Transfer Q&A — Preparing for Transfer to UC

1. When must a student complete the math and English courses required to be eligible for admission to the University?
2. May students complete required coursework the summer before fall enrollment?
3. Does the University award credit for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations?
4. When does UC take into consideration plus and minus grades appearing on a California community college transcript?
5. In a plus and minus grading system, would a C- grade in math or English clear eligibility requirements for UC admission? Would a C- grade in statistics clear the math requirement for UC transfer eligibility?
6. Does the University require a language other than English for transfer admission?
7. How can students clear the American History and Institutions requirement?
8. When are transfer students required to take the TOEFL examination? What score must a student earn to pass this exam?
9. Is foreign coursework considered as part of a student's IGETC certification?

When must a student complete the math and English courses required to be eligible for admission to the University?

All campuses except Riverside require that students complete English composition and math by the end of the spring term prior to their planned enrollment in the fall. This helps avoid a situation in which a student's admission is canceled because a course was not completed during the summer. Students should be encouraged to complete English and math as early as possible in their college careers, given the importance of these courses in shaping a student's overall academic performance at both community college and the University. For additional information, see Deadlines for Completing Courses.

top

May students complete required coursework the summer before fall enrollment?

Universitywide
Though some campuses do accept coursework completed the summer before fall enrollment, students should be encouraged to complete required coursework earlier. It is not unusual for a student to wait until the summer term to complete units and then be unable to complete those units or to enroll in and complete an appropriate course — thereby jeopardizing UC admission.

UCB
All required coursework is to be completed by the end of spring before fall admission.

UCD
All required coursework is to be completed by the end of spring before fall admission. However, units completed the summer before fall enrollment may be used to complete the IGETC course pattern.

UCI
Units completed the summer before fall enrollment are not accepted if needed to meet minimum UC eligibility in English or math. However, those needed to reach a total of 60 transferable semester (90 quarter) units will be accepted.

UCI recommends early completion of prerequisite courses required for selective majors. However, if specified in the student's Transfer Contract, some coursework for majors (e.g., Engineering, Information and Computer Science, Biological Sciences) may be taken in the preceding summer.

UCLA
All required coursework is to be completed by the end of spring before fall admission.

UCM
English composition (two courses) and mathematics for admission (one course) must be completed by spring. However, units needed to meet major-preparation, IGETC or campus general education requirements will be accepted if taken in the summer.

UCR
Units and required courses completed in the summer before fall enrollment are accepted. However, as stated above, students are encouraged to complete required coursework in the spring term prior to enrollment.

UCSD
All required coursework is to be completed by the end of spring before fall admission.

UCSB
All required coursework is to be completed by the end of spring before fall admission.

UCSC
Units completed the summer before fall enrollment may not be used to satisfy the course pattern requirements for eligibility and selection. However, those needed to meet major-preparation, IGETC or campus general education requirements may be accepted.

Students trying to reach the 60 transferable semester units required for eligibility may take up to 6 semester units in the summer before enrollment.

top

Does the University award credit for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations?

AP: The University grants credit for all College Board AP examinations on which the student scores a 3 or higher. Each UC campus determines exactly how AP credit will be used on that campus. The University may not necessarily recognize course credit from other institutions based on AP scores. To receive credit, students must send test score transcripts to the University. For more information, see AP & IB Credit.

IB: The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) awards either a diploma or a certificate for individual IB exams. Students completing the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma with a score of 30 or above will receive 30 quarter (20 semester) units total toward their UC undergraduate degree. The University grants 8 quarter (5.3 semester) units to students who receive IB certificates with scores of 5, 6 or 7 on Higher Level exams. To receive credit, students must send official test score transcripts to the University For more information about credit awarded by a particular campus, see AP & IB Credit.

Designated examinations may be considered equivalent to freshman-level courses in the subject and may be used to satisfy general education or breadth requirements. Contact an individual campus for more information on how subject credit may be granted.

top

When does UC take into consideration plus and minus grades appearing on a California community college transcript?

The University uses the grading system of the community college in computing the GPA of the student for admissions purposes.

In a plus and minus grading system, would a C- in math or English clear eligibility requirements for UC admission? Would a C- in statistics clear the math requirement for UC transfer eligibility?

 A C- (grade points computed at less than 2.0) will NOT clear ANY subject requirement, including mathematics requirements, for UC transfer eligibility (or for IGETC).

