Riverside City College to UCSD
Computer Science Transfer Plan
RCC has a match for 6 of UCSD's 11 Computer Science prep courses. CSE 12, CSE 29, CSE 20 and CSE 21 and 1 more have no RCC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
Riverside City College
To
UC San Diego
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at Riverside City College that satisfy UC San Diego's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Riverside City College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CIS 18B — Java Programming: Advanced Objects | CSE 11 — Introduction to Programming and Computational Problem Solving - Accelerated Pace | 3 |
| No RCC match | CSE 12 — Basic Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design | — |
| No RCC match | CSE 29 — Systems Programming and Software Tools | — |
| No RCC match | CSE 20 — Discrete Mathematics | — |
| No RCC match | CSE 21 — Mathematics for Algorithms and Systems | — |
| No RCC match | CSE 30 — Computer Organization and Systems Programming | — |
| MAT 3 — Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MAT 1A or MAT 1AH — Calculus I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MAT 1B — Calculus II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MAT 1C — Calculus III | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| BIO 61 + BIO 60 — Introduction to Organismal and Population Biology + Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology | BILD 1 — The Cell (choose 1) | 10 |
| BIO 61 + BIO 60 — Introduction to Organismal and Population Biology + Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology | BILD 2 — Multicellular Life (choose 1) | 10 |
| BIO 60 + BIO 61 — Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology + Introduction to Organismal and Population Biology | BILD 3 — Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (choose 1) | 10 |
| CHE 1A — General Chemistry, I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I (choose 1) | 5 |
| CHE 1A + CHE 1B — General Chemistry, I + General Chemistry, II | CHEM 6B — General Chemistry II (choose 1) | 10 |
| PHY 4A — Mechanics | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics (choose 1) | 4 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC San Diego after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Riverside City College
Complete these five courses at Riverside City College to start your UCSD 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 |
RCC semesters, UCSD quarters
RCC runs on semesters and UCSD on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCSD'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
5 UCSD requirements have no RCC match
RCC lists no course for CSE 12, CSE 29, CSE 20 and CSE 21 and others. Check UCSD's Computer Science page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with CIS 18B and MAT 3
CIS 18B and MAT 3 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 MATH 20A
For UCSD MATH 20A, RCC accepts MAT 1A or MAT 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 UCSD Computer Science?
CIS 18B, MAT 3, MAT 1A or MAT 1AH, MAT 1B, MAT 1C, BIO 61 and BIO 60, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 6 of the 11 prep courses UCSD lists for Computer Science.
What doesn't RCC cover for UCSD Computer Science?
CSE 12, CSE 29, CSE 20, CSE 21 and CSE 30. RCC lists no course for them, so check UCSD's Computer Science page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does RCC MAT 3 transfer to UCSD?
Yes, for Computer Science. RCC MAT 3 (Linear Algebra) is the match for UCSD MATH 18 (Linear Algebra) in the transfer agreement.
What is UCSD's transfer admit rate for Computer Science?
17% of all transfer applicants to UCSD Computer Science 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 San Diego for Computer Science can match 6 of 11 lower-division prep courses at RCC, including CIS 18B and MAT 3. CSE 12 and CSE 29 have no Riverside City College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. CIS 18B and MAT 3 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Riverside City College and UC San Diego, and you get the classes you need for Computer Science, semester by semester.
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