Orange Coast College to UCSB
Economics Transfer Plan
OCC matches four of UCSB Economics' six prep courses: ECON A170, ECON A175 and calculus, through MATH A140 alone or MATH A180 then MATH A185, with MATH A182H as an honors option. ECON 10A and a statistics course have no OCC match, so UCSB has you complete both after transfer.
From
Orange Coast College
To
UC Santa Barbara
EconomicsUCSB Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
OCC students with a 3.4 GPA can apply for UCSB's TAG in Economics. It guarantees the Pre-Economics pre-major only; the full major still comes down to a 2.85 GPA in ECON 1, 2 and 10A after you enroll.
Major Requirements
Economics Major Preparation
Courses at Orange Coast College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Economics major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Orange Coast College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ECON A170 or ECON A170H — Microeconomics | ECON 1 — Principles of Economics-Micro | 3 |
| ECON A175 or ECON A175H — Macroeconomics | ECON 2 — Principles of Economics-Macro | 3 |
| MATH A180 or MATH A180H or MATH A182H — Calculus 1 | MATH 3A — Calculus with Applications, First Course (choose 1) | 5 |
| MATH A140 — Business Calculus | MATH 34A — Calculus for Social and Life Sciences (choose 1) | 5 |
| MATH A182H or MATH A185 or MATH A185H — Calculus 1 and 2 Honors | MATH 3B — Calculus with Applications, Second Course (choose 1) | 5 |
| MATH A140 — Business Calculus | MATH 34B — Calculus for Social and Life Sciences (choose 1) | 5 |
| No OCC match | ECON 10A — Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | — |
| No OCC 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 Orange Coast College
Complete these five courses at Orange Coast 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.
BIOL A100
Principles of Biology
CHEM A100
Principles of Chemistry
HIST A101
Afro-American History
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Orange Coast College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL A100 — Principles of Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM A100 — Principles of Chemistry | 3 |
Humanities | HIST A101 — Afro-American History | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
OCC semesters, UCSB quarters
UCSB converts each OCC semester unit into one and a half quarter units. Whichever calculus route you pick at OCC, MATH A140 or MATH A180 then MATH A185, still satisfies both halves of UCSB's requirement.
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 A182H counts for both 3A and 3B
ASSIST lists OCC's MATH A182H, Calculus 1 and 2 Honors, for both UCSB MATH 3A and MATH 3B. OCC's prerequisite listing for it names MATH A140 and MATH A180, so confirm you're eligible; MATH A180 then MATH A185 is the standard route.
MATH A140 is a second single-course shortcut
If you'd rather skip the MATH 3A-3B track, OCC's MATH A140, Business Calculus, covers both UCSB MATH 34A and MATH 34B in one class. UCSB highly recommends the MATH 3A-3B track, but accepts either.
AP micro and macro don't substitute
UCSB doesn't accept Advanced Placement scores for economics prep. ECON A170 or A170H for micro and ECON A175 or A175H for macro both need to be finished at OCC, or another college, with a C or better.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What OCC classes transfer to UCSB for economics?
ECON A170 or A170H for micro, ECON A175 or A175H for macro, and calculus: MATH A140 by itself, MATH A180 then MATH A185 (or their honors versions), or MATH A182H. Each route needs a C or higher.
Does one OCC math class cover all of UCSB's calculus requirement?
Yes. MATH A140, Business Calculus, articulates against both UCSB MATH 34A and MATH 34B on its own. MATH A182H, an honors course, also covers both MATH 3A and MATH 3B, but OCC lists MATH A180 among its prerequisites.
What's missing from OCC for UCSB economics?
ECON 10A and a statistics course, either ECON 5 or PSTAT 120A. OCC has no articulated match for either, and UCSB requires both after transfer, with ECON 10A part of the pre-major GPA calculation.
What percentage of UCSB economics transfer applicants get admitted?
62% of all 2025 transfer applicants to UCSB Economics were admitted, a rate for every applicant to the major, not OCC alone. Getting in places you in Pre-Economics first, and full major status needs a 2.85 GPA afterward in ECON 1, 2 and 10A.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
At Orange Coast College, UC Santa Barbara's Economics calculus screen can be cleared by one class, MATH A140, Business Calculus, or by MATH A180 then MATH A185, the track UCSB highly recommends. Pair either with ECON A170 and ECON A175, earn a 2.75 GPA across the group with no grade below C, and TAG opens at 3.4. UCSB still wants ECON 10A and a statistics course completed on its own campus. Transfermatic can help plan which OCC calculus option fits your terms.
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