Riverside City College to UCSD
Political Science Transfer Plan
RCC has a match for 3 of UCSD's 5 Political Science prep courses. POLI 10 and POLI 30 have no RCC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
Riverside City College
To
UC San Diego
Political ScienceMajor Requirements
Political Science Major Preparation
Courses at Riverside City College that satisfy UC San Diego's Political Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Riverside City College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| No RCC match | POLI 10 — Introduction to Political Science: American Politics | — |
| POLS 2 — Comparative Politics | POLI 11 — Introduction to Political Science: Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLS 4 — Introduction to World Politics | POLI 12 — Introduction to Political Science: International Relations | 3 |
| POLS 11 — Political Theory | POLI 13 — Power and Justice | 3 |
| No RCC match | POLI 30 — Political Inquiry | — |
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
2 UCSD requirements have no RCC match
RCC lists no course for POLI 10 and POLI 30. Check UCSD's Political Science page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with POLS 2
POLS 2 sits at the start of its sequence for this route, so it fits your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
What UCSD looks for
Political Science is not on UCSD's list of majors screened for major prep, so admission rests on the general transfer requirements (minimum 2.4 GPA for California residents).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at RCC for UCSD Political Science?
POLS 2, POLS 4 and POLS 11. Together they match 3 of the 5 prep courses UCSD lists for Political Science.
What doesn't RCC cover for UCSD Political Science?
POLI 10 and POLI 30. RCC lists no course for them, so check UCSD's Political Science page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does RCC POLS 2 transfer to UCSD?
Yes, for Political Science. RCC POLS 2 (Comparative Politics) is the match for UCSD POLI 11 (Introduction to Political Science: Comparative Politics) in the transfer agreement.
What should I take first at RCC for UCSD Political Science?
POLS 2, plus ENGL C1000 for English composition. It sits at the start of its sequence.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Riverside City College students transferring to UC San Diego for Political Science can match 3 of 5 lower-division prep courses at RCC, including POLS 2 and POLS 4. POLI 10 and POLI 30 have no Riverside City College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. POLS 2 is a good first-semester pick. On Transfermatic, put in Riverside City College and UC San Diego, and you get the classes you need for Political Science, semester by semester.
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