De Anza College to UCLA
Computer Science 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 is 3.0, but the middle 50th percentile for admitted CS transfers runs from 3.96 to 4.00 — meaning half of the people who got in had a near-perfect GPA. The floor in practice is a lot closer to 3.9. UCLA weighs your GPA in major prep courses most heavily, so grades in MATH 1A through MATH 2B, CIS 22A, CIS 22B, CIS 21JA, and both physics courses are the ones that matter most. A B in any of those is not disqualifying, but you need As across the board to be genuinely competitive.
Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)
De Anza College participates in the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), but there is an important catch for CS applicants: TAP gives priority consideration only for majors in the UCLA College of Letters and Science, and Computer Science B.S. lives in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering — so TAP does not boost your CS application directly. What TAP can do is let you list an eligible Letters and Science major as an alternate on your UC application, giving you a second shot at UCLA admission if CS does not work out. To get certified, enroll in De Anza's Honors Program as early as possible, complete the required honors units with strong grades, and submit your TAP Applicant Agreement Form during the January–March certification window.
Major Requirements
Computer Science B.S. (Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science) Major Preparation
Computer Science B.S. (Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science) at UCLA
Courses at De Anza College that satisfy UCLA's Computer Science major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCLA offers several programs that overlap with CS. Computer Science and Engineering (B.S.) is also in HSSEAS and emphasizes hardware-software integration — a heavier engineering focus. Electrical and Computer Engineering is yet another option if you are drawn to systems and circuits. Separately, the College of Letters and Science offers Linguistics and Computer Science (B.A.) and Mathematics of Computation (B.S.) for students who want computing with a broader or more mathematical lens. These are different majors with different prep requirements — make sure you check ASSIST for the specific program you are targeting.
| Course at De Anza College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1A — Calculus | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 1B — Calculus | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 5 |
| MATH 1C — Calculus | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 2A — Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 5 |
| MATH 2B — Differential Equations | MATH 33B — Differential Equations | 5 |
| MATH 22 — Discrete Mathematics | CS M51B — Introduction to Digital Logic | 5 |
| CIS 22A — C++ Programming and Problem Solving | CS 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I | 4 |
| CIS 22B — C++ Data Structures | CS 32 — Introduction to Computer Science II | 4 |
| CIS 21JA — Assembly Language Programming and Computer Organization | CS 33 — Introduction to Computer Organization | 4 |
| PHYS 4A — General Physics (Mechanics) | PHYSICS 1A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics | 5 |
| PHYS 4B — General Physics (Electricity and Magnetism) | PHYSICS 1B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Oscillations, Waves, Electric and Magnetic Fields | 5 |
| No equivalent at De Anza College | CS M51A — Logic Design of Digital Systems | — |
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 (Composition and Reading)
5 unitsENGL 1B (Composition and Literature) or ENGL 1C (Composition and Argument)
5 unitsMATH 1A (Calculus) — doubles as major prep; MATH 10 (Elementary Statistics) or MATH 11 (Probability and Statistics) for non-CS-prep students
5 unitsART 1A (Art History and Appreciation: Prehistoric Through Medieval) or MUSI 1 (Fundamentals of Music)
3 unitsHIST 4A (History of Western Civilization) or PHIL 1 (Introduction to Philosophy) or ENGL 10 (Survey of Literature)
3 unitsPSYC 1 (General Psychology) or SOC 1 (Introduction to Sociology) or ECON 1 (Macroeconomics)
3 unitsPHYS 4A (General Physics: Mechanics) — doubles as major prep; CHEM 1A (General Chemistry) for non-engineering students
4–5 unitsBIOL 6A (Cell and Molecular Biology) or BIOL 10 (Introduction to Biology — non-major)
4–5 unitsSPAN 1 (Elementary Spanish) or FREN 1 (Elementary French) or JAPN 1 (Elementary Japanese); two years of high school language may also satisfy this requirement with documentation
4–5 units| Area | Course options at De Anza College | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1A: English Composition | ENGL 1A (Composition and Reading) | 5 |
| 1B: Critical Thinking and Composition | ENGL 1B (Composition and Literature) or ENGL 1C (Composition and Argument) | 5 |
| 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 1A (Calculus) — doubles as major prep; MATH 10 (Elementary Statistics) or MATH 11 (Probability and Statistics) for non-CS-prep students | 5 |
| 3A: Arts | ART 1A (Art History and Appreciation: Prehistoric Through Medieval) or MUSI 1 (Fundamentals of Music) | 3 |
| 3B: Humanities | HIST 4A (History of Western Civilization) or PHIL 1 (Introduction to Philosophy) or ENGL 10 (Survey of Literature) | 3 |
| 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences | PSYC 1 (General Psychology) or SOC 1 (Introduction to Sociology) or ECON 1 (Macroeconomics) | 3 |
| 5A: Physical Sciences | PHYS 4A (General Physics: Mechanics) — doubles as major prep; CHEM 1A (General Chemistry) for non-engineering students | 4–5 |
| 5B: Biological Sciences | BIOL 6A (Cell and Molecular Biology) or BIOL 10 (Introduction to Biology — non-major) | 4–5 |
| 6: Language Other Than English | SPAN 1 (Elementary Spanish) or FREN 1 (Elementary French) or JAPN 1 (Elementary Japanese); two years of high school language may also satisfy this requirement with documentation | 4–5 |
CIS 22A → CIS 22B → CIS 21JA
The entire CS programming chain — C++ Programming, then Data Structures, then Assembly Language — is three sequential semesters that must be started in your very first semester at De Anza. Delay CIS 22A even one term and you will not finish CIS 21JA (Computer Organization) before you apply, which leaves a visible gap in your UCLA CS prep.
