Southwestern College to UCSD
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Southwestern clears 15 of UCSD's 17 Mechanical Engineering requirements, including every course UCSD screens for admission. Only MAE 3 and MAE 11 have no Southwestern match, so nearly everything else clears before transfer.
From
Southwestern College
To
UC San Diego
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Southwestern College that satisfy UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Southwestern College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR 221 — Computer Programming and Applications - MATLAB | MAE 8 — MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 200 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I | 5 |
| MATH 254 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 250 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 251 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 252 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 253 or ENGR 280 — Introduction to Differential Equations | MATH 20D — Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 252 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | MATH 20E — Vector Calculus | 4 |
| PHYS 270 — Principles of Physics I | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 272 — Principles of Physics II | PHYS 2B — Physics - Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 274 — Principles of Physics III | PHYS 2C — Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics | 4 |
| ENGR 260 — Engineering Materials | MAE 20 — Elements of Materials Science | 3 |
| No Southwestern match | MAE 3 — Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design | — |
| No Southwestern match | MAE 11 — Thermodynamics | — |
| ENGR 250 + ENGR 251 — Engineering Statics + Engineering Dynamics | MAE 30A — Statics & Introduction to Dynamics | 6 |
| ENGR 251 — Engineering Dynamics | MAE 30B — Dynamics & Vibrations | 3 |
| ENGR 270 + ENGR 271 — Electrical Circuits + Electrical Circuits Laboratory | MAE 40 — Linear Circuits | 4 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC San Diego 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 UCSD 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 |
Five semesters through calculus and physics
MATH 244 leads into MATH C2210, PHYS 270, 272 and 274, five semesters minimum. UCSD wants Math 18, 20A-D and Phys 2A-C finished by the spring before transfer, so start this chain early.
Southwestern runs semesters, UCSD runs quarters
Southwestern teaches on a semester calendar; UCSD splits the same material across shorter quarters. Once you transfer, your remaining Mechanical Engineering courses follow that faster quarter pace.
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
Only two courses stay open at Southwestern
MAE 3 and MAE 11 are the only gaps in UCSD's 17-course list. Neither is on UCSD's screening list, so you'd take both at UCSD.
MAE 40 needs two Southwestern courses
ENGR 270 and ENGR 271 together clear UCSD's MAE 40, Linear Circuits, and ENGR 270 needs PHYS 272 first. MAE 30B is a separate path: ENGR 251, which needs ENGR 250.
Physics starts before calculus finishes
PHYS 270 only needs MATH C2210, not the full calculus sequence, so physics can run alongside your second calculus course.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Southwestern's ENGR 250 transfer to UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
Yes. ENGR 250 with ENGR 251 clears MAE 30A, and ENGR 251, which needs ENGR 250 first, clears MAE 30B.
What doesn't Southwestern cover for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
Just MAE 3 and MAE 11, engineering graphics and thermodynamics. Those are the only two of UCSD's 17 requirements without a Southwestern match.
Does Southwestern's semester calendar cause problems for UCSD transfer?
No, but the pace changes after transfer. Southwestern runs semesters and UCSD runs quarters, so the Mechanical Engineering courses you have left move at that faster, shorter-term pace.
What's the admit rate for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
31% of Mechanical Engineering transfer applicants were admitted to UCSD in 2025, a rate that covers every applicant, not specifically Southwestern students.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Southwestern College students transferring into UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering, B.S. program clear fifteen of seventeen requirements. ENGR 250 and ENGR 251 together clear MAE 30A, ENGR 251 clears MAE 30B, and ENGR 270 with ENGR 271 clears MAE 40. Only MAE 3 and MAE 11 have no Southwestern match, and neither is on UCSD's admission screening list. On our platform, put in your CC and your transfer university and Transfermatic checks Southwestern's course list against UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering requirements automatically.
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