Pasadena City College to UCLA
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Every one of UCLA's 11 Mechanical Engineering prep requirements has a match at PCC, and most of the math can be taken as honors sections. Programming has three one-course options: ENGR 018 for MATLAB, CS 002 or CS 003A.
From
Pasadena City College
To
UCLA
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Pasadena City College that satisfy UCLA's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Pasadena City College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 001B + CHEM 001A — General Chemistry and Chemical Analysis II + General Chemistry and Chemical Analysis I | CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B, CHEM 20L | 10 |
| MATH 005A or MATH 005AH or MATH 005AE — Single Variable Calculus I | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 005B or MATH 005BH or MATH 005BE — Single Variable Calculus II | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 5 |
| MATH 005C or MATH 005CH — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 005C or MATH 005CH — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 010 or MATH 010H — Linear Algebra and Applications | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 4 |
| MATH 055 or MATH 055H — Differential Equations | MECH&AE 82 — Mathematics of Engineering | 4 |
| ENGR 002 — Engineering Graphics | MECH&AE 94 — Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Drafting | 3 |
| PHYS 008C + PHYS 008A + PHYS 008B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers III: Thermodynamics, Optics, and Modern Physics + Physics for Scientists and Engineers I: Mechanics + Physics for Scientists and Engineers II: Waves, Electricity & Magnetism | PHYSICS 1A, PHYSICS 1B, PHYSICS 1C, PHYSICS 4AL, PHYSICS 4BL | 15 |
| ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000H — Academic Reading and Writing | ENGCOMP 3 — English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language (choose 1) | 4 |
| ENGL 001B (or another listed option) — Reading and Composition | English composition courses (choose 1) | 4 |
| CS 003A + CS 003AL — Fundamentals of Computer Science II (C++) + Fundamentals of Computer Science II (C++) Lab | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I (choose 1) | 4 |
| ENGR 018 — Programming and Problem-Solving in MATLAB | C&EE M20 — Introduction to Computer Programming with MATLAB (choose 1) | 3 |
| CS 002 or CS 003A — Fundamentals of Computer Science I | Computer programming courses: C, C++, Java or Matlab (choose 1) | 4 |
| No PCC match | EC ENGR 100 — Electrical and Electronic Circuits (recommended) | — |
| ENGR 016L — Engineering Circuits Laboratory | EC ENGR 110L — Circuit Measurements Laboratory (recommended) | 1 |
| ENGR 011 + ENGR 013 — Statics + Strength of Materials | MECH&AE 101 — Statics and Strength of Materials (recommended) | 6 |
| No PCC match | MECH&AE 102 — Dynamics of Particles and Rigid Bodies (recommended) | — |
| ENGR 014 — Materials of Engineering | MAT SCI 104 — Science of Engineering Materials (recommended) | 3 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Pasadena City College
UCLA'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 |
UCLA Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
Samueli engineering applicants aren't required to finish Cal-GETC or IGETC, a partial version doesn't count, and UCLA doesn't recommend attempting one.
Five semesters of math before physics finishes
The chain runs MATH 009, MATH 005A, MATH 005B and MATH 005CH, then PHYS 008C: five semesters minimum. A missed semester of math delays every physics course behind it.
PCC semesters, UCLA quarters
PCC runs on semesters while UCLA runs on quarters, so one course can cover two. MATH 005C, a single PCC semester course, is the ASSIST match for both UCLA's MATH 32A and 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
COM SCI 31 needs CS 003A plus lab
ASSIST pairs CS 003A with its lab, CS 003AL, to cover COM SCI 31. You don't need that pair, though: CS 002 or CS 003A alone meets the general programming option, and ENGR 018 covers C&EE M20.
Honors and standard math both count
ASSIST accepts MATH 005AH, 005BH and 005CH alongside the standard sections for MATH 31A, 31B, 32A and 32B, plus MATH 010H and MATH 055H. Each UCLA course lists both versions, so switching between tracks costs you nothing.
MATLAB is UCLA's preferred option
ENGR 018, Programming and Problem-Solving in MATLAB, covers C&EE M20, the course UCLA's notes name as preferred. It meets the programming requirement on its own.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes transfer from PCC for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 005A, 005B and 005C (or honors sections), MATH 010 and MATH 055, CHEM 001A and 001B, PHYS 008A, 008B and 008C, ENGR 002 for CAD, ENGL C1000, and one programming course: ENGR 018, CS 002 or CS 003A.
Does PCC ENGR 002 satisfy UCLA's CAD requirement?
Yes. ASSIST lists ENGR 002, Engineering Graphics, as the sole match for MECH&AE 94, UCLA's computer-aided design course.
What isn't covered by PCC for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
All 11 required courses have a PCC match. The gaps are only among the five recommended electives, where PCC covers three: EC ENGR 110L, MECH&AE 101 and MAT SCI 104.
What GPA does UCLA want for Mechanical Engineering transfers?
Samueli sets a 3.4 minimum transferable GPA for every applicant, PCC students included, and admitted 12% of all 2025 transfer applicants to the major.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Pasadena City College students headed to Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles can finish all 11 required prep courses at PCC, from CHEM 001A and 001B through the MATH 005A to 005C calculus line, with honors sections accepted. Programming takes one course: ENGR 018 for MATLAB, CS 002, or CS 003A. Samueli admitted 12% of 2025 transfer applicants to the major and sets a 3.4 GPA floor. Transfermatic can map out the math and physics chain against your PCC schedule.
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