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 MATH 1A
The calculus chain — MATH 1A, 1B, 1C, then Linear Algebra and Differential Equations — is five sequential semesters of math. If you push MATH 1A to your second semester, you will almost certainly be missing MATH 2A or MATH 2B when you apply, which is a serious gap for the CS B.S. at UCLA. Sign up for MATH 1A your very first semester, even if it feels fast.
IGETC Must Be Complete — No Partial Credit
UCLA HSSEAS explicitly does not accept partial IGETC — you either certify the full pattern or get nothing. That means finishing all required areas, including Area 6 (Language Other Than English), before you transfer. Many CS students skip SPAN 1 or FREN 1 because it feels unrelated, then realize too late they have an incomplete IGETC and lose the GE waiver benefit entirely.
TAP Doesn't Directly Help Your CS Application
A lot of De Anza students assume that joining the Honors Program and getting TAP-certified will give them an edge on their CS application. It won't — TAP's priority consideration applies to UCLA's College of Letters and Science, not to HSSEAS Engineering majors like CS B.S. TAP is still worth doing because it earns you an alternate major slot, but do not count it as a substitute for a near-perfect GPA in your major prep courses.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need to transfer from De Anza College to UCLA Computer Science?
The middle 50th percentile GPA for admitted UCLA CS transfers in Fall 2024 was 3.96–4.00, making it one of the most competitive majors on campus. The 3% admit rate means nearly everyone who gets in has essentially a perfect GPA in their major prep courses. Focus especially on your grades in MATH 1A through MATH 2B and CIS 22A–22B–21JA, since UCLA weights major prep performance most heavily.
Which De Anza courses count as major prep for UCLA Computer Science?
The core lower-division prep includes the full calculus sequence (MATH 1A, 1B, 1C), Linear Algebra (MATH 2A), Differential Equations (MATH 2B), Discrete Mathematics (MATH 22), C++ Programming (CIS 22A), Data Structures (CIS 22B), Assembly Language (CIS 21JA), and the two-semester physics series (PHYS 4A and 4B). Check ASSIST.org each year to confirm the current articulation agreement since course equivalencies can be updated.
Does UCLA's Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) help with Computer Science admission from De Anza?
TAP gives priority consideration for majors in the UCLA College of Letters and Science only — Computer Science B.S. is housed in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, which does not participate in TAP's priority review. You can still get TAP-certified through De Anza's Honors Program to gain the alternate major benefit (a second-chance review for a Letters and Science backup major), but it does not directly boost a CS application.
Should I complete IGETC before transferring to UCLA as a Computer Science major?
UCLA HSSEAS does accept a completed IGETC in place of their lower-division GE requirements, but partial IGETC is explicitly not accepted — you need to certify the full pattern or it counts for nothing. Given how intense the CS major prep workload already is (11+ courses), many students find it hard to complete IGETC fully, so talk with a De Anza counselor in your first semester about which courses can double-count, like MATH 1A for Area 2 and PHYS 4A for Area 5A.
How many units do I need to transfer from De Anza College to UCLA?
You need a minimum of 60 UC-transferable semester units to be eligible to transfer. Keep in mind that UCLA will only apply up to 70 semester units of lower-division coursework toward your degree once admitted, so stacking extra courses beyond what you need for major prep and IGETC does not give you a unit advantage. Prioritize completing all major prep requirements and your IGETC over chasing a higher unit count.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Planning your transfer from De Anza College to UCLA as a Computer Science major is one of the most challenging pathways in the California community college system, and getting the details right from day one is what separates the students who make it from those who don't. The UCLA Computer Science B.S. program, housed in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, admitted transfer applicants at just 3% in Fall 2024, with a mid-50th percentile GPA range of 3.96–4.00 — numbers that underscore why deliberate transfer planning is non-negotiable. At De Anza College, the major prerequisites map out to a rigorous multi-semester sequence starting with MATH 1A (Calculus) in your very first semester, continuing through MATH 1B, 1C, Linear Algebra (MATH 2A), and Differential Equations (MATH 2B), running alongside the programming chain of CIS 22A, CIS 22B, and CIS 21JA. The articulation agreement between De Anza and UCLA, published on ASSIST.org, also requires Physics 4A and 4B and Discrete Mathematics (MATH 22) before you arrive on campus. In addition to completing major prerequisites, students can pursue IGETC certification — UCLA HSSEAS accepts a complete IGETC pattern in place of lower-division GE requirements, though partial IGETC earns no credit at all. De Anza participates in the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), which provides priority consideration for Letters and Science majors; CS applicants should understand that TAP's direct benefit applies to an alternate major, not to Engineering, but the certification is still valuable as a safety net. Tools like Pipeline help students map out every required course across all four semesters, visualize prerequisite chains, identify double-counting opportunities between IGETC and major prep, and build a personalized plan that keeps the MATH 1A → MATH 2B and CIS 22A → CIS 21JA chains on track. With a 3% admit rate and nearly every admitted student carrying a near-perfect GPA, there is no room for a semester of drift — start planning now.
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