De Anza College to UCI
Business Administration 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's published minimum GPA for Business Administration transfers is 3.0, but that floor has almost nothing to do with who actually gets in. Data from admitted Business Administration transfers shows the middle 50% ranged from 3.74 to 3.98 — that's your real target zone. Your grades in ACCT 1A, ACCT 1B, ECON 1, and ECON 2 carry extra weight because they're the core major prep courses reviewers focus on. A 3.0 in those classes while the median admitted student is near a 3.9 is a tough spot to be in.
Major Requirements
Business Administration (Paul Merage School of Business, B.S.) Major Preparation
Business Administration (Paul Merage School of Business, B.S.) at UC Irvine
Courses at De Anza College that satisfy UC Irvine's Business Administration major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCI also offers Business Information Management (BIM) through the Merage School, which blends business coursework with information systems and technology. BIM has different major prep requirements and is a separate application. Students interested in the intersection of tech and business should research both before applying.
| Course at De Anza College | Satisfies at UCI | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 1 — Principles of Microeconomics | Econ 20A — Basic Economics Theory (Micro) | 4 |
| ECON 2 — Principles of Macroeconomics | Econ 20B — Basic Economics Theory (Macro) | 4 |
| MATH 11 — Calculus for Business and Social Science | Math 2 — Calculus for Business and Social Science (Business Mathematics requirement) | 5 |
| STAT C1000 — Elementary Statistics | Stats 7 — Basic Statistics (Statistics requirement) | 5 |
| ACCT 1A — Financial Accounting | Mgmt 30A — Financial Accounting | 5 |
| ACCT 1B — Managerial Accounting | Mgmt 30B — Managerial Accounting | 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 (formerly EWRT 1A) or ENGL C1000H
4 unitsENGL C1001 (formerly EWRT 2) or ENGL C1001H; PHIL 1 also satisfies this area
4 unitsSTAT C1000 (Elementary Statistics), STAT C1000H, MATH 1A, MATH 2A, MATH 11
5 unitsART 1A (Art History: Prehistory–Medieval), MUS 1 (Music Fundamentals), THTR 1 (Introduction to Theatre)
3 unitsHIST 1 (Western Civilization I), ENGL 10 (Survey of English Literature), PHIL 3 (Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality)
3 unitsECON 1 (Principles of Microeconomics), ECON 2 (Principles of Macroeconomics), PSYC 1 (General Psychology), SOC 1 (Introduction to Sociology), POLI 1 (Introduction to Political Science)
3 unitsCHEM 1A (General Chemistry I), PHYS 2A (Physics for Scientists and Engineers I), ASTR 1 (Descriptive Astronomy)
4-5 unitsBIOL 6A (Organismal Biology), BIOL 6B (Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity), BIOL 10 (Introduction to Human Biology)
4-5 unitsSPAN 1 (Elementary Spanish I), FREN 1 (Elementary French I), JAPN 1 (Elementary Japanese I), MAND 1 (Elementary Mandarin Chinese I) — proficiency exam or two years of high school language may also satisfy this requirement
3-5 units| Area | Course options at De Anza College | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1A: English Composition | ENGL C1000 (formerly EWRT 1A) or ENGL C1000H | 4 |
| 1B: Critical Thinking and Composition | ENGL C1001 (formerly EWRT 2) or ENGL C1001H; PHIL 1 also satisfies this area | 4 |
| 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning | STAT C1000 (Elementary Statistics), STAT C1000H, MATH 1A, MATH 2A, MATH 11 | 5 |
| 3A: Arts | ART 1A (Art History: Prehistory–Medieval), MUS 1 (Music Fundamentals), THTR 1 (Introduction to Theatre) | 3 |
| 3B: Humanities | HIST 1 (Western Civilization I), ENGL 10 (Survey of English Literature), PHIL 3 (Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality) | 3 |
| 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences | ECON 1 (Principles of Microeconomics), ECON 2 (Principles of Macroeconomics), PSYC 1 (General Psychology), SOC 1 (Introduction to Sociology), POLI 1 (Introduction to Political Science) | 3 |
| 5A: Physical Sciences | CHEM 1A (General Chemistry I), PHYS 2A (Physics for Scientists and Engineers I), ASTR 1 (Descriptive Astronomy) | 4-5 |
| 5B: Biological Sciences | BIOL 6A (Organismal Biology), BIOL 6B (Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity), BIOL 10 (Introduction to Human Biology) | 4-5 |
| 6: Language Other Than English | SPAN 1 (Elementary Spanish I), FREN 1 (Elementary French I), JAPN 1 (Elementary Japanese I), MAND 1 (Elementary Mandarin Chinese I) — proficiency exam or two years of high school language may also satisfy this requirement | 3-5 |
Financial Accounting → Managerial Accounting
ACCT 1A (Financial Accounting) must be completed before you can enroll in ACCT 1B (Managerial Accounting), and both are required for the Merage School of Business. If you don't start this sequence in your first Fall quarter, you risk arriving at transfer time with incomplete major prep — which is one of the most common reasons otherwise competitive applicants get denied.
