Santa Monica College to UCSD
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
SMC covers 13 of UCSD's 17 Mechanical Engineering requirements, including every course UCSD screens on for admission. MAE 3, MAE 11 and MAE 30B have no SMC match, so you'll take those after you transfer.
From
Santa Monica College
To
UC San Diego
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Monica College that satisfy UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Monica College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CS 52 — C++ Programming | MAE 8 — MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 11 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I | 5 |
| MATH 13 — Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 8 + MATH 7 — Calculus 2 + Calculus 1 | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 10 |
| MATH 8 — Calculus 2 | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 11 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 15 — Differential Equations | MATH 20D — Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 11 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 20E — Vector Calculus | 5 |
| PHYSCS 21 — Mechanics with Lab | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics | 5 |
| PHYSCS 22 — Electricity and Magnetism with Lab | PHYS 2B — Physics - Electricity and Magnetism | 5 |
| PHYSCS 23 — Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, Optics with Lab | PHYS 2C — Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics | 5 |
| No SMC match | MAE 20 — Elements of Materials Science | — |
| No SMC match | MAE 3 — Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design | — |
| No SMC match | MAE 11 — Thermodynamics | — |
| ENGR 12 + ENGR 16 — Statics + Dynamics | MAE 30A — Statics & Introduction to Dynamics | 6 |
| No SMC match | MAE 30B — Dynamics & Vibrations | — |
| ENGR 21 — Circuit Analysis | MAE 40 — Linear Circuits | 3 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC San Diego 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 UCSD 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 semesters from MATH 2 to ENGR 16
MATH 2 leads to MATH 7, PHYSCS 21, ENGR 12 and ENGR 16, five semesters minimum. UCSD wants Math 18, 20A-D, Chem 6A and Phys 2A-C finished by the spring before transfer.
Semesters at SMC, quarters at UCSD
SMC runs on semesters while UCSD runs on quarters. Once you land at UCSD, your remaining major courses get taught and paced in shorter quarter terms instead of the semester blocks you're used to.
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
CHEM 11 needs two prerequisites first
SMC's CHEM 11, which covers UCSD's CHEM 6A, requires CHEM 10 and MATH 20 first. Fit those into an earlier semester so chemistry doesn't slip a term.
MAE 30A needs ENGR 12 and ENGR 16
UCSD's MAE 30A only clears once you finish both ENGR 12 and ENGR 16 at SMC, and ENGR 16 needs ENGR 12 first. Skipping either course leaves that requirement open.
MAE 20 is recommended, not required
SMC has no match for MAE 20, Elements of Materials Science. UCSD's own notes call it recommended before transfer, not required for admission, so it's fine to leave for after you arrive.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SMC's CS 52 transfer to UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
Yes. CS 52 clears MAE 8, UCSD's MATLAB programming course. It's one of 13 UCSD requirements SMC covers for Mechanical Engineering.
What doesn't SMC cover for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
MAE 3, MAE 11 and MAE 30B have no SMC equivalent, so those wait until after you transfer. MAE 20 is recommended but not required before you apply.
Does SMC's semester calendar cause problems for UCSD transfer?
No real problems, but expect a shift. SMC runs semesters and UCSD runs quarters, so once you transfer your remaining Mechanical Engineering courses move at a faster, shorter-term pace.
What's the admit rate for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
31% of all transfer applicants to the major were admitted, per UCSD's 2025 data. That's across every applicant, not specific to SMC students, and the major is capped due to heavy demand.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Santa Monica College students transferring into UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering, B.S. program clear thirteen of seventeen requirements, covering every course UCSD screens on for admission, including MATH 20A, which takes MATH 8 and MATH 7 together, and PHYS 2A. What's left are MAE 3, MAE 11 and MAE 30B, which have no SMC match, plus MAE 20, which UCSD calls recommended rather than required before you apply. On our platform, put in your CC and your transfer university and Transfermatic lines up Santa Monica College's requirements against UC San Diego automatically.
Build your Santa Monica College → UCSD plan
Personalized, semester-by-semester. Free to start.
Get My Transfer Plan