Santa Monica College to UCLA
Political Science Transfer Plan
SMC covers all of UCLA's political science prep: POL SC 51, POL SC 7, POLS C1000 and POL SC 2 fill four intro slots, and STAT C1000 handles statistics. The one UCLA intro course with no SMC match, POL SCI 30, isn't needed once those four are done.
From
Santa Monica College
To
UCLA
Political ScienceUCLA TAP through the SMC Scholars Program
Finish SMC's Scholars Program and get certified by its counselor, and UCLA gives your Political Science application priority consideration, plus a review for an alternate major if this one says no. TAP isn't a guarantee, and students spending only one year at SMC after high school can't be certified.
Major Requirements
Political Science Major Preparation
Courses at Santa Monica College that satisfy UCLA's Political Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Santa Monica College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POL SC 51 — Political Philosophy | POL SCI 10 — Introduction to Political Theory (choose 4) | 3 |
| POL SC 7 — International Politics | POL SCI 20 — World Politics (choose 4) | 3 |
| POLS C1000 — American Government and Politics | POL SCI 40 — Introduction to American Politics (choose 4) | 3 |
| POL SC 2 — Comparative Government and Politics | POL SCI 50 — Introduction to Comparative Politics (choose 4) | 3 |
| STAT C1000 — Introduction to Statistics | STATS 10 — Introduction to Statistical Reasoning | 4 |
| STAT C1000 — Introduction to Statistics | STATS 12 — Introduction to Statistical Methods for Geography and Environmental Studies | 4 |
General Education
Foundation GE at Santa Monica College
Complete these five courses at Santa Monica College to start your UCLA 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 become UCLA quarters
SMC runs semesters and UCLA runs quarters, so each SMC unit is worth 1.5 quarter units: a 3-unit POL SC 51 arrives as four and a half. The matches still run one SMC class to one UCLA class.
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
Get three intro courses done by spring
UCLA screens for at least three intro political science courses plus approved statistics, finished by the spring before transfer. SMC has matches for four: POL SC 51, POL SC 7, POLS C1000 and POL SC 2. POL SCI 30, Politics and Strategy, has none.
STAT C1000 is your approved statistics
UCLA counts only statistics courses approved on ASSIST, and at SMC that's STAT C1000. The agreement notes it's approved as a substitute and may not transfer as an exact UCLA equivalent, but it satisfies this major's statistics prep.
AP scores don't count here
UCLA doesn't accept AP American or Comparative Political Science, AP Statistics, or any IB exam for this major's prep. Even with a 5, take POLS C1000 and STAT C1000 at SMC, and take them for a letter grade.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What SMC classes do I need for UCLA political science?
At least three of POL SC 51, POL SC 7, POLS C1000 and POL SC 2, plus STAT C1000 for statistics, all done by the spring before you transfer. SMC matches all four intro courses, so taking every one fills UCLA's pick-four group.
Does SMC POLS C1000 transfer to UCLA?
Yes. POLS C1000, American Government and Politics, covers UCLA's POL SCI 40, Introduction to American Politics. It counts toward the three-course intro minimum UCLA looks for in Political Science applicants.
What's not covered at SMC for UCLA political science?
Only POL SCI 30, Politics and Strategy, has no SMC match. It's one of five intro courses in a pick-four group, and SMC's four other matches fill that group, so nothing on the prep list has to wait for UCLA.
What is UCLA's political science transfer admit rate?
34% of all transfer applicants to UCLA Political Science were admitted in 2025. That figure covers every applicant to the major, not only SMC students. UCLA says demand significantly exceeds space, and transfers come in as pre-Political Science majors.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Santa Monica College students aiming for Political Science at UCLA can complete all of the lower-division prep at SMC. POL SC 51, POL SC 7, POLS C1000 and POL SC 2 match four of UCLA's intro courses, and STAT C1000 is the approved statistics course. UCLA wants at least three intro courses plus statistics finished by the spring before transfer. POL SCI 30 is the one intro course SMC doesn't match, and the other four cover for it. Transfermatic can map these into an SMC semester plan.
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