Pasadena City College to UC Davis
Computer Science Transfer Plan
PCC covers all 11 of UC Davis's Computer Science prep requirements, and honors versions of the math sequence satisfy the same slots. The longest chain runs five semesters, so calculus needs to start early.
From
Pasadena City College
To
UC Davis
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at Pasadena City College that satisfy UC Davis's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Pasadena City College | Satisfies at UC Davis | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CS 045 or MATH 022 — Discrete Structures with Computer Science Applications | ECS 020 — Discrete Mathematics For Computer Science | 4 |
| CS 002 or CS 003B or CS 003C — Fundamentals of Computer Science I | ECS 036A — Programming & Problem Solving | 4 |
| CS 003A — Fundamentals of Computer Science II (C++) | ECS 036B — Software Development & Object-Oriented Programming in C++ | 3 |
| CS 008 + CS 008L — Fundamentals of Computer Science III (C++) with Data Structures + Fundamentals of Computer Science III (C++) with Data Structures Lab | ECS 036C — Data Structures, Algorithms, & Programming | 4 |
| CS 066 — Computer Architecture and Assembly Language Programming | ECS 050 — Computer Organization & Machine-Dependent Programming | 3 |
| MATH 005A or MATH 005AH — Single Variable Calculus I | MAT 021A — Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 005B (or another listed option) — Single Variable Calculus II | MAT 021B, MAT 021C, MAT 021D | 5 |
| MATH 010 or MATH 010H — Linear Algebra and Applications | MAT 022A — Linear Algebra (choose 1) | 4 |
| BIOL 010B + BIOL 010A — The Diversity of Life on Earth: Structure, Function and Ecology + Cellular Biology, Genetics and Evolution | BIS 002A, BIS 002B, BIS 002C (choose 3) | 9 |
| CHEM 001B + CHEM 001A — General Chemistry and Chemical Analysis II + General Chemistry and Chemical Analysis I | CHE 002A, CHE 002B, CHE 002C (choose 3) | 10 |
| PHYS 008A + PHYS 008B + PHYS 008C — Physics for Scientists and Engineers I: Mechanics + Physics for Scientists and Engineers II: Waves, Electricity & Magnetism + Physics for Scientists and Engineers III: Thermodynamics, Optics, and Modern Physics | PHY 009A, PHY 009B, PHY 009C, PHY 009D (choose 3) | 15 |
General Education
Foundation GE at Pasadena City College
Complete these five courses at Pasadena City College to start your UC Davis 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 002
Animal Biology
CHEM 001A
General Chemistry and Chemical Analysis I
HIST 001A
History of European Civilization to 1715
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Pasadena City College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 002 — Animal Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 001A — General Chemistry and Chemical Analysis I | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 001A — History of European Civilization to 1715 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
Five semesters from MATH 009 to physics
MATH 009 leads to MATH 005A, MATH 005B and then two physics courses in order, five semesters total. Falling behind on any one step delays the whole prep list.
PCC's semesters versus UC Davis's quarters
PCC fits its coursework into two semesters a year, while UC Davis splits the year into three shorter quarters. Expect a quicker pace once you're at UC Davis.
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
PCC leaves no requirement unmatched
Every course UC Davis lists for this major, CS Engineering, calculus, linear algebra and the science elective, has a PCC equivalent. There's no gap list to plan around here.
Honors math covers the same slots
MATH 005AH, 005BH, 005CH and 010H satisfy the same UC Davis requirements as PCC's regular calculus and linear algebra courses, if you're on the honors track.
MATH 009 kicks off a long chain
MATH 009 feeds MATH 005A, then 005B, then two physics courses, five semesters total. Starting it late is the single easiest way to delay this whole plan.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PCC MATH 010 transfer to UC Davis Computer Science?
Yes. MATH 010, or the honors MATH 010H, satisfies MAT 022A, the linear algebra course UC Davis screens on. PCC has no match for MAT 027A or MAT 067, so MATH 010 is the route here.
What classes does PCC not cover for UC Davis CS?
None. PCC matches all 11 prep requirements UC Davis lists for Computer Science, from discrete math through the science elective, with no gaps to plan around.
What's UC Davis's admit rate for Computer Science transfers?
UC Davis admitted 47% of transfer applicants to Computer Science in 2025, counting every community college in that figure, not a PCC-specific rate.
How long does PCC's longest prerequisite chain run?
MATH 009 through MATH 005A, 005B and two physics courses takes five semesters at PCC, the longest path on PCC's list, so start it as early as possible.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Pasadena City College is a full match for the University of California, Davis Computer Science B.S. major, covering every one of the agreement's eleven prep requirements, including CS Engineering, the MATH 005A through MATH 005C calculus sequence and the science elective. Honors sections like MATH 010H satisfy the same slots as PCC's regular courses, so honors-track students lose nothing in the match. The longest chain, MATH 009 through two physics courses, runs five semesters, so an early start matters. Transfermatic maps this full-coverage route for Pasadena City College students.
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