Environmental science at UC San Diego
What UC San Diego expects environmental science 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
- Yes
- 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
Environmental Systems-Ecology, Behavior and Evolution B.S. · Environmental Systems-Earth Sciences B.S. · Environmental Systems-Environmental Chemistry B.S.
- Courses to finish
All Environmental Systems options screen BILD 3, CHEM 6A-6C and calculus (MATH 20A-20B, or MATH 10A-10B for Ecology, Behavior and Evolution and Environmental Policy). Ecology adds BILD 1, Earth Sciences adds PHYS 2A-2B, Environmental Chemistry adds CHEM 7L and PHYS 2A-2B, and Environmental Policy adds ECON 1. Source
- Selection
Screened major. Each screening course needs a C (2.0) or better, and no separate minimum GPA is stated. 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 Environmental science 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 |
|---|---|
| Calculus-based physics (full sequence with lab) | Required |
| Single variable calculus (full sequence) | Required |
| Introductory statistics (one course) | Required |
| Introductory biology (full sequence with lab) | Required |
| General chemistry (full sequence with lab) | Required |
| Organic chemistry (one semester) | Required |
| Principles of economics (microeconomics) | 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 environmental science.
The same major at other campuses
| Campus | Screens applicants | TAG |
|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | Yes | 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 | Yes | 3.00 |
| UC Riverside | Yes | 2.80 |
| UC Merced | Yes | 2.90 |
Other majors at UC San Diego
- Aerospace Engineering
- Anthropology
- 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
- 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 environmental science?
Screened major. Each screening course needs a C (2.0) or better, and no separate minimum GPA is stated.
What classes do I need to transfer to UC San Diego for environmental science?
All Environmental Systems options screen BILD 3, CHEM 6A-6C and calculus (MATH 20A-20B, or MATH 10A-10B for Ecology, Behavior and Evolution and Environmental Policy). Ecology adds BILD 1, Earth Sciences adds PHYS 2A-2B, Environmental Chemistry adds CHEM 7L and PHYS 2A-2B, and Environmental Policy adds ECON 1. Check each course on ASSIST for your college.
Is environmental science selective or screened at UC San Diego?
Yes. UC San Diego screens transfer applicants for it. Screened major. Each screening course needs a C (2.0) or better, and no separate minimum GPA is stated.
Can I get a TAG for environmental science 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.