Mt. San Antonio College to UCLA
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Semester-by-semester courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
Mt. San Antonio College
To
UCLA
Computer ScienceGPA Reality Check
UCLA's minimum UC-transferable GPA is 3.0, but the actual admitted GPA range for Computer Science transfers in Fall 2024 was 3.96–4.00 — essentially a perfect GPA. The 3% admit rate means competition is brutal and there's almost no margin for error. Your major-prep GPA — especially in CSCI 110, CSCI 111, and your calculus sequence — carries the most weight, and in HSSEAS, both your original grade and any retake grade are both counted.
Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)
Mt. San Antonio College is a Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) partner with UCLA, meaning students who complete the Mt. SAC Honors Program can apply with priority consideration. However, TAP priority applies specifically to majors in the UCLA College of Letters and Science — Computer Science B.S. lives in the Engineering school (HSSEAS), which operates outside of TAP's priority framework. Completing the Honors Program still demonstrates academic rigor and will strengthen your overall application, but you should not rely on TAP status as a competitive advantage for CS specifically.
Major Requirements
Computer Science B.S. — Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science (HSSEAS) Major Preparation
Computer Science B.S. — Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science (HSSEAS) at UCLA
Courses at Mt. San Antonio College that satisfy UCLA's Computer Science major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCLA offers two CS-adjacent paths that students often confuse: Computer Science B.S. (in Engineering/HSSEAS) and Computer Science & Engineering B.S. (also in HSSEAS). There's no CS B.A. in Letters and Science — if you want a more flexible, less engineering-heavy path, the closest option is Mathematics/Computer Science B.S. in L&S. Each program has different prep requirements and different admission processes, so make sure you're applying to the right one.
| Course at Mt. San Antonio College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CSCI 110 — Fundamentals of Computer Science | CS 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I | 3.5 |
| CSCI 111 — Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures | CS 32 — Introduction to Computer Science II | 3.5 |
| MATH 180 — Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 181 — Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 4 |
| MATH 280 — Calculus and Analytic Geometry III | MATH 32A/32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 260 — Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 4 |
| MATH 285 — Differential Equations | MATH 33B — Differential Equations | 4 |
| PHYS 4A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers I | PHYSICS 1A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 4B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers II | PHYSICS 1B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Oscillations, Waves, Electric and Magnetic Fields | 4 |
| No equivalent at Mt. SAC | CS 33 — Introduction to Computer Organization (Discrete Structures — no direct Mt. SAC articulation verified) | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Mt. San Antonio College
Complete these five courses at Mt. San Antonio 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.
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 180 → MATH 181 → MATH 280
Each of Mt. SAC's calculus courses is a hard prerequisite for the next — you cannot take MATH 181 without finishing MATH 180, and MATH 280 requires MATH 181. This three-course chain spans a minimum of three semesters, so if you delay starting by even one semester, you will arrive at UCLA without the full calculus sequence, which is a significant weakness in an application to one of the most competitive CS programs in the country.
UCLA runs on quarters — Mt. SAC runs on semesters
You're used to 16-week semesters; UCLA's quarter system moves the same material in about 10 weeks, so expect a noticeably faster pace once you arrive and plan to hit the ground running.
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
TAP Helps — But Not for Engineering CS
Mt. SAC's participation in the Transfer Alliance Program is a real advantage, but TAP priority consideration only applies to UCLA's College of Letters and Science majors. Computer Science B.S. sits in the Samueli School of Engineering, which doesn't fall under TAP's priority umbrella. Complete the Mt. SAC Honors Program anyway — it signals rigor — but build your application on a near-perfect major-prep GPA, not on TAP status.
Start MATH 180 and CSCI 110 Simultaneously, First Semester
The math and CS chains at Mt. SAC are long — MATH 180 → MATH 181 → MATH 280 — and each course is a full semester. If you don't start MATH 180 and CSCI 110 in your very first semester, you'll almost certainly arrive at UCLA with gaps in your prep. UCLA CS reviewers expect both CSCI 110 and CSCI 111 completed before you apply, and a missing upper-chain math course is a common reason otherwise strong applicants get denied.
