Riverside City College to UCI
Biological Sciences Transfer Plan
RCC has a match for 7 of UCI's 9 Biological Sciences prep courses. BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99 have no RCC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
Riverside City College
To
UC Irvine
Biological SciencesUC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
UCI offers TAG for Biological Sciences for fall 2027 applicants, with a minimum 3.4 GPA. File during the TAG window the fall before you transfer, and check UCI's TAG page, since its list of eligible majors changes.
Major Requirements
Biological Sciences Major Preparation
Courses at Riverside City College that satisfy UC Irvine's Biological Sciences major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Riverside City College | Satisfies at UCI | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 60 — Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology | BIO SCI 93 — DNA to Organisms | 5 |
| BIO 61 — Introduction to Organismal and Population Biology | BIO SCI 94 — Organisms to Ecosystems | 5 |
| (CHE 1B and CHE 1A) or (CHE 1AH and CHE 1BH) — General Chemistry, II | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B, CHEM 1C, CHEM 1LC, CHEM 1LD | 5 |
| CHE 12B + CHE 12A — Organic Chemistry, II + Organic Chemistry, I | CHEM 51A, CHEM 51B, CHEM 51LB, CHEM 51C, CHEM 51LC | 10 |
| BIO 18 — Human Genetics | BIO SCI 97 — Genetics | 3 |
| No RCC match | BIO SCI 98 — Biochemistry | — |
| No RCC match | BIO SCI 99 — Molecular Biology | — |
| PHY 2A + PHY 2B — General Physics I + General Physics II | PHYSICS 3A, PHYSICS 3B, PHYSICS 3LB, PHYSICS 3C, PHYSICS 3LC (choose 1) | 8 |
| PHY 4A + PHY 4B — Mechanics + Electricity and Magnetism | PHYSICS 7C, PHYSICS 7LC, PHYSICS 7D, PHYSICS 7LD, PHYSICS 7E (choose 1) | 8 |
| MAT 1AH (or another listed option) — Honors Calculus I | Mathematics Requirement | 4 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Irvine after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Riverside City College
UCI's Biological Sciences program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Riverside City College courses cover foundation requirements every UC 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 |
UCI Biological Sciences: full GE notes
UCI says IGETC may not be recommended for science majors like Biological Sciences, so El Camino students should place chemistry and biology ahead of general education.
RCC semesters, UCI quarters
RCC runs on semesters and UCI on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCI's quicker quarter schedule.
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
2 UCI requirements have no RCC match
RCC lists no course for BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99. Check UCI's Biological Sciences page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with BIO 60 and PHY 2A
BIO 60 and PHY 2A sit at the start of their sequences for this route, so they fit your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
What UCI looks for
Complete a year each of general chemistry with lab, organic chemistry with lab and biology (Bio Sci 93/94) with a C or better, by the end of spring. Minimum GPA is 3.0.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at RCC for UCI Biological Sciences?
BIO 60, BIO 61, CHE 1B, CHE 12B, CHE 12A, BIO 18 and PHY 2A, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 7 of the 9 prep courses UCI lists for Biological Sciences.
What doesn't RCC cover for UCI Biological Sciences?
BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99. RCC lists no course for them, so check UCI's Biological Sciences page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does RCC BIO 60 transfer to UCI?
Yes, for Biological Sciences. RCC BIO 60 (Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology) is the match for UCI BIO SCI 93 (DNA to Organisms) in the transfer agreement.
Can I use TAG for UCI Biological Sciences?
UCI lists Biological Sciences as TAG-eligible for fall 2027, with a minimum 3.4 GPA. Check UCI's TAG page before you count on it for a later term.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Riverside City College students transferring to UC Irvine for Biological Sciences can match 7 of 9 lower-division prep courses at RCC, including BIO 60 and BIO 61. BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99 have no Riverside City College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. BIO 60 and PHY 2A are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Riverside City College and UC Irvine, and you get the classes you need for Biological Sciences, semester by semester.
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