Santa Monica College to UC Berkeley
Economics Transfer Plan
SMC covers all of UC Berkeley's required Economics prep: ECON 1 and ECON 2 together match Berkeley's ECON 1, and MATH 7 and MATH 8 cover the two calculus requirements. Beyond those, L&S needs the UC 7-course pattern and at least a 3.0 GPA by the end of fall.
From
Santa Monica College
To
UC Berkeley
EconomicsMajor Requirements
Economics Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Monica College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Economics major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Monica College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 1 + ECON 2 — Principles of Microeconomics + Principles of Macroeconomics | ECON 1 — Introduction to Economics | 6 |
| MATH 7 — Calculus 1 | MATH 51 — Calculus I (choose 1) | 5 |
| MATH 8 — Calculus 2 | MATH 52 — Calculus II (choose 1) | 5 |
| MATH 7 — Calculus 1 | MATH 16A — Analytic Geometry and Calculus (choose 1) | 5 |
| MATH 8 — Calculus 2 | MATH 16B — Analytic Geometry and Calculus (choose 1) | 5 |
| No SMC match | STAT 20 — Introduction to Probability and Statistics (recommended) | — |
| No SMC match | STAT 21 — Introductory Probability and Statistics for Business (recommended) | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley 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 |
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
Berkeley ECON 1 takes two SMC classes
Berkeley's single ECON 1 course maps to SMC's ECON 1 (micro) and ECON 2 (macro) together. One without the other doesn't meet it, so finish both by the end of spring before you transfer.
MATH 7 and MATH 8 cover the math
Two calculus lines are required in the agreement notes: MATH 51 or MATH 16A, and MATH 52 or MATH 16B. SMC's MATH 7 matches the first and MATH 8 the second, so take the full year.
STAT 20 has no SMC match
Berkeley strongly recommends STAT 20 or STAT 21, but SMC has no articulated equivalent for either. It's a recommendation, not a requirement, so the missing match doesn't affect your eligibility.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes do I need at SMC for UC Berkeley Economics?
ECON 1, ECON 2, MATH 7 and MATH 8. Those four cover every lower-division course Berkeley requires for the major. Alongside them, finish ENGL C1000 and the rest of the UC 7-course pattern, which L&S checks at the end of spring before you enroll.
Does SMC ECON 1 transfer to UC Berkeley?
Yes, paired with ECON 2. ASSIST maps SMC's ECON 1 and ECON 2 together to Berkeley's ECON 1, so you need both micro and macro to meet the requirement.
What does SMC not cover for Berkeley Economics?
Nothing required. The only unmatched courses are STAT 20 and STAT 21, which Berkeley lists as strongly recommended rather than required. SMC's ECON 1, ECON 2, MATH 7 and MATH 8 handle everything that is required.
What is the UC Berkeley Economics transfer admit rate?
14% of all transfer applicants to Berkeley Economics were admitted in 2025. That figure covers applicants from every college, not SMC alone. L&S also requires at least a 3.0 GPA by the end of fall just to be eligible.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Santa Monica College students applying to UC Berkeley Economics need four SMC courses for major prep: ECON 1 and ECON 2, which together match Berkeley's ECON 1, and MATH 7 and MATH 8 for the two calculus requirements. The College of Letters and Science also expects the UC 7-course pattern by spring and a 3.0 GPA by the end of fall, and it strongly recommends Cal-GETC. Berkeley admitted 14% of all 2025 transfer applicants to the major. Transfermatic can build those SMC courses into a plan alongside your GE.
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