Transfer Requirements
Students who plan to transfer to the University of California (UC) system must meet certain requirements.
A maximum of 70 UC-transferable units completed at California community colleges can be applied to a baccalaureate degree. Coursework completed that exceeds the 70-unit maximum may be given "subject credit" after transfer. Consult with a counselor.
Transfer Eligibility
Junior-Level Transfer
To be eligible for UC admission, SCC students must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete 60 semester (90 quarter) units of transferable college credit with a GPA of at least 2.4 (2.8 for nonresidents). No more than 14 semester (21 quarter) units – excluding units completed in winter, spring, and summer 2020 – may be taken "Pass/No Pass." Exception: if your college/university only awards "Pass" credit, you are not subject to this limitation for your attendance at that institution.
- Complete the following seven-course pattern requirements:
- Two transferable college courses (three semester units or four to five quarter units each) in English composition
- One transferable college course (three semester units or four to five quarter units) in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning
- Four transferable college courses (three semester units or four to five quarter units each) chosen from at least two of the following subject areas:
- Arts and humanities
- Social and behavioral sciences
- Physical and biological sciences
Transfer Notes
- Students must also complete the lower-division preparatory courses for the major as required by the UC to which they want to transfer. Find lower-division major requirements at assist.org, the official state-wide repository for transfer and course articulation information.
- Each course must be worth at least three semester or four quarter units.
- Students need to earn a grade of "C" or better in each course or a "Pass (P)" grade if "Pass" is equivalent to a "C" or better.
- AP exam scores of 3, 4, or 5 and IB Higher level exams passed with a 5 or higher may be used to meet portions of the seven-course breadth pattern for transfer students. Exception: only one of the two English courses required can be satisfied by an AP exam score.
To view additional transfer options and services, see the University of California Transfer Requirements.
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
When you complete the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) pattern, you partially fulfill the 60-unit requirement for transfer to UC and complete the lower division general education breadth requirements. You should request your Cal-GETC certification from the community college you last attended when your final transcript is sent to the UC campus.
The Cal-GETC is best if you have not yet chosen a major or a campus. Once you have selected a major, it is important to begin fulfilling any required preparatory classes for that major. This is especially true for professional or "high-unit" majors. If you are preparing for an engineering or a high-unit science major at a UC campus, then it is not advisable to use the Cal-GETC. Instead, you should concentrate on fulfilling the 60-unit admission requirement by completing lower division major preparation courses as well as the basic admission requirements listed above.
Helpful Hints
- Connect with a counselor regularly to monitor your transfer progress.
- Many courses other than the ones listed in the Cal-GETC will transfer to UC. The units from those other courses will count toward the 60 units required to transfer as a junior. Check the catalog for the transfer status of any course.
- Though transfers do not require an associate degree, it is easy to complete one while preparing to transfer. Learn about associate degree graduation requirements.
- Check with your counselor about other courses needed for your major. In many cases, it is to your advantage to complete all pre-major requirements as well as general education requirements before you transfer.
UC Application Dates and Deadlines
Priority application deadlines for UC:
- Fall quarter/semester application period is October 1 through December 2.
- Winter quarter/spring semester application period is July 1 through 31.
See UC Admissions – Applying as a Transfer Student for more information and application deadlines for each UC campus.