Pasadena City College to UCSB
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
PCC clears 18 of UCSB's 20 Mechanical Engineering requirements, including the full calculus, physics, and engineering-block sequences. Only ME 12S, Introduction to Machine Shop, and ME 17, Mathematics of Engineering, have no PCC match.
From
Pasadena City College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Pasadena City College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Pasadena City College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 005A or MATH 005AE or MATH 005AH — Single Variable Calculus I | MATH 3A — Calculus with Applications, First Course | 5 |
| MATH 005B or MATH 005BE or MATH 005BH — Single Variable Calculus II | MATH 3B — Calculus with Applications, Second Course | 5 |
| MATH 010 or MATH 010H — Linear Algebra and Applications | MATH 4A — Linear Algebra with Applications | 4 |
| MATH 055 or MATH 055H — Differential Equations | MATH 4B — Differential Equations | 4 |
| PHYS 008A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers I: Mechanics | PHYS 7A — Basic Physics | 5 |
| PHYS 008A + PHYS 008B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers I: Mechanics + Physics for Scientists and Engineers II: Waves, Electricity & Magnetism | PHYS 7B — Basic Physics | 10 |
| PHYS 008B + PHYS 008C — Physics for Scientists and Engineers II: Waves, Electricity & Magnetism + Physics for Scientists and Engineers III: Thermodynamics, Optics, and Modern Physics | PHYS 7C — Basic Physics | 10 |
| PHYS 008A + PHYS 008B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers I: Mechanics + Physics for Scientists and Engineers II: Waves, Electricity & Magnetism | PHYS 7L — Physics Laboratory | 10 |
| ENGR 018 — Programming and Problem-Solving in MATLAB | ENGR 3 — Introduction to Programming | 3 |
| ENGR 011 — Statics | ME 14 — Statics | 3 |
| CHEM 001A — General Chemistry and Chemical Analysis I | CHEM 1A, CHEM 2AL | 5 |
| CHEM 001A + CHEM 001B — General Chemistry and Chemical Analysis I + General Chemistry and Chemical Analysis II | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry (recommended) | 10 |
| MATH 005C or MATH 005CH — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 6A — Vector Calculus with Applications, First Course | 5 |
| MATH 005C or MATH 005CH — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 6B — Vector Calculus with Applications, Second Course | 5 |
| ENGR 016L + ENGR 016 — Engineering Circuits Laboratory + Engineering Circuits | ME 6 — Basic Electrical and Electronic Circuits | 4 |
| ENGR 002 — Engineering Graphics | ME 10 — Engineering Graphics: Sketching, CAD, and Conceptual Design | 3 |
| ENGR 013 — Strength of Materials | ME 15 — Strength of Materials | 3 |
| ENGR 012 — Dynamics | ME 16 — Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics | 3 |
| PHYS 008C — Physics for Scientists and Engineers III: Thermodynamics, Optics, and Modern Physics | PHYS 7D — Basic Physics | 5 |
| No PCC match | ME 12S — Introduction to Machine Shop | — |
| No PCC match | ME 17 — Mathematics of Engineering | — |
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 Pasadena City College
UCSB's Mechanical Engineering program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Pasadena City College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
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 |
UCSB Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
UCSB's engineering college steers PCC transfers toward finishing major requirements before Cal-GETC or IGETC; general education work can wait for students who plan a three-year stay.
Five semesters through PHYS 008B
MATH 009 starts a chain through MATH 005A, MATH 005B, then PHYS 008A, PHYS 008B, five semesters minimum if you start at MATH 009. PHYS 008B is part of UCSB's required physics, due by the end of spring before transfer.
PCC runs semesters, UCSB runs quarters
PCC's five-semester math and physics chain runs on a longer calendar than UCSB's quarters. Once you're at UCSB, that same coursework gets repackaged into shorter quarter-length terms.
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
Only two courses stay open
PCC clears 18 of UCSB's 20 requirements, including Strength of Materials and Dynamics. Only ME 12S, Introduction to Machine Shop, and ME 17, Mathematics of Engineering, have no PCC match.
Embedded-support calculus counts the same
MATH 005AE, calculus with embedded support, clears MATH 3A exactly like the standard MATH 005A or honors MATH 005AH sections, so the support track counts the same toward UCSB.
Full engineering block already covered
ME 6, ME 10, ME 15, and ME 16 all clear through PCC courses like ENGR 013 and ENGR 012, so the whole strongly-recommended engineering block is already handled.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PCC's calculus sequence transfer to UCSB Mechanical Engineering?
Yes. MATH 005A clears MATH 3A, MATH 005B clears MATH 3B, and MATH 005C clears both MATH 6A and MATH 6B.
What does PCC not cover for UCSB Mechanical Engineering?
Just two courses: ME 12S Introduction to Machine Shop and ME 17 Mathematics of Engineering. Every other requirement, including the full engineering block, transfers from PCC.
How long is PCC's math and physics chain?
Five semesters. MATH 009 leads to MATH 005A, MATH 005B, then PHYS 008A, PHYS 008B, so plan on starting calculus your first semester at PCC.
Is UCSB Mechanical Engineering TAG-eligible from PCC?
No. Engineering majors at UCSB sit outside TAG, so PCC applicants are judged on finished major-prep coursework, with a 3.5 GPA in those classes the most competitive mark.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Pasadena City College students transferring into UC Santa Barbara's Mechanical Engineering, B.S. program clear 18 of 20 requirements, with only machine shop and Mathematics of Engineering left open. The five-semester chain from MATH 009 through PHYS 008B is where most of the required sequencing happens, so calculus needs to start right away. On our platform, put in your CC and your transfer university and Transfermatic checks PCC's coursework against UCSB's Mechanical Engineering requirements automatically.
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