Mt. San Antonio College to UCLA
Biology Transfer Plan
Semester-by-semester courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
Mt. San Antonio College
To
UCLA
GPA Reality Check
The UC minimum GPA to transfer is 3.0, but admitted Biology transfers at UCLA came in with a mid-50th percentile range of 3.80–4.00 in Fall 2024 — that's not a floor, that's basically the entire admitted pool. The courses that matter most for your major prep GPA are CHEM 50, CHEM 51, and CHEM 21: these are the hardest classes in your sequence, they're weighted heavily by reviewers, and a C in any one of them signals to UCLA that you may struggle in their upper-division curriculum. Aim for a B+ or better in every science course, because biology is a 20% admit rate major and there's no room to let one bad semester sink your application.
Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)
Mt. SAC is a full member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), and TAP-certified students are 2–3 times more likely to get into UCLA compared to other Mt. SAC applicants — that is a real, documented edge in a major with a 20% admit rate. To get certified, you need to complete at least 15 units of Honors coursework through Mt. SAC's Honors Program with a minimum 3.2 UC-transferable GPA, then sign your TAP Applicant Form online in the late January to mid-February window before your transfer year. Talk to an Honors counselor at Mt. SAC as early as your first semester — spots in Honors sections fill up and you need time to accumulate 15 units.
Major Requirements
Biology (College of Letters & Science, B.S.) Major Preparation
Biology (College of Letters & Science, B.S.) at UCLA
Courses at Mt. San Antonio College that satisfy UCLA's Biology major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCLA offers several life sciences majors that students frequently confuse with Biology: Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology (MCDB) focuses on cell-level and molecular mechanisms, while Ecology, Behavior & Evolution (EBE) emphasizes organismal and evolutionary biology. Psychobiology sits in the same college but is its own separate major. All share overlapping lower-division prep, but the upper-division coursework and career tracks diverge significantly — make sure you're applying to the right one.
| Course at Mt. San Antonio College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1 — General Biology | Life Sciences 7A | 4 |
| BIOL 4 — Cell and Molecular Biology | Life Sciences 7B | 4 |
| No equivalent at Mt. SAC | Life Sciences 7C | — |
| No equivalent at Mt. SAC | Life Sciences 23L (Introductory Laboratory) | — |
| CHEM 50 — General Chemistry I | Chemistry 20A | 5 |
| CHEM 51 — General Chemistry II | Chemistry 20B | 5 |
| CHEM 21 — Organic Chemistry I | Chemistry 30A | 5 |
| MATH 180 — Calculus I | Mathematics 31A | 5 |
| MATH 185 — Calculus II | Mathematics 31B | 5 |
| PHYS 4A — Calculus-Based Physics: Mechanics | Physics 1A | 4 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
IGETC at Mt. San Antonio College
Complete IGETC at Mt. San Antonio College to satisfy UCLA's lower-division GE requirements before transferring.
ENGL 1A
3 unitsENGL 1C
3 unitsMATH 110 (Statistics), MATH 180 (Calculus I) — note: MATH 180 also satisfies major prep
3-5 unitsART 101, MUS 20, PHOT 1
3 unitsENGL 2, ENGL 5, HIST 7A, PHIL 1
3 unitsPSYC 1A, SOC 1, ECON 1, ANTH 1
3 unitsCHEM 50 (General Chemistry I), PHYS 4A — note: these also satisfy major prep
3-5 unitsBIOL 1 (General Biology) — note: also satisfies major prep
4 unitsSPAN 1, SPAN 2, FREN 1, JAPN 1, CHIN 1
3-5 units| Area | Course options at Mt. San Antonio College | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1A: English Composition | ENGL 1A | 3 |
| 1B: Critical Thinking and Composition | ENGL 1C | 3 |
| 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 110 (Statistics), MATH 180 (Calculus I) — note: MATH 180 also satisfies major prep | 3-5 |
| 3A: Arts | ART 101, MUS 20, PHOT 1 | 3 |
| 3B: Humanities | ENGL 2, ENGL 5, HIST 7A, PHIL 1 | 3 |
| 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences | PSYC 1A, SOC 1, ECON 1, ANTH 1 | 3 |
| 5A: Physical Sciences | CHEM 50 (General Chemistry I), PHYS 4A — note: these also satisfy major prep | 3-5 |
| 5B: Biological Sciences | BIOL 1 (General Biology) — note: also satisfies major prep | 4 |
| 6: Language Other Than English | SPAN 1, SPAN 2, FREN 1, JAPN 1, CHIN 1 | 3-5 |
CHEM 50 → CHEM 51 → CHEM 21
General Chemistry I (CHEM 50) must come before General Chemistry II (CHEM 51), which must come before Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 21) — that's three consecutive semesters of chemistry that all need to be done before you transfer. Start CHEM 50 in your first semester or you will run out of semesters before the chain is complete.
