Mt. San Antonio College to UCLA
Nursing 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
UCLA's minimum GPA to apply is 3.0, but the School of Nursing sets its own floor at 3.5 — and with only about 10 transfer spots available and over 200 applicants, the real bar is higher still. With a program admit rate around 0.9%, your science GPA is everything: UCLA will scrutinize your grades in CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B, CHEM 2A, BIOL 1, and BIOL 2 above all else. A single C in any of those courses is a serious red flag; aim for A's across the board in every science class.
Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)
Mt. SAC participates in UCLA's Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), and TAP-certified Mt. SAC students are 2–3 times more likely to get into UCLA overall. The catch: TAP priority only covers majors in UCLA's College of Letters and Science — Nursing is explicitly excluded. That means earning TAP certification won't give you an edge for Nursing admission, though it could help if you list a Letters and Science major as an alternate. If Nursing is your goal, focus your energy on acing your science prerequisites rather than banking on TAP.
Major Requirements
Nursing B.S. Prelicensure (Joe C. Wen School of Nursing) Major Preparation
Nursing B.S. Prelicensure (Joe C. Wen School of Nursing) at UCLA
Courses at Mt. San Antonio College that satisfy UCLA's Nursing major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
Some students confuse the UCLA Nursing B.S. (a prelicensure program for students without an RN license) with UCLA's graduate-entry MECN/MSN program, which is for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field. There is no 'change of major' into Nursing once you're at UCLA — you must apply directly to the School of Nursing as a transfer. Public Health at UCLA's Fielding School is a separate, more accessible major that some students pivot to as a backup.
| Course at Mt. San Antonio College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1 — General Biology I | Life Sciences 7A — Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 2 — General Biology II | Life Sciences 7C — Physiology and Human Biology | 4 |
| CHEM 1A — General Chemistry I | Chemistry 20A — Chemical Structure | 5 |
| CHEM 1B — General Chemistry II | Chemistry 20B — Chemical Energetics and Change | 5 |
| CHEM 2A — Organic Chemistry I | Chemistry 30A — Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
| BIOL 22 — Human Anatomy | Physiological Science 3 — Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 23 — Human Physiology | Physiological Science 13 — Human Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 21 — General Microbiology | Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics — Introductory Microbiology (strongly recommended) | 4 |
| PSYC 1A — General Psychology | Psychology 10 — Introductory Psychology (strongly recommended) | 3 |
| COMM 1 — Fundamentals of Public Speaking | Communication Studies 1 — Principles of Oral Communication (strongly recommended) | 3 |
| MATH 181 — Calculus for Life Sciences I | Life Sciences 30A — Calculus for Life Sciences (strongly recommended) | 5 |
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 (Reading and Composition)
4 unitsENGL 1C (Critical Thinking and Writing) or PHIL 1A (Critical Thinking)
3–4 unitsCOMM 1 (Fundamentals of Public Speaking) or COMM 9 (Interpersonal Communication)
3 unitsMATH 110 (Statistics) or MATH 181 (Calculus for Life Sciences I)
3–5 unitsART 101 (Art History: Prehistoric Through Medieval) or MUS 20 (Music Appreciation)
3 unitsENGL 5 (Introduction to Literature) or HIST 7A (Western Civilization to 1648)
3 unitsPSYC 1A (General Psychology) or SOC 1 (Introduction to Sociology) or ECON 1 (Principles of Macroeconomics)
3 unitsCHEM 1A (General Chemistry I) or PHYS 1A (Mechanics)
4–5 unitsBIOL 1 (General Biology I) or BIOL 21 (General Microbiology)
4 unitsSatisfied by the lab component included with CHEM 1A, BIOL 1, or BIOL 21
0 unitsSPAN 1 (Elementary Spanish I) or FREN 1 (Elementary French I) or ASL 1 (American Sign Language I) — second semester of same language or demonstrated proficiency also satisfies this area
3–5 units| Area | Course options at Mt. San Antonio College | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1A: English Composition | ENGL 1A (Reading and Composition) | 4 |
| 1B: Critical Thinking and Composition | ENGL 1C (Critical Thinking and Writing) or PHIL 1A (Critical Thinking) | 3–4 |
| 1C: Oral Communication (UC only) | COMM 1 (Fundamentals of Public Speaking) or COMM 9 (Interpersonal Communication) | 3 |
| 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 110 (Statistics) or MATH 181 (Calculus for Life Sciences I) | 3–5 |
| 3A: Arts | ART 101 (Art History: Prehistoric Through Medieval) or MUS 20 (Music Appreciation) | 3 |
| 3B: Humanities | ENGL 5 (Introduction to Literature) or HIST 7A (Western Civilization to 1648) | 3 |
| 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences | PSYC 1A (General Psychology) or SOC 1 (Introduction to Sociology) or ECON 1 (Principles of Macroeconomics) | 3 |
| 5A: Physical and Biological Sciences — Physical Science | CHEM 1A (General Chemistry I) or PHYS 1A (Mechanics) | 4–5 |
| 5B: Physical and Biological Sciences — Biological Science | BIOL 1 (General Biology I) or BIOL 21 (General Microbiology) | 4 |
| 5C: Laboratory Activity | Satisfied by the lab component included with CHEM 1A, BIOL 1, or BIOL 21 | 0 |
| 6: Languages Other Than English | SPAN 1 (Elementary Spanish I) or FREN 1 (Elementary French I) or ASL 1 (American Sign Language I) — second semester of same language or demonstrated proficiency also satisfies this area | 3–5 |
CHEM 1A → CHEM 1B → CHEM 2A: A Three-Semester Chain
General Chemistry I (CHEM 1A) must be completed before CHEM 1B, which must be completed before Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 2A) — and all three are required for UCLA Nursing transfer. Miss the start of this chain in your first semester, and you will not finish your major prep in time to apply competitively.
