De Anza College to UCLA
Biology Transfer Plan
Quarter-by-quarter courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
De Anza College
To
UCLA
GPA Reality Check
UCLA's published minimum GPA for transfer admission is 3.0, but admitted Biology students in Fall 2024 had a mid-50th percentile GPA range of 3.80–4.00 — meaning even the lower end of admitted students is close to a 4.0. The courses that matter most for your major prep GPA are the ones admissions actually scrutinizes: BIOL 6A, 6B, 6C and your chemistry sequence. A single C in CHEM 1A won't necessarily disqualify you, but a pattern of Bs in science courses against a 3.80+ applicant pool is a real problem. Treat every lab science as your highest priority.
Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)
De Anza College participates in the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), which gives certified students priority consideration for admission to Biology and other majors in the College of Letters and Science. To get that edge, you need to enroll in De Anza's Honors Program and complete its requirements — not just take a couple of honors courses. When you submit your UC application, you'll also sign a TAP Applicant Agreement Form and designate an alternate major, giving you a backup if Biology doesn't come through.
Major Requirements
Biology (College of Letters and Science, B.S.) Major Preparation
Biology (College of Letters and Science, B.S.) at UCLA
Courses at De Anza College that satisfy UCLA's Biology major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCLA offers several life-science majors that students frequently mix up: Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology (MCDB), Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics (MIMG), and Physiological Science — all distinct from the general Biology B.S. and each with their own specific prep requirements. Human Biology and Society (B.A./B.S.) is another nearby option that blends science with social analysis. Make sure the major you apply to matches the coursework you've actually completed at De Anza.
| Course at De Anza College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 6A — General Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | LS 7A | 5 |
| BIOL 6B — General Biology: Organismal Biology | LS 7B | 5 |
| BIOL 6C — General Biology: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | LS 7C | 5 |
| No equivalent at De Anza College | LS 23L — Life Sciences Laboratory | — |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry | CHEM 20A — Chemical Structure | 5 |
| CHEM 1B — General Chemistry | CHEM 20B — Chemical Energetics and Change | 5 |
| CHEM 40A — Organic Chemistry | CHEM 30A — Organic Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 40B — Organic Chemistry | CHEM 30B — Organic Chemistry II | 5 |
| MATH 1A — Calculus | MATH 31A — Differential Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 1B — Calculus | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 5 |
| PHYS 4A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers | PHYS 1A — Physics — Mechanics | 5 |
| PHYS 4B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers | PHYS 1B — Physics — Oscillations, Waves, Electric and Magnetic Fields | 5 |
| MATH 10 — Elementary Statistics | STATS 10 — Introduction to Statistical Reasoning | 5 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA 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 UCLA's lower-division GE requirements before transferring.
ENGL 1A, ENGL 1AH
5 unitsENGL 1B, ENGL 1BH, PHIL 1A
5 unitsMATH 1A, MATH 1B, MATH 10, MATH 11, MATH 22
4-5 unitsARTS 1A, ARTS 1B, MUSI 1A, THEA 1, F/TV 1
4-5 unitsENGL 2, HIST 1, PHIL 2, HUMI 1
4-5 unitsPSYC 1, SOC 1, ECON 1, POLI 1, ANTH 2
4-5 unitsCHEM 1A, PHYS 4A, ASTR 4, PHYS 2A
4-5 unitsBIOL 6A, BIOL 6B, BIOL 6C, ANTH 1
4-5 unitsSPAN 2, FREN 2, JAPN 2, MAND 2, KORE 2
4-5 units| Area | Course options at De Anza College | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1A: English Composition | ENGL 1A, ENGL 1AH | 5 |
| 1B: Critical Thinking and Composition | ENGL 1B, ENGL 1BH, PHIL 1A | 5 |
| 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 1A, MATH 1B, MATH 10, MATH 11, MATH 22 | 4-5 |
| 3A: Arts | ARTS 1A, ARTS 1B, MUSI 1A, THEA 1, F/TV 1 | 4-5 |
| 3B: Humanities | ENGL 2, HIST 1, PHIL 2, HUMI 1 | 4-5 |
| 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences | PSYC 1, SOC 1, ECON 1, POLI 1, ANTH 2 | 4-5 |
| 5A: Physical Sciences | CHEM 1A, PHYS 4A, ASTR 4, PHYS 2A | 4-5 |
| 5B: Biological Sciences | BIOL 6A, BIOL 6B, BIOL 6C, ANTH 1 | 4-5 |
| 6: Language Other Than English | SPAN 2, FREN 2, JAPN 2, MAND 2, KORE 2 | 4-5 |
CHEM 1A → Organic Chemistry (5-Course Chain)
The path from CHEM 1A to Organic Chemistry (CHEM 40A) runs through four prerequisite courses and takes a minimum of four semesters — meaning if you don't start General Chemistry in your very first semester, you will not finish Organic Chemistry before you apply to transfer, leaving your Biology major prep incomplete at the most critical moment.
