Diablo Valley College to UCI
Biology Transfer Plan
Semester-by-semester courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
Diablo Valley College
To
UC Irvine
GPA Reality Check
UCI requires a minimum 3.0 GPA for Biology admission, but admitted transfer students typically arrive with GPAs of 3.70 or above — and 3.4 is the floor just to qualify for TAG. The courses that will make or break your application are the science prerequisites: CHEM 120 through CHEM 231 and BIOL 121–122 carry enormous weight because UCI's admissions team reviews your major prep GPA specifically. A B in organic chemistry won't sink you, but a pattern of Bs across all your science courses puts you below the realistic competitive range.
Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
UCI's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) is one of the most powerful tools available to Diablo Valley College students — it literally locks in your admission before you even file a full application. For Biology, you need a 3.4 or higher cumulative UC-transferable GPA and all required major prep courses completed with a C or better. The window to apply is narrow: submit your TAG through UC TAP between September 1 and September 30, then follow up with your full UC application by December 1.
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 Diablo Valley College that satisfy UC Irvine's Biology major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCI's School of Biological Sciences houses several related majors students often confuse with general Biology: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Neurobiology, and Microbiology and Immunology. Each has the same core prep requirements (gen chem, orgo, intro bio) but diverges at the upper-division level. If you have a strong interest in a specific subdiscipline, verify which major fits best before you apply — you cannot easily switch between them after enrolling.
| Course at Diablo Valley College | Satisfies at UCI | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 121 — General Biology I | BIO SCI 93 — Cells, Molecules, and Inheritance | 4 |
| BIOL 122 — General Biology II | BIO SCI 94 — Organisms to Ecosystems | 4 |
| CHEM 120 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 1A — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 121 — General Chemistry II | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 122 — General Chemistry III | CHEM 1C / 1LC / 1LD — General Chemistry with Lab | 5 |
| CHEM 230 — Organic Chemistry I | CHEM 51A — Organic Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 231 — Organic Chemistry II | CHEM 51B / 51LB — Organic Chemistry with Lab | 5 |
| MATH 180 — Calculus I | MATH 2A — Single-Variable Calculus (Mathematics Requirement, Option 1) | 5 |
| MATH 181 — Calculus II | MATH 2B — Single-Variable Calculus (Mathematics Requirement, Option 1) | 5 |
General Education
IGETC at Diablo Valley College
Complete IGETC at Diablo Valley College to satisfy UC Irvine's lower-division GE requirements before transferring.
ENGL 122 (English Composition)
3 unitsENGL 123 (Argument and Analysis) or ENGL 125 (Literature and Composition)
3 unitsMATH 120 (Statistics) or MATH 180 (Calculus I — also satisfies Biology math requirement)
3-5 unitsART 100 (Art History: Prehistoric to Gothic) or MUSI 120 (Music Appreciation)
3 unitsENGL 130 (Introduction to Literature) or PHIL 120 (Introduction to Philosophy)
3 unitsPSYC 121 (General Psychology) or SOCI 120 (Introduction to Sociology) or HIST 131 (U.S. History)
3 unitsCHEM 120 (General Chemistry I — also satisfies Biology major prep)
5 unitsBIOL 121 (General Biology I — also satisfies Biology major prep)
4 unitsSPAN 121 (Elementary Spanish I) or FREN 121 (Elementary French I) or CHNS 121 (Elementary Chinese I)
4-5 units| Area | Course options at Diablo Valley College | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1A: English Composition | ENGL 122 (English Composition) | 3 |
| 1B: Critical Thinking and Composition | ENGL 123 (Argument and Analysis) or ENGL 125 (Literature and Composition) | 3 |
| 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 120 (Statistics) or MATH 180 (Calculus I — also satisfies Biology math requirement) | 3-5 |
| 3A: Arts | ART 100 (Art History: Prehistoric to Gothic) or MUSI 120 (Music Appreciation) | 3 |
| 3B: Humanities | ENGL 130 (Introduction to Literature) or PHIL 120 (Introduction to Philosophy) | 3 |
| 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences | PSYC 121 (General Psychology) or SOCI 120 (Introduction to Sociology) or HIST 131 (U.S. History) | 3 |
| 5A: Physical Sciences | CHEM 120 (General Chemistry I — also satisfies Biology major prep) | 5 |
| 5B: Biological Sciences | BIOL 121 (General Biology I — also satisfies Biology major prep) | 4 |
| 6: Language Other Than English | SPAN 121 (Elementary Spanish I) or FREN 121 (Elementary French I) or CHNS 121 (Elementary Chinese I) | 4-5 |
CHEM 120 → CHEM 121 → CHEM 122 → CHEM 230
General Chemistry is a three-course locked sequence at DVC, and Organic Chemistry (CHEM 230) cannot begin until all three gen chem courses are done — that is four consecutive semesters of chemistry required before transfer. Start CHEM 120 in your first semester or you will almost certainly run out of time to complete both gen chem and orgo before you apply to UCI.
UCI runs on quarters — DVC runs on semesters
Your two semesters of biology (BIOL 121 and BIOL 122) will map to three quarters of content at UCI, so expect the pace to feel faster and the material to be compressed — build strong study habits at DVC before you arrive.
