Southwestern College to UCSB
Political Science Transfer Plan
Southwestern College covers three of UCSB's four pre-major courses through its PS-prefixed classes, plus both economics requirements. POL S 15 has no Southwestern match.
From
Southwestern College
To
UC Santa Barbara
Political ScienceUC Santa Barbara TAG
Southwestern College students can use UCSB's Transfer Admission Guarantee at a 3.4 GPA to secure Political Science pre-major status. Full major status needs a separate 2.6 GPA in UC-taken courses.
Major Requirements
Political Science Major Preparation
Courses at Southwestern College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Political Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Southwestern College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PS 120 — Introduction to Political Theory and Thought | POL S 1 — Introduction to Political Philosophy (choose 3) | 3 |
| PS 103 — Introduction to Comparative Government | POL S 6 — Introduction to Comparative Politics (choose 3) | 3 |
| PS 104 — Introduction to International Relations | POL S 7 — Introduction to International Relations (choose 3) | 3 |
| POLS C1000 — American Government and Politics | POL S 12 — American Government and Politics (choose 3) | 3 |
| No Southwestern match | POL S 15 — Introduction to Research in Political Science | — |
| ECON 102 — Principles of Economics II | ECON 1 — Principles of Economics-Micro | 3 |
| ECON 101 — Principles of Economics I | ECON 2 — Principles of Economics-Macro | 3 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Santa Barbara 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 UCSB 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 |
Southwestern semesters, UCSB quarters
Southwestern's PS and ECON courses run 3 semester units; the UCSB courses they satisfy are worth 5 quarter units each. Expect three shorter terms a year after you transfer, not two.
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
Look for the PS prefix in the catalog
PS 120, PS 103 and PS 104 are Southwestern's codes for political philosophy, comparative politics and international relations. All three articulate to UCSB.
ECON 101 and 102 are both required
Southwestern's ECON 102 covers UCSB's ECON 1, and ECON 101 covers ECON 2. Neither one is optional for major preparation.
Research methods has no match here
POL S 15 has no Southwestern match. It's required at UCSB regardless of what transfers in, so it comes after you arrive.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Southwestern classes count toward UCSB Political Science?
PS 120, PS 103, PS 104 and POLS C1000 each satisfy one of UCSB's four pre-major options; three are required. ECON 102 and ECON 101 cover the economics requirement.
Does Southwestern ECON 102 transfer to UCSB as ECON 1?
Yes, ECON 102 matches UCSB's ECON 1, and ECON 101 matches ECON 2. Both are required and letter-graded courses.
What can't Southwestern students finish before transferring?
POL S 15 has no Southwestern equivalent, so you'll complete it at UCSB after transfer.
What's the admit rate for UCSB Political Science transfers?
63% of political science transfer applicants were admitted to UCSB in the 2025 cycle, a figure spanning every sending college, Southwestern included.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Southwestern College students transferring into Political Science at UC Santa Barbara will find the college's political science offerings filed under a short PS prefix. PS 120, PS 103 and PS 104 cover three of UCSB's four pre-major options, and POLS C1000 covers the fourth as a backup. ECON 102 and ECON 101 handle both required economics courses. POL S 15 is the one course Southwestern can't provide, left for after transfer. Transfermatic tracks this match against the live ASSIST agreement so it stays accurate term to term.
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