CCC to UC
Transfer Pathways/Pathways+
Struggling to meet your major’s lower-division requirements for every UC?
The Pathways program makes it simple.
Pathways
A single set of lower-division major preparation courses that are accepted throughout the UC system
- Sets of lower-division preparation (Pathways) for 27 Majors
- Following a Pathway makes sure you’re able to meet all the requirements for your major across the UC system without having to take additional coursework
- This gives you a highly competitive chance of admission at UCs
Pathways+
Pathways + TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee)
- Pathways+ combines the Pathways program and TAG (the Transfer Admission Guarantee)
- With Pathways+ you can complete a pathway for your major and also submit a TAG application guaranteeing you admission to one of the following UCs: Davis, Irvine, Riverside, Merced, Santa Barbara, or Santa Cruz
Majors available through Transfer Pathways/Pathways+
Below is a list of majors that are available for the Pathways programs.
Aerospace engineering
Anthropology
Bioengineering
Biological sciences
Business administration
Chemical engineering
Chemistry
Civil engineering
Communication
Computer science
Data science
Earth science/geology
Economics
Electrical engineering
English
Environmental engineering
Environmental science
History
Materials science & engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical engineering
Philosophy
Physics
Political science
Psychology
Sociology
Statistics
Don’t see a pathway for your major? Don’t worry!
You’ll use ASSIST to figure out the preparation required for your major.
View the Pathways
See the lower-division preparation requirements for each pathway in our UC Pathways Database.
Aerospace Engineering
- Calculus-based physics (full sequence with lab)
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- Multivariable calculus (one semester course)
- Linear algebra (one course)
- Differential equations (one course)
- Computer programming (MATLAB, one course)
- General chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Materials (one course)
- Statics (one course)
- Circuits (one course)
Anthropology
- Physical/biological anthropology
- Cultural anthropology
- Introduction to archaeology
Bioengineering
- Calculus-based physics (full sequence with lab)
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- Multivariable calculus (one semester course)
- Linear algebra (one course)
- Differential equations (one course)
- General chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Organic chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Biology (full introductory sequence)
- Programming (one course)
- Circuits (one course)
Biological Sciences
- General biology with lab (full introductory sequence)
- General chemistry with lab (one-year sequence)
- Calculus for STEM majors (one-year sequence)
- Organic chemistry with lab (one-year sequence)
Business Administration
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Single variable calculus (one-year sequence)
- Note: Students are encouraged to take the STEM version but some UC business administration programs may allow non-STEM calculus. Please check individual campus links.
- Statistics
- Introduction to business (including finance)
- Financial accounting
- Managerial accounting
Chemical Engineering
- Calculus-based physics (full sequence with lab)
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- Multivariable calculus (one semester course)
- Linear algebra (one course)
- Differential equations (one course)
- General chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Organic chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Programming (MATLAB is recommended; one semester course)
Chemistry
- General chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Organic chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Calculus-based physics (full sequence with lab)
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- Multivariable calculus (one semester course)
- Linear algebra (one course)
- Post-Transfer: Differential equations (one course)
- Note: Differential equations is recommended pre-transfer for some majors, but your application for transfer admission will not be negatively impacted if you need to complete the course after you transfer to UC.
Civil Engineering
- Calculus-based physics (full sequence with lab)
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- Multivariable calculus (one semester course)
- Linear algebra (one course)
- Differential equations (one course)
- General chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Programming (one course)
- Statics (one course)
Communication
- Statistics
- Introduction to communication studies (includes mass communication and interpersonal communication; depending on the California community college, 1 or 2 terms)
- Choose 1 course from the following:
- Symbolic logic
- Introduction to computer science
- Introduction to cultural studies/culture & communication studies
- Choose 3 courses from the following:
- Public speaking
- Linguistics
- Introduction to psychology
- Introduction to sociology
Computer Science
- Introduction to programming (computer science I)
- Data structures (computer science II)
- Computer organization and assembly language
- Single variable calculus for STEM majors (one-year sequence)
- Multivariable calculus
- Discrete mathematics
- Linear algebra
- Differential equations
- Calculus-based physics (one-year sequence with labs; topics covered must include mechanics and electromagnetism)
Note: Specific programming languages are more important at some campuses than others. See individual campus websites for guidance.
Data Science
- Introductory data science/statistics
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- Multivariable calculus (one semester course)
- Linear algebra (one course)
- Computer programming (two courses)
Earth Science/Geology
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- General chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Physical geology (one course)
Economics
- Microeconomics (one course)
- Macroeconomics (one course)
- Single variable calculus (one-year sequence)
- Note: Students are encouraged to take the single variable calculus sequence for STEM majors to keep their options as open as possible for undergraduate and graduate school alternatives.
