Mt. San Antonio College to UCI
Psychology Transfer Plan
Semester-by-semester courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
Mt. San Antonio College
To
UC Irvine
GPA Reality Check
UCI's minimum GPA to transfer is 2.4 for California residents, but the median GPA of admitted community college transfers sits at 3.77 — that's a massive gap. For Psychology specifically, your major prep GPA matters most: the grades you earn in PSYC C1000, PSYC 2, and any science or math breadth courses are scrutinized closely. Aim for a 3.5 or higher in all of those, and shoot for a 3.4 minimum if you want TAG eligibility.
Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
UCI's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) is one of the most direct paths to a guaranteed admission letter before you even submit the regular UC application. To lock in your spot for Psychology, you need a minimum 3.4 cumulative UC-transferable GPA and your major prep completed with no grade below a C. Apply through UC TAP between September 1–30 — this is a hard window, and missing it means waiting another full year.
Major Requirements
Psychology (B.S.) — School of Social Sciences Major Preparation
Psychology (B.S.) — School of Social Sciences at UC Irvine
Courses at Mt. San Antonio College that satisfy UC Irvine's Psychology major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCI has two distinct psychology-adjacent programs that students frequently mix up: 'Psychology' (B.S.) lives in the School of Social Sciences and is research-focused, while 'Psychology and Social Behavior' (B.S.) lives in the School of Social Ecology and takes a more applied, community-oriented approach. There is also a Cognitive Sciences B.S. in Social Sciences for students drawn to the mind-brain-computation overlap. Make sure the major name on your TAG application matches exactly what you intend to study.
| Course at Mt. San Antonio College | Satisfies at UCI | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC C1000 — Introduction to Psychology | PSYCH 9A — Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 2 — Biological Basis of Behavior | PSYCH 9C — Biopsychology | 3 |
| PSYC 10 — Statistics for Behavioral Sciences | Science/math elective course (counts toward the 4-course breadth requirement) | 4 |
| MATH 7A — Calculus 1 | MATH 2A — Single-Variable Calculus (counts toward the 4-course breadth requirement) | 4 |
| BIOL 1 — General Biology I | BIO SCI 93 — Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (counts toward the 4-course breadth requirement) | 4 |
| BIOL 2 — General Biology II | BIO SCI 94 — Introduction to Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (counts toward the 4-course breadth requirement) | 4 |
General Education
IGETC at Mt. San Antonio College
Complete IGETC at Mt. San Antonio College to satisfy UC Irvine's lower-division GE requirements before transferring.
ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGL 1A) — Reading and Composition
3 unitsENGL C1010 (formerly ENGL 1B) — Critical Thinking and Writing
3 unitsSTAT C1000 (formerly MATH 110) — Statistics; MATH 7A — Calculus 1
3–4 unitsART 1 — Introduction to Visual Arts; MUS 20 — Music Appreciation; PHOT 1 — Introduction to Photography
3 unitsENGL 2 — Introduction to Literature; HIST 1 — World History I; PHIL 1 — Introduction to Philosophy
3 unitsPSYC C1000 — Introduction to Psychology; SOC 1 — Introduction to Sociology; HIST 11 — U.S. History and Government
3 unitsCHEM 1A — General Chemistry I (with lab); PHYS 1A — General Physics I
3–4 unitsBIOL 1 — General Biology I; BIOL 2 — General Biology II
3–4 unitsSPAN 1 — Elementary Spanish I; ASL 1 — American Sign Language I; CHIN 1 — Elementary Chinese I
3–5 units| Area | Course options at Mt. San Antonio College | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1A: English Composition | ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGL 1A) — Reading and Composition | 3 |
| 1B: Critical Thinking and Composition | ENGL C1010 (formerly ENGL 1B) — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
| 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning | STAT C1000 (formerly MATH 110) — Statistics; MATH 7A — Calculus 1 | 3–4 |
| 3A: Arts | ART 1 — Introduction to Visual Arts; MUS 20 — Music Appreciation; PHOT 1 — Introduction to Photography | 3 |
| 3B: Humanities | ENGL 2 — Introduction to Literature; HIST 1 — World History I; PHIL 1 — Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences | PSYC C1000 — Introduction to Psychology; SOC 1 — Introduction to Sociology; HIST 11 — U.S. History and Government | 3 |
| 5A: Physical Sciences | CHEM 1A — General Chemistry I (with lab); PHYS 1A — General Physics I | 3–4 |
| 5B: Biological Sciences | BIOL 1 — General Biology I; BIOL 2 — General Biology II | 3–4 |
| 6: Language Other Than English | SPAN 1 — Elementary Spanish I; ASL 1 — American Sign Language I; CHIN 1 — Elementary Chinese I | 3–5 |
PSYC C1000 → PSYC 2 & PSYC 5
Introduction to Psychology (PSYC C1000) is a prerequisite for both Biological Basis of Behavior (PSYC 2) and Research Methods (PSYC 5) — two of UCI's most important lower-division prep courses. Get locked out of PSYC C1000 in your first semester and you're automatically pushed back a full semester on the entire rest of your major prep chain.
