Mt. San Antonio College to UCSD
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Semester-by-semester courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
Mt. San Antonio College
To
UC San Diego
Computer ScienceGPA Reality Check
UCSD's published minimum GPA for transfer eligibility is 2.4, but admitted transfer students in Fall 2025 had a mid-50% GPA range of 3.55–3.94. Computer Science sits inside the Jacobs School of Engineering, one of UCSD's most selective divisions — the gap between the floor and the reality is enormous. Your grades in CSCI 110, CSCI 111, CS 165, and the calculus sequence are the courses UCSD screens most closely, so these are exactly where a B is not good enough.
UC Transfer Admission Planner (TAP)
Quick heads-up: UCSD does NOT offer a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) for Computer Science. TAG at UCSD is not available for any Engineering or CS major — it is only offered for a small set of other majors at selected UC campuses. What you can and should do is enroll in the UC Transfer Admission Planner (TAP) at uctap.universityofcalifornia.edu — it lets you map your coursework against UCSD's requirements and get early feedback before you apply. Think of TAP as your GPS, not a guarantee.
Major Requirements
Computer Science B.S. (Jacobs School of Engineering) Major Preparation
Computer Science B.S. (Jacobs School of Engineering) at UC San Diego
Courses at Mt. San Antonio College that satisfy UC San Diego's Computer Science major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCSD has several programs students frequently confuse with CS. Cognitive Science (Division of Social Sciences) overlaps with CS in human-computer interaction but is a separate major with different prep. Data Science B.S. (Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute) is its own selective major emphasizing statistics and ML — not the same as CS. Computer Engineering B.S. (also Jacobs School) requires more physics and circuits coursework. Make sure you're applying to the right one on your UC application.
| Course at Mt. San Antonio College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CSCI 110 — Fundamentals of Computer Science | CSE 11 — Accelerated Introduction to Programming | 3.5 |
| CSCI 111 — Data Structures and Algorithms | CSE 12 — Basic Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design | 3.5 |
| CS 165 — Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications | CSE 20 — Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 1 — Calculus I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 2 — Calculus II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 26 — Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHYS 4A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers I | PHYS 2A — Physics — Mechanics (science elective requirement for CS B.S.) | 4 |
General Education
Foundation GE at Mt. San Antonio College
Complete these five courses at Mt. San Antonio College to start your UCSD 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 |
MATH 1 → MATH 2 → MATH 26 (Three-Semester Chain)
At Mt. SAC's semester pace, completing Calculus I, Calculus II, and Linear Algebra takes a minimum of three full semesters — start MATH 1 in your very first term or you risk not finishing MATH 26 before UCSD screens your transfer application.
UCSD runs on quarters — Mt. SAC runs on semesters
When you arrive at UCSD, your 18-week semester rhythm becomes a 10-week sprint — adjust by getting office hours and study groups locked in during Week 1, not Week 5.
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
TAG Does Not Apply to UCSD Computer Science
Many Mt. SAC students hear 'TAG' and assume it covers every UC campus and major — it doesn't. UCSD explicitly excludes Computer Science and all Jacobs School of Engineering majors from the TAG program. Instead, enroll in the UC Transfer Admission Planner (TAP) to track your coursework and signal interest to UCSD early, but build your application as if every grade counts — because it does.
Mt. SAC's Math Sequence Is Three Semesters Long
Unlike quarter-system CCs that can fit Calc I, II, and Linear Algebra into a single academic year, Mt. SAC's semester calendar means each math course takes a full 18-week term. That makes the MATH 1 → MATH 2 → MATH 26 chain a minimum three-semester commitment. If you don't start MATH 1 in your very first semester, you risk arriving at transfer time with MATH 26 (Linear Algebra, the MATH 18 equivalent) still incomplete — and UCSD CS screens for it.
CS 165 Is Easy to Overlook, Hard to Replace
Discrete Mathematics (CS 165 at Mt. SAC) satisfies UCSD's CSE 20 requirement, which is a prerequisite for upper-division CS courses like CSE 100. Because CS 165 is cross-listed under a 'CS' prefix rather than 'CSCI,' some students searching the ASSIST agreement miss it entirely. Confirm it on your ASSIST report and get it done before transfer — arriving at UCSD without CSE 20 credit pushes you back a full quarter before you can take core upper-division coursework.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mt. San Antonio College have a TAG agreement with UC San Diego for Computer Science?
