De Anza College to UCSB
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Quarter-by-quarter courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
De Anza College
To
UC Santa Barbara
GPA Reality Check
UCSB's overall transfer mid-50% GPA range is 3.46–3.91, but that's across all majors. Computer Science sits inside the College of Engineering, which is among the most selective programs on campus — UCSB explicitly recommends a 3.6 or higher GPA for engineering applicants, and the CS department notes it receives the second-highest number of applicants of any major at UCSB. The courses that matter most are your major prep grades: MATH 1A, MATH 1B, MATH 2B, and your CIS programming sequence. A 3.6+ in those courses sends a clear signal to the admissions committee that you can handle upper-division CS coursework.
Major Requirements
Computer Science (College of Engineering B.S.) Major Preparation
Computer Science (College of Engineering B.S.) at UC Santa Barbara
Courses at De Anza College that satisfy UC Santa Barbara's Computer Science major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
Students often confuse the College of Engineering B.S. in Computer Science with UCSB's Computing B.S. (offered through the College of Creative Studies) or with computer-adjacent majors in Letters & Science like Statistics & Data Science. The key difference matters for transfer: only the COE Computer Science B.S. is in the College of Engineering, which means you must apply directly for it — you cannot change into it after transferring as a different major. CCS Computing and L&S Data Science have separate, distinct admission processes.
| Course at De Anza College | Satisfies at UCSB | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CIS 22A — Beginning Programming Methodologies in C++ | CMPSC 16 — Programming in C++ | 4.5 |
| MATH 1A — Calculus | MATH 3A — Calculus with Applications to Science and Engineering I | 5 |
| MATH 1B — Calculus II | MATH 3B — Calculus with Applications to Science and Engineering II | 5 |
| MATH 2B — Linear Algebra | MATH 4A — Linear Algebra with Applications | 4 |
| MATH 2A — Differential Equations | MATH 4B — Differential Equations | 4 |
| No equivalent at De Anza College | CMPSC 24 — Problem Solving with Computers II | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Santa Barbara after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
IGETC at De Anza College
Complete IGETC at De Anza College to satisfy UC Santa Barbara's lower-division GE requirements before transferring.
EWRT 1A (now listed as ENGL C1000)
4-5 unitsEWRT 2 (ENGL C1001), PHIL 3
4-5 unitsMATH 1A, MATH 1B, MATH 1C, MATH 1D, MATH 2A, MATH 2B, STAT C1000 (formerly MATH 10)
4-5 unitsARTS 1A, ARTS 1B, MUSI 1A, THEA 1, HUMI 1
3-4 unitsELIT 10, PHIL 1, PHIL 2, HIST 3A, HUMI 9
3-4 unitsECON 1, PSYC C1000 (formerly PSYC 1), POLS C1000 (formerly POLI 1), HIST 17A, ANTH 2, SOC 1
3-4 unitsCHEM 1A, PHYS 4A, ASTR 4, GEOL 10
3-5 unitsBIOL 6A, BIOL 10, ANTH 1
3-5 unitsSPAN 2, MAND 2, JAPN 2, FREN 2, GERM 2, KORE 2, VIET 2 (or any level-2 language course)
4-5 units| Area | Course options at De Anza College | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1A: English Composition | EWRT 1A (now listed as ENGL C1000) | 4-5 |
| 1B: Critical Thinking–English Composition | EWRT 2 (ENGL C1001), PHIL 3 | 4-5 |
| 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 1A, MATH 1B, MATH 1C, MATH 1D, MATH 2A, MATH 2B, STAT C1000 (formerly MATH 10) | 4-5 |
| 3A: Arts | ARTS 1A, ARTS 1B, MUSI 1A, THEA 1, HUMI 1 | 3-4 |
| 3B: Humanities | ELIT 10, PHIL 1, PHIL 2, HIST 3A, HUMI 9 | 3-4 |
| 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences | ECON 1, PSYC C1000 (formerly PSYC 1), POLS C1000 (formerly POLI 1), HIST 17A, ANTH 2, SOC 1 | 3-4 |
| 5A: Physical Sciences | CHEM 1A, PHYS 4A, ASTR 4, GEOL 10 | 3-5 |
| 5B: Biological Sciences | BIOL 6A, BIOL 10, ANTH 1 | 3-5 |
| 6: Language Other Than English | SPAN 2, MAND 2, JAPN 2, FREN 2, GERM 2, KORE 2, VIET 2 (or any level-2 language course) | 4-5 |
MATH 1A → MATH 1B → MATH 2B (Calculus Chain)
Each math course in De Anza's calculus sequence has the previous as a prerequisite — you cannot jump ahead. If you don't start MATH 1A in your very first semester, you risk arriving at UCSB without the linear algebra or differential equations course that the College of Engineering requires, which directly weakens your application.
