Saddleback College to UCI
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Saddleback has a match for 16 of UCI's 22 Mechanical Engineering prep courses. ENGRMAE 52, ENGR 54, ENGRMAE 80 and ENGRMAE 91 and 2 more have no Saddleback match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
Saddleback College
To
UC Irvine
Mechanical EngineeringUC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
UCI offers TAG for Mechanical Engineering for fall 2027 applicants, with a minimum 3.4 GPA. File during the TAG window the fall before you transfer, and check UCI's TAG page, since its list of eligible majors changes.
Major Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Saddleback College that satisfy UC Irvine's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Saddleback College | Satisfies at UCI | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CS 1B — Introduction to Computer Science II | ENGRMAE 10 — Introduction to Engineering Computations | 3.5 |
| MATH 3A or MATH 3AH — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 2A — Single-Variable Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 3B — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 2B — Single-Variable Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 3C — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 2D — Multivariable Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 3C — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 2E — Multivariable Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 26 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 3A — Introduction to Linear Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 24 — Elementary Differential Equations | MATH 3D — Elementary Differential Equations | 4 |
| PHYS 4A — General Physics | PHYSICS 7C, PHYSICS 7LC | 5 |
| PHYS 4B — General Physics | PHYSICS 7D, PHYSICS 7LD | 5 |
| PHYS 4C — General Physics | PHYSICS 7E — Classical Physics | 5 |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry | ENGR 1A, CHEM 1LE (choose 1) | 5 |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1LE (choose 1) | 5 |
| ENGR 31 — Statics | ENGRCEE 30 — Statics | 3 |
| No Saddleback match | ENGRMAE 52 — Computer-Aided Design | — |
| ENGR 70 — Introduction to Network Analysis | EECS 70A — NETWORK ANALYSIS I (choose 1) | 3 |
| No Saddleback match | ENGR 54 — Principles of Materials Science and Engineering | — |
| PHYS 4C — General Physics | PHYSICS 52A — Fundamentals of Experimental Physics | 5 |
| ECON 4 or ECON 4H — Principles (Micro) | ECON 20A — Basic Economics I (choose 1) | 3 |
| No Saddleback match | ENGRMAE 80 — Dynamics | — |
| No Saddleback match | ENGRMAE 91 — Introduction to Thermodynamics | — |
| ANTH 1 (or another listed option) — Biological Anthropology | Science courses (or lecture/lab combination) for Mechanical Engineering (choose 1) | 3 |
| No Saddleback match | ENGR 7A — Introduction to Engineering I | — |
| No Saddleback match | ENGR 7B — Introduction to Engineering II | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Irvine after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Saddleback College
UCI's Mechanical Engineering program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Saddleback College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
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 |
UCI Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
Math, science, and engineering prep has to be finished before Cal-GETC or UCI's own GE pattern, since the engineering school doesn't count IGETC in who it admits.
5 semesters minimum for CHEM 3 onward
CHEM 3 through BIO 3C: 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.
Saddleback semesters, UCI quarters
Saddleback runs on semesters and UCI on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCI'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
6 UCI requirements have no Saddleback match
Saddleback lists no course for ENGRMAE 52, ENGR 54, ENGRMAE 80 and ENGRMAE 91 and others. Check UCI's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
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 2A
For UCI MATH 2A, 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 UCI Mechanical Engineering?
CS 1B, MATH 3A or MATH 3AH, MATH 3B, MATH 3C, MATH 26, MATH 24 and PHYS 4A, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 16 of the 22 prep courses UCI lists for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't Saddleback cover for UCI Mechanical Engineering?
ENGRMAE 52, ENGR 54, ENGRMAE 80, ENGRMAE 91 and ENGR 7A and 1 more. Saddleback lists no course for them, so check UCI's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does Saddleback CS 1B transfer to UCI?
Yes, for Mechanical Engineering. Saddleback CS 1B (Introduction to Computer Science II) is the match for UCI ENGRMAE 10 (Introduction to Engineering Computations) in the transfer agreement.
Can I use TAG for UCI Mechanical Engineering?
UCI lists Mechanical Engineering as TAG-eligible for fall 2027, with a minimum 3.4 GPA. Check UCI's TAG page before you count on it for a later term.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Saddleback College students transferring to UC Irvine for Mechanical Engineering can match 16 of 22 lower-division prep courses at Saddleback, including CS 1B and MATH 3A or MATH 3AH. ENGRMAE 52 and ENGR 54 have 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 UC Irvine, and you get the classes you need for Mechanical Engineering, semester by semester.
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