Computer Science transfer to UC
What every UC campus expects computer science transfers to finish before they apply, where TAG applies, and how selective UCLA is (5% for fall 2025).
Checked against official UC and campus sources in October 2026.
The shared course list
UC’s Computer science Transfer Pathway lists the community college courses that prepare you for this major at every campus. Finishing it doesn’t guarantee admission, and campuses add their own rules below.
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Introduction to programming (CS I) | Required |
| Data structures (CS II) | Required |
| Computer organization and assembly language | Required |
| Single variable calculus for STEM majors (one-year sequence) | Required |
| Multivariable calculus | Required |
| Discrete mathematics | Required |
| Linear algebra | Required |
| Differential equations | Required |
| Calculus-based physics (one-year sequence with labs, covering mechanics and electromagnetism) | Required |
Some campuses care more than others about which programming language is used, so check campus websites.
Check your courses
Paste the course titles from your transcript or education plan and see which items on the list they cover.
Campus by campus
TAG lines come from UC’s TAG matrix for fall 2027. ASSIST shows which of your college’s courses count at each campus.
| Campus | TAG | Extra rule | Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | No TAG | None listed | ASSIST |
| UCLA | No TAG | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC San Diego | No TAG | Computer Science prep (calculus, linear algebra and the programming series) must be done by spring with a C or better. | ASSIST |
| UC Irvine | Not covered | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Davis | Not covered | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Santa Barbara | Not covered | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Santa Cruz | 3.00 | Computer Science needs a 3.0 GPA in five screening courses, with three of them done by the end of fall and all five by spring. | ASSIST |
| UC Riverside | 3.60 | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Merced | 3.00 | None listed | ASSIST |
UCLA’s numbers for this major
- Fall 2025 admit rate
- 5%
- Applicants
- 1,652
- Admitted GPA, middle half
- 4.00–4.00
UCLA reports these for Computer Science (Engineering), against 26% for its community college applicants as a whole. UCLA reviews you for your first-choice major only, unless you’re a TAP student.
Your odds at every campus
Estimates for Computer Science at all nine campuses at the GPA you set.
Questions
What classes do I need to transfer to UC for computer science?
UC’s Computer science Transfer Pathway lists 9 items, including introduction to programming (cs i), data structures (cs ii), computer organization and assembly language. Check each course on ASSIST for the campuses you apply to.
Can I get a TAG for computer science?
Yes at UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz. UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara don’t cover it with a TAG.
What GPA do you need to transfer to UCLA for computer science?
UCLA admitted 5% of 1,652 transfer applicants to Computer Science (Engineering) for fall 2025, and the middle half of admits had GPAs of 4.00–4.00.
Is computer science a selective major at UC?
Several campuses add rules: Santa Cruz, San Diego. See the campus table above.