Does the University require a language other than English for transfer admission?

The University does not require completion of a language other than English to fulfill the minimum requirements for transfer admission. However, specific colleges or departments at UC campuses may require a language other than English as part of their breadth or major requirements. Students completing IGETC must demonstrate proficiency in complete study of a language other than English. For more information, see the Language Other Than English Requirement.

top

How can students clear the American History and Institutions requirement?

UCB
 Most students coming directly to UC Berkeley from high school have cleared this requirement by completing the "a" requirement for freshman admission: a year of American history, or a semester of American history and a semester of American government, with a grade of C or better (or comparable work through AP examinations or test scores).

Students who did not satisfy the requirement in high school are advised to take one transferable course in either American history or American political institutions before enrolling at UC Berkeley. Once admitted, students who have not yet satisfied this requirement must take appropriate Berkeley coursework (generally two courses) in order to graduate. Courses that satisfy the requirement are listed on the ASSIST website or in the UCB catalog.

For more information, please visit UC Berkeley's American History and Institutions website at teaching.berkeley.edu/ahi.

UCD
Students may fulfill this requirement in one of the following ways:

• Complete a one-year high school course in American history, or one semester of American history and one of civics or American government, with a grade of C or better in each course.

• Present a score of 550 or higher on the SAT Subject Examination in U.S. History.

• Present a score of 3 or higher on an AP examination in U.S. History or American Government and Politics.

• Present a score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IB History of the Americas HL exam.

• Present evidence that the requirement has been accepted as satisfied at another UC campus.

• Pass a transferable college course in American history or American government.

• Complete an appropriate course at UC Davis. The UC Davis General Catalog lists the courses that will clear this requirement.

UCI
Students may fulfill this requirement in one of the following ways:

• Completion in an accredited high school of one year of UC-approved United States history with a grade of C or better, OR one semester of UC-approved United States history and one semester of UC-approved United States government, with a grade of C or better in each course.

• Achieving a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the College Board AP exam in U.S. history.

• Achieving a score of 550 or better on the SAT Subject Test in U.S. history.

• Present a certificate of completion of the requirement at another California institution.

• Complete at UC Irvine or another U.S. institution one year of UC-transferable, college-level U.S. history with a grade of C or better, OR one course in U.S. history and one in U.S. government with grades of C or better. Acceptable UCI courses: United States history (History 40A, 40B, 40C); United States government (Political Science 21A).

UCLA
Students may fulfill this requirement in one of the following ways:

• Complete a college-level course (a UCLA course or a transferable course from another college or university) with a grade of C or better in American history/institutions or equivalent. For more information, see the UCLA General Catalog.

• Complete a one-year high school course in American history, or one semester of American history and one of civics or American government, with an average grade of B or better.

• Earn a score of 550 or better on the College Board SAT Subject Test (formerly SAT II: Subject Test) in U.S. history.

• Earn a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the College Board AP exam in U.S. history.

UCM
Students may fulfill this requirement in one of the following ways:

• Complete a one-year high school course in American history, or one semester of American history and one of civics or American government, with a grade of C or better in each course.

• Earn a score of 550 or better on the College Board SAT Subject Test (formerly SAT II: Subject Test) in U.S. history.

• Earn a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the College Board AP exam in U.S. history.

• Complete a UC-transferable course in American history or U.S. government with a grade of C or better.

• Complete an appropriate course at UC Merced.

UCR
Students may fulfill this requirement in one of the following ways:

• Complete a one-year high school course in American history, or one semester of American history and one of civics or American government, with a grade of C or better in each course.

• Complete one course satisfying this requirement at an accredited college or university.

• Complete History 17 or Political Science 10, 100 or 113A at UC Riverside.

• Earn a score of 550 or better on the College Board SAT Subject Test (formerly SAT II: Subject Test) in U.S. history while in high school.

• Earn a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the College Board AP exam in U.S. history.

• Complete an exam in American History and Institutions, administered by the Committee on Preparatory Education. This exam is offered via application to the Academic Senate. No unit credit is awarded for this option.

UCSD
Students may fulfill this requirement in one of the following ways:

• Complete a one-year high school course in American history, or one semester of American history and one of civics or American government, with a grade of C or better in each course.

• Earn a score of 550 or better on the College Board SAT Subject Test (formerly SAT II: Subject Test) in U.S. history.

