Southwestern College to UC Davis
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Southwestern College matches 10 of UC Davis's 12 Computer Science prep requirements. ECS 036B and ECS 036C have no Southwestern match, and UC Davis wants all major prep done by the end of spring before fall enrollment.
From
Southwestern College
To
UC Davis
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at Southwestern College that satisfy UC Davis's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Southwestern College | Satisfies at UC Davis | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 260 or MATH 265 — Discrete Mathematics | ECS 020 — Discrete Mathematics For Computer Science | 3 |
| CIS 115 or MATH 130 — Introduction to Programming Using C++ | ECS 036A — Programming & Problem Solving | 4 |
| No Southwestern match | ECS 036B — Software Development & Object-Oriented Programming in C++ | — |
| No Southwestern match | ECS 036C — Data Structures, Algorithms, & Programming | — |
| MATH 230 — Computer Organization and Architecture | ECS 050 — Computer Organization & Machine-Dependent Programming | 4 |
| MATH 250 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | MAT 021A — Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 251 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | MAT 021B — Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 252 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | MAT 021C — Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 254 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MAT 022A — Linear Algebra (choose 1) | 3 |
| BIOL 211 — Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology | BIS 002A — Introduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth (choose 3) | 4 |
| BIOL 145 + BIOL 180 — EcoMundo: Ecology and Environmental Science + Human Heredity, Evolution and Society | BIS 002B — Introduction to Biology: Principles of Ecology & Evolution (choose 3) | 6 |
| BIOL 212 + BIOL 210 — Biology of Plants + General Zoology | BIS 002C — Introduction to Biology: Biodiversity & the Tree of Life (choose 3) | 8 |
| CHEM 210 + CHEM 200 — General Chemistry II + General Chemistry I | CHE 002A, CHE 002B, CHE 002C (choose 3) | 10 |
| PHYS 271 + PHYS 270 — Principles of Physics Laboratory I + Principles of Physics I | PHY 009A — Classical Physics (choose 3) | 5 |
| PHYS 274 — Principles of Physics III | PHY 009B — Classical Physics (choose 3) | 4 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Davis 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 Davis 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 |
Four semesters of math at Southwestern
MATH 244 leads to MATH C2210, then C2220, then MATH 252, four semesters in order. A late start here delays the CS Engineering courses that depend on it.
Southwestern's semesters, UC Davis's quarters
Southwestern runs a two-semester calendar while UC Davis splits the year into three quarters, so expect a faster pace once you're at UC Davis.
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 programming courses are gaps here
ECS 036B and ECS 036C have no Southwestern match. UC Davis expects every prep course, software development and data structures included, finished by the end of spring before you enroll.
MATH 254 clears your linear algebra pick
Southwestern's MATH 254 satisfies MAT 022A, the linear algebra course UC Davis screens on. MAT 027A and MAT 067 have no Southwestern match, and neither is needed.
CIS 115 and MATH 250 open two chains
CIS 115 starts Southwestern's matched programming sequence and MATH 250 starts the four-semester math chain. Enroll in both your first semester to stay on pace.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Southwestern CIS 115 transfer to UC Davis Computer Science?
Yes. CIS 115 satisfies ECS 036A, UC Davis's first programming requirement, one of 10 requirements Southwestern College matches for this major.
What classes does Southwestern not cover for UC Davis CS?
ECS 036B and ECS 036C have no Southwestern match. UC Davis wants all major prep finished by the end of spring before fall enrollment, so check how you'll cover software development and data structures before you apply.
What's UC Davis's admit rate for Computer Science transfers?
UC Davis admitted 47% of transfer applicants to Computer Science in 2025, a rate for the entire applicant pool, not a figure specific to Southwestern students.
How long is Southwestern's math chain for UC Davis CS?
MATH 244 through MATH C2210, C2220 and 252 runs four semesters at Southwestern, the longest prerequisite path on Southwestern's list, so start it early.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Southwestern College students transferring into the University of California, Davis Computer Science B.S. major match 10 of the agreement's 12 prep requirements at Southwestern, missing only ECS 036B and ECS 036C, the software development and data structures courses. UC Davis expects all prep done by the end of spring before fall enrollment. CIS 115 and MATH 250 anchor the matched programming and math sequences, and MATH 254 clears the linear algebra pick on its own. The math chain runs four semesters from MATH 244 through MATH 252. Transfermatic tracks this Southwestern College route to UC Davis Computer Science.
Build your Southwestern College → UC Davis plan
Personalized, semester-by-semester. Free to start.
Get My Transfer Plan