Los Angeles Pierce College to UC Berkeley
Molecular and Cell Biology Transfer Plan
Pierce covers all seven of UC Berkeley's Molecular and Cell Biology requirements, with one odd match: CS 131 counts toward the discrete math option. Chemistry runs five semesters from CHEM 060 to CHEM 212, so start it early.
From
Los Angeles Pierce College
To
UC Berkeley
Molecular and Cell BiologyMajor Requirements
Molecular and Cell Biology Major Preparation
Courses at Los Angeles Pierce College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Molecular and Cell Biology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Los Angeles Pierce College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOLOGY 007 + BIOLOGY 006 — General Biology II + General Biology I | BIOLOGY 1A, BIOLOGY 1AL, BIOLOGY 1B | 10 |
| CHEM 101 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1AL | 5 |
| CHEM 102 — General Chemistry II | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 211 — Organic Chemistry for Science Majors I | CHEM 3A, CHEM 3AL | 5 |
| CHEM 211 + CHEM 212 — Organic Chemistry for Science Majors I + Organic Chemistry for Science Majors II | CHEM 3B, CHEM 3BL | 10 |
| MATH 261 — Calculus I | MATH 51 — Calculus I (choose 2) | 5 |
| MATH 262 — Calculus II | MATH 52 — Calculus II (choose 2) | 5 |
| MATH 263 — Calculus III | MATH 53 — Multivariable Calculus (choose 2) | 5 |
| MATH 270 + MATH 275 — Linear Algebra + Ordinary Differential Equations | MATH 54 — Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (choose 2) | 6 |
| CS 131 — Discrete Structures for Computer Science | MATH 55 — Discrete Mathematics (choose 2) | 3 |
| PHYSICS 066 — Physics with Calculus for Life Science Majors I | PHYSICS 8A — Introductory Physics (recommended) | 5 |
| PHYSICS 067 — Physics with Calculus for Life Science Majors II | PHYSICS 8B — Introductory Physics (recommended) | 5 |
| PHYSICS 101 — Physics for Engineers and Scientists I | PHYSICS 7A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (recommended) | 5 |
| PHYSICS 102 — Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | PHYSICS 7B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (recommended) | 5 |
General Education
Foundation GE at Los Angeles Pierce College
Complete these five courses at Los Angeles Pierce College to start your UC Berkeley 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.
ANATOMY 001
Introduction to Human Anatomy
CHEM 051
Fundamentals of Chemistry I
A S L 003
American Sign Language III
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Los Angeles Pierce College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | ANATOMY 001 — Introduction to Human Anatomy | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 051 — Fundamentals of Chemistry I | 5 |
Humanities | A S L 003 — American Sign Language III | 4 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
Chemistry is a five-semester chain
CHEM 060 leads into CHEM 101, CHEM 102, CHEM 211 and CHEM 212, five semesters minimum. Enroll in CHEM 060 your first term at Pierce to keep organic chemistry on schedule.
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
A computer science course covers math
CS 131 satisfies MATH 55, Berkeley's discrete mathematics option, at Pierce. If calculus isn't your strength, pairing this with MATH 261 gives you a real alternative to a second calculus course.
CHEM 211 does double duty
CHEM 211 alone satisfies CHEM 3A, and paired with CHEM 212 it also satisfies CHEM 3B. Plan for CHEM 211 first; it's the course both organic chemistry requirements share.
Start biology and physics together
BIOLOGY 007 and PHYSICS 066 are both available with no prerequisite at Pierce. Taking them the same first term keeps both sequences moving without waiting on chemistry to clear first.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CS 131 count toward UC Berkeley MCB math?
Yes, at Pierce it satisfies MATH 55, Berkeley's discrete math option, one of the two math courses the major requires. Pair it with any other matched math course to finish the requirement.
Is anything missing at Pierce for Berkeley MCB?
No. Pierce matches every required course, and all four strongly recommended physics classes are matched as well. There's no required gap left for after you transfer.
What is the UC Berkeley MCB transfer admit rate?
23% in 2025, counting every transfer applicant to Molecular and Cell Biology, not a Pierce-only figure. Admitted transfers who select MCB on their application go straight into the major.
Do I need IGETC to transfer from Pierce to Berkeley MCB?
No. Letters and Science doesn't require Cal-GETC or IGETC for admission, only the UC 7-course pattern plus every major prep course, though finishing Cal-GETC is still recommended for later degree progress.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Los Angeles Pierce College students transferring into Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley can finish the full lower-division sequence on campus. Chemistry runs from CHEM 060 through CHEM 212, biology comes from BIOLOGY 007 and BIOLOGY 006, and Pierce's CS 131 covers Berkeley's discrete math option alongside calculus. All four recommended physics courses are matched too. Transfermatic sequences the Pierce plan around the five-semester chemistry chain so students know exactly which course comes first.
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