of MATH 4A covers two quarters.
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
Two IVC classes for one UCLA course
COM SCI 33 takes both CS 40A and CS 40B, and MATH 61 takes both MATH 6A and MATH 6B. Finishing only one half of either pair leaves that UCLA course uncovered, so schedule both halves before spring.
Start programming with CS 36
CS 37 is IVC's C++ match for COM SCI 31, and it requires CS 36 first. CS 41, the match for COM SCI 32, then needs CS 37. That's three semesters of programming, so CS 36 belongs in your first year.
MATH 4A covers two UCLA courses
ASSIST lists IVC's MATH 4A (or MATH 4AH) for both MATH 32A and MATH 32B, so one semester of multivariable calculus clears two UCLA requirements. MATH 26 and MATH 24 then handle linear algebra and differential equations.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at IVC for UCLA computer science?
Take CS 37, CS 41, CS 40A with CS 40B, ENGR 31, MATH 3A, MATH 3B, MATH 4A, MATH 26, MATH 24, MATH 6A with MATH 6B, and PHYS 4A through PHYS 4C, plus ENGL C1000 for composition. UCLA wants the prep finished by the end of spring before you transfer, all for a letter grade.
Which UCLA computer science course has no IVC equivalent?
COM SCI 35L, Software Construction Laboratory. ASSIST lists no IVC course for it, so it stays on your list for after you transfer. Every other lower-division requirement on the agreement has an IVC match.
How hard is it to get into UCLA computer science as a transfer?
Very hard. UCLA admitted 5% of all transfer applicants to Computer Science in 2025, counting students from every college. You need at least a 3.4 transferable GPA to be considered, and the engineering school does not review applicants for an alternate major.
Does IVC CS 37 transfer to UCLA?
Yes. CS 37, IVC's C++ Programming course, matches COM SCI 31 and also fills UCLA's separate programming-language requirement. UCLA prefers C++, though the agreement notes say C and Java courses are acceptable too.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Irvine Valley College students aiming for the Computer Science B.S. at UCLA can complete nearly all of the lower-division preparation before transferring. IVC's CS 37 and CS 41 map to UCLA's COM SCI 31 and COM SCI 32, calculus runs MATH 3A, MATH 3B and MATH 4A, and physics is PHYS 4A through PHYS 4C. Only COM SCI 35L waits until you arrive at UCLA. Transfermatic turns this agreement into a semester-by-semester IVC plan that respects every prerequisite, including the CS 36 start and the four-semester path to ENGR 31.
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