De Anza College to UCI
Biology Transfer Plan
Quarter-by-quarter courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
De Anza College
To
UC Irvine
GPA Reality Check
UCI requires a minimum 3.0 GPA to be considered for Biological Sciences — but the median GPA for admitted California community college students is 3.77. That gap is real, and it matters. Your science courses are weighted heaviest in how competitive you look: your grades in CHEM 1A/1B/1C, CHEM 12A/12B/12C, and BIOL 6A/6B/6C are essentially your application — those sequences directly signal to UCI whether you can handle upper-division lab science. A mediocre grade in general chemistry won't just hurt your GPA; it signals a problem in the exact courses UCI will be scrutinizing.
Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
De Anza has a direct Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) with UCI — including for the Biological Sciences major. If you hit a 3.4 cumulative GPA in UC-transferable coursework and finish your required major prep courses, UCI is contractually obligated to admit you. Submit your TAG application in September (a full year before you plan to transfer), then submit the standard UC application in November. Missing the September TAG window means waiting another full year, so put it on your calendar now.
Major Requirements
Biological Sciences, B.S. (School of Biological Sciences) Major Preparation
Biological Sciences, B.S. (School of Biological Sciences) at UC Irvine
Courses at De Anza College that satisfy UC Irvine's Biology major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCI's School of Biological Sciences actually houses several distinct majors — Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Developmental and Cell Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Neurobiology, and more — that you can only select after you arrive on campus. You apply as 'Biological Sciences' for transfer; the specialization comes later. Don't confuse these with the Human Biology major, which is a separate program with different prep requirements.
| Course at De Anza College | Satisfies at UCI | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 6A — General Biology I | BIO SCI 93 — Cell and Molecular Biology | 5 |
| BIOL 6B — General Biology II | BIO SCI 94 — Organismal Biology | 5 |
| BIOL 6C — General Biology III | BIO SCI 94 (second-term sequence completion) | 5 |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry I | CHEM 1A — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 1B — General Chemistry II | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 1C — General Chemistry III | CHEM 1C — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 12A — Organic Chemistry I | CHEM 51A — Organic Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 12B — Organic Chemistry II | CHEM 51B — Organic Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 12C — Organic Chemistry III | CHEM 51C — Organic Chemistry | 5 |
| MATH 1A — Calculus I | MATH 2A or MATH 5A — Calculus (Mathematics Requirement, Option 1) | 5 |
| STAT C1000 — Elementary Statistics | STATS 7 or STATS 8 — Statistics (Mathematics Requirement, pre-health option) | 5 |
General Education
IGETC at De Anza College
Complete IGETC at De Anza College to satisfy UC Irvine's lower-division GE requirements before transferring.
ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000H (formerly EWRT 1A/1AH)
4 unitsENGL C1001 or ENGL C1001H (formerly EWRT 2/2H)
4 unitsMATH 1A, MATH 1B, STAT C1000 (formerly MATH 10), PSYC 15, SOC 15
3-5 unitsMUS 1 (Music Appreciation), THEA 1 (Introduction to Theatre), ARTS 2A
3 unitsELIT 1 (Introduction to Literature), PHIL 4 (Ethics), HUMI 1
3 unitsPSYC 1 (General Psychology), SOC 1 (Introduction to Sociology), ANTH 3 (Cultural Anthropology)
3 unitsCHEM 1A (General Chemistry I), PHYS 4A, ASTR 4
4-5 unitsBIOL 6A (General Biology I), BIOL 6B, BIOL 10, BIOL 11
4-5 unitsSPAN 2, MAND 2, JAPN 2, KORE 2, VIET 2, FREN 2, GERM 2
5 units| Area | Course options at De Anza College | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1A: English Composition | ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000H (formerly EWRT 1A/1AH) | 4 |
| 1B: Critical Thinking and Composition | ENGL C1001 or ENGL C1001H (formerly EWRT 2/2H) | 4 |
| 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 1A, MATH 1B, STAT C1000 (formerly MATH 10), PSYC 15, SOC 15 | 3-5 |
| 3A: Arts | MUS 1 (Music Appreciation), THEA 1 (Introduction to Theatre), ARTS 2A | 3 |
| 3B: Humanities | ELIT 1 (Introduction to Literature), PHIL 4 (Ethics), HUMI 1 | 3 |
| 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences | PSYC 1 (General Psychology), SOC 1 (Introduction to Sociology), ANTH 3 (Cultural Anthropology) | 3 |
| 5A: Physical Sciences (with lab) | CHEM 1A (General Chemistry I), PHYS 4A, ASTR 4 | 4-5 |
| 5B: Biological Sciences | BIOL 6A (General Biology I), BIOL 6B, BIOL 10, BIOL 11 | 4-5 |
| 6: Language Other Than English | SPAN 2, MAND 2, JAPN 2, KORE 2, VIET 2, FREN 2, GERM 2 | 5 |
CHEM 1A → CHEM 12C: A Six-Quarter Chain
The full chemistry sequence — CHEM 1A through 1C, then 12A through 12C — is six consecutive quarters with no shortcuts, and every single course is required for admission to UCI Biological Sciences. Start CHEM 1A in your very first Fall quarter or the math won't work out before transfer.