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
Business Admin is Excluded from UCI's TAG
A lot of De Anza students assume they can lock in a guaranteed spot at UCI through TAG — but Business Administration is explicitly listed as a non-participating major. Don't plan your whole timeline around a TAG deadline that doesn't apply to you. Apply through the regular UC application process (October 1–December 1) and put your energy into GPA and your personal insight questions instead.
ACCT 1A Must Come Before ACCT 1B
Both Financial Accounting (ACCT 1A) and Managerial Accounting (ACCT 1B) are required for the Merage School, and they run in sequence — you cannot take ACCT 1B without finishing ACCT 1A first. Students who don't start ACCT 1A early enough end up running out of quarters before transfer. Aim to take ACCT 1A in your very first Fall quarter at De Anza.
STAT C1000 Does Double (Actually Triple) Duty
Elementary Statistics (STAT C1000) satisfies your IGETC Area 2 math requirement, counts toward major prep, and frees you from having to take a separate math breadth course. That's three requirements cleared with one class. Students who overlook this take a standalone math course they didn't need and spend units they could have used on GE electives or additional prep.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need to transfer from De Anza College to UC Irvine for Business Administration?
The technical minimum GPA for UCI Business Administration transfers is 3.0, but the real bar is much higher. Data from admitted Business Administration transfers shows the middle 50% had GPAs between 3.74 and 3.98. Your grades in ACCT 1A, ACCT 1B, ECON 1, and ECON 2 are the ones admissions will scrutinize most closely, so treat those courses as your highest priority.
Does De Anza College have a TAG agreement with UC Irvine for Business Administration?
No — and this surprises a lot of students. UCI's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program explicitly excludes Business Administration as a non-participating major. You'll need to apply through the standard UC application process with a November 30 deadline, just like any other applicant. The upside is that UCI's overall transfer admit rate for Fall 2024 was 39.8%, which is relatively accessible compared to UCLA or Berkeley.
Is IGETC accepted for Business Administration at UC Irvine?
Yes. The Paul Merage School of Business confirms that transfer students who arrive with full UC IGETC certification don't need to complete any additional GE requirements at UCI — except for upper-division writing, which is satisfied by the required major course MGMT 191W. Get your IGETC certification from De Anza before your first day of classes at UCI or it won't count.
What major prep courses do I need to take at De Anza College for UCI Business Administration?
The core lower-division prep courses for the Merage School are ECON 1 (Microeconomics), ECON 2 (Macroeconomics), ACCT 1A (Financial Accounting), ACCT 1B (Managerial Accounting), MATH 11 (Calculus for Business and Social Science), and STAT C1000 (Elementary Statistics). ACCT 1A and ACCT 1B must be taken in order, so start that sequence early. Confirm the current ASSIST agreement at assist.org before you register each quarter.
How competitive is the De Anza to UC Irvine Business Administration transfer pathway?
It's competitive — but not out of reach for a well-prepared student. For Fall 2024, UCI received 25,094 total transfer applications campus-wide and admitted 39.8% of them. Business Administration is one of UCI's selective majors and typically draws a high volume of applicants, so your GPA in major prep courses like ACCT 1A, ECON 1, and STAT C1000 will do most of the talking. De Anza is one of California's top transfer-sending colleges to the UC system, so admissions knows your course rigor well.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Planning your transfer from De Anza College to UC Irvine to study Business Administration is one of the most structured pathways in the California community college system — but it still demands careful planning to execute well. The Business Administration program at UCI sits within the Paul Merage School of Business and is highly competitive: Fall 2024 saw UCI receive 25,094 total transfer applications at an acceptance rate of 39.8%, and admitted Business Administration students have historically shown GPAs in the 3.74–3.98 range. De Anza College students benefit from robust articulation agreements with UCI, meaning courses like ECON 1 (Principles of Microeconomics), ACCT 1A (Financial Accounting), and STAT C1000 (Elementary Statistics) have direct equivalencies verified on ASSIST.org. Completing IGETC at De Anza is accepted by the Paul Merage School — and students who arrive with full IGETC certification skip most GE requirements at UCI entirely, allowing them to focus immediately on upper-division business coursework. Major prerequisites follow a chain: ACCT 1A must be completed before ACCT 1B, which means starting that sequence in your very first Fall quarter at De Anza is essential for transfer planning. It's also critical to know that Business Administration does not participate in UCI's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, which surprises many students who assume TAG is available for all majors. Transfer planning tools like Pipeline help De Anza students map out exactly which quarters to take each major prep and IGETC course, flag prerequisite conflicts before they become a problem, and build a personalized plan that keeps them on track for a competitive Fall transfer application to UC Irvine.
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