Santa Monica College to UC Davis
Psychology Transfer Plan
SMC covers every UC Davis Psychology prep requirement with a short list: PSYC C1000, STAT C1000, BIOL 3, ANTHRO 1 or ANTHRO 5, and PSYCH 7. Only the anthropology slot gives you a choice of course.
From
Santa Monica College
To
UC Davis
PsychologyUC Davis TAG
Psychology qualifies for TAG at UC Davis. From SMC you need a 3.20 cumulative GPA and a 2.90 GPA across PSYC C1000, STAT C1000, BIOL 3 and your ANTHRO course, with every grade in that group a C or better.
Major Requirements
Psychology Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Monica College that satisfy UC Davis's Psychology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Monica College | Satisfies at UC Davis | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC C1000 — General Psychology | PSC 001 — General Psychology | 3 |
| STAT C1000 — Introduction to Statistics | STA 013 — Elementary Statistics (choose 1) | 4 |
| BIOL 3 — Fundamentals of Biology | BIS 010 — Everyday Biology | 4 |
| ANTHRO 1 or ANTHRO 5 — Biological Anthropology | ANT 001 — Human Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| PSYCH 7 — Research Methods in Psychology | PSC 041 — Research Methods in Psychology | 3 |
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 |
SMC semesters, UC Davis quarters
SMC runs on semesters while UC Davis runs on quarters. All of your prep happens on SMC's semester calendar; after transfer, UC Davis courses move on shorter quarter terms.
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
Only one stats course counts here
SMC offers a single accepted statistics course for UC Davis Psychology: STAT C1000. There's no honors version and no alternate, so build your schedule around it early rather than waiting for a better section.
Biology needs two SMC courses, not one
UC Davis wants BIOL 3 plus either ANTHRO 1 or ANTHRO 5, not just one science class. Skipping the anthropology half leaves this requirement incomplete even after BIOL 3 is done.
Selective major review checks your grades
UC Davis reviews Psychology applicants on a 2.90 GPA across PSYC C1000, STAT C1000 and your biology pair, with every course finished by spring before fall enrollment. No grade can fall below a C.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at SMC for UC Davis Psychology?
PSYC C1000 for general psychology, STAT C1000 for statistics, BIOL 3 plus ANTHRO 1 or ANTHRO 5 for the biology requirement, and PSYCH 7 for research methods. Those five courses clear everything UC Davis checks.
Does SMC PSYCH 7 transfer to UC Davis?
Yes, PSYCH 7 covers PSC 041, UC Davis's research methods course. Take PSYC C1000 first, since PSYCH 7 lists it as a prerequisite.
What UC Davis Psychology prep does SMC not cover?
Nothing. All five requirement slots, psychology, statistics, both biology courses and research methods, have a matching SMC class with no gaps left for after transfer.
What's the admit rate for UC Davis Psychology transfers?
UC Davis admitted 70% of all transfer applicants to Psychology in 2025. That figure covers every community college's applicants together, not SMC students specifically.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Santa Monica College students preparing for the UC Davis Psychology, A.B. can complete every piece of the required coursework at SMC. PSYC C1000 covers general psychology, STAT C1000 covers statistics, and BIOL 3 paired with ANTHRO 1 or ANTHRO 5 covers the biology requirement UC Davis lists. PSYCH 7 finishes research methods. UC Davis's 2025 transfer admit rate for Psychology was 70%, and TAG requires a 3.20 cumulative GPA with a 2.90 prep-group GPA. Transfermatic can sequence these five SMC courses so nothing is left over after transfer.
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