IGETC Is Not Recommended for HSSEAS Applicants
UCLA strongly recommends IGETC for College of Letters and Science transfers — but explicitly states it is not recommended for applicants to the Samueli School of Engineering, which includes Computer Science B.S. Instead of spending time on IGETC breadth courses, focus every semester on completing your engineering major prep: calculus, physics, and programming. Prioritizing IGETC over a missing PHYS 4B or MATH 285 could cost you the admit.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need to transfer from Mt. San Antonio College to UCLA Computer Science?
The admitted GPA range for UCLA Computer Science transfers in Fall 2024 was 3.96–4.00 — meaning applicants who got in had near-perfect GPAs. The 3% admit rate leaves almost no room for error, especially in major-prep courses like CSCI 110, CSCI 111, and your MATH 180–281 sequence. The UC minimum is 3.0, but that number has almost no relevance for CS applicants.
What courses do I take at Mt. SAC to prepare for UCLA Computer Science?
Your core major prep at Mt. SAC includes CSCI 110 (Fundamentals of Computer Science) and CSCI 111 for the programming requirement, plus a full calculus series: MATH 180, MATH 181, and MATH 280. You also need MATH 260 (Linear Algebra), MATH 285 (Differential Equations), and two semesters of calculus-based physics (PHYS 4A and 4B). These are all lower-division courses you complete before transferring.
Does TAP help me transfer from Mt. SAC to UCLA for Computer Science?
Mt. SAC is a TAP partner school, but TAP priority consideration applies to majors in UCLA's College of Letters and Science — not to the Samueli School of Engineering, where Computer Science B.S. lives. Completing the Mt. SAC Honors Program still strengthens your application by showing academic rigor, but it won't give you the same priority standing it would for an L&S major like Psychology or Political Science.
Should I complete IGETC at Mt. SAC before transferring to UCLA as a Computer Science major?
No — UCLA explicitly states that IGETC is not recommended for applicants to the Samueli School of Engineering, which includes Computer Science B.S. Your time at Mt. SAC is better spent completing your full engineering major prep (CSCI 110, CSCI 111, the entire MATH 180–285 sequence, and PHYS 4A/4B). Every semester spent on IGETC breadth courses is a semester you're not finishing a critical prerequisite.
How many applicants apply to UCLA Computer Science as transfer students each year?
UCLA received 27,177 total transfer applications for Fall 2024, and Computer Science is one of the most applied-to engineering majors on campus. The CS admit rate was just 3% in Fall 2024, making it one of the most selective transfer pathways at any UC campus. That low rate reflects both the high volume of competitive applicants and the limited number of available seats in the program.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Students at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) who are planning to transfer to UCLA as Computer Science majors are navigating one of the most demanding transfer pathways in the California community college system. With a Fall 2024 admit rate of just 3% and an admitted GPA range of 3.96–4.00, transfer planning for the UCLA Computer Science B.S. program in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering requires a near-perfect academic record and precise course sequencing from day one. Major prerequisites at Mt. San Antonio College include the full calculus series — MATH 180 (Calculus and Analytic Geometry I), MATH 181, and MATH 280 — along with MATH 260 (Linear Algebra), MATH 285 (Differential Equations), calculus-based physics (PHYS 4A and 4B), and the programming sequence beginning with CSCI 110 (Fundamentals of Computer Science). Unlike L&S majors, IGETC is not recommended for HSSEAS applicants, meaning every semester at Mt. SAC should be focused on completing engineering major prerequisites, not general education breadth. While Mt. SAC is a Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) partner with UCLA, TAP priority does not extend to Engineering school majors — students targeting CS should understand that distinction before assuming any advantage. The articulation agreement between Mt. SAC and UCLA, available through ASSIST.org, provides the official course-by-course mapping and should be reviewed every year since agreements can change. Tools like Pipeline help students at Mt. San Antonio College build personalized, semester-by-semester transfer plans that account for prerequisite chains, application deadlines, and major prep completion timelines — reducing the guesswork in one of the most competitive transfer paths in the state.
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