Palomar College to UCSD
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Palomar clears 13 of UCSD's 17 Mechanical Engineering requirements, with PHYS 210 clearing the MATLAB requirement from the physics department. MAE 3, MAE 11 and MAE 30B have no Palomar match, and MAE 40 is open too.
From
Palomar College
To
UC San Diego
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Palomar College that satisfy UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Palomar College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS 210 — Matlab for Science and Engineering | MAE 8 — MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 110 — General Chemistry | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I | 3 |
| MATH 200 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 140 or MATH 140E — Calculus with Analytic Geometry, First Course | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 141 or MATH 141E — Calculus with Analytic Geometry, Second Course | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 205 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry, Third Course | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 206 — Calculus with Differential Equations | MATH 20D — Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 205 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry, Third Course | MATH 20E — Vector Calculus | 4 |
| PHYS 230 — Principles of Physics | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics | 5 |
| PHYS 231 — Principles of Physics | PHYS 2B — Physics - Electricity and Magnetism | 5 |
| PHYS 231 + PHYS 230 — Principles of Physics + Principles of Physics | PHYS 2C — Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics | 10 |
| ENGR 245 — Properties of Materials | MAE 20 — Elements of Materials Science | 4 |
| No Palomar match | MAE 3 — Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design | — |
| No Palomar match | MAE 11 — Thermodynamics | — |
| ENGR 236 + ENGR 235 — Engineering Mechanics - Dynamics + Engineering Mechanics - Statics | MAE 30A — Statics & Introduction to Dynamics | 6 |
| No Palomar match | MAE 30B — Dynamics & Vibrations | — |
| No Palomar 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 Palomar College
Complete these five courses at Palomar 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.
BIOL 100
Introductory Biology: General Biology
CHEM 100
Fundamentals of Chemistry
HIST 101
History of the United States through Reconstruction
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Palomar College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 100 — Introductory Biology: General Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 100 — Fundamentals of Chemistry | 4 |
Humanities | HIST 101 — History of the United States through Reconstruction | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
Five semesters from MATH C2210 to ENGR 236
MATH C2210, then MATH 141E, PHYS 230, ENGR 235 and ENGR 236: five semesters minimum. UCSD wants Math 18, 20A-D, Chem 6A and Phys 2A-C done by the spring before transfer, so start calculus right away.
Palomar runs semesters, UCSD runs quarters
Palomar's courses run on a semester calendar; UCSD teaches the same material in shorter quarters. Once you transfer, expect your remaining Mechanical Engineering courses to move at that faster pace.
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
Palomar's MATLAB course lives in physics
PHYS 210, not a computer science course, is what clears UCSD's MAE 8 at Palomar. Look under the physics department, not CS, when planning this one.
MAE 40 is recommended, not required here
Palomar has no match for Linear Circuits. UCSD's own notes call MAE 40 recommended before transfer, not required for admission, so it isn't a blocker.
Chemistry needs CHEM 100 first
Palomar's CHEM 110, which clears UCSD's CHEM 6A, requires CHEM 100 first, and ENGR 245 needs CHEM 110 and CHEM 110L. Sequence the chemistry chain early.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Palomar's PHYS 210 transfer to UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
Yes, it clears MAE 8, UCSD's MATLAB requirement, even though PHYS 210 is a physics course rather than a computer science course.
What doesn't Palomar cover for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
MAE 3, MAE 11 and MAE 30B have no Palomar match. MAE 40 is also open, but UCSD calls it recommended, not required for admission.
Does Palomar's semester calendar cause problems for UCSD transfer?
No, but the pace picks up after transfer. Palomar runs semesters and UCSD runs quarters, so the Mechanical Engineering courses you have left are taught in UCSD's shorter terms.
What's the admit rate for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
31% of all transfer applicants to UCSD's Mechanical Engineering major were admitted in 2025, across every applicant, not specific to Palomar students.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Palomar College students transferring into UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering, B.S. program clear thirteen of seventeen requirements, including MAE 8 through PHYS 210, a physics course that covers the MATLAB requirement. ENGR 236 and ENGR 235 together clear MAE 30A. MAE 3, MAE 11 and MAE 30B have no Palomar match, and MAE 40 is recommended rather than required before you apply. On our platform, put in your CC and your transfer university and Transfermatic checks Palomar's course list against UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering requirements automatically.
Build your Palomar College → UCSD plan
Personalized, semester-by-semester. Free to start.
Get My Transfer Plan