Los Angeles Pierce College to UC Berkeley
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Los Angeles Pierce College matches all ten UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering admission requirements, and Composition B has four accepted routes, including a philosophy and a journalism course. None of Berkeley's five strongly recommended electives has a Pierce equivalent.
From
Los Angeles Pierce College
To
UC Berkeley
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Los Angeles Pierce College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Los Angeles Pierce College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 101 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1AL | 5 |
| MATH 261 — Calculus I | MATH 51 — Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 262 — Calculus II | MATH 52 — Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 263 — Calculus III | MATH 53 — Multivariable Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 270 + MATH 275 — Linear Algebra + Ordinary Differential Equations | MATH 54 — Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | 6 |
| PHYSICS 101 — Physics for Engineers and Scientists I | PHYSICS 7A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers | 5 |
| PHYSICS 102 — Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | PHYSICS 7B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers | 5 |
| ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | Courses that satisfy Reading & Composition A | 3 |
| ENGL C1001 or ENGLISH 102 or PHILOS 005 or JOURNAL 109 — Critical Thinking and Writing | Courses that satisfy Reading & Composition B | 3 |
| BIOLOGY 007 + BIOLOGY 006 — General Biology II + General Biology I | BIOLOGY 1A, BIOLOGY 1AL, BIOLOGY 1B (choose 1) | 10 |
| CHEM 102 — General Chemistry II | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry (choose 1) | 5 |
| CHEM 211 — Organic Chemistry for Science Majors I | CHEM 3A, CHEM 3AL (choose 1) | 5 |
| CHEM 211 + CHEM 212 — Organic Chemistry for Science Majors I + Organic Chemistry for Science Majors II | CHEM 3B, CHEM 3BL (choose 1) | 10 |
| PHYSICS 103 — Physics for Engineers and Scientists III | PHYSICS 7C — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (choose 1) | 5 |
| PHYSIOL 001 — Introduction to Human Physiology | MCELLBI 32, MCELLBI 32L (choose 1) | 4 |
| No Pierce match | ENGIN 7 — Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers (MATLAB) (recommended) | — |
| No Pierce match | ENGIN 26 — Three-Dimensional Modeling for Design (recommended) | — |
| No Pierce match | ENGIN 29 — Manufacturing and Design Communication (recommended) | — |
| No Pierce match | MEC ENG 40 — Thermodynamics (recommended) | — |
| No Pierce match | MEC ENG C85 — Introduction to Solid Mechanics (recommended) | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Berkeley after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Los Angeles Pierce College
UC Berkeley's Mechanical Engineering program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Los Angeles Pierce College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
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 |
UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
Berkeley Engineering doesn't accept Cal-GETC or IGETC for this major, so treat Pierce's ENGL C1000 and Composition B pick as non-negotiable ahead of any GE plan.
Math starts below transfer-level calculus
MATH 240, MATH 260, MATH 261, MATH 262, then MATH 263 is five semesters if you begin at MATH 240. PHYSICS 101 also waits on MATH 261, so a late math start delays physics too.
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
Composition B has four Pierce options
ENGL C1001, ENGLISH 102, PHILOS 005 or JOURNAL 109 each satisfy Berkeley's Reading and Composition B requirement. PHILOS 005 and JOURNAL 109 are outside the English department, so check which fits your schedule fastest.
Biology needs both Pierce courses
BIOLOGY 007 and BIOLOGY 006 together cover Berkeley's Biology 1A, 1AL and 1B option. It's a full year of biology for one requirement slot, so CHEM 102 is a shorter alternative if chemistry fits better.
None of the five recommended courses match
ENGIN 7, ENGIN 26, ENGIN 29, MEC ENG 40 and MEC ENG C85 have no Pierce equivalent. None is required for admission. With no match, ASSIST's notes encourage a SolidWorks course and a programming course to strengthen your application.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at Pierce for UC Berkeley mechanical engineering?
CHEM 101; MATH 261, MATH 262 and MATH 263, plus MATH 270 and MATH 275 for MATH 54; PHYSICS 101 and PHYSICS 102; ENGL C1000 and one Composition B option; and one choice-list course, like CHEM 102.
What doesn't Pierce cover for Berkeley Mechanical Engineering?
Every required admission course has a Pierce match. Berkeley's strongly recommended list is the gap: ENGIN 7, ENGIN 26, ENGIN 29, MEC ENG 40 and MEC ENG C85 have no Pierce equivalent, though none is required.
Which one-course choice is easiest at Pierce?
CHEM 102 is one course and follows the CHEM 101 you already need for Berkeley's CHEM 1B option. The Biology 1A, 1AL and 1B option instead needs both BIOLOGY 007 and BIOLOGY 006, a longer path for the same single requirement.
What GPA do Pierce students need for Berkeley mechanical engineering?
Pierce transfers need a 3.5 GPA and a finished course list by the spring before fall enrollment; nothing less clears Berkeley's engineering review. Test scores and recommendation letters don't factor into the decision at all.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Los Angeles Pierce College students planning UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering can complete every admission course at Pierce, though calculus can run five semesters if you start at MATH 240. None of Berkeley's five strongly recommended electives has a Pierce match; none is required for admission. Pierce does offer four ways to satisfy Composition B, including PHILOS 005 and JOURNAL 109 alongside the usual English options. Admission needs a 3.5 GPA and every required course finished by spring. Transfermatic can sequence Pierce's math chain so physics isn't delayed.
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