Santa Monica College to UC Davis
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
SMC covers all the math and physics UC Davis wants for Mechanical Engineering, plus chemistry, statics and circuits. ENG 004, ENG 006, ENG 045 and EME 050 have no SMC match, and UC Davis wants ENG 004 and ENG 006 done by spring before transfer.
From
Santa Monica College
To
UC Davis
Mechanical EngineeringUC Davis TAG
UC Davis is one of six UC campuses offering TAG. For Mechanical Engineering, the College of Engineering requires a 3.50 GPA both cumulative and across your major prep coursework to guarantee admission.
Major Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Monica College that satisfy UC Davis's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Monica College | Satisfies at UC Davis | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 11 + CHEM 12 — General Chemistry I + General Chemistry II | CHE 002A, CHE 002B, CHE 002C | 10 |
| No SMC match | ENG 004 — Engineering Graphics in Design | — |
| No SMC match | ENG 006 — Engineering Problem Solving | — |
| ENGR 22 + ENGR 21 — Circuit Analysis Lab + Circuit Analysis | ENG 017 — Circuits I | 4 |
| ENGR 12 — Statics | ENG 035 — Statics | 3 |
| MATH 7 — Calculus 1 | MAT 021A — Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 8 — Calculus 2 | MAT 021B — Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 11 — Multivariable Calculus | MAT 021C — Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 11 — Multivariable Calculus | MAT 021D — Vector Analysis | 5 |
| MATH 13 — Linear Algebra | MAT 022A — Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 15 — Differential Equations | MAT 022B — Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYSCS 21 — Mechanics with Lab | PHY 009A — Classical Physics | 5 |
| PHYSCS 23 — Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, Optics with Lab | PHY 009B — Classical Physics | 5 |
| PHYSCS 22 — Electricity and Magnetism with Lab | PHY 009C — Classical Physics | 5 |
| ENGL 3 — World Literature 1 | COM 001 — Major Works of the Ancient World (choose 1) | 3 |
| ENGL 3 + ENGL 4 — World Literature 1 + World Literature 2 | COM 002 — Major Works of the Medieval & Early Modern World (choose 1) | 6 |
| ENGL 4 — World Literature 2 | COM 003 — Major Works of the Modern World (choose 1) | 3 |
| ENGL 4 — World Literature 2 | COM 004 — Major Works of the Contemporary World (choose 1) | 3 |
| ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | UWP 001 — Introduction to Academic Literacies (choose 1) | 3 |
| COMM C1000 — Introduction to Public Speaking | CMN 001 — Introduction to Public Speaking (choose 1) | 3 |
| No SMC match | ENG 045 — Properties of Materials | — |
| No SMC match | EME 050 — Manufacturing Processes | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Davis 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 Davis 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 terms of math and physics before transfer
MATH 2 leads to MATH 7, then MATH 8, then PHYSCS 22, then ENGR 21: five semesters minimum. Start the math chain your first term so nothing later gets delayed.
SMC runs semesters, UC Davis runs quarters
SMC's courses, including that five-term chain, are semester-length. Once you land at UC Davis, the same material is repaced into quarters, so credit and pacing won't line up one to one.
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 honors track needed here
SMC's chemistry, math and physics courses each have a single matching option, no honors alternative to weigh. CHEM 11 and CHEM 12 together clear the chemistry requirement; there's no shortcut around either one.
Circuits needs two SMC courses together
ENG 017 only clears once you finish both ENGR 22 and ENGR 21 at SMC. Taking just the lecture or just the lab leaves that requirement open.
Two intro engineering courses stay open
SMC has no match for ENG 004 or ENG 006, UC Davis's design and problem-solving courses. Both are selective-major prep due by spring before transfer. ENG 045 and EME 050 aren't screened and can wait for UC Davis.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SMC's math sequence transfer to UC Davis Mechanical Engineering?
Yes, all of it. MATH 7 clears MAT 021A, MATH 8 clears MAT 021B, and MATH 11 covers both MAT 021C and MAT 021D, SMC's full calculus and vector analysis chain.
What doesn't SMC cover for UC Davis Mechanical Engineering?
Four of eighteen requirements: ENG 004 and ENG 006, UC Davis's intro design and problem-solving courses, plus ENG 045 and EME 050. The first two are selective-major prep due by spring before transfer; the other two can be taken at UC Davis.
What's the admit rate for UC Davis Mechanical Engineering?
43% of all transfer applicants to the major were admitted in UC Davis's 2025 data. That figure covers every applicant, not just students coming from SMC.
Is there a TAG option for SMC to UC Davis Mechanical Engineering?
Yes. UC Davis offers TAG for this major, and the College of Engineering asks for a 3.50 GPA cumulative and a 3.50 GPA across your prep courses to secure it.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Santa Monica College students transferring into UC Davis's Mechanical Engineering, B.S. program clear fourteen of eighteen requirements, including the complete math sequence through MATH 11 and all three physics-with-lab courses, PHYSCS 21, 23 and 22. What's still open is the intro engineering pair, ENG 004 and ENG 006, which UC Davis wants finished by spring before transfer, along with ENG 045 and EME 050. On our platform, put in your CC and your transfer university and Transfermatic maps SMC's semester classes against UC Davis's quarter-based Mechanical Engineering requirements automatically.
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