Preview
Your First Semester
A preview of what Pipeline generates — exact courses, in the right order, every semester.
Watch Out
Common Mistakes for This Transfer Path
Don't Delay Starting General Chemistry
CHEM 120 is the first link in a three-semester chain that continues through CHEM 121 and CHEM 122 before you can even start Organic Chemistry. If you push gen chem to your second semester, there is a real chance you arrive at UCI without a complete chemistry sequence — which makes you ineligible for admission to the Biological Sciences, B.S. program. Start CHEM 120 your very first semester at DVC, no exceptions.
Confusing TAG Deadline with UC Application Deadline
Most students know the UC application opens October 1, but the TAG application closes on September 30 — a full day before the UC app even opens. Miss that September window and you lose your guaranteed admission slot entirely. Log into UC TAP early, build your plan, and submit your TAG before the end of September.
Skipping IGETC Because Courses Double-Count
Here's the good news: CHEM 120 counts for IGETC Area 5A and BIOL 121 counts for Area 5B — both satisfy major prep and GE at the same time. The mistake students make is assuming they can't finish IGETC because the science courses are so heavy. Map your schedule early and you'll find IGETC is very achievable without adding extra units — it just takes planning in your first semester.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need to transfer from Diablo Valley College to UC Irvine for Biology?
UCI requires a minimum 3.0 cumulative UC-transferable GPA for Biology admission, but in practice, admitted students typically arrive with GPAs around 3.70 or higher. If you want to use the TAG program — which guarantees your admission — you need at least a 3.4 GPA. Your science course grades, especially in CHEM 120–122 and BIOL 121–122, carry significant weight in the review.
What courses do I need to take at Diablo Valley College to prepare for UCI Biology?
UCI's Biological Sciences, B.S. requires a full year of general chemistry with lab (CHEM 120, 121, and 122 at DVC), a full year of organic chemistry with lab (CHEM 230 and 231), and one year of introductory biology (BIOL 121 and BIOL 122). You should also complete the math requirement — either two semesters of calculus (MATH 180 and MATH 181) or one semester of calculus plus one semester of statistics (MATH 120). All must be done with a C or better.
Does UCI accept IGETC from Diablo Valley College students transferring into Biology?
Yes — UCI accepts IGETC for the Biological Sciences major. The smart play is to double-count your science prep: CHEM 120 satisfies IGETC Area 5A (Physical Sciences) and BIOL 121 covers Area 5B (Biological Sciences), so you're knocking out major requirements and GE at the same time. Note that as of Fall 2025, DVC has transitioned to Cal-GETC, which replaces IGETC — check with a DVC counselor to confirm which pattern applies to your enrollment year.
How does the TAG program work for Diablo Valley College students applying to UCI Biology?
UCI's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) is open to DVC students who have a 3.4 or higher cumulative UC-transferable GPA and complete all required major prep courses for Biology (gen chem, orgo, and intro bio) with a C or better. You apply through the UC Transfer Admission Planner between September 1 and September 30 — before the regular UC application even opens. If you meet every requirement, your admission to UCI for your chosen major is guaranteed.
How competitive is it to transfer from Diablo Valley College to UCI for Biology compared to other majors?
Biology at UCI has an estimated transfer admit rate of around 44%, which is more accessible than impacted majors like Computer Science (~21%). That said, the major prep for Biological Sciences is among the heaviest at any UC — you need two full years of chemistry (gen chem plus orgo), two semesters of intro biology (BIOL 121 and 122), and calculus. A high GPA in those specific courses matters far more than the overall campus acceptance rate.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Students planning to transfer from Diablo Valley College (DVC) to UC Irvine (UCI) for Biology are navigating one of the most demanding but rewarding pathways in the California community college transfer system. Successful transfer planning for the Biological Sciences, B.S. program at UCI's School of Biological Sciences starts with understanding that the major prerequisites are non-negotiable and time-sensitive: you need a full year of general chemistry (beginning with CHEM 120 at DVC), a full year of organic chemistry, and a full year of introductory biology (BIOL 121 and BIOL 122) — all completed before you ever set foot on the Irvine campus. With a transfer admit rate for Biology hovering around 44% and admitted students typically presenting GPAs of 3.70 or higher, the gap between the published minimum GPA of 3.0 and the actual competitive standard is significant. DVC students also have access to UCI's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, which can lock in admission outright for students who hit a 3.4 GPA and complete all major prerequisites — but the TAG application window closes September 30, a full day before the standard UC application opens. On the general education side, UCI accepts IGETC for this major, and savvy DVC students use their science prep courses to double-count toward IGETC areas 5A and 5B, reducing their overall unit load. Note that as of Fall 2025, DVC has adopted Cal-GETC as the new unified GE transfer curriculum, so speak with a counselor about which pattern applies to your timeline. Tools like Pipeline can help DVC students build a personalized semester-by-semester plan that sequences all major prerequisites correctly, identifies IGETC course overlap, and tracks TAG eligibility — because with a chemistry chain that spans four consecutive semesters, getting the order wrong in your first semester can set back your entire transfer timeline by a year.
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