Saddleback College to SDSU
Biology Transfer Plan
Saddleback has a match for 8 of SDSU's 9 Biology prep courses. BIOL 215 has no Saddleback match, so plan for it before you apply.
From
Saddleback College
To
San Diego State University
BiologyMajor Requirements
Biology Major Preparation
Courses at Saddleback College that satisfy San Diego State University's Biology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Saddleback College | Satisfies at SDSU | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 4A — Principles of Cellular Biology | BIOL 203, BIOL 203L | 4 |
| BIO 4B — Principles of Organismal Biology | BIOL 204, BIOL 204L | 4 |
| No Saddleback match | BIOL 215 — Biostatistics | — |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry | CHEM 200 — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 1B — General Chemistry | CHEM 201 — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 12A — Organic Chemistry | CHEM 232, CHEM 232L | 5 |
| MATH 3A or MATH 3AH — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 150 — Calculus I (choose 1) | 5 |
| PHYS 2A — Introduction to Physics | PHYS 180A, PHYS 182A | 5 |
| PHYS 2B — Introduction to Physics | PHYS 180B, PHYS 182B | 5 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at San Diego State University after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Saddleback College
Complete these five courses at Saddleback College to start your SDSU 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 11
Human Anatomy
CHEM 12A
Organic Chemistry
HIST 16
History of the United States to 1876
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Saddleback College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIO 11 — Human Anatomy | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 12A — Organic Chemistry | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 16 — History of the United States to 1876 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
4 semesters minimum for CHEM 3 onward
CHEM 3 through BIO 4B: 4 courses, each needing the one before, so 4 semesters minimum. Start CHEM 3 in your first semester. Placing higher shortens it.
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
BIOL 215 has no Saddleback match
Saddleback lists no course for BIOL 215. Check SDSU's Biology page for whether it has to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover it.
Start with CHEM 3 and MATH 3A
CHEM 3 and MATH 3A 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 150
For SDSU MATH 150, Saddleback accepts MATH 3A or MATH 3AH. You need only one of them, so pick whichever fits your schedule.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at Saddleback for SDSU Biology?
BIO 4A, BIO 4B, CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B, CHEM 12A, MATH 3A or MATH 3AH and PHYS 2A, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 8 of the 9 prep courses SDSU lists for Biology.
What doesn't Saddleback cover for SDSU Biology?
BIOL 215. Saddleback lists no course for it, so check SDSU's Biology page for whether it has to be finished before you transfer.
Does Saddleback CHEM 1A transfer to SDSU?
Yes, for Biology. Saddleback CHEM 1A (General Chemistry) is the match for SDSU CHEM 200 (General Chemistry) in the transfer agreement.
What should I take first at Saddleback for SDSU Biology?
CHEM 3 and MATH 3A, plus ENGL C1000 for English composition. They sit at the start of their sequences.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Saddleback College students transferring to San Diego State University for Biology can match 8 of 9 lower-division prep courses at Saddleback, including BIO 4A and BIO 4B. BIOL 215 has no Saddleback College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. CHEM 3 and MATH 3A are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Saddleback College and San Diego State University, and you get the classes you need for Biology, semester by semester.
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