English
- Survey of British literature to 1850
- Survey of British and/or American literature 1860–present
- Language other than English (1–2 years)
- 2 additional UC-transferable English courses.
- Examples include courses covering:
- Major authors (Shakespeare, etc.)
- Chicano/Asian-American/African-American/Native American literature
- A genre (poetry, drama, novel)
- A historical period
- Introduction to literature
- Examples include courses covering:
Electrical Engineering
- Single variable calculus for STEM majors (one-year sequence)
- Multivariable/vector calculus
- Linear algebra
- Ordinary differential equations
- Calculus-based physics
- Full introductory sequence of 3 semesters/5 quarters through modern physics, with labs
- General chemistry 1 (with lab)
- Circuit analysis (with lab)
- Computer programming (1 course)
Note: Completion of logic design is recommended pre-transfer, but students will not be negatively affected in competitiveness for admission if this course is taken, as needed, post-transfer.
Environmental Engineering
- Calculus-based physics (full sequences with lab)
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- Multivariable calculus (one semester course)
- Linear algebra (one course)
- Differential equations (one course)
- General chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Organic chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Programming (one course)
- Statics (one course)
- Biology (one course with lab)
Environmental Science
- Calculus-based physics (full sequence with lab)
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- Introductory statistics (one course)
- Introductory biology (full sequence with lab)
- General chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Organic chemistry (one semester)
- Principles of economics (microeconomics)
History
- 1 course in U.S. history
- 1 UC-transferable history course from a region other than U.S. or Europe
- Choose 1 yearlong sequence (2 semester courses/3 quarter courses) from:
- World history 1 and 2; or
- European history/western civilization 1 and 2
Note: Prospective transfer students will be best prepared for this major on all UC campuses if they complete history courses that include substantial analytical writing.
Materials Science & Engineering
- Calculus-based physics (full sequence with lab)
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- Multivariable calculus (one semester course)
- Differential equations (one course)
- General chemistry (full sequence with lab)
- Linear algebra (one course)
- Programming (one course)
- Materials (one course)
- Statics (one course)
Mathematics
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- Multivariable calculus (one semester course)
- Differential equations (one course)
- Linear algebra (one course)
Note: Any one of the following sequences – calculus-based physics (full sequence with lab), general chemistry (full sequence with lab), general biology (full sequence with lab) or economics (full sequence) – is recommended pre-transfer for some majors. However, your application for admission will not be negatively impacted if you need to complete the sequence after transferring.
Mechanical Engineering
- Single variable calculus for STEM majors (one-year sequence)
- Multivariable calculus
- Linear algebra
- Differential equations
- General chemistry (one-year sequence with labs)
- Calculus-based physics (one-year sequence with labs)
- Computer programming (one course)
- Engineering graphics and design
- Circuits with lab
- Statics
Philosophy
- Introduction to symbolic logic
- Ancient philosophy
- Modern philosophy
- Ethical theory
- Philosophy of mind or epistemology
Physics
- Calculus-based physics for scientists and engineers
- Full introductory sequence of three semesters/five quarters through modern physics, with labs
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- Multivariable calculus (one semester course)
- Linear algebra (one course)
- Differential equations (one course)
Political Science
- Choose 3 of the following 4 courses:
- Introduction to American government & politics
- Introduction to political theory & thought
- Introduction to comparative government & politics
- Introduction to international relations
Note: The following courses count toward the major on some campuses and constitute sound preparation for the major on all UC campuses. Students can complete these courses after transfer without negatively affecting their competitiveness for admission.
- A fourth course from the above list
- Introduction to statistics (one course)
- One UC-transferable history course focusing on civilization or history (e.g., western civilization, U.S. history, East Asian civilization)
- Microeconomics or macroeconomics (one course)
Psychology
- Introduction to psychology
- Statistics
- Calculus 1 (life sciences version or above)
- Biology 1 (STEM version)
- 1 additional science course (biology, chemistry, or physics)
- 2 social science courses, from among:
- Social/cultural anthropology
- Linguistic anthropology
- Logic
- Introduction to sociology
- Modern philosophy
Sociology
- Introduction to sociology 1
- Introduction to sociology 2 (typically “social problems”)
- Statistics for sociology majors
Statistics
- Introductory data science/statistics
- Single variable calculus (full sequence)
- Multivariable calculus (one semester course)
- Linear algebra (one course)
- Differential equations (one course)
The Pathways at Your College
Use the Official UC Pathways Guide to see what courses at your community college fulfill each Pathway.