Los Angeles Pierce College to UCSB
Economics Transfer Plan
Pierce covers four of UCSB Economics' six prep courses: ECON 001, ECON 002 and calculus, either the MATH 261-262 pair or a single MATH 238 class. ECON 10A and a statistics course have no Pierce match, leaving both for after you transfer.
From
Los Angeles Pierce College
To
UC Santa Barbara
EconomicsUCSB Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
Pierce students with a 3.4 GPA can apply for UCSB's TAG in Economics. Like standard admission, TAG only secures the Pre-Economics pre-major; full major status still needs the 2.85 GPA in ECON 1, 2 and 10A afterward.
Major Requirements
Economics Major Preparation
Courses at Los Angeles Pierce College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Economics major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Los Angeles Pierce College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 001 — Principles of Microeconomics | ECON 1 — Principles of Economics-Micro | 3 |
| ECON 002 — Principles of Macroeconomics | ECON 2 — Principles of Economics-Macro | 3 |
| MATH 261 — Calculus I | MATH 3A — Calculus with Applications, First Course (choose 1) | 5 |
| MATH 238 — Calculus for Business and Social Science I | MATH 34A — Calculus for Social and Life Sciences (choose 1) | 5 |
| MATH 262 — Calculus II | MATH 3B — Calculus with Applications, Second Course (choose 1) | 5 |
| MATH 238 — Calculus for Business and Social Science I | MATH 34B — Calculus for Social and Life Sciences (choose 1) | 5 |
| No Pierce match | ECON 10A — Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | — |
| No Pierce match for any of 2 options | ECON 5 — Statistics for Economics and others (choose 1) | — |
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 Los Angeles Pierce College
Complete these five courses at Los Angeles Pierce 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.
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 |
Pierce semesters, UCSB quarters
UCSB converts each Pierce semester unit into one and a half quarter units. A single MATH 238 course, or the MATH 261-262 pair, still satisfies UCSB's calculus requirement in full.
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
MATH 261 starts after MATH 260
The MATH 261 and MATH 262 pair, which matches UCSB's recommended MATH 3A and MATH 3B, needs MATH 260 first, and MATH 262 needs MATH 261. If you place below calculus, MATH 238 is the shorter route.
MATH 238 finishes calculus in one term
Pierce's MATH 238, Calculus for Business and Social Science I, articulates against both UCSB MATH 34A and MATH 34B. The alternative, MATH 261 then MATH 262, is UCSB's preferred STEM-track pair instead.
2.75 average, no grade under C
UCSB blends ECON 001, ECON 002 and your calculus grades into a single GPA. You need 2.75 or higher overall, and every one of those courses still has to individually clear a C.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What Pierce classes transfer to UCSB for economics?
ECON 001 for micro, ECON 002 for macro, and calculus: MATH 261 then MATH 262, or MATH 238 by itself. Each needs a grade of C or better for UCSB's screen.
Does Pierce offer a one-class calculus shortcut for UCSB economics?
Yes. MATH 238, Calculus for Business and Social Science I, covers both UCSB MATH 34A and MATH 34B on its own. Pierce's STEM alternative, MATH 261 and MATH 262, is two separate courses.
What's missing from Pierce for UCSB economics?
ECON 10A and a statistics course, either ECON 5 or PSTAT 120A. Pierce has no articulated match for either, and UCSB requires both to be completed on campus, with ECON 10A counted in the pre-major GPA.
How hard is it to get into UCSB economics as a transfer?
62% of all 2025 transfer applicants to UCSB Economics were admitted, a number for the whole major, not Pierce specifically. You're admitted as a Pre-Economics pre-major first, with the full major decided later by a 2.85 GPA in ECON 1, 2 and 10A.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Los Angeles Pierce College keeps its UC Santa Barbara Economics prep simple: ECON 001 and ECON 002, plus calculus through a single MATH 238 course or the MATH 261-262 pair. That combination needs to average 2.75 for UCSB's screen, with no grade below C, and TAG is available at 3.4 for qualified applicants. ECON 10A and a statistics course have no Pierce match, so both get finished at UCSB. Transfermatic can build a Pierce schedule around whichever calculus path fits your terms.
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