Santa Barbara City College to UCSD
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
SBCC has a match for 11 of UCSD's 17 Mechanical Engineering prep courses. MATH 20E, MAE 20, MAE 3 and MAE 11 and 2 more have no SBCC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
Santa Barbara City College
To
UC San Diego
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Barbara City College that satisfy UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Barbara City College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CS 133 — Introduction to Programming for Engineers | MAE 8 — MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 155 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I | 5 |
| 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 |
| MATH 220 — Differential Equations | MATH 20D — Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| No SBCC match | MATH 20E — Vector Calculus | — |
| PHYS 121 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics | 5 |
| PHYS 122 — Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 2B — Physics - Electricity and Magnetism | 5 |
| PHYS 123 — Heat, Light and Modern Physics | PHYS 2C — Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics | 5 |
| No SBCC match | MAE 20 — Elements of Materials Science | — |
| No SBCC match | MAE 3 — Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design | — |
| No SBCC match | MAE 11 — Thermodynamics | — |
| ENGR 116 + ENGR 115 — Dynamics + Statics and Strength of Materials | MAE 30A — Statics & Introduction to Dynamics | 8 |
| No SBCC match | MAE 30B — Dynamics & Vibrations | — |
| No SBCC match | MAE 40 — Linear Circuits | — |
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 |
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.
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
6 UCSD requirements have no SBCC match
SBCC lists no course for MATH 20E, MAE 20, MAE 3 and MAE 11 and others. Check UCSD's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be done before you transfer, and plan where you'll cover them.
Start with MATH 149
MATH 149 sits at the start of its sequence for this route, so it fits your first semester, next to ENGL C1000 for English composition.
What UCSD looks for
Engineering is a selective major. Math 18 and 20A-D, Chem 6A, and Phys 2A-C must be done by the end of spring before transfer.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at SBCC for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
CS 133, CHEM 155, MATH 210, MATH 150, MATH 160, MATH 200 and MATH 220, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 11 of the 17 prep courses UCSD lists for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't SBCC cover for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 20E, MAE 20, MAE 3, MAE 11 and MAE 30B and 1 more. SBCC lists no course for them, so check UCSD's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does SBCC CS 133 transfer to UCSD?
Yes, for Mechanical Engineering. SBCC CS 133 (Introduction to Programming for Engineers) is the match for UCSD MAE 8 (MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis) in the transfer agreement.
What is UCSD's transfer admit rate for Mechanical Engineering?
31% of all transfer applicants to UCSD Mechanical Engineering 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 Mechanical Engineering can match 11 of 17 lower-division prep courses at SBCC, including CS 133 and CHEM 155. MATH 20E and MAE 20 have no Santa Barbara City College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. MATH 149 is a good first-semester pick. On Transfermatic, put in Santa Barbara City College and UC San Diego, and you get the classes you need for Mechanical Engineering, semester by semester.
Build your Santa Barbara City College → UCSD plan
Personalized, semester-by-semester. Free to start.
Get My Transfer Plan