Saddleback College to UCSD
Political Science Transfer Plan
Saddleback has a match for 4 of UCSD's 5 Political Science prep courses. POLI 30 has no Saddleback match, so plan for it before you apply.
From
Saddleback College
To
UC San Diego
Political ScienceMajor Requirements
Political Science Major Preparation
Courses at Saddleback College that satisfy UC San Diego's Political Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Saddleback College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLS C1000 or POLS C1000H — American Government and Politics | POLI 10 — Introduction to Political Science: American Politics | 3 |
| PS 12 — Comparative Politics and Government | POLI 11 — Introduction to Political Science: Comparative Politics | 3 |
| PS 14 — International Relations | POLI 12 — Introduction to Political Science: International Relations | 3 |
| PS 10H — Honors Political Theory | POLI 13 — Power and Justice | 3 |
| No Saddleback match | POLI 30 — Political Inquiry | — |
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 |
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
POLI 30 has no Saddleback match
Saddleback lists no course for POLI 30. Check UCSD's Political Science page for whether it has to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover it.
Start with POLS C1000 and PS 12
POLS C1000 and PS 12 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 POLI 10
For UCSD POLI 10, Saddleback accepts POLS C1000 or POLS C1000H. 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 Political Science?
POLS C1000 or POLS C1000H, PS 12, PS 14 and PS 10H. Together they match 4 of the 5 prep courses UCSD lists for Political Science.
What doesn't Saddleback cover for UCSD Political Science?
POLI 30. Saddleback lists no course for it, so check UCSD's Political Science page for whether it has to be finished before you transfer.
Does Saddleback PS 12 transfer to UCSD?
Yes, for Political Science. Saddleback PS 12 (Comparative Politics and Government) is the match for UCSD POLI 11 (Introduction to Political Science: Comparative Politics) in the transfer agreement.
What should I take first at Saddleback for UCSD Political Science?
POLS C1000 and PS 12, plus ENGL C1000 for English composition. They sit at the start of their sequences.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Saddleback College students transferring to UC San Diego for Political Science can match 4 of 5 lower-division prep courses at Saddleback, including POLS C1000 or POLS C1000H and PS 12. POLI 30 has no Saddleback College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. POLS C1000 and PS 12 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Saddleback College and UC San Diego, and you get the classes you need for Political Science, semester by semester.
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