No — and this is one of the most common misconceptions for Mt. SAC students. UCSD does not offer a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) for Computer Science or any other Jacobs School of Engineering major. Your best formal tool is the UC Transfer Admission Planner (TAP), which helps you track completion of courses like CSCI 110 and MATH 1 against UCSD's screening requirements.
What GPA do I need to transfer from Mt. SAC to UCSD for Computer Science?
The technical minimum GPA for UC transfer eligibility is 2.4 for California residents, but admitted UCSD transfer students in Fall 2025 had a mid-50% GPA range of 3.55–3.94 across all majors. Computer Science is in the competitive Jacobs School of Engineering, so you should realistically target a 3.7 or higher, with strong grades specifically in CSCI 110, CSCI 111, CS 165, and your calculus courses.
What courses do I need to take at Mt. SAC to prepare for UCSD Computer Science?
At minimum, UCSD screens CS transfer applicants for a programming sequence (CSCI 110 and CSCI 111 at Mt. SAC), discrete math (CS 165), and a calculus sequence (MATH 1 and MATH 2). UCSD also recommends linear algebra (MATH 26) and a science course like PHYS 4A. Check the current ASSIST agreement at assist.org to confirm every course maps correctly before you enroll.
Is IGETC accepted for Computer Science at UC San Diego?
Yes, IGETC is accepted for Computer Science at UCSD, but with an important caveat: if you choose Revelle College as your residential college, IGETC does not fully satisfy Revelle's GE requirements — Revelle adds its own math and natural science requirements on top. For most other UCSD colleges (Muir, Marshall, Warren, Roosevelt, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth), a completed IGETC certification from Mt. SAC clears your lower-division GE obligations and lets you focus on major coursework after you arrive.
How many people apply to transfer to UCSD and what are my chances?
For Fall 2025, 23,441 students applied to transfer to UCSD and 12,355 were admitted, for an overall transfer admit rate of 52.7%. That overall rate sounds encouraging, but Computer Science sits within the Jacobs School of Engineering — one of UCSD's most selective divisions — so the effective admit rate for CS is meaningfully lower than the campus average. Your CSCI and math grades at Mt. SAC carry significant weight in the screening process.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Students at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) who are planning to transfer to UC San Diego (UCSD) as Computer Science majors are entering one of the most competitive pipelines in the California community college system. Transfer planning for this pathway requires more than meeting the 60-unit minimum — it demands deliberate sequencing of major prerequisites, a clear understanding of IGETC's role, and honest awareness of the admissions numbers. UCSD's overall transfer admit rate for Fall 2025 was 52.7% across 23,441 applicants, but Computer Science lives in the Jacobs School of Engineering, which UCSD identifies as one of its most selective divisions, making early and thorough major preparation essential. On ASSIST.org, Mt. SAC students can verify exactly which courses satisfy UCSD's lower-division requirements: CSCI 110 (Fundamentals of Computer Science) maps to CSE 11, CSCI 111 maps to CSE 12, CS 165 (Discrete Mathematics) maps to CSE 20, and the MATH 1–MATH 2–MATH 26 sequence covers UCSD's calculus and linear algebra prep. Because Mt. SAC operates on a semester calendar while UCSD runs on quarters, the math chain alone takes a minimum of three semesters — meaning students who delay MATH 1 often arrive at application time with incomplete major prerequisites. IGETC is accepted for UCSD Computer Science at most residential colleges, giving Mt. SAC students a real advantage in clearing lower-division general education requirements before transfer. One critical note for Mt. SAC students: UCSD does not offer a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) for Computer Science, despite TAG being available through other UC campuses for other majors. Tools like Pipeline help students at Mt. SAC build a personalized, semester-by-semester transfer plan that accounts for prerequisite chains, IGETC certification, and UCSD's major screening requirements — so nothing slips through the cracks on the road to becoming a Triton.
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