Long Beach City College to UCSB
Political Science Transfer Plan
LBCC covers three of UCSB's four pre-major courses and both economics requirements, though the ECON numbers run in reverse. POL S 15 has no LBCC match.
From
Long Beach City College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Political ScienceUC Santa Barbara TAG
LBCC students can use UCSB's Transfer Admission Guarantee at a 3.4 GPA to secure Political Science pre-major status. Full major status is a separate step, requiring a 2.6 GPA in UC-taken courses.
Major Requirements
Political Science Major Preparation
Courses at Long Beach City College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Political Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Long Beach City College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLSC 11 — Introduction to Political Theory | POL S 1 — Introduction to Political Philosophy (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLSC 2 or POLSC 2H — Comparative Government | POL S 6 — Introduction to Comparative Politics (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLSC 4 or POLSC 4H — World Politics | 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 LBCC match | POL S 15 — Introduction to Research in Political Science | — |
| ECON 2 or ECON 2H — Micro Economics Analysis | ECON 1 — Principles of Economics-Micro | 3 |
| ECON 1 or ECON 1H — Macro Economic Analysis | 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 Long Beach City College
Complete these five courses at Long Beach City 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 1A
Biology for Science Majors
CHEM 1A
General Chemistry
HIST 10
History of Early America (Colonial-Reconstruction)
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Long Beach City College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIO 1A — Biology for Science Majors | 5 |
Physical Science | CHEM 1A — General Chemistry | 5.5 |
Humanities | HIST 10 — History of Early America (Colonial-Reconstruction) | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
LBCC semesters become UCSB quarters
LBCC's political science and economics courses run 3 semester units; the UCSB courses they satisfy are worth 5 quarter units apiece. After transfer, expect three shorter terms a year instead of two semesters.
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
LBCC's econ numbers are reversed
LBCC's ECON 2 satisfies UCSB's ECON 1, and LBCC's ECON 1 satisfies UCSB's ECON 2. Confirm the match before registering so you don't repeat a course.
Honors sections articulate across the board
POLSC 2H, POLSC 4H, POLS C1000H, ECON 1H and ECON 2H all count the same as their standard versions.
POL S 15 is completed after transfer
No LBCC course matches the research methods requirement. It stays on your schedule at UCSB regardless of what else you finish.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Which LBCC classes count toward UCSB Political Science?
POLSC 11, POLSC 2, POLSC 4 and POLS C1000 match all four of UCSB's pre-major options; any three complete it. ECON 1 and ECON 2 at LBCC cover the economics requirement, with numbers reversed.
Does LBCC ECON 2 transfer to UCSB as ECON 1?
Yes, LBCC's ECON 2 matches UCSB's ECON 1, and LBCC's ECON 1 matches UCSB's ECON 2. Both still transfer, just under swapped numbers.
What isn't covered at LBCC for this major?
POL S 15 has no LBCC equivalent. It's required at UCSB regardless, so it's completed there after transfer.
What's the admit rate for UCSB Political Science?
UCSB admitted 63% of transfer applicants to Political Science in 2025. That figure covers the full applicant pool for the major, not LBCC alone.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Long Beach City College students transferring into Political Science at UC Santa Barbara should watch the economics numbering closely. POLSC 11, POLSC 2 and POLSC 4 cover three of UCSB's four pre-major options, and ECON 1 and ECON 2 at LBCC satisfy UCSB's economics requirement, but with the course numbers reversed between the two schools. POL S 15 is unmatched and finished after transfer. Transfermatic keeps this LBCC-to-UCSB match current so the numbering swap doesn't trip up registration.
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