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 the Calculus Chain
MATH 1A (Calculus) is the starting gun for every other math course you need — MATH 1B, MATH 2A, MATH 2B, and beyond. If you take MATH 1A in your second semester instead of your first, you can easily fall an entire year behind on major prep. Sign up for MATH 1A in your very first semester at De Anza, even if it feels early.
CS Is an Engineering Major — TAG Does Not Apply
The UCSB Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) is a fantastic tool, but it is explicitly unavailable for College of Engineering majors, which includes Computer Science. Do not build your transfer strategy around getting a TAG for CS — it does not exist. You must apply through the standard UC application process and make your case through your GPA and completed prep courses.
IGETC Is Accepted, But Major Prep Comes First
UCSB's College of Engineering confirms that completed IGETC can substitute for lower-division GE requirements — but they also say directly: 'Focus on major coursework rather than on completing IGETC.' If you have room in your schedule after finishing all required and recommended CS prep courses, certifying IGETC is a smart bonus that lightens your load at UCSB. But never sacrifice a math or programming course to fit in an IGETC elective.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is it to transfer from De Anza College to UCSB for Computer Science?
Computer Science at UCSB is inside the College of Engineering, one of the most selective units on campus — UCSB recommends a 3.6 or higher GPA specifically for engineering applicants. The CS department also notes it receives the second-highest number of transfer applicants of any major at UCSB. You'll need to complete courses like MATH 1A, MATH 1B, and CIS 22A before applying, and strong grades in those courses are essential.
What courses do I need to take at De Anza to prepare for UCSB Computer Science?
At minimum, you need CIS 22A (Beginning Programming Methodologies in C++), MATH 1A (Calculus), MATH 1B (Calculus II), and at least one of the following: MATH 2B (Linear Algebra), MATH 2A (Differential Equations), or MATH 1C/1D (Multivariable Calculus). Per ASSIST.org, CIS 22A articulates directly to UCSB's CMPSC 16, and the calculus sequence maps onto UCSB's MATH 3A and 3B. Start MATH 1A and CIS 22A in your very first semester — every other required course depends on them.
Can I use TAG to guarantee admission to UCSB Computer Science from De Anza?
No. UCSB's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) is only available for majors in the College of Letters & Science and select College of Creative Studies programs. The Computer Science B.S. is housed in the College of Engineering, and UCSB explicitly lists College of Engineering majors as ineligible for TAG. You'll need to apply through the standard UC application and build a competitive profile through your GPA and completed major prep courses.
Does IGETC count for Computer Science at UCSB?
IGETC is technically accepted by UCSB's College of Engineering — the COE advising FAQ confirms that transfer students who completed IGETC may substitute it for lower-division GE requirements. However, UCSB's College of Engineering advising page explicitly says to 'focus on major coursework rather than on completing IGETC.' Complete all of your CS major prep first (MATH 1A, MATH 1B, CIS 22A, and additional math), and only work on IGETC if you have room in your schedule after that.
Is there an articulated equivalent to UCSB's CMPSC 24 at De Anza College?
Per the current ASSIST.org articulation agreement between De Anza College and UCSB for Computer Science, there is no De Anza course that articulates directly to UCSB's CMPSC 24 (Problem Solving with Computers II). This is a known gap in the transfer pathway — CMPSC 24 will need to be completed after you arrive at UCSB. Make sure you check ASSIST.org for the most current articulation since agreements are updated annually.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Transferring from De Anza College to UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) as a Computer Science major is one of the most competitive pathways in the California community college transfer system. The Computer Science B.S. at UCSB lives inside the Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering — a selective, admit-by-major program where UCSB recommends a 3.6 or higher GPA for engineering applicants, well above the campus-wide mid-50% transfer GPA range of 3.46–3.91 for Fall 2024. Successful transfer planning for this pathway starts with the De Anza College course catalog and ASSIST.org: courses like MATH 1A (Calculus) and CIS 22A (Beginning Programming Methodologies in C++) are the foundation of your major prerequisites, articulating to UCSB's MATH 3A and CMPSC 16 respectively. While IGETC is technically accepted by UCSB's College of Engineering for lower-division GE purposes, the college's own advising team advises transfer students to focus on completing all major prerequisites before pursuing IGETC certification. It's also important to know that the UCSB Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG), a powerful program available to De Anza College students for many Letters & Science majors, does not apply to College of Engineering majors including Computer Science — there is no guaranteed admission path for this major. With 18,421 total transfer applications filed for UCSB for Fall 2024 and the CS department ranking as the second-highest applicant volume major on campus, building an organized, semester-by-semester transfer plan early is essential. Tools like Pipeline help students at De Anza College map out their specific major prep requirements, track IGETC progress, and build personalized plans tailored to the De Anza to UC Santa Barbara Computer Science pathway — so nothing important gets missed.
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