San Diego Mesa College to UCSB
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Mesa covers every course UCSB requires for Computer Science admission, from MATH 150 calculus through CISC 187 data structures. It also offers both strongly recommended CS electives, CISC 201 and CISC 211, if you have room.
From
San Diego Mesa College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at San Diego Mesa College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at San Diego Mesa College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 150 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | MATH 3A — Calculus with Applications, First Course | 5 |
| MATH 151 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | MATH 3B — Calculus with Applications, Second Course | 4 |
| MATH 254 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 4A — Linear Algebra with Applications | 3 |
| MATH 255 — Differential Equations | MATH 4B — Differential Equations | 3 |
| CISC 192 or CISC 205 — C/C++ Programming | CMPSC 16 — Problem Solving with Computers I | 4 |
| CISC 187 — Data Structures in C++ | CMPSC 24 — Problem Solving with Computers II | 4 |
| MATH 245 — Discrete Mathematics | CMPSC 40 — Foundations of Computer Science | 3 |
| CISC 201 — Advanced C++ Programming | CMPSC 32 — Object Oriented Design and Implementation (recommended) | 4 |
| CISC 211 — Computer Organization and Assembly Language | CMPSC 64 — Computer Organization and Logic Design (recommended) | 4 |
| MATH 252 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry III | MATH 6A — Vector Calculus with Applications, First Course | 4 |
| PHYS 195 — Mechanics | PHYS 1 — Basic Physics (choose 2) | 5 |
| PHYS 195 — Mechanics | PHYS 2 — Basic Physics (choose 2) | 5 |
| PHYS 196 — Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 3, PHYS 3L (choose 2) | 5 |
| PHYS 125 (or another listed option) — General Physics | PHYS 6A, PHYS 6AL, PHYS 6B, PHYS 6BL, PHYS 6C, PHYS 6CL (choose 2) | 5 |
| PHYS 195 — Mechanics | PHYS 7A — Basic Physics (choose 2) | 5 |
| PHYS 195 + PHYS 196 + PHYS 197 — Mechanics + Electricity and Magnetism + Waves, Optics and Modern Physics | PHYS 7B — Basic Physics (choose 2) | 15 |
| No Mesa match | PSTAT 120A — Probability and Statistics | — |
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 San Diego Mesa College
UCSB's Computer Science program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five San Diego Mesa College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
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 |
UCSB Computer Science: full GE notes
UCSB's Engineering college directs applicants toward major coursework over IGETC or Cal-GETC, saving GE for after transfer for students who take three years to get there.
Five semesters of math before you're done
MATH 141, MATH 150, MATH 151, MATH 252, then MATH 255: reaching UCSB's differential equations requirement takes five semesters at Mesa, so start math immediately.
Mesa semesters, UCSB quarters
Mesa runs two semesters a year; UCSB runs three quarters. Credits convert from semester to quarter units, and material Mesa covers together can land in two shorter UCSB terms instead of one.
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
Two intro CS courses, either works
CISC 192 or CISC 205 each satisfy UCSB's CMPSC 16 on their own at Mesa. Pick whichever fits your schedule; you don't need both to meet the requirement.
Recommended electives are both offered
CISC 201 and CISC 211 cover UCSB's strongly recommended CMPSC 32 and CMPSC 64. They're optional for admission, but Mesa has both if you want to get ahead before transfer.
Differential equations is five semesters out
MATH 141, then 150, 151, 252 and 255: differential equations lands in the fifth semester of math at Mesa. MATH 254, linear algebra, needs only MATH 151.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mesa MATH 150 transfer to UCSB Computer Science?
Yes. MATH 150 satisfies UCSB's MATH 3A calculus requirement, one of the seven courses Mesa students need finished for admission to the major.
What classes does Mesa not cover for UCSB CS?
Mesa covers all seven required admission courses. UCSB also names PSTAT 120A, an upper-division course its notes say isn't articulated and is taken at UCSB after transfer.
How selective is UCSB Computer Science for transfers?
About 12% of transfer applicants to the major were admitted in 2025, counted across every sending community college. Selection weighs how much required prep you finished, your grades and your cumulative GPA.
Is a full year of calculus enough to transfer from Mesa to UCSB CS?
No. UCSB's required math sequence runs through MATH 150, 151, 254 and 255, four courses covering two semesters of calculus plus linear algebra and differential equations, all needed by spring before transfer.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
San Diego Mesa College students planning to transfer into UC Santa Barbara's Computer Science, B.S. cover the full required admission list at Mesa, from MATH 150 calculus through CISC 187 data structures, with both strongly recommended electives, CISC 201 and CISC 211, also available. PSTAT 120A, the one extra course UCSB names, is an upper-division class every applicant takes on campus, not a Mesa-specific gap. Transfermatic maps out this Mesa-to-UCSB Computer Science route with the exact courses that count.
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