San Diego Mesa College to SDSU
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Mesa covers ten of SDSU's twelve Computer Science prep requirements, including three of the five computer science courses. Only Data Structures and Introduction to Software Systems have no Mesa match, and SDSU wants all catalog major prep done by the end of spring 2027.
From
San Diego Mesa College
To
San Diego State University
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at San Diego Mesa College that satisfy San Diego State University's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at San Diego Mesa College | Satisfies at SDSU | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CISC 190 — Java Programming | CS 150, CS 150L | 4 |
| CISC 191 or CISC 187 — Intermediate Java Programming | CS 160, CS 160L | 4 |
| No Mesa match | CS 210 — Data Structures | — |
| CISC 211 — Computer Organization and Assembly Language | CS 240 — Computer Organization | 4 |
| No Mesa match | CS 250 — Introduction to Software Systems | — |
| MATH 150 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | MATH 150 — Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 151 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | MATH 151 — Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 245 — Discrete Mathematics | MATH 245 — Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 254 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 254 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| BIOL 200 or STAT C1000 or POLI 201 or PSYC 258 — Biological Statistics | STAT 250 — Statistical Principles and Practices | 3 |
| PHYS 195 — Mechanics | PHYS 195, PHYS 195L | 5 |
| PHYS 196 — Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 196, PHYS 196L | 5 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at San Diego State University after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at San Diego Mesa College
Complete these five courses at San Diego Mesa College to start your SDSU 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.
BIOL 100
Natural History - Environmental Biology
CHEM 100
Fundamentals of Chemistry
HIST 100
World History I
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at San Diego Mesa College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 100 — Natural History - Environmental Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 100 — Fundamentals of Chemistry | 3 |
Humanities | HIST 100 — World History I | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
Four semesters to Linear Algebra
MATH 141 leads to MATH 150, then MATH 151, then MATH 254. That's four semesters minimum, so Linear Algebra slips if calculus starts late.
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
Only two CS courses are missing
CISC 190 and CISC 191 clear CS 150 and CS 160, and CISC 211 clears CS 240. CS 210 and CS 250 are the only computer science gaps left in this agreement.
Local area plus an SDCCD guarantee
Mesa is in SDSU's local admission area, which gets priority in the ranking. Mesa students can also use the SDCCD-SDSU guaranteed admission agreement, which asks for 24 or more transferable units at City, Mesa or Miramar.
Start CISC 190 your first semester
CISC 190 has no listed Mesa prerequisite and leads straight into CISC 191 for CS 160. The other CS 160 option, CISC 187, needs CISC 192 instead.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mesa CISC 190 transfer to SDSU Computer Science?
Yes, CISC 190 covers CS 150, and CISC 191 or CISC 187 covers CS 160. Both count toward the ten SDSU prep requirements Mesa covers.
Can I take Data Structures at Mesa before transferring?
No. CS 210 has no matched Mesa course, and neither does CS 250, Introduction to Software Systems. SDSU still counts both among the catalog prep it wants done by the end of spring 2027.
Does being a Mesa student help my SDSU admission odds?
Mesa sits on SDSU's local admissions area list, which gives local applicants priority consideration in an impacted major. It doesn't guarantee admission on its own.
What GPA does SDSU require for Computer Science transfer?
The published fall 2027 minimum is a 2.0, but the major is impacted, so applicants above that floor, or with local-area status, rank ahead of others.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
San Diego Mesa College covers ten of San Diego State University's twelve Computer Science, B.S. prep requirements. CISC 190 and CISC 191 cover CS 150 and CS 160, CISC 211 covers Computer Organization, and Mesa's full math sequence, MATH 150 through MATH 254, transfers alongside STAT C1000 and both physics courses. Only CS 210, Data Structures, and CS 250, Introduction to Software Systems, are missing. Mesa also sits on SDSU's local admissions area list, a fact worth knowing when a student plans this route through Transfermatic.
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