Santa Barbara City College to UCSD
Computer Science Transfer Plan
SBCC has a match for 9 of UCSD's 11 Computer Science prep courses. CSE 29 and CSE 21 have no SBCC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
Santa Barbara City College
To
UC San Diego
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Barbara City College that satisfy UC San Diego's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Barbara City College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CS 105 — Theory and Practice I | CSE 11 — Introduction to Programming and Computational Problem Solving - Accelerated Pace | 3 |
| CS 140 + CS 106 — Object-Oriented Programming Using C++ + Theory and Practice II | CSE 12 — Basic Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design | 7 |
| No SBCC match | CSE 29 — Systems Programming and Software Tools | — |
| CS 108 — Discrete Structures | CSE 20 — Discrete Mathematics | 4 |
| No SBCC match | CSE 21 — Mathematics for Algorithms and Systems | — |
| CS 107 + CS 137 — Computer Architecture & Organization + C Programming | CSE 30 — Computer Organization and Systems Programming | 6 |
| MATH 210 — Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 150 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 160 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 200 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| BIOL 103 + BIOL 101 + BIOL 102 — Cell and Molecular Biology + Plant Biology + Animal Biology | BILD 1 — The Cell (choose 1) | 14 |
| BIOL 102 + BIOL 103 + BIOL 101 — Animal Biology + Cell and Molecular Biology + Plant Biology | BILD 2 — Multicellular Life (choose 1) | 14 |
| BIOL 103 + BIOL 102 + BIOL 101 — Cell and Molecular Biology + Animal Biology + Plant Biology | BILD 3 — Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (choose 1) | 14 |
| CHEM 155 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I (choose 1) | 5 |
| CHEM 155 + CHEM 156 — General Chemistry I + General Chemistry II | CHEM 6B — General Chemistry II (choose 1) | 10 |
| PHYS 121 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics (choose 1) | 5 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC San Diego after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Santa Barbara City College
Complete these five courses at Santa Barbara City College to start your UCSD 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
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 |
4 semesters minimum for MATH 149 onward
MATH 149 through MATH 210: 4 courses, each needing the one before, so 4 semesters minimum. Start MATH 149 in your first semester. Placing higher shortens it.
SBCC semesters, UCSD quarters
SBCC runs on semesters and UCSD on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCSD'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
2 UCSD requirements have no SBCC match
SBCC lists no course for CSE 29 and CSE 21. Check UCSD's Computer Science page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with MATH 149 and CS 105
MATH 149 and CS 105 sit at the start of their sequences for this route, so they fit your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
What UCSD looks for
UCSD strongly recommends listing a non-selective alternate major on the UC application.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at SBCC for UCSD Computer Science?
CS 105, CS 140, CS 106, CS 108, CS 107, CS 137 and MATH 210, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 9 of the 11 prep courses UCSD lists for Computer Science.
What doesn't SBCC cover for UCSD Computer Science?
CSE 29 and CSE 21. SBCC lists no course for them, so check UCSD's Computer Science page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does SBCC CS 108 transfer to UCSD?
Yes, for Computer Science. SBCC CS 108 (Discrete Structures) is the match for UCSD CSE 20 (Discrete Mathematics) in the transfer agreement.
What is UCSD's transfer admit rate for Computer Science?
17% of all transfer applicants to UCSD Computer Science were admitted in 2025. That figure covers applicants from every college, so it isn't specific to SBCC.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Santa Barbara City College students transferring to UC San Diego for Computer Science can match 9 of 11 lower-division prep courses at SBCC, including CS 105 and CS 140. CSE 29 and CSE 21 have no Santa Barbara City College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. MATH 149 and CS 105 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Santa Barbara City College and UC San Diego, and you get the classes you need for Computer Science, semester by semester.
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