Santa Barbara City College to UCSB
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
SBCC has a match for 17 of UCSB's 20 Mechanical Engineering prep courses. ME 15, ME 12S and ME 17 have no SBCC match, so plan for them before you apply.
From
Santa Barbara City College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Barbara City College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Barbara City College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 150 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | MATH 3A — Calculus with Applications, First Course | 5 |
| MATH 160 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | MATH 3B — Calculus with Applications, Second Course | 5 |
| MATH 210 — Linear Algebra | MATH 4A — Linear Algebra with Applications | 4 |
| MATH 220 — Differential Equations | MATH 4B — Differential Equations | 4 |
| PHYS 121 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYS 7A — Basic Physics | 5 |
| PHYS 121 + PHYS 122 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids + Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 7B — Basic Physics | 10 |
| PHYS 122 + PHYS 123 — Electricity and Magnetism + Heat, Light and Modern Physics | PHYS 7C — Basic Physics | 10 |
| PHYS 121 + PHYS 122 — Mechanics of Solids and Fluids + Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 7L — Physics Laboratory | 10 |
| CS 133 — Introduction to Programming for Engineers | ENGR 3 — Introduction to Programming | 3 |
| ENGR 115 — Statics and Strength of Materials | ME 14 — Statics | 4 |
| CHEM 155 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 1A, CHEM 2AL | 5 |
| CHEM 155 + CHEM 156 — General Chemistry I + General Chemistry II | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry (recommended) | 10 |
| MATH 200 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 6A — Vector Calculus with Applications, First Course | 4 |
| MATH 200 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 6B — Vector Calculus with Applications, Second Course | 4 |
| ENGR 117 + ENGR 117L — Electronic Circuits + Electronic Circuits Laboratory | ME 6 — Basic Electrical and Electronic Circuits | 4 |
| ENGR 105 — Engineering Graphics | ME 10 — Engineering Graphics: Sketching, CAD, and Conceptual Design | 4 |
| No SBCC match | ME 15 — Strength of Materials | — |
| ENGR 116 — Dynamics | ME 16 — Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics | 4 |
| PHYS 123 — Heat, Light and Modern Physics | PHYS 7D — Basic Physics | 5 |
| No SBCC match | ME 12S — Introduction to Machine Shop | — |
| No SBCC match | ME 17 — Mathematics of Engineering | — |
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 Santa Barbara City College
UCSB'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 |
UCSB Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
UCSB tells College of Engineering transfers to prioritize major coursework over Cal-GETC or IGETC; general education can wait until after transfer for students planning a three-year stay.
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, UCSB quarters
SBCC runs on semesters and UCSB on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCSB'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 UCSB requirements have no SBCC match
SBCC lists no course for ME 15, ME 12S and ME 17. Check UCSB'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 and ENGR 105
MATH 149 and ENGR 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 UCSB looks for
By the end of spring before transfer, complete 2 semesters of calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, the physics series with labs, first-term general chemistry with lab, statics and MATLAB.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at SBCC for UCSB Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 150, MATH 160, MATH 210, MATH 220, PHYS 121, PHYS 122 and PHYS 123, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 17 of the 20 prep courses UCSB lists for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't SBCC cover for UCSB Mechanical Engineering?
ME 15, ME 12S and ME 17. SBCC lists no course for them, so check UCSB's Mechanical Engineering page for whether they have to be finished before you transfer.
Does SBCC MATH 150 transfer to UCSB?
Yes, for Mechanical Engineering. SBCC MATH 150 (Calculus with Analytic Geometry I) is the match for UCSB MATH 3A (Calculus with Applications, First Course) in the transfer agreement.
What should I take first at SBCC for UCSB Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 149 and ENGR 105, 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 Santa Barbara for Mechanical Engineering can match 17 of 20 lower-division prep courses at SBCC, including MATH 150 and MATH 160. ME 15 and ME 12S have no Santa Barbara City College equivalent in the 2025-2026 agreement. MATH 149 and ENGR 105 are good first-semester picks. On Transfermatic, put in Santa Barbara City College and UC Santa Barbara, and you get the classes you need for Mechanical Engineering, semester by semester.
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