Riverside City College to UCSB
Computer Science Transfer Plan
RCC has a match for 10 of UCSB's 11 Computer Science prep courses. PSTAT 120A has no RCC match, so plan for it before you apply.
From
Riverside City College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at Riverside City College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Riverside City College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MAT 1A or MAT 1AH — Calculus I | MATH 3A — Calculus with Applications, First Course | 4 |
| MAT 1B — Calculus II | MATH 3B — Calculus with Applications, Second Course | 4 |
| MAT 3 — Linear Algebra | MATH 4A — Linear Algebra with Applications | 3 |
| MAT 2 — Differential Equations | MATH 4B — Differential Equations | 4 |
| CIS 5 or CSC 5 — Programming Concepts and Methodology I: C++ | CMPSC 16 — Problem Solving with Computers I | 4 |
| CIS 17C or CSC 17C — C++ Programming: Data Structures | CMPSC 24 — Problem Solving with Computers II | 3 |
| CIS 7 or CSC 7 — Discrete Structures | CMPSC 40 — Foundations of Computer Science | 3 |
| (CIS 17A and CIS 11) or (CSC 11 and CSC 17A) — Programming Concepts and Methodology II: C++ | CMPSC 32 — Object Oriented Design and Implementation (recommended) | 3 |
| CIS 11 or CSC 11 — Computer Architecture and Organization: Assembly | CMPSC 64 — Computer Organization and Logic Design (recommended) | 3 |
| MAT 1C — Calculus III | MATH 6A — Vector Calculus with Applications, First Course | 4 |
| PHY 4A — Mechanics | PHYS 1 — Basic Physics (choose 2) | 4 |
| PHY 4A + PHY 4C — Mechanics + Heat, Light and Waves | PHYS 2 — Basic Physics (choose 2) | 8 |
| PHY 4B — Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 3, PHYS 3L (choose 2) | 4 |
| PHY 2A + PHY 2B — General Physics I + General Physics II | PHYS 6A, PHYS 6AL, PHYS 6B, PHYS 6BL, PHYS 6C, PHYS 6CL (choose 2) | 8 |
| PHY 4A — Mechanics | PHYS 7A — Basic Physics (choose 2) | 4 |
| PHY 4A + PHY 4B + PHY 4C — Mechanics + Electricity and Magnetism + Heat, Light and Waves | PHYS 7B — Basic Physics (choose 2) | 12 |
| No RCC match | PSTAT 120A — Probability and Statistics | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Santa Barbara after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Riverside City College
UCSB's Computer Science 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 |
UCSB Computer Science: full GE notes
UCSB's Engineering college has applicants prioritize major coursework over IGETC or Cal-GETC, with general education left until after transfer for students on a three-year timeline.
RCC semesters, UCSB quarters
RCC runs on semesters and UCSB on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCSB'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
PSTAT 120A has no RCC match
RCC lists no course for PSTAT 120A. Check UCSB's Computer Science page for whether it has to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover it.
Start with MAT 1A and CIS 5
MAT 1A and CIS 5 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 3A
For UCSB MATH 3A, 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 UCSB Computer Science?
MAT 1A or MAT 1AH, MAT 1B, MAT 3, MAT 2, CIS 5 or CSC 5, CIS 17C or CSC 17C and CIS 7 or CSC 7, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 10 of the 11 prep courses UCSB lists for Computer Science.
What doesn't RCC cover for UCSB Computer Science?
PSTAT 120A. RCC lists no course for it, so check UCSB's Computer Science page for whether it has to be finished before you transfer.
Does RCC MAT 1B transfer to UCSB?
Yes, for Computer Science. RCC MAT 1B (Calculus II) is the match for UCSB MATH 3B (Calculus with Applications, Second Course) in the transfer agreement.
What is UCSB's transfer admit rate for Computer Science?
12% of all transfer applicants to UCSB 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 Santa Barbara for Computer Science can match 10 of 11 lower-division prep courses at RCC, including MAT 1A or MAT 1AH and MAT 1B. PSTAT 120A has no Riverside City College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. MAT 1A and CIS 5 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Riverside City College and UC Santa Barbara, and you get the classes you need for Computer Science, semester by semester.
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