Preview
Your First Quarter
A preview of what Pipeline generates — exact courses, in the right order, every quarter.
Watch Out
Common Mistakes for This Transfer Path
Don't wait to start general chemistry
CHEM 1A is the first link in a six-quarter chain that ends with CHEM 12C — and all six courses must be done before you transfer. If you start CHEM 1A in Winter quarter instead of Fall, you will almost certainly run out of time. Get into CHEM 1A your very first Fall quarter at De Anza, no exceptions.
IGETC looks appealing — but plan carefully
UCI officially accepts IGETC for Biological Sciences, but the school itself cautions that IGETC may not be recommended for science majors. Your major prep courses — all those CHEM and BIOL units — overlap with several IGETC areas (5A and 5B), which helps. But trying to finish a full IGETC on top of a 30+ unit major prep sequence is a lot; talk to a De Anza counselor before committing to the full certification.
Choosing your UCI biology specialization at the right time
You apply to UCI as 'Biological Sciences' — but Developmental and Cell Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Neurobiology, and other specialized majors inside the School of Biological Sciences are only available once you're enrolled on campus. Don't waste energy during transfer prep trying to pick between them; just focus on hitting the Biological Sciences B.S. requirements and getting admitted first.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need to transfer from De Anza College to UC Irvine for Biology?
The minimum cumulative UC-transferable GPA is 3.0 for regular admission to UCI Biological Sciences, B.S. — but admitted students from California community colleges have a median GPA of 3.77, so treat 3.0 as a floor, not a target. If you want the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG), you'll need a 3.4 minimum GPA.
What courses do I need to take at De Anza College to transfer to UCI as a Biology major?
You need to complete three required sequences: one year of general biology (BIOL 6A, 6B, and 6C), one year of general chemistry with lab (CHEM 1A, 1B, and 1C), and one year of organic chemistry with lab (CHEM 12A, 12B, and 12C). You also need to satisfy a mathematics requirement — at minimum MATH 1A (Calculus I), or MATH 1A plus STAT C1000 if you're on a pre-health track.
Does De Anza College have a TAG agreement with UC Irvine for Biology?
Yes — Biological Sciences is a TAG-eligible major at UCI for De Anza students. You need a minimum 3.4 GPA in UC-transferable coursework and must complete all required major prep courses including CHEM 1A–1C, CHEM 12A–12C, and BIOL 6A–6C. Submit your TAG application in September, a full year before your intended transfer date.
Can I use IGETC to satisfy general education requirements when transferring from De Anza to UCI for Biology?
UCI officially accepts IGETC for Biological Sciences transfers, and De Anza offers a full IGETC course list including ENGL C1000 for Area 1A and STAT C1000 for Area 2. That said, UCI itself notes IGETC 'may not be recommended' for science majors because the heavy major prep unit load leaves little room for additional GE courses — talk to a De Anza counselor before committing to full IGETC certification.
How competitive is the Biology transfer to UC Irvine from De Anza?
UCI Biology has a transfer admit rate of approximately 44%, which is more accessible than impacted majors like Computer Science but still genuinely competitive. The real filter isn't the admit rate — it's whether your CHEM and BIOL sequences are complete and your GPA in those courses is strong. Completing CHEM 12C (Organic Chemistry III) before you apply puts you in a very different tier than students still mid-sequence.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Students planning the De Anza College to UC Irvine Biology transfer have one of the most clearly defined — and demanding — pathways in the California community college system. UCI's Biological Sciences, B.S. program, housed in the School of Biological Sciences, requires three specific lower-division sequences completed before transfer: one year of general biology (De Anza's BIOL 6A, 6B, and 6C), one year of general chemistry with lab (CHEM 1A, 1B, and 1C), and one year of organic chemistry with lab (CHEM 12A, 12B, and 12C). Together, that's a six-quarter chemistry chain that must begin in your very first Fall quarter at De Anza or the timeline breaks. Transfer planning for this path also involves a math requirement — at minimum MATH 1A — and a decision about whether to pursue IGETC certification, which UCI accepts for Biological Sciences but recommends approaching carefully given the major's heavy unit load. On the numbers: UCI's Biology transfer admit rate is approximately 44%, but admitted California community college students have a median GPA of 3.77, well above the 3.0 minimum. De Anza students also have access to UCI's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, which guarantees admission to eligible students who hit a 3.4 GPA and complete all major prerequisites. The TAG application window opens in September — a full year before transfer — and missing it means waiting another cycle. Major prerequisites like General Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I also count toward IGETC areas 5A and 5B, so smart course selection can serve double duty. Tools like Pipeline help De Anza biology students build personalized quarter-by-quarter plans that sequence all of these courses correctly, identify overlap between major prep and IGETC requirements, and flag the TAG deadline before it sneaks up on them.
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