Santa Monica College to UCLA
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Semester-by-semester courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
Santa Monica College
To
UCLA
Computer ScienceGPA Reality Check
UCLA's minimum GPA to transfer is 3.0, but Computer Science admitted students in Fall 2024 had a mid-50th percentile GPA range of 3.96–4.00 — meaning half of all admits were essentially perfect. A 3.5 may get you through the door at other majors, but not this one. Your grades in CS 52, CS 55, and the calculus sequence matter most because those are the courses UCLA uses to evaluate whether you're actually ready for upper-division engineering work.
Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)
SMC's Scholars Program is your path to TAP certification, and it's worth enrolling early. Here's the catch for CS applicants: TAP's priority consideration applies to UCLA's College of Letters and Science — and Computer Science B.S. lives in the Engineering school, which doesn't participate in TAP priority. Get certified anyway. TAP lets you list a Letters and Science alternate major on your UC application, giving you a legitimate second chance at UCLA if Engineering doesn't pan out.
Major Requirements
Computer Science (Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science B.S.) Major Preparation
Computer Science (Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science B.S.) at UCLA
Courses at Santa Monica College that satisfy UCLA's Computer Science major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCLA also offers Computer Science and Engineering (B.S.) through the same engineering school, which adds more hardware and circuits coursework, and Mathematics of Computation (B.S.) through Letters and Science, which leans more theoretical. There's also a Linguistics and Computer Science B.A. if you want a lighter computational track inside Letters and Science. Make sure you know which one you're targeting — the prep requirements and admit rates differ.
| Course at Santa Monica College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CS 52 — Introduction to Computer Science I | CS 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I | 3 |
| CS 55 — Introduction to Computer Science II | CS 32 — Introduction to Data Structures | 3 |
| MATH 7 — Calculus 1 | MATH 31A — Differential Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 8 — Calculus 2 | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 5 |
| MATH 11 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 32A / 32B — Multivariable Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 13 — Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 3 |
| MATH 15 — Discrete Structures | CS M51A — Logic and Discrete Structures | 3 |
| PHYS 21 — General Physics I (with lab PHYS 21L) | PHYS 1A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics | 5 |
| PHYS 22 — General Physics II (with lab PHYS 22L) | PHYS 1B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Oscillations, Waves, Electric and Magnetic Fields | 5 |
| No equivalent at Santa Monica College | CS M152A — Introductory Digital Logic Laboratory | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA 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 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 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 → MATH 11 Chain
This three-course calculus sequence is the backbone of your entire CS prep plan — each course requires the one before it, and PHYS 21 won't make sense without at least MATH 7 under your belt. Start MATH 7 in your very first semester at SMC or you will not finish all required prep before your application is due.
SMC runs on semesters — UCLA runs on quarters
Once you transfer, UCLA's quarter system moves roughly 30% faster than what you're used to at SMC, so plan to front-load your study habits before you arrive — a 10-week quarter leaves almost no recovery time if you fall behind in a STEM course.
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 and CS 52 Simultaneously First Semester
The math chain at SMC runs four courses deep: MATH 7 → MATH 8 → MATH 11, plus MATH 13 and MATH 15 before you're done. If you wait even one semester to start MATH 7, it becomes nearly impossible to finish all required lower-division prep by the time UCLA applications open in the fall of your second year. Take MATH 7 and CS 52 together in your very first semester — they have no overlapping prerequisites and starting both immediately is the only way to stay on track.
TAP Helps — But Not the Way You Might Think
Computer Science B.S. is housed in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, which doesn't participate in TAP's priority admissions. If you get TAP-certified through SMC's Scholars Program expecting a boost directly to CS, you'll be disappointed. Where TAP actually helps CS applicants is through the alternate major: it lets you list a Letters and Science major as a backup, giving you a second reviewed shot at UCLA if Engineering denies you.
