Saddleback College to UCLA
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Saddleback has a match for 10 of UCLA's 11 Mechanical Engineering prep courses. MECH&AE 94 has no Saddleback match, so plan for it before you apply.
From
Saddleback College
To
UCLA
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Saddleback College that satisfy UCLA's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Saddleback College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1B + CHEM 1A — General Chemistry + General Chemistry | CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B, CHEM 20L | 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 |
| MATH 3C — Analytic Geometry and Calculus | MATH 32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 26 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 4 |
| MATH 24 — Elementary Differential Equations | MECH&AE 82 — Mathematics of Engineering | 4 |
| No Saddleback match | MECH&AE 94 — Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Drafting | — |
| PHYS 4A + PHYS 4B + PHYS 4C — General Physics + General Physics + General Physics | PHYSICS 1A, PHYSICS 1B, PHYSICS 1C, PHYSICS 4AL, PHYSICS 4BL | 15 |
| ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000H — Academic Reading and Writing | ENGCOMP 3 — English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language (choose 1) | 4 |
| ENGL C1001 or ENGL C1001H or ENG 25 — Critical Thinking and Writing | English composition courses (choose 1) | 3 |
| CS 1B or CS 1C — Introduction to Computer Science II | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I (choose 1) | 3.5 |
| CS 1B — Introduction to Computer Science II | Computer programming courses: C, C++, Java or Matlab (choose 1) | 3.5 |
| No Saddleback match | EC ENGR 100 — Electrical and Electronic Circuits (recommended) | — |
| No Saddleback match | EC ENGR 110L — Circuit Measurements Laboratory (recommended) | — |
| No Saddleback match | MECH&AE 101 — Statics and Strength of Materials (recommended) | — |
| No Saddleback match | MECH&AE 102 — Dynamics of Particles and Rigid Bodies (recommended) | — |
| No Saddleback match | MAT SCI 104 — Science of Engineering Materials (recommended) | — |
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
UCLA'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 |
UCLA Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
For Samueli engineering majors, UCLA doesn't require IGETC or Cal-GETC, doesn't accept it partially complete, and doesn't recommend it.
3 semesters minimum for CHEM 3 onward
CHEM 3, then CHEM 1A, then CHEM 1B: each needs the one before, so 3 semesters minimum. Start CHEM 3 in your first semester. 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
MECH&AE 94 has no Saddleback match
Saddleback lists no course for MECH&AE 94. Check UCLA's Mechanical Engineering 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.
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 Mechanical Engineering?
CHEM 1B, CHEM 1A, MATH 3A or MATH 3AH, MATH 3B, MATH 3C, MATH 26 and MATH 24, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 10 of the 11 prep courses UCLA lists for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't Saddleback cover for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
MECH&AE 94. Saddleback lists no course for it, so check UCLA's Mechanical Engineering page for whether it has to be finished before you transfer.
Does Saddleback MATH 3B transfer to UCLA?
Yes, for Mechanical Engineering. 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 Mechanical Engineering?
12% of all transfer applicants to UCLA 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 UCLA for Mechanical Engineering can match 10 of 11 lower-division prep courses at Saddleback, including CHEM 1B and CHEM 1A. MECH&AE 94 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 Mechanical Engineering, semester by semester.
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