Santa Monica College to UCLA
Psychology Transfer Plan
Semester-by-semester courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
Santa Monica College
To
UCLA
GPA Reality Check
UCLA's minimum GPA to transfer is 3.0 for California residents, but Psychology applicants admitted in Fall 2024 had a mid-50th percentile GPA range of 3.81 to 4.00 — with a median hovering around 3.9. That gap isn't a technicality; it's the difference between getting an offer and getting a polite rejection. The courses that move the needle most for Psychology applicants are your major prep courses — particularly PSYC C1000, STAT C1000, and any research methods or lab-based science you complete. UCLA explicitly notes that the most competitive Psychology applicants have finished all five prep courses before the fall prior to transfer, so your grades in those courses are under a microscope.
Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)
The Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) is a longstanding partnership between SMC's Scholars Program and UCLA's College of Letters and Science — the home of Psychology. TAP-certified students receive priority consideration in the UCLA admission process, and in Fall 2023, 91% of SMC Scholars Program applicants were admitted to UCLA. To earn TAP certification, you need to enroll in SMC's Scholars Program, complete its honors curriculum, and get certified by your Scholars Program counselor before submitting your UC application.
Major Requirements
Psychology (College of Letters and Science B.A.) Major Preparation
Psychology (College of Letters and Science B.A.) at UCLA
Courses at Santa Monica College that satisfy UCLA's Psychology major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UCLA's Department of Psychology also houses Psychobiology (B.S.) and Cognitive Science (B.S.) — both are separate majors with different prep requirements and degree types. Psychobiology is heavier on life sciences and pre-med coursework. Cognitive Science adds computer science and linguistics to the mix. If you're unsure which one fits you, look at the prep course lists for all three before you apply — you can only apply to one.
| Course at Santa Monica College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC C1000 — General Psychology | PSYCH 10 | 3 |
| BIOL 3 — Fundamentals of Biology | Introductory Biology requirement (LIFESCI 7A/15 or PHYSCI 3) | 4 |
| PHYSCS 6 — General Physics 1 with Lab | Introductory Physics/Chemistry requirement (PHYSICS 1A/5A/10/11 or CHEM 14A/17/20A) | 4 |
| PHILOS 5 — Moral Values and Ethical Decisions | Philosophy requirement (any PHILOS course) | 3 |
| STAT C1000 — Introduction to Statistics | Quantitative Reasoning requirement (STATS 10 or equivalent) | 4 |
General Education
IGETC at Santa Monica College
Complete IGETC at Santa Monica College to satisfy UCLA's lower-division GE requirements before transferring.
ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGL 1)
3 unitsENGL 1D; PHILOS 3
3 unitsSTAT C1000 (formerly MATH 54)
4 unitsART 1 (Western Art History I); MUSIC 1 (Music Appreciation); TH ART 1 (Introduction to Theatre)
3 unitsENGL 3 (Critical Analysis and Intermediate Composition); PHILOS 1 (Introduction to Philosophy); HIST 1 (Western Civilization I)
3 unitsPSYC C1000 (General Psychology); ECON 1 (Principles of Economics I/Micro); HIST 11 (U.S. History Through Reconstruction); SOC 1 (Introduction to Sociology)
3 unitsPHYSCS 6 (General Physics 1 with Lab — satisfies lab requirement); CHEM 11 (General Chemistry I with Lab); ASTRON 1 (Astronomy)
3-4 unitsBIOL 3 (Fundamentals of Biology — with lab); BIOL 9 (Human Biology); BIOL 21 (Cell Biology and Evolution — with lab)
3-4 unitsSPAN 1 (Elementary Spanish I); FRNCH 1 (Elementary French I); JAPAN 1 (Elementary Japanese I); CHIN 1 (Elementary Chinese I). Can also be satisfied by two years of HS language with C- or better.
varies units| Area | Course options at Santa Monica College | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1A: English Composition | ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGL 1) | 3 |
| 1B: Critical Thinking | ENGL 1D; PHILOS 3 | 3 |
| 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning | STAT C1000 (formerly MATH 54) | 4 |
| 3A: Arts | ART 1 (Western Art History I); MUSIC 1 (Music Appreciation); TH ART 1 (Introduction to Theatre) | 3 |
| 3B: Humanities | ENGL 3 (Critical Analysis and Intermediate Composition); PHILOS 1 (Introduction to Philosophy); HIST 1 (Western Civilization I) | 3 |
| 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences | PSYC C1000 (General Psychology); ECON 1 (Principles of Economics I/Micro); HIST 11 (U.S. History Through Reconstruction); SOC 1 (Introduction to Sociology) | 3 |
| 5A: Physical Sciences | PHYSCS 6 (General Physics 1 with Lab — satisfies lab requirement); CHEM 11 (General Chemistry I with Lab); ASTRON 1 (Astronomy) | 3-4 |
| 5B: Biological Sciences | BIOL 3 (Fundamentals of Biology — with lab); BIOL 9 (Human Biology); BIOL 21 (Cell Biology and Evolution — with lab) | 3-4 |
| 6: Language Other Than English | SPAN 1 (Elementary Spanish I); FRNCH 1 (Elementary French I); JAPAN 1 (Elementary Japanese I); CHIN 1 (Elementary Chinese I). Can also be satisfied by two years of HS language with C- or better. | varies |
PSYC C1000 → PSYCH 7 (Research Methods)
PSYC C1000 (General Psychology) and STAT C1000 (Introduction to Statistics) are both required before you can take PSYCH 7 (Research Methods in Psychology) at SMC. If you wait on either of those, you'll block yourself from completing one of the most impactful courses on your application — with no way to recover the lost time before your UCLA application is due.
