Psychology transfer to UC San Diego
What UC San Diego expects psychology 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
Psychology B.A. · Psychology B.S. · Business Psychology B.S.
- Courses to finish
The department recommends at least three foundational courses before transfer, starting with statistics (PSYC 60, COGS 14B or MATH 11) and research methods (PSYC 70 or COGS 14A). A third course comes from natural science, math or logic, or programming lists that differ for the B.A., B.S. and Business Psychology. Source
Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience B.S. uses the same statistics and methods recommendations and also requires COGS 17. Source
- Also note
The department states that none of its majors are capped or impacted and that all of them are open to incoming transfers. Completing preparation is recommended, not required for admission. 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 Psychology 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 |
|---|---|
| Introduction to psychology | Required |
| Statistics | Required |
| Calculus 1 (life sciences version or above) | Required |
| Biology 1 (STEM version) | Required |
| One additional science course (biology, chemistry or physics) | Required |
| Social/cultural anthropology | Choose 2 of 5: social science |
| Linguistic anthropology | Choose 2 of 5: social science |
| Logic | Choose 2 of 5: social science |
| Introduction to sociology | Choose 2 of 5: social science |
| Modern philosophy | Choose 2 of 5: social science |
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 psychology.
The same major at other campuses
| Campus | Screens applicants | TAG |
|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | No | No TAG |
| UCLA | Yes | No TAG |
| UC Irvine | Yes | 3.40 |
| UC Davis | Yes | 3.20 |
| UC Santa Barbara | No | 3.40 |
| UC Santa Cruz | Yes | 3.00 |
| UC Riverside | Yes | 3.30 |
| UC Merced | No | 3.00 |
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
- Environmental Science
- Film and Media Studies
- Global and International Studies
- History
- Linguistics
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- 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 psychology?
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 psychology?
The department recommends at least three foundational courses before transfer, starting with statistics (PSYC 60, COGS 14B or MATH 11) and research methods (PSYC 70 or COGS 14A). A third course comes from natural science, math or logic, or programming lists that differ for the B.A., B.S. and Business Psychology. Check each course on ASSIST for your college.
Is psychology 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 psychology 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.