Anthropology transfer to UC San Diego
What UC San Diego expects anthropology transfers to finish before fall 2027. Below are San Diego’s own preparation and selection rules, UC’s shared course list, the programs that give priority and your odds.
Checked against official UC and campus sources in November 2026.
At a glance
- Fall 2025 campus admit rate
- 57.7%
- Screens applicants
- No
- TAG at San Diego
- No TAG
- Admits transfers
- Yes
UC San Diego admitted 57.7% of community college applicants for fall 2025, and it doesn’t publish admit rates by major. The middle half of admitted transfers had GPAs from 3.55 to 3.94 for fall 2025.
What San Diego expects
Anthropology B.A. (Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Climate Change and Human Solutions, Sociocultural Anthropology) · Biological Anthropology B.S. · Environmental Anthropology B.S.
- Courses to finish
Biological Anthropology is the only Anthropology major on the screening list. It requires BILD 1 and 2, CHEM 6A-6C, two of MATH 10A/10B/10C or 20A/20B/20C, MATH 11 or PSYC 60, ANTH 2, and one of ANTH 5, 42, 43, SOCI 70 or PSYC 1. Source
The Anthropology B.A. has no lower-division requirements. The catalog advises ANTH 1 for sociocultural, ANTH 2 for biological and ANTH 3 for archaeology students. Source
- Selection
Biological Anthropology is screened on its listed courses with a C (2.0) or better in each. The other Anthropology majors are not screened. Source
- Also note
The department says the Anthropology major has no prerequisite courses and that UC San Diego accepts only fall applicants. Source
- Every San Diego major
UC San Diego admits transfers at the junior level only, and every transfer must be admitted to a major. Source
Applicants to screened majors are screened on the number of preparation courses completed, the grades in them and the cumulative GPA. Required preparation must be done by the end of the spring term before fall admission with a C (2.0) or better unless the major states otherwise. Source
Data Science, Engineering and Public Health are selective majors with limited enrollment due to capacity. UC San Diego strongly recommends listing an alternate non-selective major, and applicants not admitted to the first choice may be admitted to the alternate if space is available. Source
UC’s shared course list
UC’s Anthropology Transfer Pathway lists the courses that prepare you for this major at every campus, UC San Diego included. Where San Diego’s own list above asks for more, follow the campus.
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Physical/biological anthropology | Required |
| Cultural anthropology | Required |
| Introduction to archaeology | Required |
Paste your course titles to see which items they cover.
No TAG at UC San Diego
UC San Diego doesn’t offer TAG. Its UniversityLink program guarantees admission to the campus, though not to a selective major, for eligible students at nine San Diego-area colleges.
Your odds
Move the GPA to see a regular-review range at UC San Diego for anthropology.
The same major at other campuses
| Campus | Screens applicants | TAG |
|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | Not stated | No TAG |
| UCLA | No | No TAG |
| UC Irvine | Yes | 3.40 |
| UC Davis | No | 3.20 |
| UC Santa Barbara | No | 3.40 |
| UC Santa Cruz | No | 3.00 |
| UC Riverside | Not stated | 2.80 |
| UC Merced | No | 2.80 |
Other majors at UC San Diego
- Aerospace Engineering
- Bioengineering
- Biological Sciences
- Business Economics
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Cognitive Science
- Communication
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Earth Science / Geology
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- English
- Environmental Science
- Film and Media Studies
- Global and International Studies
- History
- Linguistics
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Statistics
Official links
- UC San Diego transfer admissionsadmissions.ucsd.edu
- ASSIST: course agreements to UC San Diegoassist.org
Questions
What GPA do you need to transfer to UC San Diego for anthropology?
UC San Diego doesn’t publish a GPA for this major. The middle half of admitted transfers had GPAs from 3.55 to 3.94 for fall 2025.
What classes do I need to transfer to UC San Diego for anthropology?
Biological Anthropology is the only Anthropology major on the screening list. It requires BILD 1 and 2, CHEM 6A-6C, two of MATH 10A/10B/10C or 20A/20B/20C, MATH 11 or PSYC 60, ANTH 2, and one of ANTH 5, 42, 43, SOCI 70 or PSYC 1. Check each course on ASSIST for your college.
Is anthropology selective or screened at UC San Diego?
UC San Diego’s pages don’t list extra screening for it. Admission still depends on your whole application.
Can I get a TAG for anthropology at UC San Diego?
UC San Diego doesn’t offer TAG. Its UniversityLink program guarantees admission to the campus, though not to a selective major, for eligible students at nine San Diego-area colleges.