Mt. San Antonio College to UCLA
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Mt. SAC covers every one of UCLA's 11 Mechanical Engineering prep courses. MECH&AE 82 has three Mt. SAC options, ENGR 285, MATH 285 or MATH 290, and the two 285 courses also cover linear algebra.
From
Mt. San Antonio College
To
UCLA
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Mt. San Antonio College that satisfy UCLA's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Mt. San Antonio College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| (CHEM 50 or CHEM 50H) and (CHEM 51H or CHEM 51) — General Chemistry I | CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B, CHEM 20L | 5 |
| MATH 180 — Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 181 — Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 4 |
| MATH 280 — Calculus and Analytic Geometry III | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 280 — Calculus and Analytic Geometry III | MATH 32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 260 or MATH 285 or ENGR 285 — Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 3 |
| (ENGR 285 or MATH 285) or MATH 290 — Differential Equations and Linear Algebra for Engineers | MECH&AE 82 — Mathematics of Engineering | 4 |
| ENGR 24 — Engineering Graphics | MECH&AE 94 — Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Drafting | 4 |
| PHYS 4B + PHYS 4C + PHYS 4A — Engineering Physics + Engineering Physics + Engineering Physics | PHYSICS 1A, PHYSICS 1B, PHYSICS 1C, PHYSICS 4AL, PHYSICS 4BL | 15 |
| ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000H or AMLA 1A — Academic Reading and Writing | ENGCOMP 3 — English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language (choose 1) | 4 |
| ENGL 1B (or another listed option) — English - Introduction to Literary Types | English composition courses (choose 1) | 3 |
| CSCI 140 or CISP 31 or CISP 34 — C++ Language and Object Development | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I (choose 1) | 4 |
| ENGR 7 — Programming Applications for Engineers | C&EE M20 — Introduction to Computer Programming with MATLAB (choose 1) | 4 |
| (CISP 31 and CISP 31L) or CISP 34 or CSCI 140 — Programming in C++ | Computer programming courses: C, C++, Java or Matlab (choose 1) | 3 |
| No Mt. SAC match | EC ENGR 100 — Electrical and Electronic Circuits (recommended) | — |
| ENGR 44 — Electrical Engineering | EC ENGR 110L — Circuit Measurements Laboratory (recommended) | 4 |
| ENGR 40 + ENGR 42 — Statics + Mechanics of Materials | MECH&AE 101 — Statics and Strength of Materials (recommended) | 7 |
| No Mt. SAC match | MECH&AE 102 — Dynamics of Particles and Rigid Bodies (recommended) | — |
| ENGR 8 — Properties of Materials | MAT SCI 104 — Science of Engineering Materials (recommended) | 4 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Mt. San Antonio College
UCLA's Mechanical Engineering program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Mt. San Antonio College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
BIOL 1
General Biology
CHEM 10
Chemistry for Allied Health Majors
HIST 1
History of the United States
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Mt. San Antonio College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 1 — General Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 10 — Chemistry for Allied Health Majors | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 1 — History of the United States | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
UCLA Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
For Mechanical Engineering, UCLA's Samueli School drops the IGETC/Cal-GETC requirement entirely; a partial certification isn't accepted and none is recommended.
Six semesters of math, start to finish
MATH 150 leads to 160, 180, 181, 280 and finally 285: six semesters with no room to skip a term. Begin the chain your first semester at Mt. SAC.
Semester math, quarter requirements
Mt. SAC teaches on semesters while UCLA runs quarters, and the two don't line up one to one. MATH 280, a single Mt. SAC course, satisfies both UCLA's MATH 32A and MATH 32B.
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
Three courses satisfy MECH&AE 82
ENGR 285, MATH 285 or MATH 290 each independently cover UCLA's differential equations requirement. Whichever fits your schedule works; you don't need more than one.
Linear algebra also has three routes
MATH 260, MATH 285 or ENGR 285 each satisfy MATH 33A on their own. MATH 285 and ENGR 285 can double up and also clear MECH&AE 82, so one course can do double duty.
Math runs six semesters straight
MATH 150 through MATH 285 is the longest chain among UCLA's required courses here. Falling behind even one semester in that run pushes the rest of your sequence back.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at Mt. SAC for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 180, 181 and 280 for calculus, MATH 260 or 285 for linear algebra, ENGR 285 or MATH 290 for differential equations, CHEM 50 and 51, PHYS 4A through 4C, and ENGR 24 for CAD.
Does Mt. SAC MATH 285 cover more than one UCLA requirement?
Yes. ASSIST lists MATH 285 as an option for both MATH 33A, linear algebra, and MECH&AE 82, differential equations, so one course can clear two requirements.
Are there gaps between Mt. SAC and UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
No, ASSIST shows a Mt. SAC match for all 11 required courses. Among the five recommended electives, Mt. SAC covers three: EC ENGR 110L, MECH&AE 101 and MAT SCI 104.
What's UCLA's admit rate for Mechanical Engineering transfers?
UCLA's Samueli School admitted 12% of all 2025 transfer applicants to the major, not a Mt. SAC-specific figure, and requires a 3.4 minimum GPA to apply.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Mt. San Antonio College students planning a Mechanical Engineering transfer to the University of California, Los Angeles can complete all 11 of UCLA's required prep courses at Mt. SAC. The MECH&AE 82 requirement has three separate Mt. SAC matches, ENGR 285, MATH 285 or MATH 290. The six-semester math chain from MATH 150 to MATH 285 is the longest stretch in the agreement. UCLA admitted 12% of all 2025 transfer applicants to the major, and Samueli sets a 3.4 GPA floor. Transfermatic can sequence that run around your other Mt. SAC courses.
Build your Mt. San Antonio College → UCLA plan
Personalized, semester-by-semester. Free to start.
Get My Transfer Plan