Riverside City College to SDSU
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
RCC has a match for 7 of SDSU's 15 Mechanical Engineering prep courses. M E 190, M E 200, M E 202 and M E 220 and 4 more have no RCC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
Riverside City College
To
San Diego State University
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Riverside City College that satisfy San Diego State University's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Riverside City College | Satisfies at SDSU | Units |
|---|---|---|
| No RCC match | M E 190 — Computer-Aided Design | — |
| No RCC match | M E 200 — Statics | — |
| No RCC match | M E 202 — Computer Programming and Applications | — |
| No RCC match | M E 220 — Dynamics | — |
| No RCC match | M E 230 — Basics of Mechatronics | — |
| No RCC match | M E 240 — Introduction to Engineering Materials | — |
| No RCC match | M E 241 — Materials Laboratory | — |
| No RCC match | A E 280 — Methods of Analysis | — |
| CHE 1A or CHE 1AH — General Chemistry, I | CHEM 200 — General Chemistry (choose 1) | 5 |
| BIO 10 — Life Science Principles | BIOL 100 — General Biology (choose 1) | 3 |
| MAT 1A — Calculus I | MATH 150 — Calculus I | 4 |
| MAT 1B — Calculus II | MATH 151 — Calculus II | 4 |
| MAT 1C — Calculus III | MATH 252 — Calculus III | 4 |
| PHY 4A — Mechanics | PHYS 195, PHYS 195L | 4 |
| PHY 4B — Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 196, PHYS 196L | 4 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at San Diego State University after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Riverside City College
SDSU's Mechanical Engineering program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Riverside City College courses cover foundation requirements every CSU accepts. Start here.
BIO 1
General Biology
AST 1A
Introduction to the Solar System
ENGL 14
American Literature I: Pre-Contact through Civil War
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
COMM C1000
Introduction to Public Speaking
| Area | Course at Riverside City College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIO 1 — General Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | AST 1A — Introduction to the Solar System | 3 |
Humanities | ENGL 14 — American Literature I: Pre-Contact through Civil War | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Oral CommunicationCCN | COMM C1000 — Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
SDSU Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
SDSU says its own GE pattern, not Cal-GETC or CSU GE certification, is what engineering majors commonly use.
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
8 SDSU requirements have no RCC match
RCC lists no course for M E 190, M E 200, M E 202 and M E 220 and others. Check SDSU's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with CHE 1A and BIO 10
CHE 1A and BIO 10 sit at the start of their sequences for this route, so they fit your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
More than one way to cover CHEM 200
For SDSU CHEM 200, RCC accepts CHE 1A or CHE 1AH. You need only one of them, so pick whichever fits your schedule.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at RCC for SDSU Mechanical Engineering?
CHE 1A or CHE 1AH, BIO 10, MAT 1A, MAT 1B, MAT 1C, PHY 4A and PHY 4B. Together they match 7 of the 15 prep courses SDSU lists for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't RCC cover for SDSU Mechanical Engineering?
M E 190, M E 200, M E 202, M E 220 and M E 230 and 3 more. RCC lists no course for them, so check SDSU's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does RCC BIO 10 transfer to SDSU?
Yes, for Mechanical Engineering. RCC BIO 10 (Life Science Principles) is the match for SDSU BIOL 100 (General Biology) in the transfer agreement.
What should I take first at RCC for SDSU Mechanical Engineering?
CHE 1A and BIO 10, plus ENGL C1000 for English composition. They sit at the start of their sequences.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Riverside City College students transferring to San Diego State University for Mechanical Engineering can match 7 of 15 lower-division prep courses at RCC, including CHE 1A or CHE 1AH and BIO 10. M E 190 and M E 200 have no Riverside City College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. CHE 1A and BIO 10 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Riverside City College and San Diego State University, and you get the classes you need for Mechanical Engineering, semester by semester.
Build your Riverside City College → SDSU plan
Personalized, semester-by-semester. Free to start.
Get My Transfer Plan