San Diego Mesa College to UC Berkeley
Molecular and Cell Biology Transfer Plan
Mesa covers seven of UC Berkeley's eight Molecular and Cell Biology requirements, but BIOLOGY 1B has no Mesa match, and Berkeley wants all lower-division prep except physics done by the end of spring before transfer. Chemistry runs four semesters from CHEM 200 to CHEM 233L.
From
San Diego Mesa College
To
UC Berkeley
Molecular and Cell BiologyMajor Requirements
Molecular and Cell Biology Major Preparation
Courses at San Diego Mesa College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Molecular and Cell Biology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at San Diego Mesa College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| (BIOL 210A and BIOL 210B) or (BIOL 215 and BIOL 107) — Introduction to the Biological Sciences I | BIOLOGY 1A, BIOLOGY 1AL | 4 |
| No Mesa match | BIOLOGY 1B — General Biology (Plant Form & Function, Ecology, Evolution) | — |
| CHEM 200 + CHEM 200L — General Chemistry I - Lecture + General Chemistry I - Laboratory | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1AL | 5 |
| CHEM 201L + CHEM 201 — General Chemistry II - Laboratory + General Chemistry II - Lecture | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 231L + CHEM 231 — Organic Chemistry I Laboratory + Organic Chemistry I - Lecture | CHEM 3A, CHEM 3AL | 5 |
| CHEM 233L + CHEM 233 — Organic Chemistry II Laboratory + Organic Chemistry II - Lecture | CHEM 3B, CHEM 3BL | 5 |
| MATH 150 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | MATH 51 — Calculus I (choose 2) | 5 |
| MATH 151 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | MATH 52 — Calculus II (choose 2) | 4 |
| MATH 252 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry III | MATH 53 — Multivariable Calculus (choose 2) | 4 |
| MATH 254 + MATH 255 — Introduction to Linear Algebra + Differential Equations | MATH 54 — Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (choose 2) | 6 |
| MATH 245 — Discrete Mathematics | MATH 55 — Discrete Mathematics (choose 2) | 3 |
| No Mesa match | PHYSICS 8A — Introductory Physics (recommended) | — |
| No Mesa match | PHYSICS 8B — Introductory Physics (recommended) | — |
| PHYS 195 — Mechanics | PHYSICS 7A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (recommended) | 5 |
| PHYS 196 — Electricity and Magnetism | PHYSICS 7B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (recommended) | 5 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley 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 |
Chemistry runs four semesters
CHEM 200 leads to CHEM 201, then CHEM 231, then CHEM 233L, four semesters minimum. Start general chemistry your first term at Mesa so organic chemistry isn't pushed into your last year.
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
BIOLOGY 1B has no Mesa match
ASSIST lists no Mesa course for BIOLOGY 1B, the plant and ecology half of Berkeley's biology. MCB requires it before transfer. Per Berkeley's notes, a 4 or 5 on AP Biology satisfies it, though MCB discourages using AP credit.
Two routes cover BIOLOGY 1A/1AL
Take BIOL 210A with BIOL 210B, or BIOL 215 with BIOL 107. Either pair satisfies the requirement, so pick whichever fits your schedule or counselor's recommendation.
Skip 8A/8B, aim for 7A/7B
PHYSICS 8A and 8B have no Mesa match, but PHYSICS 7A and 7B do: PHYS 195 and PHYS 196. Physics is recommended, not required for admission; if you take it before transfer, take that pair.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mesa BIOL 210A transfer to UC Berkeley?
Yes, paired with BIOL 210B it satisfies BIOLOGY 1A/1AL. The alternate pair, BIOL 215 with BIOL 107, works the same way. Either route clears that requirement before you leave Mesa.
What doesn't Mesa cover for Berkeley MCB?
BIOLOGY 1B has no Mesa equivalent, and it's part of the prep MCB expects finished by spring before transfer. The recommended PHYSICS 8A/8B pair is also unmatched. Chemistry and math are fully covered at Mesa.
What is the UC Berkeley MCB transfer admit rate?
23% in 2025 across all transfer applicants to the major, not a Mesa-specific figure. Students admitted after choosing MCB on their application go straight into the major.
Do I need IGETC to transfer from Mesa to Berkeley MCB?
No, Letters and Science doesn't require Cal-GETC or IGETC for admission, only the UC 7-course pattern and the major prep courses. Cal-GETC is still recommended for smoother degree progress once you're there.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
San Diego Mesa College students aiming for Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley cover most of the major's lower-division prep on campus. Chemistry runs from CHEM 200 through CHEM 233L, and biology's first course comes from either BIOL 210A and 210B or BIOL 215 and BIOL 107. The open item is BIOLOGY 1B: Mesa has no match, yet Berkeley wants it done by spring before transfer. Transfermatic lays out Mesa's math and chemistry sequence around that gap so students see exactly what's covered and what Berkeley still expects.
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