UCLA Runs on Quarters — Mt. SAC Runs on Semesters
Once you transfer, your 15-week semesters at Mt. SAC become 10-week quarters at UCLA, so expect the same volume of material in significantly less time — build strong study habits and time-management skills before you arrive.
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 Delay CHEM 1A — Start It Immediately
The chemistry sequence at Mt. SAC — CHEM 1A → CHEM 1B → CHEM 2A — spans three semesters minimum, and all three must be done before you transfer. If you wait even one semester to start CHEM 1A, you may find yourself applying to UCLA with incomplete major prep, which is an almost guaranteed rejection for a program this competitive. Put CHEM 1A on your schedule your very first semester, full stop.
IGETC Must Be Fully Certified — Partial Won't Work
UCLA's School of Nursing requires full IGETC certification from community college applicants — partial IGETC is explicitly not accepted. That means every required IGETC area must be complete and officially certified by Mt. SAC before you enroll at UCLA. Don't leave Area 6 (Language Other Than English) or any other area for 'later' — there is no later in this program.
TAP Certification Will Not Help You for Nursing
Mt. SAC's Honors Program is excellent, and TAP is a genuine advantage for many UCLA majors — but Nursing is explicitly excluded from TAP priority consideration. If you spend energy solely on TAP certification thinking it will boost your Nursing application, you're solving the wrong problem. Your time is better spent earning A's in BIOL 22 (Human Anatomy), BIOL 23 (Human Physiology), and the chemistry sequence, and crafting a compelling supplemental application due January 15.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is it to transfer from Mt. San Antonio College to UCLA Nursing?
Extremely hard — UCLA Nursing's transfer admit rate is approximately 0.9%, with only around 10 transfer students admitted per year from a pool of over 200 applicants. The School of Nursing sets a minimum 3.5 GPA requirement, but competitive applicants typically sit well above that. Completing all required courses like CHEM 1A, BIOL 1, and BIOL 2 with A's is essentially non-negotiable.
What courses do I need to take at Mt. SAC to prepare for UCLA Nursing?
You need to complete a full general biology sequence (BIOL 1 and BIOL 2), a full general chemistry sequence (CHEM 1A and CHEM 1B), one semester of organic chemistry (CHEM 2A), Human Anatomy (BIOL 22), and Human Physiology (BIOL 23) — all with grades of C or better, though A's are the practical standard. General Microbiology (BIOL 21), General Psychology (PSYC 1A), and a communication course are strongly recommended as well.
Does IGETC count for UCLA Nursing transfer from Mt. SAC?
Yes — and it's actually required. UCLA's School of Nursing mandates full IGETC certification for community college transfer applicants; partial IGETC will not be accepted. You need to complete all IGETC areas at Mt. SAC, including Area 6 (Language Other Than English), and have the certification on file before you enroll.
Does the Mt. SAC Honors Program or TAP help with UCLA Nursing transfer?
TAP certification from Mt. SAC's Honors Program makes you 2–3 times more likely to get into UCLA for most College of Letters and Science majors, but Nursing is explicitly excluded from TAP priority consideration. Participating in Honors is still worthwhile for the academic rigor and the alternate major option, but it won't give you a direct boost for the Nursing application itself.
Does UCLA Nursing require a supplemental application for transfers?
Yes — the School of Nursing requires a supplemental application with a deadline of January 15, the same cycle as your main UC application in November. The supplemental includes a statement of purpose that functions as your written interview, so start drafting it early. Healthcare experience is also strongly recommended and will factor into your holistic review.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Transferring from Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) to UCLA's Joe C. Wen School of Nursing is one of the most competitive transfer pathways in California — with a program admit rate of approximately 0.9% and only around 10 transfer spots available each year. Serious transfer planning starts early at Mt. SAC, because the major prerequisites form a long chain: General Chemistry I (CHEM 1A) must come first, followed by CHEM 1B and then Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 2A), all before the application deadline. On top of that chemistry sequence, students need to complete the general biology sequence (BIOL 1 and BIOL 2), Human Anatomy (BIOL 22), and Human Physiology (BIOL 23). The School of Nursing sets a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA — well above the standard 3.0 UC floor — and applicants from California community colleges must provide full IGETC certification upon entry; partial IGETC is not accepted. That means every IGETC area, including the Language Other Than English requirement, must be finished and certified at Mt. SAC before you enroll at UCLA. IGETC courses like ENGL 1A and MATH 110 can be layered strategically alongside major prerequisites to keep unit counts on track for the 60-semester-unit minimum required to transfer. While Mt. SAC's Honors Program offers access to UCLA's Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), students should know that TAP priority does not apply to the Nursing major — so the focus must stay on science GPA. Tools like Pipeline help Mt. SAC Nursing hopefuls map every requirement — IGETC areas, major prerequisites, and prerequisite chains — into a semester-by-semester plan, so nothing falls through the cracks in what is already an unforgiving timeline.
Build your Mt. San Antonio College → UCLA plan
Personalized, semester-by-semester. Free to start.
Get My Transfer Plan