Palomar College to UCLA
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Palomar College covers every one of UCLA's 11 required Mechanical Engineering courses. Two details matter: CAD takes two AutoCAD courses, DT 101 and DT 102, and the MATLAB option is PHYS 210, listed under physics.
From
Palomar College
To
UCLA
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Palomar College that satisfy UCLA's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Palomar College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 110L + CHEM 110 + CHEM 115 — General Chemistry Laboratory + General Chemistry + General Chemistry | CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B, CHEM 20L | 8 |
| MATH 140 or MATH 140E — Calculus with Analytic Geometry, First Course | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 141 or MATH 141E — Calculus with Analytic Geometry, Second Course | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 4 |
| MATH 205 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry, Third Course | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 205 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry, Third Course | MATH 32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 200 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 3 |
| MATH 206 — Calculus with Differential Equations | MECH&AE 82 — Mathematics of Engineering | 4 |
| DT 101 + DT 102 — AutoCAD I + AutoCAD II | MECH&AE 94 — Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Drafting | 6 |
| PHYS 231 + PHYS 230 — Principles of Physics + Principles of Physics | PHYSICS 1A, PHYSICS 1B, PHYSICS 1C, PHYSICS 4AL, PHYSICS 4BL | 10 |
| ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | ENGCOMP 3 — English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language (choose 1) | 4 |
| ENGL C1001 or ENG 203 or PHIL 200 — Critical Thinking and Writing | English composition courses (choose 1) | 4 |
| CSCI 222 — C++ and Object-Oriented Programming | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I (choose 1) | 4 |
| PHYS 210 — Matlab for Science and Engineering | C&EE M20 — Introduction to Computer Programming with MATLAB (choose 1) | 3 |
| CSCI 222 — C++ and Object-Oriented Programming | Computer programming courses: C, C++, Java or Matlab (choose 1) | 4 |
| No Palomar match | EC ENGR 100 — Electrical and Electronic Circuits (recommended) | — |
| ENGR 210L — Electrical Network Analysis Lab | EC ENGR 110L — Circuit Measurements Laboratory (recommended) | 1 |
| No Palomar match | MECH&AE 101 — Statics and Strength of Materials (recommended) | — |
| No Palomar match | MECH&AE 102 — Dynamics of Particles and Rigid Bodies (recommended) | — |
| No Palomar match | MAT SCI 104 — Science of Engineering Materials (recommended) | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Palomar College
UCLA's Mechanical Engineering program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Palomar College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
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 |
UCLA Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
Samueli's rule departs from the rest of UCLA: no Cal-GETC or IGETC requirement, no credit for a partial one, and no recommendation to try.
Four semesters from calculus to differential equations
MATH C2210, then MATH 141E, MATH 205 and MATH 206: four semesters minimum. PHYS 231 also waits on MATH 205, so start this run in your first semester.
Palomar semesters, UCLA quarters
Palomar runs semesters while UCLA runs quarters, so credit doesn't divide evenly. MATH 205, a single Palomar course, is ASSIST's match for 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
CAD needs two AutoCAD courses, not one
ASSIST pairs DT 101 and DT 102 to cover MECH&AE 94. Both AutoCAD courses are required together; neither alone satisfies UCLA's CAD requirement.
The MATLAB course has a PHYS number
PHYS 210, Matlab for Science and Engineering, covers C&EE M20, UCLA's preferred programming course. Look for it under physics, and note it needs MATH C2220 or MATH 141E first.
Only one recommended course has a Palomar match
ENGR 210L covers EC ENGR 110L, the circuits lab. The other four recommended courses, including both statics and dynamics, have no Palomar equivalent.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at Palomar for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 140 through 205 for calculus, MATH 200 for linear algebra, MATH 206 for differential equations, CHEM 110/110L/115, PHYS 230/231, DT 101 and DT 102 for CAD, ENGL C1000, and CSCI 222 or PHYS 210 for programming.
Does Palomar cover UCLA's CAD requirement with one course?
No, it takes two. ASSIST matches MECH&AE 94 to DT 101 and DT 102 together, Palomar's two-part AutoCAD sequence.
What's missing from Palomar's UCLA Mechanical Engineering prep?
All 11 required courses have a Palomar match. Among the five recommended electives, only EC ENGR 110L, through ENGR 210L, has a Palomar equivalent.
What does UCLA require for a Mechanical Engineering transfer?
A 3.4 minimum GPA and completed major prep by spring before transfer. UCLA's Samueli School admitted 12% of all 2025 transfer applicants to the major.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Palomar College students working toward Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles can complete all 11 of UCLA's required prep courses at Palomar, from MATH 140 through MATH 206 to CHEM 110 and PHYS 230/231. CAD takes two AutoCAD courses, DT 101 and DT 102, together instead of one, and the MATLAB option is PHYS 210. Samueli admitted 12% of 2025 transfer applicants to the major and sets a 3.4 GPA minimum. Transfermatic can keep the two-course CAD sequence and the MATLAB option straight in your plan.
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