SMC Has No Articulated Course for CS M152A
UCLA's CS B.S. requires CS M152A (Introductory Digital Logic Laboratory), and Santa Monica College has no articulated equivalent for it. This is a course you will complete after you arrive at UCLA — it doesn't block your admission, but it does mean you won't arrive with that box checked. Don't waste time searching for a workaround; just plan for it as one of your first-quarter requirements on campus.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need to transfer from Santa Monica College to UCLA Computer Science?
The UC minimum is 3.0, but that won't come close to getting you into CS. Fall 2024 admitted CS transfers had a mid-50th percentile GPA of 3.96–4.00 — the most competitive of any major. Focus on earning A's in CS 52, CS 55, and your entire MATH 7 through MATH 13 sequence, because those are the courses UCLA will scrutinize most carefully.
Does TAP help me transfer to UCLA for Computer Science from SMC?
Not directly. TAP gives priority consideration for majors in UCLA's College of Letters and Science, and Computer Science B.S. lives in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, which doesn't participate in the TAP priority review. Getting certified through SMC's Scholars Program still pays off because it lets you designate a Letters and Science alternate major, giving you a backup path to UCLA admission.
What courses should I take at SMC to transfer to UCLA as a Computer Science major?
The core lower-division prep includes CS 52 (Intro to CS I), CS 55 (Intro to CS II), the calculus series MATH 7 through MATH 11, MATH 13 (Linear Algebra), MATH 15 (Discrete Structures), and PHYS 21/21L and PHYS 22/22L (Physics with labs). Note that SMC has no articulated equivalent for UCLA's CS M152A lab, which you'll complete after transfer.
How many students transfer from Santa Monica College to UCLA each year?
In 2023–2024, SMC transferred 451 students to UCLA — more than any other community college sent to any single UC campus, and a pattern SMC has held for 34 consecutive years as the top UC transfer feeder. That said, Computer Science is one of the most selective majors at UCLA with a 3% admit rate for transfers, so strong prep is non-negotiable regardless of which CC you come from.
Is IGETC accepted for Computer Science at UCLA?
Yes, IGETC is accepted for Computer Science B.S. at UCLA, and completing it at SMC will satisfy your lower-division general education requirements so you can focus on upper-division coursework after transfer. Be aware that CS prep courses like MATH 7 and CS 52 are not IGETC courses themselves, so you'll need to manage both tracks — major prep and IGETC — at the same time. Meeting with an SMC counselor early is the best way to map out both without overloading any single semester.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Students at Santa Monica College (SMC) who are planning to transfer to UCLA for Computer Science are navigating one of the most competitive transfer pathways in California. Computer Science at UCLA is housed in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science as a B.S. program, and Fall 2024 transfer data shows an admit rate of just 3% with admitted students carrying GPAs in the 3.96–4.00 range — numbers that demand a disciplined, early approach to transfer planning. The lower-division major prerequisites are substantial: SMC students need to complete CS 52 (Introduction to Computer Science I), CS 55 (Introduction to Computer Science II), a four-course calculus sequence spanning MATH 7 through MATH 11, plus MATH 13 (Linear Algebra), MATH 15 (Discrete Structures), and two semesters of calculus-based physics with labs. IGETC is accepted for this major, meaning students can complete lower-division general education requirements at SMC before arriving at UCLA — but balancing IGETC coursework alongside that dense math and CS sequence requires careful semester-by-semester planning. Santa Monica College's Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), run through the SMC Scholars Program, offers a valuable alternate-major safety net for engineering applicants, even though TAP priority consideration doesn't extend directly to the Engineering school. With 27,177 transfer applicants competing for spots at UCLA in a recent cycle and SMC sending 451 students to Westwood — more than any other community college in the state — the competition is real and preparation has to start on day one. Tools like Pipeline help SMC students build personalized, semester-by-semester transfer plans that account for prerequisite chains, IGETC completion, and the SMC-to-UCLA articulation agreements published on ASSIST.org, so nothing falls through the cracks on the way to one of the most sought-after CS programs in the country.
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