Saddleback College to UC Berkeley
Molecular and Cell Biology Transfer Plan
Saddleback has a match for every one of UC Berkeley's 7 Molecular and Cell Biology prep courses, so you can finish all of the listed prep at Saddleback. Start with CHEM 3 and MATH 3A.
From
Saddleback College
To
UC Berkeley
Molecular and Cell BiologyMajor Requirements
Molecular and Cell Biology Major Preparation
Courses at Saddleback College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Molecular and Cell Biology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Saddleback College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 4A + BIO 4B — Principles of Cellular Biology + Principles of Organismal Biology | BIOLOGY 1A, BIOLOGY 1AL, BIOLOGY 1B | 8 |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1AL | 5 |
| CHEM 1B — General Chemistry | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 12A — Organic Chemistry | CHEM 3A, CHEM 3AL | 5 |
| CHEM 12B — Organic Chemistry | CHEM 3B, CHEM 3BL | 5 |
| MATH 3A or MATH 3AH — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 51 — Calculus I (choose 2) | 5 |
| MATH 3B — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 52 — Calculus II (choose 2) | 5 |
| MATH 3C — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 53 — Multivariable Calculus (choose 2) | 5 |
| MATH 26 + MATH 24 — Introduction to Linear Algebra + Elementary Differential Equations | MATH 54 — Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (choose 2) | 8 |
| No Saddleback match | PHYSICS 8A — Introductory Physics (recommended) | — |
| No Saddleback match | PHYSICS 8B — Introductory Physics (recommended) | — |
| PHYS 4A — General Physics | PHYSICS 7A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (recommended) | 5 |
| PHYS 4B — General Physics | PHYSICS 7B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (recommended) | 5 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley 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 |
5 semesters minimum for CHEM 3 onward
CHEM 3 through CHEM 12B: 5 courses, each needing the one before, so 5 semesters minimum, more than four fall and spring terms. Start CHEM 3 first or plan on summer. 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
Saddleback covers all 7 listed courses
Every UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology prep course in the transfer agreement has a Saddleback match, so none of the listed prep has to wait. Take them all before you apply.
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 51
For UC Berkeley MATH 51, 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 UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology?
BIO 4A, BIO 4B, CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B, CHEM 12A, CHEM 12B and MATH 3A or MATH 3AH, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 7 of the 7 prep courses UC Berkeley lists for Molecular and Cell Biology.
What doesn't Saddleback cover for UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology?
Nothing in the transfer agreement. Every UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology prep course listed has a Saddleback match.
Does Saddleback CHEM 1B transfer to UC Berkeley?
Yes, for Molecular and Cell Biology. Saddleback CHEM 1B (General Chemistry) is the match for UC Berkeley CHEM 1B (General Chemistry) in the transfer agreement.
What is UC Berkeley's transfer admit rate for Molecular and Cell Biology?
23% of all transfer applicants to UC Berkeley Molecular and Cell Biology were admitted in 2025. That figure covers applicants from every college, so it isn't specific to Saddleback.
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Related Transfer Plans
Saddleback College students transferring to UC Berkeley for Molecular and Cell Biology can match 7 of 7 lower-division prep courses at Saddleback, including BIO 4A and BIO 4B. Every listed course has a 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 UC Berkeley, and you get the classes you need for Molecular and Cell Biology, semester by semester.
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