UCLA runs on quarters — SMC runs on semesters
When you transfer, your two-semester SMC year becomes three 10-week UCLA quarters, so expect courses to move faster and deadlines to hit sooner — build that adjustment into your expectations before you ever set foot in Westwood.
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 wait until year two for STAT C1000
STAT C1000 (Introduction to Statistics) is a prerequisite for PSYCH 7 (Research Methods in Psychology) at SMC, and both are major prep courses that signal readiness to UCLA. If you push stats to your second semester or later, you'll likely never fit PSYCH 7 into your timeline before applying. Take STAT C1000 your very first semester — treat it as Day 1 of your transfer plan.
Psychology at UCLA is a pre-major — you can't switch in later
Unlike some majors where you can change your mind after arriving on campus, UCLA's Psychology B.A. requires you to apply directly as a pre-Psychology student. If you transfer under a different major, you are not eligible to switch into Psychology — no exceptions. Decide before you apply, not after you arrive.
IGETC is accepted here, but time your certification carefully
IGETC is strongly recommended for Psychology transfers at UCLA, and Santa Monica College can certify your completion before you enroll. The catch: any courses you take during the summer before transfer cannot count toward IGETC certification or your major prep requirements. Plan to have your IGETC and all five prep courses wrapped up by the spring semester before you transfer.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need to transfer from Santa Monica College to UCLA for Psychology?
The minimum UC GPA to transfer is 3.0, but that number won't get you into UCLA Psychology. Admitted Psychology transfers in Fall 2024 had a mid-50th percentile GPA range of 3.81 to 4.00, with the median right around 3.9. Your grades in the five major prep courses — including PSYC C1000 and STAT C1000 — carry extra weight in UCLA's review.
Does TAP really help SMC students get into UCLA?
The data is hard to ignore: in Fall 2023, 91% of SMC Scholars Program students who applied to UCLA were admitted, well above the overall Psychology admit rate of 22%. TAP-certified students get priority consideration specifically for majors within UCLA's College of Letters and Science, which includes Psychology. If you're at SMC, enrolling in the Scholars Program early is one of the highest-leverage decisions you can make.
What courses do I need to take at Santa Monica College to prepare for UCLA Psychology?
There are five lower-division prep requirements: PSYC C1000 (General Psychology), BIOL 3 (Fundamentals of Biology), PHYSCS 6 (General Physics 1 with Lab) or another approved physics or chemistry course, PHILOS 5 (Moral Values and Ethical Decisions) or another philosophy course, and STAT C1000 (Introduction to Statistics). UCLA strongly encourages completing all five by the fall before you apply — not just the spring before you transfer.
Can I use IGETC when transferring from Santa Monica College to UCLA for Psychology?
Yes — IGETC is accepted for the Psychology B.A. at UCLA's College of Letters and Science, and UCLA explicitly recommends it for College majors. Santa Monica College's ENGL C1000 covers Area 1A, STAT C1000 covers Area 2, and several social science and science courses like PSYC C1000 and BIOL 3 can double-count toward both IGETC and your major prep. Get your IGETC certification request in to SMC before you enroll at UCLA.
What is the difference between Psychology, Psychobiology, and Cognitive Science at UCLA?
All three live in UCLA's Department of Psychology, but they are entirely separate majors with different prep requirements and degree types. Psychology is a B.A. focused on the science of human behavior and mental processes. Psychobiology is a B.S. with a heavier biology and pre-med orientation. Cognitive Science is a B.S. that blends psychology, computer science, linguistics, and neuroscience. You must apply directly to one, so check the specific prep course list for each before submitting your UC application.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Transferring from Santa Monica College (SMC) to UCLA to study Psychology is one of the most well-traveled transfer pathways in California — and one of the most competitive. The Psychology B.A. at UCLA's College of Letters and Science admitted just 22% of transfer applicants in Fall 2024, with successful students carrying a GPA in the 3.81 to 4.00 range. Santa Monica College sends more students to the UC system than any other community college in the state, and in 2024-25, 437 SMC students were accepted to UCLA alone. Transfer planning for this path means completing five lower-division major prerequisites before you apply: General Psychology (PSYC C1000), Fundamentals of Biology (BIOL 3), General Physics 1 with Lab (PHYSCS 6) or an equivalent chemistry course, a philosophy course such as PHILOS 5 (Moral Values and Ethical Decisions), and Introduction to Statistics (STAT C1000). These major prerequisites should ideally all be finished by the fall semester before transfer, not just the spring. In parallel, most SMC students pursuing UCLA Psychology will complete IGETC — the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum — which UCLA accepts for College of Letters and Science majors and which allows students to knock out general education requirements before they arrive on campus. SMC students also have access to the Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), a priority admission partnership with UCLA that gives certified Scholars Program students a significant edge in the review process. Building a realistic, sequenced plan across your semesters at SMC is harder than it looks — major prerequisites chain into each other, IGETC areas require careful course selection, and the difference between a 3.7 and a 3.9 GPA can determine your outcome. Pipeline is a transfer planning tool that helps Santa Monica College students map out exactly which courses to take each semester, track their IGETC progress, and avoid the sequencing mistakes that derail even well-prepared applicants on this path.
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