Las Positas College to UCSD
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Las Positas clears 11 of UCSD's 17 Mechanical Engineering requirements, including every math, chemistry and physics course UCSD screens for admission. MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no Las Positas match, and MAE 20 and MAE 40 are open too.
From
Las Positas College
To
UC San Diego
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Las Positas College that satisfy UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Las Positas College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR 26 — Computational Methods for Engineers and Scientists | MAE 8 — MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 1A — General College Chemistry I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I | 5 |
| MATH 7 — Elementary Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 3.5 |
| MATH 1 — Calculus I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 2 — Calculus II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 3 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 5 — Ordinary Differential Equations | MATH 20D — Introduction to Differential Equations | 3.5 |
| MATH 3 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 20E — Vector Calculus | 5 |
| PHYS 1A — General Physics I | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics | 5 |
| PHYS 1C — General Physics III | PHYS 2B — Physics - Electricity and Magnetism | 5 |
| PHYS 1B — General Physics II | PHYS 2C — Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics | 5 |
| No Las Positas match | MAE 20 — Elements of Materials Science | — |
| No Las Positas match | MAE 3 — Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design | — |
| No Las Positas match | MAE 11 — Thermodynamics | — |
| No Las Positas match | MAE 30A — Statics & Introduction to Dynamics | — |
| No Las Positas match | MAE 30B — Dynamics & Vibrations | — |
| No Las Positas match | MAE 40 — Linear Circuits | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC San Diego after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Las Positas College
Complete these five courses at Las Positas College to start your UCSD 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 10
Introduction to the Science of Biology
CHEM 12A
Organic Chemistry I
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
COMM C1000
Introduction to Public Speaking
| Area | Course at Las Positas College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIO 10 — Introduction to the Science of Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 12A — Organic Chemistry I | 5 |
HumanitiesCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
Oral CommunicationCCN | COMM C1000 — Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
Four semesters through the calculus chain
MATH 1 leads into MATH 2, MATH 3 and MATH 5, four semesters minimum. UCSD wants Math 18 and 20A-D finished by the spring before transfer, so start MATH 1 in your first semester if you place into it.
Las Positas runs semesters, UCSD runs quarters
Las Positas teaches on a semester calendar; UCSD covers the same ground across shorter quarters. Once you transfer, your remaining Mechanical Engineering courses follow that faster pace.
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 26 alone clears MAE 8
Las Positas's ENGR 26 satisfies UCSD's MATLAB requirement by itself, needing only MATH 1 finished first.
MAE 20 and MAE 40 are only recommended
Las Positas has no match for either course. UCSD's notes recommend them because the major requires them later, but they aren't admission requirements, so neither blocks your application.
Calculus runs four semesters
MATH 1 leads to MATH 2, MATH 3 and MATH 5, one course per semester. PHYS 1C needs MATH 3 and PHYS 1A, so physics finishes on the same track as calculus.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Las Positas's ENGR 26 transfer to UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
Yes, ENGR 26 clears MAE 8, UCSD's MATLAB requirement, on its own, needing only MATH 1 first.
What doesn't Las Positas cover for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no Las Positas match. MAE 20 and MAE 40 are open as well, though UCSD treats both as recommended, not a requirement for admission.
Does Las Positas's semester calendar cause problems for UCSD transfer?
No, but expect a faster pace once you're there. Las Positas teaches on semesters; UCSD splits the same material into quarters, so your remaining Mechanical Engineering courses move quicker.
What's the admit rate for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
UCSD admitted 31% of all Mechanical Engineering transfer applicants in 2025, and that rate applies to every applicant to the major, not just those from Las Positas.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Las Positas College students transferring into UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering, B.S. program clear eleven of seventeen requirements, with ENGR 26 alone clearing MAE 8 and a four-semester calculus chain from MATH 1 through MATH 5. MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no Las Positas match, and MAE 20 and MAE 40 are recommended rather than required before you apply. On our platform, put in your CC and your transfer university and Transfermatic checks Las Positas's course list against UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering requirements automatically.
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