UCLA runs on quarters — Mt. SAC runs on semesters
You're used to 16-week semesters at Mt. SAC, but at UCLA each quarter is only 10 weeks — material moves significantly faster, so expect to adjust your study pace and time management strategy 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
Don't Wait on General Chemistry First Semester
CHEM 50 (General Chemistry I) is the first link in a four-course chain: CHEM 50 → CHEM 51 → CHEM 21, and UCLA Biology requires all of it. If you push CHEM 50 to your second semester, you're already behind — Organic Chemistry won't be done before you apply. Enroll in CHEM 50 your very first semester, no exceptions.
LS 7C Has No Mt. SAC Equivalent — Plan for It
UCLA's Life Sciences 7C has no articulated equivalent at Mt. SAC, which means you cannot check that box before you arrive on campus. That's normal — UCLA knows this and you will take it your first quarter there. What it means for you right now is: don't waste time looking for a substitute course, and don't let anyone tell you that BIOL 5 or another Mt. SAC course covers it.
TAP Certification Has a Hard Deadline — Don't Miss It
The UCLA TAP Applicant Form must be signed online in a narrow window between late January and mid-February of your application year. Miss that window and you lose the priority consideration advantage entirely — even if you completed all 15 Honors units with a 3.8 GPA. Set a calendar reminder the moment you start the Honors Program so this date doesn't sneak up on you.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need to transfer from Mt. San Antonio College to UCLA for Biology?
The published UC minimum is 3.0, but the actual mid-50th percentile GPA range for admitted Biology transfers at UCLA in Fall 2024 was 3.80–4.00. That means the realistic floor for a competitive application is closer to a 3.8. Your grades in science prerequisites like CHEM 50 and BIOL 1 carry the most weight.
Does Mt. San Antonio College have any special transfer agreement with UCLA?
Yes — Mt. SAC is a participating member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP). TAP-certified students get priority consideration for admission to majors in UCLA's College of Letters and Science, which includes Biology. To get certified, you need to complete 15 Honors units at Mt. SAC with at least a 3.2 cumulative UC-transferable GPA.
Can I use IGETC to satisfy general education requirements when transferring to UCLA Biology?
Yes — Biology B.S. is housed in UCLA's College of Letters and Science, which accepts IGETC. Completing IGETC at Mt. SAC means you arrive at UCLA with most lower-division GE requirements already fulfilled. Be aware that several of your major prep courses — like CHEM 50 (Area 5A) and BIOL 1 (Area 5B) — can double-count toward IGETC, which helps you manage your unit load.
What biology and chemistry courses should I take at Mt. San Antonio College before transferring to UCLA?
The core prep sequence is BIOL 1 (General Biology), BIOL 4 (Cell and Molecular Biology), CHEM 50 (General Chemistry I), CHEM 51 (General Chemistry II), and CHEM 21 (Organic Chemistry I). You'll also need MATH 180 (Calculus I) and PHYS 4A (Calculus-Based Physics: Mechanics). Note that UCLA's Life Sciences 7C and 23L laboratory course have no articulated equivalent at Mt. SAC, so those will be taken after transfer.
How competitive is the Biology major for transfer students at UCLA?
In Fall 2024, Biology had a 20% transfer admit rate at UCLA — which sounds manageable, but remember the applicant pool is overwhelmingly composed of students with GPAs above 3.7 from strong California community colleges. Completing all major prep courses (especially the full chemistry sequence starting with CHEM 50), maintaining a high GPA, and getting TAP-certified through Mt. SAC's Honors Program are the most concrete ways to strengthen your application.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Planning to transfer from Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) to UCLA as a Biology major is one of the most well-defined — and competitive — transfer pathways in the California community college system. The Biology B.S. at UCLA sits in the College of Letters and Science, where the Fall 2024 transfer admit rate for Biology was 20%, with admitted students carrying a mid-50th percentile GPA range of 3.80–4.00. Solid transfer planning starts on day one at Mt. SAC, because the lower-division major prerequisites form a long sequential chain: CHEM 50 (General Chemistry I) feeds into CHEM 51 and then into CHEM 21 (Organic Chemistry I), while BIOL 1 (General Biology) must come before BIOL 4 (Cell and Molecular Biology). Missing the start of that chain in your first semester can mean your major prep is incomplete at the time you submit your UC application. On the general education side, Mt. SAC students transferring to UCLA's College of Letters and Science can use IGETC to satisfy lower-division GE requirements — and several major prep courses like BIOL 1 and CHEM 50 double-count toward IGETC areas 5B and 5A, respectively, making it possible to knock out both GE and prerequisites simultaneously. Mt. SAC is also a member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), and TAP-certified students are documented to be 2–3 times more likely to gain admission than non-certified Mt. SAC applicants — a substantial edge in an already competitive major. Certification requires completing 15 Honors units with a minimum 3.2 GPA and signing the TAP Applicant Form during a narrow window in late January through mid-February. Tools like Pipeline help students map out every semester from their first day at Mt. SAC through their intended transfer date, flagging prerequisite chains, IGETC completion gaps, and TAP certification timelines all in one personalized plan.
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