Transfer Preparation

UCSC screens students for admission into the EEB majors.  Transfer applicants are held to completion of major preparation criteria for admission to UCSC. The following courses or their equivalents are required prior to transfer, by the end of the spring term for students planning to enter in the fall.

Required Preparation

To be considered for admission to UCSC as a proposed Ecology and Evolution BS, Marine Biology BS, Plant Sciences BS or Biology BA, transfer students must pass equivalents of the following preparatory courses prior to transfer:

BIOL 20A Cell and Molecular Biology
BIOE 20B Development and Physiology
BIOE 20C Ecology and Evolution
CHEM 1A or Chem 3B General Chemistry 
CHEM 1B or Chem 3A General Chemistry
* students may complete Chem 4A Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity instead of Chem 1A+1B or Chem 3A+3B.

In addition, the Ecology and Evolution BS, Marine Biology BS and Plant Sciences BS also requires:

MATH 11A or 19A Calculus

The Biology BA does not require completion of Calculus.

Recommended Preparation

Transfer students in the Ecology and Evolution BS, Marie Biology BS and Plant Sciences BS are also strongly encourgaged to complete the following prior to transfer:

CHEM 1C/N or Chem 3BL & Chem 3C/L or Chem 4AL & Chem 4B/L*
MATH 11B Calculus
PHYS 6A/L & 6B/M Physics

*Please note: General chemistry is articulated in sequence. Partial credit is not allowed. Students are advised to complete the approved equivalent of the full series prior to transfer. Failure to complete the full series of chemistry will result in no subject credit for general chemistry upon transfer.

 Students who transfer without this additonal recommended introductory coursework may require more than two years to complete the major requirements.

Entering with this additional preparation allows more time to participate in field base courses and undergraduate research opportunities.

Changing majors once admitted to the university as a transfer student:

If you were admitted to UCSC in a major other than an EEB sponsored major, you would also need to meet the transfer major preparation criteria to be eligible to enter an EEB sponsored major. If you believe you meet this criteria, and are interested in switching to an EEB sponsored major, you may petition to do so by completing the form here. 

• New transfer students wishing to petition to change majors to an EEB Department screening major must do so no later than their first quarter.
• Students who were denied admission to their original screening major within the EEB Department and accepted admission to an alternate non-screening major may not pursue any major in the EEB Department once admitted.