Santa Monica College to UCI
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Semester-by-semester courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
Santa Monica College
To
UC Irvine
Computer ScienceGPA Reality Check
UCI's minimum GPA to apply as a CS transfer is 3.0, but the actual median GPA for admitted community college transfers across all majors was 3.77 — and Computer Science is one of UCI's most competitive majors at roughly a 21% admit rate. That gap matters: a 3.0 gets your application read, not admitted. The courses UCI weighs most heavily are your required prep courses — MATH 7, MATH 8, CS 87, CS 52, CS 55, and CS 56 — and UCI explicitly requires a B or better (not just a C) in each of them. A B– average in your major prep courses while carrying a 3.0 overall is a significant red flag to admissions.
Major Requirements
Computer Science (B.S.) — Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences Major Preparation
Computer Science (B.S.) — Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences at UC Irvine
Courses at Santa Monica College that satisfy UC Irvine's Computer Science major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCI's Donald Bren School of ICS houses several majors that students frequently confuse with Computer Science: Computer Science and Engineering (B.S., jointly run with the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and more hardware/systems-heavy), Software Engineering (B.S., focused on large-scale software development processes), Informatics (B.S., human-centered and design-oriented), and Data Science (B.S., statistics and ML emphasis). Each has distinct prerequisites and a separate application — you cannot be 'redirected' between them after applying, so choose deliberately.
| Course at Santa Monica College | Satisfies at UCI | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 7 — Calculus 1 | MATH 2A — Single-Variable Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 8 — Calculus 2 | MATH 2B — Single-Variable Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 26 — Introduction to Linear Algebra | MATH 3A — Introduction to Linear Algebra | 4 |
| CS 55 — Discrete Mathematics and Probability | I&C SCI 6B — Boolean Logic and Discrete Structures | 3 |
| CS 56 — Discrete Mathematics 2 | I&C SCI 6D — Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science | 3 |
| CS 87 — Python Programming | I&C SCI 31 — Introduction to Programming (first programming course in sequence) | 3 |
| CS 52 — Introduction to Computer Science II (Java) | I&C SCI 32/33 — Programming with Software Libraries / Python and Libraries | 3 |
| No equivalent at Santa Monica College | STATS 67 — Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Computer Science | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Irvine after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Santa Monica College
Complete these five courses at Santa Monica College to start your UCI 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 10
Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology
CHEM 10
Introductory General Chemistry
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
COMM C1000
Introduction to Public Speaking
| Area | Course at Santa Monica College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 10 — Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 10 — Introductory General Chemistry | 5 |
HumanitiesCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
Oral CommunicationCCN | COMM C1000 — Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
MATH 7 → MATH 8 → Calculus Complete
MATH 8 (Calculus 2) requires MATH 7 (Calculus 1) as a prerequisite — and UCI's CS admission requires both before you transfer. Delay MATH 7 by one semester and you almost certainly cannot finish both in time for a two-year transfer plan.
UCI runs on quarters — SMC runs on semesters
UCI's quarter system moves fast: each course covers a semester's worth of material in about 10 weeks, so expect to hit the ground running the day you arrive on campus.
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
Start MATH 7 Your Very First Semester
SMC's math sequence for CS transfer is longer than at many other CCs — MATH 7 (Calculus 1) and MATH 8 (Calculus 2) are each 5-unit semester courses, meaning you need at least two full semesters just to clear the calculus requirement. If you wait until your second semester to start MATH 7, you'll still be in MATH 8 when applications open in October of your second year, and you won't have calculus on your transcript. Get into MATH 7 on day one.
UCI CS Does Not Offer TAG — Plan Accordingly
Computer Science at UCI lives inside the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, and that school is explicitly excluded from the Transfer Admission Guarantee program. No matter how strong your GPA is, there is no TAG safety net for this major — you compete in the regular pool like everyone else. Do not assume the TAG deadline (September 30) applies to you; it doesn't for CS.
