Saddleback College to UCSD
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Saddleback has a match for 10 of UCSD's 17 Mechanical Engineering prep courses. MAE 8, MAE 20, MAE 3 and MAE 11 and 3 more have no Saddleback match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
Saddleback College
To
UC San Diego
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Saddleback College that satisfy UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Saddleback College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| No Saddleback match | MAE 8 — MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis | — |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I | 5 |
| MATH 26 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 3A or MATH 3AH — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 3B — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 3C — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 24 — Elementary Differential Equations | MATH 20D — Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 3C — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 20E — Vector Calculus | 5 |
| PHYS 4A — General Physics | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics | 5 |
| PHYS 4B — General Physics | PHYS 2B — Physics - Electricity and Magnetism | 5 |
| PHYS 4C — General Physics | PHYS 2C — Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics | 5 |
| No Saddleback match | MAE 20 — Elements of Materials Science | — |
| No Saddleback match | MAE 3 — Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design | — |
| No Saddleback match | MAE 11 — Thermodynamics | — |
| No Saddleback match | MAE 30A — Statics & Introduction to Dynamics | — |
| No Saddleback match | MAE 30B — Dynamics & Vibrations | — |
| No Saddleback match | MAE 40 — Linear Circuits | — |
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 Saddleback College
Complete these five courses at Saddleback 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 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 |
3 semesters minimum for MATH C2210 onward
MATH C2210, then MATH C2220, then MATH 26: each needs the one before, so 3 semesters minimum. Start MATH C2210 in your first semester. Placing higher shortens it.
Saddleback semesters, UCSD quarters
Saddleback 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
7 UCSD requirements have no Saddleback match
Saddleback lists no course for MAE 8, MAE 20, MAE 3 and MAE 11 and others. Check UCSD's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with MATH C2210 and MATH 3A
MATH C2210 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 20A
For UCSD MATH 20A, 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 UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
CHEM 1A, MATH 26, MATH 3A or MATH 3AH, MATH 3B, MATH 3C, MATH 24 and PHYS 4A, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 10 of the 17 prep courses UCSD lists for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't Saddleback cover for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
MAE 8, MAE 20, MAE 3, MAE 11 and MAE 30A and 2 more. Saddleback lists no course for them, so check UCSD's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does Saddleback CHEM 1A transfer to UCSD?
Yes, for Mechanical Engineering. Saddleback CHEM 1A (General Chemistry) is the match for UCSD CHEM 6A (General Chemistry I) in the transfer agreement.
What is UCSD's transfer admit rate for Mechanical Engineering?
31% of all transfer applicants to UCSD Mechanical Engineering were admitted in 2025. That figure covers applicants from every college, so it isn't specific to Saddleback.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Saddleback College students transferring to UC San Diego for Mechanical Engineering can match 10 of 17 lower-division prep courses at Saddleback, including CHEM 1A and MATH 26. MAE 8 and MAE 20 have no Saddleback College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. MATH C2210 and MATH 3A are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Saddleback College and UC San Diego, and you get the classes you need for Mechanical Engineering, semester by semester.
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