Diablo Valley College to UCLA
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Semester-by-semester courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
Diablo Valley College
To
UCLA
Computer ScienceGPA Reality Check
UCLA sets a 3.0 minimum GPA for transfer eligibility, but admitted CS students in Fall 2024 had a GPA range of 3.96–4.00 — that's essentially a perfect GPA. The gap between the floor and the reality is enormous for this major. Your grades in MATH 192 through MATH 195, COMPSCI 110, 111, and 211 carry the most weight because they are the exact courses UCLA is evaluating — one B in this sequence can meaningfully shift where your application lands.
UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)
The UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) gives certified students priority consideration during the admissions review — a real advantage when you're competing in a pool where the CS admit rate hovers around 3%. To get certified at DVC, you need to complete the DVC Honors Program and have your honors counselor submit your TAP certification between January and early March of your transfer year. Keep in mind that TAP's alternate-major fallback does not cover Engineering majors, so your preparation and GPA need to be strong enough to stand on their own for the CS application.
Major Requirements
Computer Science (Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, B.S.) Major Preparation
Computer Science (Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, B.S.) at UCLA
Courses at Diablo Valley College that satisfy UCLA's Computer Science major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCLA also offers a Cognitive Science B.S. (which includes a computing specialization), a Linguistics and Computer Science B.A. through Letters and Science, and a Data Theory B.S. Students who want a CS-adjacent major with slightly more flexibility should check those out — they live in a different school, so the prep courses and competition levels differ. The straight CS B.S. in Engineering is the most rigorous and the most competitive.
| Course at Diablo Valley College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 192 — Calculus I | MATH 31A — Differential Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 193 — Calculus II | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 4 |
| MATH 194 — Calculus III | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 195 — Calculus IV | MATH 32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 270 — Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 3 |
| COMPSCI 110 — Introduction to Programming Concepts and Methodology I | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I | 4 |
| COMPSCI 111 — Introduction to Programming Concepts and Methodology II | COM SCI 32 — Introduction to Computer Science II | 4 |
| COMPSCI 211 — Data Structures | COM SCI 35L — Software Construction | 4 |
| MATH 290 — Discrete Mathematics | COM SCI 180 — Algorithms (discrete math preparation) | 3 |
| PHYS 240 — General Physics I | PHYSICS 1A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 241 — General Physics II | PHYSICS 1B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Oscillations, Waves, Electric and Magnetic Fields | 4 |
General Education
Foundation GE at Diablo Valley College
Complete these five courses at Diablo Valley College to start your UCLA GE pattern. Finishing full IGETC/Cal-GETC at the CC is ideal — these five give you the broadest head start, and CCN-tagged courses stay portable if you switch community colleges.
ANTHR 115
Primate Evolution and Adaptation
CHEM 107
Integrated Inorganic, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
HIST 120
History of the United States before 1865
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Diablo Valley College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | ANTHR 115 — Primate Evolution and Adaptation | 3 |
Physical Science | CHEM 107 — Integrated Inorganic, Organic, and Biological Chemistry | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 120 — History of the United States before 1865 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
MATH 192 → MATH 195 → PHYS 240/241 Chain
DVC's calculus sequence is four courses long before you reach multivariable calc, and General Physics I (PHYS 240) requires calculus as a co-requisite — meaning the math chain and the physics chain are entangled from the start. Fall behind in calculus by a single semester and the ripple pushes both physics courses past your application window.
UCLA runs on quarters — DVC runs on semesters
You've been building up to longer, deeper courses at DVC; once you're at UCLA, each quarter moves fast — expect to cover in 10 weeks what took you 16 weeks at DVC, so hit the ground running from day one.
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
Start Your Math Chain First Semester, No Exceptions
DVC's calculus sequence runs four courses deep — MATH 192, 193, 194, and 195 — before you even get to Linear Algebra (MATH 270). That's five math courses across at minimum five semesters, and you also need two semesters of calculus-based physics layered on top. If you don't start MATH 192 in your very first semester at DVC, you will almost certainly arrive at your application deadline with an incomplete sequence, which is one of the fastest ways to get screened out for CS at UCLA.
TAP Certification Doesn't Cover Engineering Backups
TAP is a genuine asset — it gives you priority review and a higher chance of admission. But Computer Science lives in UCLA's Henry Samueli School of Engineering, and Engineering majors are explicitly excluded from TAP's alternate-major protection. That means if you're not admitted to CS, your application doesn't automatically get reviewed for a backup. Plan your TAP certification with that in mind, and seriously consider whether you want to list a Letters and Science major as your alternate on the UC application.
