Southwestern College to UCLA
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Southwestern College matches 12 of UCLA's 15 Computer Science prep courses, covering programming, calculus, discrete math and a five-course physics series. COM SCI 32, COM SCI 35L and the logic design requirement are all gaps with no Southwestern course on ASSIST.
From
Southwestern College
To
UCLA
Computer ScienceMajor Requirements
Computer Science Major Preparation
Courses at Southwestern College that satisfy UCLA's Computer Science major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Southwestern College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CIS 115 — Introduction to Programming Using C++ | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I | 4 |
| No Southwestern match | COM SCI 32 — Introduction to Computer Science II | — |
| MATH 230 — Computer Organization and Architecture | COM SCI 33 — Introduction to Computer Organization | 4 |
| No Southwestern match | COM SCI 35L — Software Construction Laboratory | — |
| No Southwestern match for any of 2 options | COM SCI M51A — Logic Design of Digital Systems and others (choose 1) | — |
| MATH 250 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 251 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 4 |
| MATH 252 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 252 — Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | MATH 32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 254 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 3 |
| MATH 253 — Introduction to Differential Equations | MATH 33B — Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 265 — Discrete Structures | MATH 61 — Introduction to Discrete Structures | 3 |
| PHYS 273 + PHYS 271 + PHYS 270 + PHYS 272 + PHYS 274 — Principles of Physics Laboratory II + Principles of Physics Laboratory I + Principles of Physics I + Principles of Physics II + Principles of Physics III | PHYSICS 1A, PHYSICS 1B, PHYSICS 1C, PHYSICS 4AL, PHYSICS 4BL | 14 |
| ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | ENGCOMP 3 — English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language (choose 1) | 4 |
| ENGL C1001 or ENGL 220 or PHIL 103 — Critical Thinking and Writing | English composition courses (choose 1) | 4 |
| CIS 115 — Introduction to Programming Using C++ | Computer programming courses: C++ preferred (choose 1) | 4 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Southwestern College
UCLA's Computer Science program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Southwestern College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
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 |
UCLA Computer Science: full GE notes
Samueli Engineering does not require, recommend or accept a partial IGETC or Cal-GETC certification from Computer Science applicants.
Five terms from prep math to upper physics
The longest Southwestern chain runs MATH 244, then MATH C2210, then PHYS 270, PHYS 272 and PHYS 274. That's five semesters minimum, so start the math prerequisites right away.
Southwestern runs semesters, UCLA runs quarters
MATH 252 alone covers both MATH 32A and MATH 32B at UCLA, a common effect of converting semesters to quarters. Physics is the exception here: five Southwestern courses for UCLA's five.
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
Data structures has no Southwestern equivalent
Southwestern has no course matched to COM SCI 32, Introduction to Computer Science II. UCLA's by-spring deadline names calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, physics and one programming course, not COM SCI 32, so you'd take it at UCLA.
Computer organization is taught in the math department
MATH 230, Computer Organization and Architecture, is Southwestern's match for COM SCI 33, even though the subject is computer science. Look under MATH when you register, not CIS.
Physics splits lecture and lab
Southwestern splits UCLA's physics series into five courses: lectures PHYS 270, PHYS 272 and PHYS 274, and labs PHYS 271 and PHYS 273. The lectures run in sequence, so physics takes at least three semesters.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at Southwestern for UCLA computer science?
Take CIS 115, MATH 230, MATH 250, 251, 252, 254, 253 and 265, plus PHYS 270 through 274 and ENGL C1000. Complete this list by spring before you transfer, all courses for a letter grade.
Which UCLA computer science courses have no Southwestern match?
COM SCI 32, COM SCI 35L, and the logic design requirement (COM SCI M51A or EC ENGR M16). ASSIST lists no Southwestern course for any of the three, and none is on UCLA's by-spring list, so plan to take them at UCLA.
How selective is UCLA computer science admission?
Very selective: UCLA admitted just 5% of all transfer applicants to the major in 2025. Samueli Engineering sets a 3.4 minimum transferable GPA and reviews you only for the one major you apply to.
Does Southwestern CIS 115 transfer to UCLA?
Yes. CIS 115 matches COM SCI 31 and also satisfies UCLA's separate programming-language requirement, since it's a C++ course. UCLA's agreement notes also accept Java and C courses for that requirement.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Southwestern College students working toward the Computer Science B.S. at UCLA cover most of the lower-division prep at Southwestern. CIS 115 matches UCLA's COM SCI 31, MATH 230 covers COM SCI 33, and MATH 252 covers both quarters of multivariable calculus. COM SCI 32, COM SCI 35L and the logic design requirement have no Southwestern match on ASSIST. Transfermatic turns this agreement into a term-by-term Southwestern plan that accounts for every one of those gaps.
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