Saddleback College to UCSB
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Saddleback has a match for 15 of UCSB's 20 Mechanical Engineering prep courses. ENGR 3, ME 15, ME 16 and ME 12S and 1 more have no Saddleback match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
Saddleback College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Saddleback College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Saddleback College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 3A or MATH 3AH — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 3A — Calculus with Applications, First Course | 5 |
| MATH 3B — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 3B — Calculus with Applications, Second Course | 5 |
| MATH 26 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 4A — Linear Algebra with Applications | 4 |
| MATH 24 — Elementary Differential Equations | MATH 4B — Differential Equations | 4 |
| PHYS 4A — General Physics | PHYS 7A — Basic Physics | 5 |
| PHYS 4A + PHYS 4B + PHYS 4C — General Physics + General Physics + General Physics | PHYS 7B — Basic Physics | 15 |
| PHYS 4B + PHYS 4C — General Physics + General Physics | PHYS 7C — Basic Physics | 10 |
| PHYS 4A + PHYS 4B — General Physics + General Physics | PHYS 7L — Physics Laboratory | 10 |
| No Saddleback match | ENGR 3 — Introduction to Programming | — |
| ENGR 31 — Statics | ME 14 — Statics | 3 |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry | CHEM 1A, CHEM 2AL | 5 |
| CHEM 1A + CHEM 1B — General Chemistry + General Chemistry | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry (recommended) | 10 |
| MATH 3C — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 6A — Vector Calculus with Applications, First Course | 5 |
| MATH 3C — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 6B — Vector Calculus with Applications, Second Course | 5 |
| ENGR 70 + ENGR 70L — Introduction to Network Analysis + Introduction to Network Analysis Laboratory | ME 6 — Basic Electrical and Electronic Circuits | 4 |
| DR 23 or DR 50 — Engineering Graphics | ME 10 — Engineering Graphics: Sketching, CAD, and Conceptual Design | 3 |
| No Saddleback match | ME 15 — Strength of Materials | — |
| No Saddleback match | ME 16 — Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics | — |
| PHYS 4C — General Physics | PHYS 7D — Basic Physics | 5 |
| No Saddleback match | ME 12S — Introduction to Machine Shop | — |
| No Saddleback match | ME 17 — Mathematics of Engineering | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Santa Barbara after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Saddleback College
UCSB'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 |
UCSB Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
UCSB tells College of Engineering transfers to prioritize major coursework over Cal-GETC or IGETC; general education can wait until after transfer for students planning a three-year stay.
4 semesters minimum for MATH C2210 onward
MATH C2210 through ENGR 70: 4 courses, each needing the one before, so 4 semesters minimum. Start MATH C2210 in your first semester. Placing higher shortens it.
Saddleback semesters, UCSB quarters
Saddleback runs on semesters and UCSB on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCSB'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
5 UCSB requirements have no Saddleback match
Saddleback lists no course for ENGR 3, ME 15, ME 16 and ME 12S and others. Check UCSB'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 3A
For UCSB MATH 3A, 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 UCSB Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 3A or MATH 3AH, MATH 3B, MATH 26, MATH 24, PHYS 4A, PHYS 4B and PHYS 4C, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 15 of the 20 prep courses UCSB lists for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't Saddleback cover for UCSB Mechanical Engineering?
ENGR 3, ME 15, ME 16, ME 12S and ME 17. Saddleback lists no course for them, so check UCSB's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does Saddleback MATH 3B transfer to UCSB?
Yes, for Mechanical Engineering. Saddleback MATH 3B (Analytic Geometry and Calculus) is the match for UCSB MATH 3B (Calculus with Applications, Second Course) in the transfer agreement.
What should I take first at Saddleback for UCSB Mechanical Engineering?
MATH C2210 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 UC Santa Barbara for Mechanical Engineering can match 15 of 20 lower-division prep courses at Saddleback, including MATH 3A or MATH 3AH and MATH 3B. ENGR 3 and ME 15 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 Santa Barbara, and you get the classes you need for Mechanical Engineering, semester by semester.
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