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 five-course chain that ends with Organic Chemistry (CHEM 40A and 40B). If you push it to your second semester, you'll almost certainly run out of time to finish all of your chemistry prep before the November transfer application deadline. Put CHEM 1A in your very first semester at De Anza, no exceptions.
IGETC Is Useful but Don't Let It Crowd Out Major Prep
Biology B.S. is a high-unit major, and UCLA wants to see a nearly complete major prep at the time you apply. De Anza's own counselors note that for biological science majors, IGETC for STEM — a lighter GE path that defers some areas — can free up units for courses like PHYS 4A and BIOL 6C. Don't spend two semesters stacking GE courses when you still have organic chemistry sitting undone.
TAP Certification Isn't Automatic — Apply Early
Just enrolling at De Anza doesn't get you into TAP. You need to formally join the De Anza Honors Program, complete its program requirements, and submit a TAP Applicant Agreement Form when you apply to UCLA. Students who assume TAP certification happens automatically miss the window and lose the priority consideration advantage entirely.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the transfer acceptance rate for Biology at UCLA from De Anza College?
UCLA's Biology major had a 20% transfer admit rate in Fall 2024, with admitted students showing a mid-50th percentile GPA range of 3.80–4.00. De Anza College is one of UCLA's top feeder schools, but that doesn't lower the bar — you still need a near-perfect science GPA and a complete major prep, including BIOL 6A, 6B, and 6C.
Which De Anza courses count as major prep for UCLA Biology?
The core lower-division prep maps like this: BIOL 6A, 6B, and 6C cover UCLA's LS 7A, 7B, and 7C; CHEM 1A and 1B cover UCLA's General Chemistry sequence; CHEM 40A and 40B cover UCLA's Organic Chemistry (CHEM 30A and 30B); MATH 1A and 1B cover UCLA's Calculus sequence (MATH 31A and 31B); and MATH 10 covers the statistics requirement. Verify every articulation on ASSIST.org before registering.
Does UCLA accept IGETC from De Anza for Biology?
Yes — the UCLA College of Letters and Science, which houses the Biology B.S., accepts full IGETC certification. However, Biology is a high-unit major, so De Anza counselors often recommend the IGETC for STEM path, which defers some GE areas so you can prioritize courses like CHEM 1A and PHYS 4A before you transfer.
How does the TAP program help De Anza students transfer to UCLA Biology?
The Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) gives De Anza students who complete the Honors Program priority consideration for admission to majors in the UCLA College of Letters and Science, which includes Biology. TAP also lets you designate an alternate major on your UC application, so if you're not admitted to Biology, you get a second look at another compatible major. You must formally enroll in De Anza's Honors Program and submit a TAP Applicant Agreement Form to be certified.
Is a 3.5 GPA good enough to transfer from De Anza to UCLA for Biology?
A 3.5 puts you below the mid-50th percentile GPA range for admitted Biology transfer students, which was 3.80–4.00 in Fall 2024. That doesn't mean it's impossible, but it means the rest of your application — completion of courses like BIOL 6A, 6B, 6C and your chemistry sequence, your personal insight questions, and TAP certification through De Anza's Honors Program — would need to be especially strong to compensate.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Transferring from De Anza College to UCLA as a Biology major is one of the most traveled — and most competitive — pathways in California's community college transfer system. De Anza is consistently among the top feeder schools to the University of California, including UCLA, and the Biology B.S. in UCLA's College of Letters and Science is a goal within reach if you plan carefully and early. In Fall 2024, the UCLA Biology transfer admit rate was 20%, with admitted students showing a mid-50th percentile GPA range of 3.80 to 4.00 across roughly 27,000 total UCLA transfer applicants. Those numbers make clear that transfer planning has to start from day one at De Anza, not six months before you apply. The major prerequisites are extensive: the full BIOL 6A, 6B, and 6C sequence maps to UCLA's LS 7A, 7B, and 7C; General Chemistry (CHEM 1A and 1B) covers the CHEM 20A and 20B requirement; and Organic Chemistry (CHEM 40A and 40B) satisfies UCLA's CHEM 30A and 30B. IGETC is accepted for this major at UCLA, giving De Anza students the option to satisfy lower-division general education requirements with a single certified GE pattern — though for high-unit Biology majors, IGETC for STEM is often a smarter path that frees up room for science coursework. De Anza also participates in the Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), which gives students who complete the De Anza Honors Program priority consideration for UCLA College of Letters and Science majors. Navigating all of this — articulation agreements, IGETC certification, TAP deadlines, and long prerequisite chains — is exactly the kind of thing Pipeline is built to help with, letting students build a personalized, term-by-term plan that keeps every requirement on track from the first semester through the application deadline.
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