Santa Barbara City College to UC Berkeley
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
SBCC has a match for every one of UC Berkeley's 10 Mechanical Engineering prep courses, so you can finish all of the listed prep at SBCC. Start with MATH 149 and BIOL 101.
From
Santa Barbara City College
To
UC Berkeley
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Barbara City College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Barbara City College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 155 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1AL | 5 |
| MATH 150 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | MATH 51 — Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 160 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | MATH 52 — Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 200 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 53 — Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 210 + MATH 220 — Linear Algebra + Differential Equations | MATH 54 — Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | 8 |
| PHYS 121 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYSICS 7A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers | 5 |
| PHYS 122 — Electricity and Magnetism | PHYSICS 7B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers | 5 |
| ENG 200 or ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000H — Introduction to Literature | Courses that satisfy Reading & Composition A | 3 |
| COMM 235 or ENG 111 or ENG 111H or ENGL C1001 or PHIL 111 — Argumentation and Debate | Courses that satisfy Reading & Composition B | 3 |
| BIOL 101 + BIOL 102 + BIOL 103 — Plant Biology + Animal Biology + Cell and Molecular Biology | BIOLOGY 1A, BIOLOGY 1AL, BIOLOGY 1B (choose 1) | 14 |
| MATH 118 — Data Science for All | COMPSCI C8 — Foundations of Data Science (choose 1) | 4 |
| CHEM 156 — General Chemistry II | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry (choose 1) | 5 |
| CHEM 211 + CHEM 221 — Organic Chemistry I + Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | CHEM 3A, CHEM 3AL (choose 1) | 5.3 |
| CHEM 212 + CHEM 222 — Organic Chemistry II + Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | CHEM 3B, CHEM 3BL (choose 1) | 5.5 |
| PHYS 123 — Heat, Light and Modern Physics | PHYSICS 7C — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (choose 1) | 5 |
| CS 133 — Introduction to Programming for Engineers | ENGIN 7 — Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers (MATLAB) (recommended) | 3 |
| No SBCC match | ENGIN 26 — Three-Dimensional Modeling for Design (recommended) | — |
| No SBCC match | ENGIN 29 — Manufacturing and Design Communication (recommended) | — |
| No SBCC match | MEC ENG 40 — Thermodynamics (recommended) | — |
| No SBCC match | MEC ENG C85 — Introduction to Solid Mechanics (recommended) | — |
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 Santa Barbara City College
UC Berkeley's Mechanical Engineering program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Santa Barbara City College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
BIOL 100
Concepts of Biology
CHEM 101
Introductory Chemistry
HIST 101
History of the U.S. to 1877
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Santa Barbara City College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 100 — Concepts of Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 101 — Introductory Chemistry | 4 |
Humanities | HIST 101 — History of the U.S. to 1877 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
Skip IGETC and Cal-GETC for this major: Berkeley Engineering won't accept them, though De Anza's two composition courses are still required.
5 semesters minimum for MATH 149 onward
MATH 149 through MATH 220: 5 courses, each needing the one before, so 5 semesters minimum, more than four fall and spring terms. Start MATH 149 first or plan on summer. Placing higher shortens it.
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
SBCC covers all 10 listed courses
Every UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering prep course in the transfer agreement has a SBCC match, so none of the listed prep has to wait. Take them all before you apply.
Start with MATH 149 and BIOL 101
MATH 149 and BIOL 101 sit at the start of their sequences for this route, so they fit your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
What UC Berkeley looks for
Admitted engineering transfers cannot change majors within the college.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at SBCC for UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering?
CHEM 155, MATH 150, MATH 160, MATH 200, MATH 210, MATH 220 and PHYS 121, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 10 of the 10 prep courses UC Berkeley lists for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't SBCC cover for UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering?
Nothing in the transfer agreement. Every UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering prep course listed has a SBCC match.
Does SBCC MATH 150 transfer to UC Berkeley?
Yes, for Mechanical Engineering. SBCC MATH 150 (Calculus with Analytic Geometry I) is the match for UC Berkeley MATH 51 (Calculus I) in the transfer agreement.
What should I take first at SBCC for UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 149 and BIOL 101, plus ENGL C1000 for English composition. They sit at the start of their sequences.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Santa Barbara City College students transferring to UC Berkeley for Mechanical Engineering can match 10 of 10 lower-division prep courses at SBCC, including CHEM 155 and MATH 150. Every listed course has a Santa Barbara City College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. MATH 149 and BIOL 101 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Santa Barbara City College and UC Berkeley, and you get the classes you need for Mechanical Engineering, semester by semester.
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