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 20 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 Guarentee)

  • 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.

Anthropology

Biochemistry

Biology

Business administration

Cell biology

Chemistry

Communication

Computer science

Economics

Electrical engineering

English

History

Mathematics

Mechanical engineering

Molecular biology

 

 Philosophy

Physics

Political science

Psychology

Sociology

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.

Anthropology
  • Physical/biological anthropology
  • Cultural anthropology
  • Introduction to archaeology
Biochemistry, Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology
  • 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
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)
  • Differential equations (one course)
  • Post-Transfer: Linear algebra (one course)
    • Note for Berkeley, Davis, Merced and Santa Barbara: Linear algebra is recommended pre-transfer, but transfer students will not be negatively affected in competitiveness for admission if completed post-transfer as needed.
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.

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
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.

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.

Mathematics
  • Single variable calculus (full sequence)
  • Multivariable calculus (one semester course)
  • Differential equations (one course)
  • Linear algebra (one course)
  • Any one of the following:
    • Calculus-based physics (full sequence with lab)
    • General chemistry (full sequence with lab)
    • General biology (full sequence with lab)
    • Economics (full sequence)
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)
  • General chemistry (full sequence with labs)
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

The Pathways at Your College

Use the Official UC Pathways Guide to see what courses at your community college fulfill each Pathway.