Santa Monica College to SDSU
Biology Transfer Plan
Santa Monica College covers seven of SDSU's nine Biology requirement groups, including both semesters of general chemistry and both physics sequences. SMC has no course matched to Biostatistics or to either calculus option, and SDSU wants all catalog major prep done by the end of spring 2027.
From
Santa Monica College
To
San Diego State University
BiologyMajor Requirements
Biology Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Monica College that satisfy San Diego State University's Biology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Monica College | Satisfies at SDSU | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 21 + BIOL 22 — Cell Biology and Evolution + Genetics and Molecular Biology | BIOL 203, BIOL 203L | 8 |
| BIOL 23 — Organismal and Environmental Biology | BIOL 204, BIOL 204L | 5 |
| No SMC match | BIOL 215 — Biostatistics | — |
| CHEM 11 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 200 — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 12 — General Chemistry II | CHEM 201 — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 21 — Organic Chemistry I | CHEM 232, CHEM 232L | 5 |
| No SMC match for any of 2 options | MATH 124 — Calculus for the Life Sciences and others (choose 1) | — |
| PHYSCS 6 or PHYSCS 8 — General Physics 1 with Lab | PHYS 180A, PHYS 182A | 4 |
| PHYSCS 7 or PHYSCS 9 — General Physics 2 with Lab | PHYS 180B, PHYS 182B | 4 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at San Diego State University after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Santa Monica College
Complete these five courses at Santa Monica College to start your SDSU 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 10
Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology
CHEM 10
Introductory General Chemistry
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
COMM C1000
Introduction to Public Speaking
| Area | Course at Santa Monica College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 10 — Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 10 — Introductory General Chemistry | 5 |
HumanitiesCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
Oral CommunicationCCN | COMM C1000 — Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
Five-semester chain from chemistry to biology
CHEM 10 leads to CHEM 11, then BIOL 21, BIOL 22 and BIOL 23 in order. That's five semesters minimum, so start chemistry your first term at SMC.
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
No SMC match for Biostatistics
BIOL 215 has no equivalent on ASSIST at SMC. SDSU's rule is that all catalog major prep is finished by the end of spring 2027, and summer 2027 courses don't count.
Calculus has no SMC match
Neither MATH 124 nor MATH 150 has an SMC match on ASSIST, so calculus stays open. You still need SMC math for prerequisites: CHEM 12 needs MATH 2, or MATH 3 and MATH 4, and PHYSCS 8 needs MATH 7.
Start the chem-to-bio chain early
CHEM 10, then CHEM 11, then BIOL 21, then BIOL 22, then BIOL 23 is five semesters end to end. Push chemistry into your first term so biology isn't delayed.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SMC BIOL 22 transfer to SDSU for the Biology major?
Yes. BIOL 21 and BIOL 22 together satisfy SDSU's BIOL 203 and BIOL 203L, the Cell and Molecular Biology lecture and lab. You need both SMC courses, not just one, since ASSIST lists them as a pair.
What does SMC not cover for SDSU's Biology major?
SMC has no matching course for BIOL 215 Biostatistics or for either calculus option, MATH 124 or MATH 150. Everything else, both biology courses, general and organic chemistry, and both physics courses, has an SMC match.
What GPA do I need to transfer to SDSU for Biology?
SDSU's published fall 2027 minimum GPA for Biology B.A./B.S. is 2.80. SDSU is impacted in every major, so applicants above that floor, or from its local admission area, get priority; SMC is not in that local area.
How long is the chemistry-to-biology sequence at SMC?
It's five semesters: CHEM 10, then CHEM 11, then BIOL 21, then BIOL 22, then BIOL 23, each building on the last. That's more than two years of fall and spring terms, so start chemistry your first semester and expect this chain to set your transfer date.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Santa Monica College students planning to transfer into Biology, B.A. and B.S. at San Diego State University cover most of the major's science prep at SMC, including both semesters of general chemistry and the full physics sequence, with BIOL 21 and BIOL 22 fulfilling SDSU's cell and molecular biology requirement. The gaps are Biostatistics and calculus, neither of which has an SMC match on ASSIST, and SDSU wants all major prep done by the end of spring 2027. On Transfermatic, put in your CC and your transfer university and see the exact course-by-course plan, gaps included.
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