Additional Requirements

If you are considering transferring to the University, it is important that you take courses that help you meet the minimum admission requirements for transfer students. In addition, there are other requirements you must fulfill to receive your undergraduate degree from the University. Some, such as the American History and Institutions requirement and the the Entry Level Writing requirement, are Universitywide. Other requirements vary according to the campus you attend and your particular college or school and major.

General Education Requirements

General education requirements are designed to give University undergraduates a broad background in all major academic disciplines — natural sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, humanities and fine arts. The general education requirement, sometimes called the breadth requirement, lists the specific courses you must take or number of credit hours you must earn in each discipline.

Each school and college at every UC campus has its own general education requirement. With careful planning, you can meet many of the lower division requirements. If you attend a community college, you also have the option of completing the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) to satisfy the lower division general education requirements at any UC campus.

Major Preparation Requirements

Major preparation requirements specify the courses you must take during your first two years of college to prepare for advanced study in your major. They may be required as part of the major, they may be prerequisites for other courses that are required as part of the major or they may be required to gain admission to the major.

Transfer applicants are evaluated, in part, on the basis of their performance in major preparation coursework, so it is important that you investigate the requirements for your intended major as soon as possible. If your major requires mathematics and science, it is especially important that you complete those prerequisites before you transfer. Lack of preparatory coursework may affect your admission to your major, particularly if there are many applicants and a limited number of spaces.

You should begin coursework in your major as soon as you have selected one. If you are applying for fall admission, the campus may require you to complete certain major preparation requirements by the end of the preceding spring term.

The Exploring Majors feature on the ASSIST website lists major preparation requirements for all UC programs. The lists are updated throughout the year, so check ASSIST periodically to ensure you have the most current information.

Entry Level Writing Requirement

You must satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement (formerly known as the Subject A Requirement) to graduate in any program at the University. One way to meet this requirement is to complete a transferable college course of three semester (four quarter) units in English composition with a grade of C or better. Students who meet the University’s basic requirements for minimal transfer eligibility, which include two transferable college courses in English composition, satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement.

Many transfer students fulfill this requirement while in high school by achieving minimum scores on the following tests: 3 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in English (Language or Literature); 5 on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination in English (Language A only); 6 on the IB Standard Level Examination in English (Language A only); 30 on the ACT Combined English/Writing test; or 680 on the Writing section of the SAT Reasoning Test or the SAT II Writing Subject Test prior to high school graduation.

Students who have not satisfied the Entry Level Writing Requirement before transferring must enroll in an appropriate English course at the University.

American History and Institutions Requirement

All undergraduate degree programs at the University require study in American history and institutions. This requirement may be met through examination or enrollment in specific courses. Each campus decides how its students may meet the requirement.

Satisfactory completion in high school of a one-year course in U.S. history, or a half-year course in U.S. history and a half-year course in American government, satisfies this requirement at all UC campuses except UC Santa Barbara. (At UCLA, students must also have earned a B average in these courses.) UC Santa Barbara requires students to complete a college-level course. Satisfaction of your community college's history and institutions requirement will also meet the requirement at most campuses. It is highly recommended that you complete this requirement before you transfer.