Mt. San Antonio College to UC Berkeley
Biology Transfer Plan
Semester-by-semester courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
Mt. San Antonio College
To
UC Berkeley
BiologyGPA Reality Check
Berkeley's minimum is 3.0, but admitted transfer students in 2024 had a mid-50% GPA range of 3.61–3.96. That gap is not a formality — it's a wall. For Biology specifically, your science course grades carry the most weight: admissions reviewers look hard at how you performed in General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and your biology series. A 3.0 in those courses might keep you eligible, but it won't make you competitive.
Transfer Alliance Project (TAP) / Community College Transfer Services (CCTS)
UC Berkeley's Transfer Alliance Project (TAP) has been expanded into Community College Transfer Services (CCTS), which is now open to all Mt. SAC students — not just those who meet the original TAP eligibility criteria. Historically, about 80% of TAP participants who applied to Berkeley were admitted, compared to the overall 24% transfer rate. Sign up through Berkeley's Center for Educational Partnerships website, fill out the CCTS intake form, and start updating your UC Transfer Admission Planner every semester.
Major Requirements
Integrative Biology (L&S B.A.) Major Preparation
Integrative Biology (L&S B.A.) at UC Berkeley
Courses at Mt. San Antonio College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Biology major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UC Berkeley has two distinct biology tracks that students often confuse: Integrative Biology (organismal, ecological, and evolutionary focus, L&S B.A.) and Molecular & Cell Biology (MCB, a separate major with emphases in biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, and more, also L&S B.A.). They share most lower-division prerequisites but have different upper-division requirements and academic cultures — pick the right one before you transfer.
| Course at Mt. San Antonio College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 4 — General Biology I | INTEGBI 11 / MCB 32 — Introductory Biology (Cell Biology) | 4 |
| BIOL 5 — General Biology II (Organismal Biology) | INTEGBI 12 — Introductory Biology (Organisms) | 4 |
| CHEM 40 — General Chemistry I | CHEM 1A — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 41 — General Chemistry II | CHEM 1B — General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 50 — Organic Chemistry I | CHEM 3A — Chemical Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
| CHEM 51 — Organic Chemistry II | CHEM 3B — Chemical Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
| MATH 50 — Calculus I | MATH 1A — Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 55 — Calculus II | MATH 1B — Calculus | 5 |
| PHYS 4A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers I | PHYSICS 7A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers | 4 |
| PHYS 4B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers II | PHYSICS 7B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers | 4 |
General Education
Foundation GE at Mt. San Antonio College
Complete these five courses at Mt. San Antonio College to start your UC Berkeley 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.
BIOL 1
General Biology
CHEM 10
Chemistry for Allied Health Majors
HIST 1
History of the United States
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Mt. San Antonio College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 1 — General Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 10 — Chemistry for Allied Health Majors | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 1 — History of the United States | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
CHEM 40 → BIOL 4
BIOL 4 at Mt. SAC requires CHEM 10 or CHEM 40 as a prerequisite, so you can't start the biology series at the same time as General Chemistry I. Get chemistry in your schedule first — a single semester delay here can cascade into arriving at Berkeley with an incomplete science prep record.
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
Sign Up for CCTS Before Your First Semester
UC Berkeley's Community College Transfer Services (CCTS) is free and open to all Mt. SAC students — you don't need to be first-generation or underrepresented to join. Historically, TAP/CCTS participants are admitted to Berkeley at a far higher rate than the general 24% transfer average. Fill out the CCTS intake form on Berkeley's Center for Educational Partnerships site as early as your first semester at Mt. SAC, not the semester you apply.
BIOL 4 Has a Chemistry Prerequisite — Plan Accordingly
A detail that catches Mt. SAC Biology students off guard: BIOL 4, the first course in the science-major biology series, requires CHEM 10 or CHEM 40 to already be completed or in progress. If you show up your first semester expecting to start both CHEM 40 and BIOL 4 simultaneously, the prerequisite may block your enrollment in BIOL 4. Take CHEM 40 (or CHEM 10 if you need a stepping stone) first, or confirm with your counselor whether concurrent enrollment is permitted.
