Irvine Valley College to UCLA
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
IVC covers all 11 UCLA Mechanical Engineering prep requirements, so nothing is left for UCLA. The math decides your timeline: MATH 3A and MATH 3B, then MATH 4A, MATH 24 and MATH 26, alongside CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B and PHYS 4A to PHYS 4C.
From
Irvine Valley College
To
UCLA
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Irvine Valley College that satisfy UCLA's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Irvine Valley College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| (CHEM 1A or CHEM 1AH) and (CHEM 1B or CHEM 1BH) — General Chemistry I | CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B, CHEM 20L | 5 |
| 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 | MECH&AE 82 — Mathematics of Engineering | 4 |
| ENGR 83 — Computer-Aided Design Techniques | MECH&AE 94 — Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Drafting | 3 |
| 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 | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I (choose 1) | 3 |
| ENGR 20 — Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving with MATLAB | C&EE M20 — Introduction to Computer Programming with MATLAB (choose 1) | 3 |
| CS 36 or CS 37 — C Programming | Computer programming courses: C, C++, Java or Matlab (choose 1) | 3 |
| ENGR 70 — Introduction to Network Analysis | EC ENGR 100 — Electrical and Electronic Circuits (recommended) | 3 |
| No IVC match | EC ENGR 110L — Circuit Measurements Laboratory (recommended) | — |
| No IVC match | MECH&AE 101 — Statics and Strength of Materials (recommended) | — |
| No IVC match | MECH&AE 102 — Dynamics of Particles and Rigid Bodies (recommended) | — |
| No IVC 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 Irvine Valley College
UCLA's Mechanical Engineering 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 Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
Samueli applicants don't need IGETC or Cal-GETC, a partial IGETC isn't accepted, and UCLA advises engineering transfers against pursuing it.
Start math in your first semester
IVC's prerequisite chain runs MATH 8, MATH C2210, MATH C2220, then MATH 4A: four semesters minimum. MATH 24 and MATH 26 also wait on MATH C2220, so math can't start late.
IVC semesters against UCLA quarters
UCLA runs quarters, which is why a single IVC semester can cover two UCLA courses. CHEM 1A and CHEM 1B cover all of CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B and CHEM 20L, and PHYS 4A to 4C cover UCLA's five physics courses.
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
ENGR 20 is the MATLAB match
UCLA prefers MATLAB for this major, and IVC's ENGR 20 covers C&EE M20 directly. It needs MATH 2 first. CS 37 in C++ also works but requires CS 36, and CS 36 alone meets the general programming option.
Two sets of calculus numbers
ASSIST's agreement lists MATH 3A and MATH 3B for UCLA's MATH 31A and 31B, but the prerequisites for PHYS 4A, MATH 4A, MATH 24 and MATH 26 name MATH C2210 and MATH C2220. Check with IVC which numbers apply to your catalog year.
ENGR 70 is recommended, not required
ENGR 70 matches EC ENGR 100, one of UCLA's strongly recommended courses, not a requirement. It needs MATH 24 first (or one of the listed honors combinations), so add it only once the 11 required courses are on track for spring.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at IVC for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 3A, MATH 3B, MATH 4A, MATH 24 and MATH 26; CHEM 1A and CHEM 1B; PHYS 4A, PHYS 4B and PHYS 4C; ENGR 83 for CAD; ENGR 20 or a C/C++ course; and ENGL C1000 or another listed composition course. Honors versions such as MATH 4AH count too.
Does IVC cover everything UCLA Mechanical Engineering requires?
Yes. All 11 requirements have an IVC match on ASSIST, including MATH 24 for MECH&AE 82 and ENGR 83 for MECH&AE 94, so you can arrive with the full prep list done. Of UCLA's five strongly recommended courses, only EC ENGR 100 has an IVC match, ENGR 70.
Does IVC MATH 4A count for both MATH 32A and MATH 32B?
Yes. ASSIST lists MATH 4A (or MATH 4AH) against both of UCLA's multivariable courses, so one IVC semester clears two UCLA quarters. MATH 26 or MATH 26H then covers MATH 33A, linear algebra.
What's the transfer admit rate for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
12% of all transfer applicants to the major were admitted in 2025. That rate counts everyone who applied, not only IVC students. UCLA's Samueli School sets a 3.4 GPA minimum and names completed prep and grades as its main selection criteria.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Irvine Valley College has a match for every UCLA Mechanical Engineering prep requirement on ASSIST. IVC students take MATH 3A through MATH 4A, MATH 24 for differential equations and MATH 26 for linear algebra, plus CHEM 1A and CHEM 1B, the PHYS 4A series, ENGR 83 for CAD and ENGR 20 for MATLAB. UCLA's Samueli School admitted 12% of 2025 transfer applicants to the major and requires a 3.4 GPA. Transfermatic can order these IVC courses so the math chain ends by spring.
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