Santa Barbara City College to UCI
Biological Sciences Transfer Plan
SBCC has a match for 6 of UCI's 9 Biological Sciences prep courses. BIO SCI 97, BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99 have no SBCC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
Santa Barbara City College
To
UC Irvine
Biological SciencesUC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
UCI offers TAG for Biological Sciences for fall 2027 applicants, with a minimum 3.4 GPA. File during the TAG window the fall before you transfer, and check UCI's TAG page, since its list of eligible majors changes.
Major Requirements
Biological Sciences Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Barbara City College that satisfy UC Irvine's Biological Sciences major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Barbara City College | Satisfies at UCI | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 103 — Cell and Molecular Biology | BIO SCI 93 — DNA to Organisms | 5 |
| BIOL 101 or BIOL 102 or BIOL 112 — Plant Biology | BIO SCI 94 — Organisms to Ecosystems | 4 |
| CHEM 156 + CHEM 155 — General Chemistry II + General Chemistry I | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B, CHEM 1C, CHEM 1LC, CHEM 1LD | 10 |
| CHEM 222 + CHEM 211 + CHEM 212 + CHEM 221 — Organic Chemistry Laboratory II + Organic Chemistry I + Organic Chemistry II + Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | CHEM 51A, CHEM 51B, CHEM 51LB, CHEM 51C, CHEM 51LC | 10.8 |
| No SBCC match | BIO SCI 97 — Genetics | — |
| No SBCC match | BIO SCI 98 — Biochemistry | — |
| No SBCC match | BIO SCI 99 — Molecular Biology | — |
| PHYS 110 + PHYS 111 — Introductory Physics + Introductory Physics | PHYSICS 3A, PHYSICS 3B, PHYSICS 3LB, PHYSICS 3C, PHYSICS 3LC (choose 1) | 8 |
| PHYS 121 + PHYS 122 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids + Electricity and Magnetism | PHYSICS 7C, PHYSICS 7LC, PHYSICS 7D, PHYSICS 7LD, PHYSICS 7E (choose 1) | 10 |
| MATH 130 (or another listed option) — Calculus for Biological Sciences, Social Sciences and Business I | Mathematics Requirement | 5 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Irvine after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Santa Barbara City College
UCI's Biological Sciences 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 |
UCI Biological Sciences: full GE notes
UCI says IGETC may not be recommended for science majors like Biological Sciences, so El Camino students should place chemistry and biology ahead of general education.
5 semesters minimum for CHEM 101 onward
CHEM 101 through CHEM 212: 5 courses, each needing the one before, so 5 semesters minimum, more than four fall and spring terms. Start CHEM 101 first or plan on summer. Placing higher shortens it.
SBCC semesters, UCI quarters
SBCC runs on semesters and UCI on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCI'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
3 UCI requirements have no SBCC match
SBCC lists no course for BIO SCI 97, BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99. Check UCI's Biological Sciences page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with CHEM 101 and BIOL 101
CHEM 101 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.
SBCC gives you options here
For UCI BIO SCI 94, SBCC accepts BIOL 101 or BIOL 102 or BIOL 112. You need only one of them, so pick whichever fits your schedule.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at SBCC for UCI Biological Sciences?
BIOL 103, BIOL 101 or BIOL 102 or BIOL 112, CHEM 156, CHEM 155, CHEM 222, CHEM 211 and CHEM 212. Together they match 6 of the 9 prep courses UCI lists for Biological Sciences.
What doesn't SBCC cover for UCI Biological Sciences?
BIO SCI 97, BIO SCI 98 and BIO SCI 99. SBCC lists no course for them, so check UCI's Biological Sciences page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does SBCC BIOL 103 transfer to UCI?
Yes, for Biological Sciences. SBCC BIOL 103 (Cell and Molecular Biology) is the match for UCI BIO SCI 93 (DNA to Organisms) in the transfer agreement.
Can I use TAG for UCI Biological Sciences?
UCI lists Biological Sciences as TAG-eligible for fall 2027, with a minimum 3.4 GPA. Check UCI's TAG page before you count on it for a later term.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Santa Barbara City College students transferring to UC Irvine for Biological Sciences can match 6 of 9 lower-division prep courses at SBCC, including BIOL 103 and BIOL 101 or BIOL 102 or BIOL 112. BIO SCI 97 and BIO SCI 98 have no Santa Barbara City College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. CHEM 101 and BIOL 101 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Santa Barbara City College and UC Irvine, and you get the classes you need for Biological Sciences, semester by semester.
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