SMC Has No Articulated Course for STATS 67
UCI's Computer Science B.S. requires STATS 67 (Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Computer Science), and as of the current ASSIST agreement, Santa Monica College has no course that directly articulates to it. SMC's MATH 54 articulates to UCI's STATS 7 — a different, less rigorous stats course that does not satisfy the STATS 67 requirement for the CS degree. Confirm the current articulation status with a counselor before applying, and be aware that you may need to complete STATS 67 at UCI after transfer, which can affect your time to degree.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need to transfer from Santa Monica College to UC Irvine for Computer Science?
UCI requires a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and a grade of B or better in every required prep course, including MATH 7, MATH 8, CS 87, and CS 52. In practice, Computer Science is one of UCI's most selective majors with a transfer admit rate of roughly 21%, so a GPA well above 3.5 is where you start becoming genuinely competitive. A 3.0 gets you eligible — it does not get you in.
Can I use the TAG program to get guaranteed admission to UCI Computer Science from SMC?
No — Computer Science is housed in UCI's Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, and that school is explicitly excluded from the Transfer Admission Guarantee program. The TAG program at SMC does cover six UC campuses, but CS at UCI is carved out, along with Art, Business Administration, and a few other majors. You must compete through the regular transfer admissions process.
What classes should I take at Santa Monica College to prepare for Computer Science at UCI?
The core prep sequence includes MATH 7 (Calculus 1), MATH 8 (Calculus 2), MATH 26 (Introduction to Linear Algebra), CS 55 (Discrete Mathematics and Probability), CS 56 (Discrete Mathematics 2), CS 87 (Python Programming), and CS 52 (Introduction to Computer Science II in Java). Note that SMC currently has no articulated course for UCI's STATS 67, which is also a CS degree requirement — plan to take that at UCI after transfer.
Does IGETC count for Computer Science at UC Irvine?
Yes, IGETC is accepted for Computer Science at UCI's Donald Bren School of ICS, and completing it at SMC can save you significant time on general education after you transfer. However, completing IGETC does not reduce the major prep requirements — you still need to finish all of your CS and math courses. Prioritize major prep first; use remaining units to chip away at IGETC.
How long does it take to transfer from Santa Monica College to UCI Computer Science?
Most students realistically need two full years at SMC to complete the required 60 UC-transferable semester units and finish the major prep sequence. The math sequence alone — MATH 7 followed by MATH 8, each a 5-unit semester course — takes two semesters if you start immediately. Add CS 87, CS 52, CS 55, CS 56, and MATH 26, and a two-year timeline is tight but achievable if you begin MATH 7 and CS 87 in your very first semester.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Students planning to transfer from Santa Monica College (SMC) to UC Irvine (UCI) for Computer Science are taking on one of the most competitive pathways in the California community college transfer system. The Computer Science B.S. program sits inside UCI's Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences and carries a transfer admit rate of approximately 21%, well below UCI's overall transfer rate of around 40%. Careful transfer planning is essential — and it starts with ASSIST.org, the official articulation database that maps SMC courses directly to UCI's lower-division major prerequisites. The required major prep includes courses like MATH 7 (Calculus 1), MATH 8 (Calculus 2), CS 87 (Python Programming), CS 52 (Introduction to Computer Science II), CS 55 (Discrete Mathematics and Probability), CS 56 (Discrete Mathematics 2), and MATH 26 (Introduction to Linear Algebra). One important gap: SMC currently has no articulated equivalent for UCI's STATS 67, a required course in the CS degree, meaning students should expect to complete it after arriving at UCI. Unlike some UC majors, Computer Science at UCI's Bren School is excluded from the Transfer Admission Guarantee program, so every applicant competes in the general pool — where the median transfer GPA hovers around 3.77. IGETC is accepted for this program, making it a smart strategy to knock out general education requirements while at SMC. The calendar shift also matters: SMC's semester system gives students a longer runway to build skills, but UCI's quarter system is fast-paced from day one. Tools like Pipeline help students map out a personalized semester-by-semester plan that accounts for prerequisite chains, IGETC completion, and the 60-unit minimum, so nothing falls through the cracks on the road from Santa Monica College to UC Irvine.
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