Pasadena City College to UCSD
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Semester-by-semester courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
Pasadena City College
To
UC San Diego
Computer ScienceGPA Reality Check
UCSD's minimum transfer GPA is 3.0, but the middle 50% of admitted transfer students in Fall 2025 had GPAs between 3.55 and 3.94 — and Computer Science is explicitly listed among UCSD's most selective majors. Your major prep GPA in courses like CS 002, CS 003A, MATH 004, MATH 005, and MATH 006 carries significant weight because UCSD screens directly on those grades. A 3.0 might get you in the door for some majors, but for CS, you should be targeting something closer to a 3.7 or above.
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 Pasadena City College that satisfy UC San Diego's Computer Science major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCSD offers several programs that overlap with CS and confuse applicants. Cognitive Science (with a Spec. in ML/Neural Computation) lives in a different division and has different prep requirements. Data Science B.S. is housed in the Halicioglu Data Science Institute and requires DSC-track courses rather than the full CSE sequence. Computer Engineering B.S. (also in Jacobs Engineering) requires additional Physics prep. Make sure you're preparing for the right major — the ASSIST agreements for each are meaningfully different.
| Course at Pasadena City College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CS 002 — Fundamentals of Computer Science I (C++) | CSE 11 — Introduction to Programming and Computational Problem-Solving | 4 |
| CS 003A — Fundamentals of Computer Science II (C++) | CSE 12 — Basic Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design | 3 |
| MATH 046 — Discrete Mathematics and Probability | CSE 20 — Discrete Mathematics | 4 |
| MATH 004 — Calculus I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 005 — Calculus II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 006 — Calculus III: Multivariable Calculus | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 055 — Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHYS 001A — Mechanics and Wave Motion | PHYS 2A — Physics — Mechanics (Natural Science requirement for CS) | 4 |
General Education
Foundation GE at Pasadena City College
Complete these five courses at Pasadena City 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 002
Animal Biology
CHEM 001A
General Chemistry and Chemical Analysis I
HIST 001A
History of European Civilization to 1715
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Pasadena City College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 002 — Animal Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 001A — General Chemistry and Chemical Analysis I | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 001A — History of European Civilization to 1715 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 4 |
MATH 004 → MATH 005 → MATH 006 → MATH 055
The CS math requirement is a four-course sequential chain — Calculus I through Multivariable Calculus through Linear Algebra — and every link is a prerequisite for the next. Start MATH 004 your very first semester at PCC; skipping even one term compounds into a gap that makes it impossible to complete all prep before transfer.
PCC runs on semesters — UCSD runs on quarters
When you transfer to UCSD, your 15-week semester pace shifts to 10-week quarter terms, so expect faster-moving courses and plan to front-load your study habits 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
IGETC Works — But Not for Revelle College
IGETC is accepted at UCSD and will satisfy lower-division GE requirements at seven of UCSD's eight residential colleges — but if you're placed into Revelle College, IGETC alone isn't enough. Revelle requires additional coursework in mathematics and natural science beyond what IGETC covers, so you could arrive with a certified IGETC and still owe extra courses. When you rank your college preferences on the UC application, know which colleges fully honor IGETC and plan accordingly.
PCC's Math Sequence Is Four Courses — Plan All Four
At PCC, completing the full UCSD CS math requirement means four separate courses: MATH 004, MATH 005, MATH 006, and MATH 055 (Linear Algebra) — and they must be taken in strict sequence. Because PCC is on a semester calendar and UCSD is on quarters, students sometimes underestimate how long this chain takes. If you arrive at PCC and don't start MATH 004 in your very first semester, it becomes nearly impossible to finish all four math courses and your CS programming sequence before the application deadline.
CS Is a Selective Major — List an Alternate
UCSD explicitly designates Computer Science B.S. (Jacobs School of Engineering) as a selective major with limited enrollment. If you don't complete the required screening courses or your major prep GPA falls short, you won't be redirected into the general CS pool — you may be denied outright or offered an alternate major. UCSD strongly recommends listing a non-selective alternate major on your application, so pick one you'd genuinely be okay with while you build your CS case.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is it to transfer from Pasadena City College to UC San Diego for Computer Science?
Very competitive. UCSD's overall transfer admit rate for Fall 2025 was 52.7%, but Computer Science is explicitly listed as one of UCSD's most selective majors with limited enrollment. You'll be screened on your completion of specific courses like CS 002, CS 003A, and the full MATH 004–006 sequence, plus your GPA in those courses — not just your overall GPA.
What GPA do I need to transfer from PCC to UCSD as a Computer Science major?
The minimum transferable GPA is 3.0, but the mid-50% GPA range for admitted transfer students at UCSD in Fall 2025 was 3.55–3.94. For a selective major like CS, aim for at least a 3.7 in your major prep courses — MATH 004, MATH 005, MATH 006, MATH 055, CS 002, and CS 003A all count toward how UCSD evaluates your application.
Does UC San Diego have a TAG program for Pasadena City College students?
No — UC San Diego does not participate in the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program. TAG is only available at six UC campuses, and UCSD is not one of them (along with Berkeley and UCLA). PCC students applying to UCSD CS go through the standard competitive transfer process, so your GPA, course completion, and personal insight questions all matter.
Which PCC courses satisfy the UCSD Computer Science major prep requirements?
The core required courses are CS 002 (articulates to CSE 11), CS 003A (articulates to CSE 12), MATH 046 (articulates to CSE 20 — Discrete Math), MATH 004 through MATH 006 (the three-semester calculus sequence articulating to MATH 20A/20B/20C), and MATH 055 (Linear Algebra, articulating to MATH 18). You also need one natural science course — PHYS 001A is a solid choice that covers the Physics 2A requirement.
Does IGETC count for UC San Diego if I transfer from PCC?
Yes, with one important caveat: IGETC is accepted at seven of UCSD's eight residential colleges for GE certification. If you're assigned to Revelle College, however, IGETC doesn't fully satisfy Revelle's GE requirements — Revelle students must also complete additional math and natural science courses beyond the standard IGETC pattern. Check which college you're placed into before assuming IGETC closes out all your GE obligations.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Students at Pasadena City College (PCC) who are targeting Computer Science at UC San Diego (UCSD) face one of the most competitive transfer pathways in the California community college system. Transfer planning for this route requires starting early and mapping out every prerequisite chain from day one. UCSD's overall transfer admit rate for Fall 2025 was 52.7%, but Computer Science is classified as a selective major within the Jacobs School of Engineering — meaning you must complete all required major prerequisites before your application is even reviewed. At PCC, that means working through a four-course math sequence starting with Calculus I (MATH 004) and running through Multivariable Calculus (MATH 006) and Linear Algebra (MATH 055), plus the CS programming sequence beginning with CS 002, Fundamentals of Computer Science I (C++), and continuing through CS 003A for data structures and MATH 046 for Discrete Mathematics. IGETC is accepted at UCSD and can be completed at PCC to satisfy lower-division general education, though students should be aware that Revelle College requires additional coursework beyond the standard IGETC certification. Because PCC operates on a semester calendar and UCSD runs on quarters, students will notice a faster academic pace the moment they step on campus. Given how many moving pieces this pathway involves — major prerequisites, IGETC decisions, selective major screening — tools like Pipeline help PCC students build a personalized transfer plan that accounts for their specific course history and target major, so nothing falls through the cracks on the way to becoming a Triton.
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