Santa Monica College to UCLA
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
SMC covers 10 of the 11 UCLA Mechanical Engineering prep requirements. The one without an SMC match is MECH&AE 82 (Mathematics of Engineering), so the rest of your time goes to MATH 7 through MATH 13, CHEM 11 and CHEM 12, and PHYSCS 21 to PHYSCS 23.
From
Santa Monica College
To
UCLA
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Monica College that satisfy UCLA's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Monica College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 11 + CHEM 12 — General Chemistry I + General Chemistry II | CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B, CHEM 20L | 10 |
| MATH 7 — Calculus 1 | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 8 — Calculus 2 | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 5 |
| MATH 11 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 11 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 13 — Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 3 |
| No SMC match | MECH&AE 82 — Mathematics of Engineering | — |
| ENGR 11 — Engineering Graphics and Design | MECH&AE 94 — Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Drafting | 3 |
| PHYSCS 22 + PHYSCS 21 + PHYSCS 23 — Electricity and Magnetism with Lab + Mechanics with Lab + Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, Optics with Lab | PHYSICS 1A, PHYSICS 1B, PHYSICS 1C, PHYSICS 4AL, PHYSICS 4BL | 15 |
| ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1D — Academic Reading and Writing | ENGCOMP 3 — English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language (choose 1) | 3 |
| ENGL C1001 or ENGL 31 — Critical Thinking and Writing | English composition courses (choose 1) | 3 |
| CS 52 — C++ Programming | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I (choose 1) | 3 |
| CS 30 — MATLAB Programming | C&EE M20 — Introduction to Computer Programming with MATLAB (choose 1) | 3 |
| CS 50 or CS 52 — C Programming | Computer programming courses: C, C++, Java or Matlab (choose 1) | 3 |
| No SMC match | EC ENGR 100 — Electrical and Electronic Circuits (recommended) | — |
| ENGR 22 — Circuit Analysis Lab | EC ENGR 110L — Circuit Measurements Laboratory (recommended) | 1 |
| No SMC match | MECH&AE 101 — Statics and Strength of Materials (recommended) | — |
| No SMC match | MECH&AE 102 — Dynamics of Particles and Rigid Bodies (recommended) | — |
| No SMC match | MAT SCI 104 — Science of Engineering Materials (recommended) | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Santa Monica College
UCLA's Mechanical Engineering program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Santa Monica College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
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 |
UCLA Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
UCLA's Samueli School doesn't require IGETC or Cal-GETC for Mechanical Engineering, won't accept a partial IGETC, and doesn't recommend it for its applicants.
Four semesters of math before transfer
From MATH 2, calculus runs MATH 7, MATH 8, then MATH 11: four semesters before multivariable is done. UCLA wants prep finished by the spring before you enroll, so start math your first SMC term.
SMC semesters cover more UCLA quarters
UCLA is on quarters, so one SMC semester often covers more than one UCLA course. CHEM 11 and CHEM 12 together cover CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B and CHEM 20L, and three SMC physics courses cover five.
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
Take CS 30 for programming
UCLA calls MATLAB the preferred language for this major, and SMC's CS 30 (MATLAB Programming) matches C&EE M20 directly. CS 52 in C++ also meets the requirement if CS 30 won't fit your schedule.
MATH 11 covers two UCLA courses
SMC's MATH 11 counts for both MATH 32A and MATH 32B. It needs MATH 8, and so does MATH 13 (linear algebra, for MATH 33A), so both can share the term after MATH 8.
Physics runs one step behind math
PHYSCS 21 needs MATH 7, and PHYSCS 22 and PHYSCS 23 each need MATH 8 plus PHYSCS 21. Start PHYSCS 21 the semester after MATH 7 or the series can slip past UCLA's spring deadline.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at SMC for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 7, MATH 8, MATH 11 and MATH 13; CHEM 11 and CHEM 12; PHYSCS 21, PHYSCS 22 and PHYSCS 23; ENGR 11 for the CAD course; one programming course (CS 30, CS 50 or CS 52); and ENGL C1000 or another listed composition course.
What doesn't SMC cover for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
MECH&AE 82, Mathematics of Engineering, has no SMC course on ASSIST. It isn't on the list UCLA screens applicants on, but UCLA says prep should be finished by the end of spring before fall enrollment. Among the strongly recommended courses, only EC ENGR 110L has an SMC match (ENGR 22).
What is the UCLA Mechanical Engineering transfer admit rate?
UCLA admitted 12% of all transfer applicants to Mechanical Engineering in 2025. That covers every applicant, not SMC students alone. Samueli also requires a 3.4 minimum GPA and doesn't consider engineering applicants for an alternate major.
Does SMC ENGR 11 transfer to UCLA?
Yes. ENGR 11 (Engineering Graphics and Design) covers MECH&AE 94, UCLA's computer-aided design course. It needs MATH 2 or MATH 3 with MATH 4 first, so it fits once you're in the calculus sequence.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Santa Monica College students applying to UCLA Mechanical Engineering can complete 10 of the 11 prep requirements at SMC. Calculus runs MATH 7, MATH 8 and MATH 11, with MATH 13 for linear algebra, chemistry is CHEM 11 and CHEM 12, and physics is PHYSCS 21 through PHYSCS 23. MECH&AE 82 has no SMC match, and UCLA wants prep done by spring before you enroll. The Samueli School admits by major, with a 3.4 minimum GPA and a 12% admit rate across all 2025 transfer applicants. Transfermatic can sequence these SMC courses around the math chain.
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