UCI runs on quarters — Mt. SAC runs on semesters
Your two Mt. SAC semesters of material will be spread across three UCI quarters once you transfer, so expect your first quarter at UCI to feel fast-paced compared to what you're used to.
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 Confuse Two Different Psychology Degrees
UCI offers 'Psychology' (B.S.) in the School of Social Sciences and 'Psychology and Social Behavior' (B.S.) in the School of Social Ecology — these are genuinely different programs with different faculty, emphases, and prep requirements. When you apply for TAG or submit your UC Application, the major name must match exactly. Double-check ASSIST under the correct major before building your plan.
PSYC C1000 Must Come First — Plan Around It
Introduction to Psychology (PSYC C1000) is the gateway to both PSYC 2 (Biological Basis of Behavior) and PSYC 5 (Research Methods). If you push PSYC C1000 to your second semester, you lose an entire semester of downstream options and may not complete required prep before applying. Take it your very first semester at Mt. SAC.
IGETC Is Recommended — Don't Skip the Science Labs
The School of Social Sciences at UCI explicitly recommends completing IGETC before transfer, and Psychology's 4-course breadth requirement overlaps heavily with IGETC Area 5 (Physical and Biological Sciences). Courses like BIOL 1 and CHEM 1A with labs satisfy both IGETC 5B/5A and your major prep breadth slots at the same time — that's double credit for your effort. A common mistake is taking a lecture-only science course and missing the lab, which won't satisfy the 'with lab' requirement.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need to transfer from Mt. San Antonio College to UC Irvine for Psychology?
The minimum UC-transferable GPA for California residents is 2.4, but the median GPA of admitted community college transfers to UCI is 3.77. If you want to use the TAG program to guarantee your admission to Psychology, you need at least a 3.4 cumulative UC-transferable GPA — and you'll want strong grades specifically in PSYC C1000 and your science breadth courses.
What courses do I need to take at Mt. San Antonio College to prepare for Psychology at UCI?
At a minimum, you need to complete PSYC C1000 (Introduction to Psychology) and PSYC 2 (Biological Basis of Behavior), which articulate directly to UCI's PSYCH 9A and PSYCH 9C. You also need at least four courses from calculus, biological sciences, chemistry (with labs), or physics — courses like BIOL 1, BIOL 2, or MATH 7A all count toward this breadth requirement. Check ASSIST.org for the most current Mt. SAC to UCI Psychology articulation.
Does the UCI Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) apply to Psychology?
Yes — Psychology participates in UCI's TAG program, which gives California Community College students a guaranteed admission offer before the regular application cycle. Mt. SAC students can apply for TAG through UC TAP between September 1 and September 30. You need a 3.4 GPA and all major prerequisites completed with no grade below a C.
Should I complete IGETC before transferring to UCI for Psychology?
Yes. UCI accepts IGETC, and the School of Social Sciences — which houses the Psychology B.S. — explicitly recommends completing IGETC before transfer. Many of the IGETC Area 5 science courses (like BIOL 1 and BIOL 2 at Mt. SAC) also satisfy UCI's 4-course breadth requirement for the major, so you can knock out GE and major prep at the same time.
What is the difference between Psychology and Psychology and Social Behavior at UC Irvine?
These are two separate degrees at two separate schools. 'Psychology' (B.S.) is in UCI's School of Social Sciences and is oriented toward research, neuroscience, and experimental methods. 'Psychology and Social Behavior' (B.S.) is in the School of Social Ecology and takes a more applied, policy-oriented perspective. The ASSIST articulation agreements and TAG requirements are different for each, so confirm which one you want before you start planning your Mt. SAC coursework.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Students transferring from Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) to UC Irvine for Psychology have one of the more well-defined pathways in the California community college transfer system — but that doesn't mean it's automatic. Transfer planning starts with understanding exactly what UCI's School of Social Sciences requires for the Psychology B.S.: at minimum, courses equivalent to PSYCH 9A and PSYCH 9C (covered at Mt. SAC by PSYC C1000 and PSYC 2, respectively), plus at least four courses from a breadth menu that includes calculus, biology, chemistry with labs, or physics. The School of Social Sciences explicitly recommends completing IGETC before transfer, which is great news because several IGETC courses — particularly in Area 5 (Biological and Physical Sciences) — double as major prerequisites. For the 2024 application cycle, UC Irvine received over 25,000 transfer applications and admitted roughly 39.9% of them, with the median GPA for California community college admits sitting at 3.77. The gap between UCI's stated minimum GPA of 2.4 and that 3.77 median is real and significant — Psychology is a popular major, and competition is genuine. Mt. SAC students who want a guaranteed offer should look into UCI's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, which requires a 3.4 GPA and must be submitted through UC TAP between September 1 and September 30. One frequently overlooked hazard on this path is confusing UCI's Psychology B.S. with the separate Psychology and Social Behavior B.S. offered through the School of Social Ecology — they are different programs, different schools, different prep. Tools like Pipeline help Mt. SAC students map out every major prerequisite and IGETC requirement on a single personalized plan, so nothing falls through the cracks between now and the day you enroll at UCI.
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