Southwestern College to UC Berkeley
Political Science Transfer Plan
Southwestern College matches three of UC Berkeley's four Political Science concentration courses, enough since only two are required to declare the major. Political Theory has no Southwestern match, so choose two from POLS C1000, PS 103 and PS 104 instead.
From
Southwestern College
To
UC Berkeley
Political ScienceMajor Requirements
Political Science Major Preparation
Courses at Southwestern College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Political Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Southwestern College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLS C1000 — American Government and Politics | POL SCI 1 — Introduction to American Politics (choose 2) | 3 |
| PS 103 — Introduction to Comparative Government | POL SCI 2 — Introduction to Comparative Politics (choose 2) | 3 |
| PS 104 — Introduction to International Relations | POL SCI 5 — Introduction to International Relations (choose 2) | 3 |
| No Southwestern match | POL SCI 3 — Introduction to Empirical Analysis and Quantitative Methods | — |
| HIST 104 — Western Civilization I | HISTORY 4A — The Ancient Mediterranean World (choose 1) | 3 |
| HIST 104 — Western Civilization I | HISTORY 4B — Medieval Europe (choose 1) | 3 |
| HIST 105 — Western Civilization II | HISTORY 5 — European Civilization From the Renaissance to the Present (choose 1) | 3 |
| HIST 100 — American Civilization I | HISTORY 7A — The United States from Settlement to Civil War (choose 1) | 3 |
| HIST 101 — American Civilization II | HISTORY 7B — The United States from Civil War to Present (choose 1) | 3 |
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 |
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
Political theory has no local match
Southwestern has no course matching POL SCI 4. Since only two of the four concentration options are required, pair PS 103 and PS 104 instead.
American Politics and international relations transfer
POLS C1000 matches POL SCI 1 and PS 104 matches POL SCI 5, giving Southwestern students a complete two-course path without needing theory.
The last requirement isn't a race
Declaring the major only takes two of the four concentration courses, and POL SCI 3 isn't part of that count. Southwestern students can handle it after enrolling at Berkeley.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes do I need at Southwestern for UC Berkeley Political Science?
Two of POLS C1000, PS 103 and PS 104, since Southwestern has no match for Political Theory. Any two of the remaining three satisfy Berkeley's requirement.
Does Southwestern offer UC Berkeley's political theory requirement?
No. ASSIST lists no Southwestern course matching POL SCI 4. Pick two of the other three concentration options instead, since Berkeley only requires two.
What isn't covered at Southwestern for Berkeley political science?
Political Theory, POL SCI 4, and the Additional Political Science Requirement, POL SCI 3. Neither one blocks your transfer since only two concentration courses are needed and POL SCI 3 can wait.
How hard is it to transfer to UC Berkeley Political Science from Southwestern?
Berkeley's 2025 admit rate for the major sat at 31% across every applicant, and Southwestern students still have to clear a 3.0 GPA by the end of fall.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Southwestern College students bound for UC Berkeley Political Science can cover three of the four concentration options: POLS C1000 for American Politics, PS 103 for Comparative Politics and PS 104 for International Relations. Southwestern has no match for Political Theory, POL SCI 4, but Berkeley only requires two of the four to declare the major, so that gap doesn't block anyone. POL SCI 3 isn't required before transfer either. Berkeley admitted 31% of 2025 transfer applicants to the major, a rate that includes Southwestern applicants. Transfermatic can plan around Southwestern's course list.
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