Riverside City College to UC Berkeley
Molecular and Cell Biology Transfer Plan
RCC has a match for every one of UC Berkeley's 8 Molecular and Cell Biology prep courses, so you can finish all of the listed prep at RCC. Start with BIO 60 and CHE 1A.
From
Riverside City College
To
UC Berkeley
Molecular and Cell BiologyMajor Requirements
Molecular and Cell Biology Major Preparation
Courses at Riverside City College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Molecular and Cell Biology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Riverside City College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 60 + BIO 61 — Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology + Introduction to Organismal and Population Biology | BIOLOGY 1A, BIOLOGY 1AL | 10 |
| BIO 61 — Introduction to Organismal and Population Biology | BIOLOGY 1B — General Biology (Plant Form & Function, Ecology, Evolution) | 5 |
| CHE 1A — General Chemistry, I | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1AL | 5 |
| CHE 1B — General Chemistry, II | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHE 12A — Organic Chemistry, I | CHEM 3A, CHEM 3AL | 5 |
| CHE 12B — Organic Chemistry, II | CHEM 3B, CHEM 3BL | 5 |
| MAT 1A — Calculus I | MATH 51 — Calculus I (choose 2) | 4 |
| MAT 1B — Calculus II | MATH 52 — Calculus II (choose 2) | 4 |
| MAT 1C — Calculus III | MATH 53 — Multivariable Calculus (choose 2) | 4 |
| MAT 3 + MAT 2 — Linear Algebra + Differential Equations | MATH 54 — Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (choose 2) | 7 |
| PHY 2A — General Physics I | PHYSICS 8A — Introductory Physics (recommended) | 4 |
| PHY 2B — General Physics II | PHYSICS 8B — Introductory Physics (recommended) | 4 |
| PHY 4A — Mechanics | PHYSICS 7A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (recommended) | 4 |
| PHY 4C + PHY 4B — Heat, Light and Waves + Electricity and Magnetism | PHYSICS 7B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (recommended) | 8 |
General Education
Foundation GE at Riverside City College
Complete these five courses at Riverside City College to start your UC Berkeley 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.
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 |
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
RCC covers all 8 listed courses
Every UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology prep course in the transfer agreement has a RCC match, so none of the listed prep has to wait. Take them all before you apply.
Start with BIO 60 and CHE 1A
BIO 60 and CHE 1A sit at the start of their sequences for this route, so they fit your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
What UC Berkeley looks for
Admitted transfers who chose MCB go directly into the major. This has applied since fall 2023.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at RCC for UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology?
BIO 60, BIO 61, CHE 1A, CHE 1B, CHE 12A, CHE 12B and MAT 1A, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 8 of the 8 prep courses UC Berkeley lists for Molecular and Cell Biology.
What doesn't RCC cover for UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology?
Nothing in the transfer agreement. Every UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology prep course listed has a RCC match.
Does RCC BIO 61 transfer to UC Berkeley?
Yes, for Molecular and Cell Biology. RCC BIO 61 (Introduction to Organismal and Population Biology) is the match for UC Berkeley BIOLOGY 1B (General Biology (Plant Form & Function, Ecology, Evolution)) in the transfer agreement.
What is UC Berkeley's transfer admit rate for Molecular and Cell Biology?
23% of all transfer applicants to UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology were admitted in 2025. That figure covers applicants from every college, so it isn't specific to RCC.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Riverside City College students transferring to UC Berkeley for Molecular and Cell Biology can match 8 of 8 lower-division prep courses at RCC, including BIO 60 and BIO 61. Every listed course has a Riverside City College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. BIO 60 and CHE 1A are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Riverside City College and UC Berkeley, and you get the classes you need for Molecular and Cell Biology, semester by semester.
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