IGETC Is Accepted — But Don't Let It Crowd Out Major Prep
IGETC is accepted for the UCLA CS B.S., which is great news, but the sheer volume of major prep courses at DVC means your schedule is going to be tight. COMPSCI 110, 111, and 211 form a three-semester chain on their own, and those courses need to be woven around your calculus sequence. Knock out IGETC requirements like ENGL 122 during semesters when your major prep load is lighter — don't stack an IGETC-heavy semester on top of PHYS 240 and MATH 194 at the same time.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the transfer admit rate for Computer Science from Diablo Valley College to UCLA?
UCLA's CS transfer admit rate was approximately 3% for Fall 2024, with admitted students showing a GPA range of 3.96–4.00 — this is one of the most competitive transfer majors in the entire UC system. DVC students applying to UCLA overall saw about a 25% admit rate across all majors in Fall 2023, but CS is dramatically more selective than that campus-wide average. Your best shot is combining a near-perfect GPA in courses like COMPSCI 110, COMPSCI 111, and the full calculus sequence with TAP certification through DVC's Honors Program.
What courses do I need to take at DVC to transfer to UCLA for Computer Science?
The core lower-division prep includes the full calculus sequence (MATH 192 through MATH 195), Linear Algebra (MATH 270), Discrete Mathematics (MATH 290), two semesters of intro CS (COMPSCI 110 and COMPSCI 111), Data Structures (COMPSCI 211), and two semesters of calculus-based physics (PHYS 240 and PHYS 241). That's eleven courses just for major prep, not counting IGETC general education. Use ASSIST.org to verify the exact articulation between DVC and UCLA before you register each semester.
Does the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) help DVC students get into UCLA Computer Science?
Yes — TAP gives DVC students who complete the Honors Program priority consideration during UCLA's admission review, which is meaningful in a cycle where CS admits only about 3% of applicants. However, there is an important caveat: because CS is in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, the TAP alternate-major review does not apply to Engineering programs. To get TAP certified at DVC, you must complete the DVC Honors Program and have your certification submitted by your honors counselor between January and early March of your transfer year.
Should I complete IGETC before transferring from DVC to UCLA for Computer Science?
IGETC is accepted for the UCLA CS B.S., so completing it at DVC does satisfy lower-division general education requirements. That said, your priority should be finishing the major prep sequence — courses like MATH 192–195 and COMPSCI 110–211 — because UCLA weighs those grades heavily during review. Use lower-load semesters to chip away at IGETC courses like ENGL 122, and avoid stacking IGETC electives on top of an already demanding major prep semester.
How long does it take to complete all the transfer requirements at DVC for UCLA Computer Science?
Realistically, count on two full years at DVC — and only if you start MATH 192 (Calculus I) and COMPSCI 110 in your very first semester. The calculus chain alone spans four sequential courses across at least four semesters, and COMPSCI 110 → 111 → 211 adds another three-semester chain running in parallel. Students who arrive without strong calculus preparation or delay their start often need a third year, which may affect scholarship eligibility and financial aid timelines.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Planning to transfer from Diablo Valley College (DVC) to UCLA as a Computer Science major is one of the most ambitious transfer pathways in the California community college system — and one of the most rewarding if you go in with a clear plan. The UCLA Computer Science B.S. sits inside the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, and transfer admission is intensely competitive: the Fall 2024 admit rate for CS was approximately 3%, with admitted students averaging a GPA between 3.96 and 4.00. That means transfer planning has to start on day one at Diablo Valley College, not after a semester or two of finding your footing. The major prerequisites are extensive — students must complete a four-course calculus sequence starting with MATH 192 (Calculus I), along with Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, two introductory programming courses in COMPSCI 110 and COMPSCI 111, Data Structures (COMPSCI 211), and two semesters of calculus-based physics. These courses are interconnected through prerequisite chains, which means a single delay early in the sequence — say, pushing MATH 192 to your second semester — ripples forward and can leave your application incomplete. On the general education side, IGETC is accepted for this major, giving DVC students a structured way to knock out lower-division GE requirements while working through major prep. DVC is also a member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), which provides priority consideration for students who complete DVC's Honors Program and earn TAP certification — a real advantage when you're competing at the 3% level. Tools like Pipeline help students at Diablo Valley College build a personalized, semester-by-semester plan that accounts for prerequisite chains, IGETC completion, and TAP certification timelines all in one place, so nothing falls through the cracks on the way to UCLA.
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