• Earn a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the College Board AP exam in U.S. history.

• At a California community college, complete one semester of U.S. history or one semester of U.S. government with a grade of C or better.

Complete an appropriate course at UCSD (see the UCSD General Catalog).

UCSB
A student may fulfill this requirement by completing one transferable course in American history, American government or any of a number of other courses listed on our campus-specific General Education Articulation agreements with each of the 109 California community colleges. (This course may simultaneously satisfy major, general education and IGETC requirements. A number of other options exist. Please see the UCSB General Catalog index listing for "American History and Institutions Requirement."

UCSC
Students may fulfill this requirement in one of the following ways:

• Complete a UC-transferable course in American history or U.S. government with a grade of C or higher.

• Complete a one-year high school course in American history, or one semester of American history and one of civics or American government, with a grade of C or higher in each course.

• Earn a score of 550 or higher on the College Board SAT Subject Test (formerly SAT II: Subject Test) in U.S. history.

• Earn a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the College Board AP exam in U.S. history.

• Earn a score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IBH History of Americas exam.

top

When are transfer students required to take the TOEFL examination? What score must a student earn to pass this exam?

UCB
The TOEFL is not required for international students who transfer from a California community college or from another U.S. institution, and who have completed two UC-transferable courses in English composition (not ESL) with a grade of C or better in each course. To be admitted to UC Berkeley, students who have not completed two transferable courses in English must achieve a minimum score of 220 on the computer-based TOEFL, 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL.

UCD
 An international student who plans to transfer from a California community college or another U.S. institutions must complete two UC-transferable courses in English composition (not ESL) with a grade of C or better in each course. The TOEFL is not required.

UCI
An international student who plans to transfer from a California community college or another U.S. institution must complete two UC-transferable courses in English composition with a grade of C or better in each course. The TOEFL will be waived by virtue of completing the two transferable English composition courses. UCI requires the minimum TOEFL scores of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 80 (Internet-based).

UCLA
UCLA requires a minimum score of 220 on the computer-based TOEFL, 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL. The TOEFL, however, is not required for students who transfer from a California community college or from another U.S. institution and who have completed two UC-transferable English composition courses (not ESL) with a grade of C or better in each course. Non-native speakers who completed any of their high school or college-level education in a country where the language of instruction was not English may be required to sit for the UCLA ESL Placement exam prior to or during their first quarter at UCLA. All students must have strong preparation and skills in English to succeed at UCLA.

UCM
Non-native speakers of English must earn a score of 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 79 on the Internet-based TOEFL, or earn a grade of B or higher in each of two UC-transferable courses in English composition. UC Merced will also accept a score of 7.0 on the IELTS (academic modules) examination. This proficiency requirement also applies to students who completed any of their high school education (ninth through 12th grades) or college-level education in a country where English is not the native language.

UCR
An international student who plans to transfer to UCR from a California community college or another U.S. institution must complete two UC-transferable courses in English composition (not ESL) with a grade of C or better in each course. The TOEFL is not required. To be admitted to UC Riverside, international students who have not completed two transferable courses in English must achieve a minimum score of 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 79 on the Internet-based TOEFL.

UCSD
Students in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa must meet one of the following: earn a score of 220 on the computer-based TOEFL; earn a grade of B or better in each of two UC-transferable courses in English composition; or earn a score of 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL. This proficiency requirement also applies to students who completed any of their high school education (ninth through 12th grades) or college-level education in a country where English is not the native language.

UCSB
An international student who plans to transfer to UCSB from a California community college or a four-year U.S. institution must complete two UC-transferable courses in English composition with a grade of C or better in each course. The TOEFL is not required.

UCSC
Non-native speakers of English must earn a score of 220 on the computer-based TOEFL, 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL, or earn a grade of B or higher in each of two UC-transferable courses in English composition. UC Santa Cruz will also accept a score of 7.0 on the IELTS (academic modules) examination. This proficiency requirement also applies to students who completed any of their high school education (ninth through 12th grades) or college-level education in a country where English is not the native language.

top

Is foreign coursework considered as part of a student's IGETC certification?

No. Foreign coursework cannot be used to satisfy any portion of IGETC except area 6A. A student with a substantial amount of foreign coursework should be encouraged to satisfy the general education requirements for the UC campus and program to which he or she plans to apply.

top