Know the Difference Between Integrative Bio and MCB
Berkeley has two separate biology majors that share most lower-division prerequisites but diverge sharply at the upper-division level: Integrative Biology (organismal, ecological focus) and Molecular & Cell Biology (MCB, molecular and biochemical focus). Declaring the wrong one on your UC application won't disqualify you from L&S admission, but it matters for your personal insight questions and how you frame your preparation. Decide which track fits your goals before you apply — and make sure your application essay reflects it.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need to transfer from Mt. San Antonio College to UC Berkeley for Biology?
The UC minimum is 3.0, but that number is essentially a floor, not a target. Admitted transfer students at Berkeley in 2024 had a mid-50% GPA range of 3.61–3.96, and Biology is one of the most competitive L&S majors. Your grades in CHEM 40, CHEM 50, and BIOL 4 will draw the most scrutiny, so treat those courses as your real GPA battleground.
Does UC Berkeley accept IGETC from Mt. SAC for the Biology major?
Yes — completing IGETC at Mt. SAC satisfies the L&S breadth requirements at UC Berkeley, which streamlines your degree progress once you arrive on campus. IGETC is no longer required for admission consideration under Berkeley's updated Fall 2025 policy, but it is still highly recommended because it clears a large chunk of general education requirements so you can focus on upper-division biology coursework from day one.
Does UC Berkeley offer a TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee) from Mt. San Antonio College?
No — UC Berkeley does not participate in the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee program, so there is no guaranteed admission pathway from Mt. SAC to Berkeley for any major. Your best structured option is to enroll in Berkeley's Community College Transfer Services (CCTS), which is free and open to all Mt. SAC students, and historically connected participants have been admitted at rates far above the overall 24% transfer average.
Which courses do I need to complete at Mt. SAC to prepare for Biology at UC Berkeley?
Berkeley's lower-division prep for Biology requires two semesters each of biology (BIOL 4 and BIOL 5 at Mt. SAC), general chemistry (CHEM 40 and CHEM 41), and organic chemistry (CHEM 50 and CHEM 51), plus calculus (MATH 50 and MATH 55) and introductory physics (PHYS 4A and PHYS 4B). That is a heavy science load — 10 courses minimum — so start mapping your sequence in your first semester at Mt. SAC, not your second year.
What is the difference between Integrative Biology and MCB at UC Berkeley for transfer students from Mt. SAC?
Both majors share nearly identical lower-division prerequisites at Mt. SAC — including BIOL 4, BIOL 5, the full chemistry sequence, and calculus — so your coursework prep is essentially the same regardless of which you choose. The difference shows up after you transfer: Integrative Biology focuses on ecology, evolution, and organismal biology, while Molecular & Cell Biology (MCB) goes deep into genetics, biochemistry, and cell signaling. Decide which direction fits your goals before you write your UC application personal insight questions.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Students planning to transfer from Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) to UC Berkeley to study Biology are navigating one of the most science-intensive transfer pathways in the California community college system. Transfer planning for this route starts early — ideally in the first semester at Mt. SAC — because the lower-division major prerequisites alone span at least four to five semesters of sequential coursework. The UC Berkeley Biology pathway, housed in the College of Letters and Science, requires students to complete two semesters of science-major biology (beginning with BIOL 4 at Mt. SAC), two semesters of general chemistry, two semesters of organic chemistry, two semesters of calculus, and introductory physics before transfer. That is a demanding schedule that leaves little room for last-minute planning. The overall UC Berkeley transfer admit rate for Fall 2025 was 24%, with admitted students carrying a mid-50% GPA range of 3.61–3.96 — making clear that the 3.0 minimum GPA is far from a realistic target for competitive applicants. Completing IGETC at Mt. SAC is accepted by Berkeley's College of Letters and Science and strongly recommended, as it satisfies lower-division breadth requirements and frees up schedule space for upper-division biology coursework immediately upon arrival. Mt. SAC students also have access to UC Berkeley's Community College Transfer Services (CCTS), an advising and enrichment program that historically has helped participants achieve admission rates well above the campus average. Tools like Pipeline help students at Mt. San Antonio College build personalized, semester-by-semester transfer plans that map each major prerequisite — like the critical CHEM 40 to BIOL 4 sequence — against IGETC requirements and application deadlines, so nothing falls through the cracks on the way to UC Berkeley.
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