Saddleback College to UCLA
Biology Transfer Plan
Saddleback has a match for 11 of UCLA's 12 Biology prep courses. CHEM 153A has no Saddleback match, so plan for it before you apply.
From
Saddleback College
To
UCLA
BiologyMajor Requirements
Biology Major Preparation
Courses at Saddleback College that satisfy UCLA's Biology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Saddleback College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1A + CHEM 1B — General Chemistry + General Chemistry | CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B, CHEM 20L, CHEM 30AL | 10 |
| CHEM 12A + CHEM 12B — Organic Chemistry + Organic Chemistry | CHEM 30A, CHEM 30B | 10 |
| MATH 3A or MATH 3AH — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 3B — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 5 |
| MATH 3C — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| STAT C1000 or PSYC 44 — Introduction to Statistics | STATS 13 — Introduction to Statistical Methods for Life and Health Sciences (choose 1) | 3 |
| BIO 4A — Principles of Cellular Biology | LIFESCI 7A — Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIO 4B + BIO 4A — Principles of Organismal Biology + Principles of Cellular Biology | LIFESCI 7B — Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology | 8 |
| BIO 4B — Principles of Organismal Biology | LIFESCI 7C — Physiology and Human Biology | 4 |
| BIO 4A — Principles of Cellular Biology | LIFESCI 7L — Introduction to Laboratory and Scientific Methodology | 4 |
| PHYS 4A + PHYS 4B + PHYS 4C — General Physics + General Physics + General Physics | PHYSICS 1A, PHYSICS 1B, PHYSICS 1C, PHYSICS 4AL, PHYSICS 4BL (choose 1) | 15 |
| No Saddleback match | CHEM 153A — Biochemistry: Introduction to Structure, Enzymes, and Metabolism | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA 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 UCLA 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.
Saddleback semesters, UCLA quarters
Saddleback runs on semesters and UCLA on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCLA'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
CHEM 153A has no Saddleback match
Saddleback lists no course for CHEM 153A. Check UCLA's Biology page for whether it has to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover it.
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 31A
For UCLA MATH 31A, 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 UCLA Biology?
CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B, CHEM 12A, CHEM 12B, MATH 3A or MATH 3AH, MATH 3B and MATH 3C, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 11 of the 12 prep courses UCLA lists for Biology.
What doesn't Saddleback cover for UCLA Biology?
CHEM 153A. Saddleback lists no course for it, so check UCLA's Biology page for whether it has to be finished before you transfer.
Does Saddleback MATH 3B transfer to UCLA?
Yes, for Biology. Saddleback MATH 3B (Analytic Geometry and Calculus) is the match for UCLA MATH 31B (Integration and Infinite Series) in the transfer agreement.
What is UCLA's transfer admit rate for Biology?
17% of all transfer applicants to UCLA Biology 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 UCLA for Biology can match 11 of 12 lower-division prep courses at Saddleback, including CHEM 1A and CHEM 1B. CHEM 153A has 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 UCLA, and you get the classes you need for Biology, semester by semester.
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