Los Angeles Pierce College to UCSD
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Pierce clears 11 of UCSD's 17 Mechanical Engineering requirements, with ENG GEN 151 covering materials science. MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no Pierce match, and the math chain runs six semesters.
From
Los Angeles Pierce College
To
UC San Diego
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Los Angeles Pierce College that satisfy UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Los Angeles Pierce College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| No Pierce match | MAE 8 — MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis | — |
| CHEM 101 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I | 5 |
| MATH 270 — Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 261 — Calculus I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 262 — Calculus II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 263 — Calculus III | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 275 — Ordinary Differential Equations | MATH 20D — Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 263 — Calculus III | MATH 20E — Vector Calculus | 5 |
| PHYSICS 101 — Physics for Engineers and Scientists I | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 102 — Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | PHYS 2B — Physics - Electricity and Magnetism | 5 |
| PHYSICS 103 — Physics for Engineers and Scientists III | PHYS 2C — Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics | 5 |
| ENG GEN 151 — Materials of Engineering | MAE 20 — Elements of Materials Science | 3 |
| No Pierce match | MAE 3 — Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design | — |
| No Pierce match | MAE 11 — Thermodynamics | — |
| No Pierce match | MAE 30A — Statics & Introduction to Dynamics | — |
| No Pierce match | MAE 30B — Dynamics & Vibrations | — |
| No Pierce 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 Los Angeles Pierce College
Complete these five courses at Los Angeles Pierce 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.
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 |
Six semesters of math before physics finishes
MATH 240 leads into 260, 261, 262, 263 and PHYSICS 103, six semesters minimum. UCSD wants Math 18, 20A-D and Phys 2A-C finished by the spring before transfer, so start this chain immediately.
Pierce runs semesters, UCSD runs quarters
Pierce's courses are built around semesters; UCSD teaches the same material in shorter quarters. Once you transfer, expect the pace of your remaining courses to pick up considerably.
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
MAE 20 clears through Engineering General
Pierce's ENG GEN 151 satisfies MAE 20, Elements of Materials Science. It needs CHEM 101 and PHYSICS 101 first, so it fits after your first chemistry and physics semesters.
MAE 8 is recommended, not required here
Pierce has no match for MAE 8. UCSD's own notes call it recommended before transfer, not required for admission, so it isn't a blocker.
Each physics course waits on math
PHYSICS 101 needs MATH 261, PHYSICS 102 needs MATH 262 and PHYSICS 101, and PHYSICS 103 needs MATH 263 and PHYSICS 102. Falling behind in math pushes physics back a semester.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pierce's ENG GEN 151 transfer to UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
Yes, it clears MAE 20, Elements of Materials Science. It's one of 11 UCSD requirements Pierce covers for Mechanical Engineering, and it needs CHEM 101 and PHYSICS 101 first.
What doesn't Pierce cover for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no Pierce match. MAE 8 and MAE 40 are also open, but UCSD calls those recommended, not required for admission.
Does Pierce's semester calendar cause problems for UCSD transfer?
No, but expect the pace to pick up. Pierce runs semesters and UCSD runs quarters, so the Mechanical Engineering courses you have left move faster once you transfer.
What's the admit rate for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical Engineering admitted 31% of UCSD's 2025 transfer applicants overall, a rate that isn't specific to Pierce students.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Los Angeles Pierce College students transferring into UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering, B.S. program clear eleven of seventeen requirements, with ENG GEN 151 covering MAE 20. MAE 8 and MAE 40 have no Pierce match but are recommended rather than required for admission. MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B also have no Pierce match, and the chain from MATH 240 through PHYSICS 103 runs six semesters. On our platform, put in your CC and your transfer university and Transfermatic checks Pierce's course list against UC San Diego's requirements automatically.
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