Santa Barbara City College to UCLA
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
SBCC has a match for every one of UCLA's 11 Mechanical Engineering prep courses, so you can finish all of the listed prep at SBCC. Start with MATH 149 and ENGR 105.
From
Santa Barbara City College
To
UCLA
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Barbara City College that satisfy UCLA's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Barbara City College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 155 + CHEM 156 — General Chemistry I + General Chemistry II | CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B, CHEM 20L | 10 |
| MATH 150 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 160 — Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 5 |
| MATH 200 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 200 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 210 — Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 4 |
| MATH 220 — Differential Equations | MECH&AE 82 — Mathematics of Engineering | 4 |
| ENGR 105 — Engineering Graphics | MECH&AE 94 — Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Drafting | 4 |
| PHYS 123 + PHYS 122 + PHYS 121 — Heat, Light and Modern Physics + Electricity and Magnetism + Mechanics of Solids and Fluids | PHYSICS 1A, PHYSICS 1B, PHYSICS 1C, PHYSICS 4AL, PHYSICS 4BL | 15 |
| ENGL C1000H or ENGL C1000E or ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing - Honors | ENGCOMP 3 — English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language (choose 1) | 4 |
| COMM 235 or ENG 111 or ENG 111H or PHIL 111 — Argumentation and Debate | English composition courses (choose 1) | 3 |
| CS 140 — Object-Oriented Programming Using C++ | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I (choose 1) | 4 |
| CS 133 — Introduction to Programming for Engineers | C&EE M20 — Introduction to Computer Programming with MATLAB (choose 1) | 3 |
| CS 106 or CS 133 or CS 137 or CS 140 — Theory and Practice II | Computer programming courses: C, C++, Java or Matlab (choose 1) | 3 |
| ENGR 117 — Electronic Circuits | EC ENGR 100 — Electrical and Electronic Circuits (recommended) | 3 |
| ENGR 117L — Electronic Circuits Laboratory | EC ENGR 110L — Circuit Measurements Laboratory (recommended) | 1 |
| No SBCC match | MECH&AE 101 — Statics and Strength of Materials (recommended) | — |
| No SBCC match | MECH&AE 102 — Dynamics of Particles and Rigid Bodies (recommended) | — |
| No SBCC match | MAT SCI 104 — Science of Engineering Materials (recommended) | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Santa Barbara City College
UCLA'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 |
UCLA Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
For Samueli engineering majors, UCLA doesn't require IGETC or Cal-GETC, doesn't accept it partially complete, and doesn't recommend it.
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, UCLA quarters
SBCC runs on semesters and UCLA on quarters. Your units convert when you transfer, one semester unit to 1.5 quarter units, and anything left runs on UCLA'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
SBCC covers all 11 listed courses
Every UCLA 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 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.
More than one way to cover ENGCOMP 3
For UCLA ENGCOMP 3, SBCC accepts ENGL C1000H or ENGL C1000E or ENGL C1000. You need only one of them, so pick whichever fits your schedule.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at SBCC for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
CHEM 155, CHEM 156, MATH 150, MATH 160, MATH 200, MATH 210 and MATH 220, plus the rest in the table above. Together they match 11 of the 11 prep courses UCLA lists for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't SBCC cover for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
Nothing in the transfer agreement. Every UCLA Mechanical Engineering prep course listed has a SBCC match.
Does SBCC MATH 150 transfer to UCLA?
Yes, for Mechanical Engineering. SBCC MATH 150 (Calculus with Analytic Geometry I) is the match for UCLA MATH 31A (Differential and Integral Calculus) in the transfer agreement.
What is UCLA's transfer admit rate for Mechanical Engineering?
12% of all transfer applicants to UCLA 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 UCLA for Mechanical Engineering can match 11 of 11 lower-division prep courses at SBCC, including CHEM 155 and CHEM 156. Every listed course has a 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 UCLA, and you get the classes you need for Mechanical Engineering, semester by semester.
Build your Santa Barbara City College → UCLA plan
Personalized, semester-by-semester. Free to start.
Get My Transfer Plan