MiraCosta College to UCSD
General Biology Transfer Plan
MiraCosta has a match for 17 of UCSD's 18 General Biology prep courses. BILD 5 has no MiraCosta match, so plan for it before you apply.
From
MiraCosta College
To
UC San Diego
General BiologyMajor Requirements
General Biology Major Preparation
Courses at MiraCosta College that satisfy UC San Diego's General Biology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at MiraCosta College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 202 + BIO 204 — Foundations of Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Organismal Biology + Foundations of Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics and Molecular Biology | BILD 1 — The Cell | 8 |
| BIO 204 + BIO 202 — Foundations of Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics and Molecular Biology + Foundations of Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Organismal Biology | BILD 2 — Multicellular Life | 8 |
| BIO 202 + BIO 204 — Foundations of Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Organismal Biology + Foundations of Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics and Molecular Biology | BILD 3 — Organismic and Evolutionary Biology | 8 |
| BIO 202 + BIO 204 — Foundations of Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Organismal Biology + Foundations of Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics and Molecular Biology | BILD 4 — Introductory Biology Lab | 8 |
| No MiraCosta match | BILD 5 — Data Analysis and Design for Biologists | — |
| CHEM 150 — General Chemistry I: For Science Majors | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 151 + CHEM 150 — General Chemistry II: For Science Majors + General Chemistry I: For Science Majors | CHEM 6B — General Chemistry II | 10 |
| CHEM 151 — General Chemistry II: For Science Majors | CHEM 6C — General Chemistry III | 5 |
| CHEM 151 — General Chemistry II: For Science Majors | CHEM 7L — Introductory Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory | 5 |
| CHEM 210 — Organic Chemistry I: For Science Majors | CHEM 41A — Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
| CHEM 211 + CHEM 210 — Organic Chemistry II: For Science Majors + Organic Chemistry I: For Science Majors | CHEM 41B — Organic Chemistry II: Reactivity and Synthesis | 10 |
| MATH 150 or MATH 115 — Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | MATH 10A — Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 155 — Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | MATH 10B — Calculus II | 4 |
| STAT C1000 or STAT C1000E or BTEC 180 — Introduction to Statistics | MATH 11 — Calculus Based Elementary Probability and Statistics | 4 |
| PHYS 151 — Principles of Physics I | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 152 — Principles of Physics II | PHYS 2B — Physics - Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 253 + PHYS 152 — Principles of Physics III + Principles of Physics II | PHYS 2C — Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics | 8 |
| PHYS 151 — Principles of Physics I | PHYS 2BL — Physics Laboratory - Mechanics | 4 |
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 MiraCosta College
Complete these five courses at MiraCosta 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.
BIO 102
Introductory Biology: Ecology and Environmental Biology
CHEM 103
Chemistry and Society: For Non-Science Majors
HIST 100
World History to 1500
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at MiraCosta College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIO 102 — Introductory Biology: Ecology and Environmental Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 103 — Chemistry and Society: For Non-Science Majors | 3 |
Humanities | HIST 100 — World History to 1500 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
5 semesters minimum for CHEM 140 onward
CHEM 140 through CHEM 211: 5 courses, each needing the one before, so 5 semesters minimum, more than four fall and spring terms. Start CHEM 140 first or plan on summer. Placing higher shortens it.
MiraCosta semesters, UCSD quarters
MiraCosta runs on semesters and UCSD on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCSD's quicker quarter 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
BILD 5 has no MiraCosta match
MiraCosta lists no course for BILD 5. Check UCSD's General Biology page for whether it has to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover it.
Start with CHEM 140 and BIO 202
CHEM 140 and BIO 202 sit at the start of their sequences for this route, so they fit your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
More than one way to cover MATH 10A
For UCSD MATH 10A, MiraCosta accepts MATH 150 or MATH 115. You need only one of them, so pick whichever fits your schedule.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at MiraCosta for UCSD General Biology?
BIO 202, BIO 204, CHEM 150, CHEM 151, CHEM 210, CHEM 211 and MATH 150 or MATH 115, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 17 of the 18 prep courses UCSD lists for General Biology.
What doesn't MiraCosta cover for UCSD General Biology?
BILD 5. MiraCosta lists no course for it, so check UCSD's General Biology page for whether it has to be finished before you transfer.
Does MiraCosta CHEM 150 transfer to UCSD?
Yes, for General Biology. MiraCosta CHEM 150 (General Chemistry I: For Science Majors) is the match for UCSD CHEM 6A (General Chemistry I) in the transfer agreement.
What should I take first at MiraCosta for UCSD General Biology?
CHEM 140 and BIO 202, plus ENGL C1000 for English composition. They sit at the start of their sequences.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
MiraCosta College students transferring to UC San Diego for General Biology can match 17 of 18 lower-division prep courses at MiraCosta, including BIO 202 and BIO 204. BILD 5 has no MiraCosta College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. CHEM 140 and BIO 202 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in MiraCosta College and UC San Diego, and you get the classes you need for General Biology, semester by semester.
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