Southwestern College to UC Berkeley
Molecular and Cell Biology Transfer Plan
Southwestern covers every required Molecular and Cell Biology course at UC Berkeley, packing the entire chemistry 1-series into two courses. The recommended PHYSICS 8A/8B pair has no Southwestern match, so if you take physics before transfer, it's the 7A/7B pair.
From
Southwestern College
To
UC Berkeley
Molecular and Cell BiologyMajor Requirements
Molecular and Cell Biology Major Preparation
Courses at Southwestern College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Molecular and Cell Biology major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Southwestern College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 211 + BIOL 210 — Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology + General Zoology | BIOLOGY 1A, BIOLOGY 1AL | 8 |
| BIOL 211 + BIOL 212 — Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology + Biology of Plants | BIOLOGY 1B — General Biology (Plant Form & Function, Ecology, Evolution) | 8 |
| CHEM 200 + CHEM 210 — General Chemistry I + General Chemistry II | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1AL, CHEM 1B | 10 |
| CHEM 240 — Organic Chemistry I | CHEM 3A, CHEM 3AL | 5 |
| CHEM 242 — Organic Chemistry II | CHEM 3B, CHEM 3BL | 5 |
| MATH 250 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | MATH 51 — Calculus I (choose 2) | 5 |
| MATH 251 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | MATH 52 — Calculus II (choose 2) | 4 |
| MATH 252 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | MATH 53 — Multivariable Calculus (choose 2) | 4 |
| MATH 253 + MATH 254 — Introduction to Differential Equations + Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 54 — Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (choose 2) | 6 |
| No Southwestern match | PHYSICS 8A — Introductory Physics (recommended) | — |
| No Southwestern match | PHYSICS 8B — Introductory Physics (recommended) | — |
| PHYS 270 + PHYS 271 — Principles of Physics I + Principles of Physics Laboratory I | PHYSICS 7A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (recommended) | 5 |
| PHYS 272 + PHYS 273 — Principles of Physics II + Principles of Physics Laboratory II | PHYSICS 7B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers (recommended) | 5 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Berkeley after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Southwestern College
Complete these five courses at Southwestern College to start your UC Berkeley 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 100
Principles of Biology
CHEM 100
Introduction to General Chemistry
HIST 104
Western Civilization I
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Southwestern College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 100 — Principles of Biology | 3 |
Physical Science | CHEM 100 — Introduction to General Chemistry | 4 |
Humanities | HIST 104 — Western Civilization I | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
Chemistry runs five semesters
CHEM 170 leads to CHEM 200, then CHEM 210, CHEM 240 and CHEM 242: five semesters minimum. Berkeley wants organic chemistry done by spring before transfer, so start CHEM 170 right away.
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
Two courses cover three chem slots
CHEM 200 and CHEM 210 together satisfy CHEM 1A, CHEM 1AL and CHEM 1B, Berkeley's entire general chemistry requirement. Both are needed, and CHEM 200 needs CHEM 170 first.
Only the 7A/7B physics pair matches
PHYSICS 8A and 8B have no Southwestern equivalent, but PHYS 270 with PHYS 271 covers 7A, and PHYS 272 with PHYS 273 covers 7B. Physics is recommended, not required for admission.
CHEM 170 opens the chemistry chain
CHEM 200 needs CHEM 170, and organic chemistry follows general chemistry, so CHEM 170 is the first step on a five-semester run. Take it your first term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What Southwestern classes cover Berkeley general chemistry?
CHEM 200 and CHEM 210 together satisfy CHEM 1A, CHEM 1AL and CHEM 1B. Both courses are required; there's no single-course shortcut through Southwestern's general chemistry sequence.
Is anything missing at Southwestern for Berkeley MCB?
No required course is missing, but PHYSICS 8A and 8B, one of two recommended physics options, have no Southwestern match. PHYS 270 through PHYS 273 covers the alternate pair instead.
What is the UC Berkeley MCB transfer admit rate?
23% in 2025 across all transfer applicants to Molecular and Cell Biology, not a Southwestern-specific number. Admitted transfers who chose MCB on their application go straight into the major.
Do I need IGETC to transfer from Southwestern to Berkeley MCB?
No, Letters and Science doesn't require Cal-GETC or IGETC for admission, just the UC 7-course pattern and full major prep. Cal-GETC still helps degree progress once you're enrolled at Berkeley.
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Related Transfer Plans
Southwestern College students planning to transfer into Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley can complete every required lower-division course on campus. General chemistry comes from just CHEM 200 and CHEM 210, and organic chemistry continues through CHEM 240 and CHEM 242. The recommended PHYSICS 8A/8B pair has no Southwestern match, so students who want physics before transfer take PHYS 270 through PHYS 273. Transfermatic times the Southwestern plan around the five-semester chemistry chain so nothing here gets pushed into a late semester.
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