Biological Sciences at UC Santa Cruz
What UC Santa Cruz expects biological sciences transfers to finish before fall 2027. Below are Santa Cruz’s own preparation and selection rules, UC’s shared course list, the TAG terms and your odds.
Checked against official UC and campus sources in November 2026.
At a glance
- Fall 2025 campus admit rate
- 70.4%
- Screens applicants
- Yes
- TAG GPA line
- 3.00
- Admits transfers
- Yes
UC Santa Cruz admitted 70.4% of all transfer applicants for fall 2025, and it doesn’t publish admit rates by major. UC Santa Cruz reported an average GPA of 3.47 for admitted fall 2025 transfers and no range. The calculator’s range is an estimate around that average.
What Santa Cruz expects
Biology B.S. · Biology B.A.
- Courses to finish
For the Biology B.S. (2026-27 catalog), transfers must complete CHEM 3A-3C or CHEM 4A-4B, CHEM 8A, BIOL 20A, BIOL 20L, BIOE 20B, and one of MATH 11A, 16A or 19A by the end of spring before fall entry. BIOL 20L is not required for students who completed BIOL 20A and BIOE 20B at a California community college. Source
The Biology B.S. page also recommends a second calculus course (MATH 11B, 16B or 19B), STAT 7 with 7L, and CHEM 8B with 8L before transfer. Source
The EEB department lists Biology B.A. transfer preparation as BIOL 20A, BIOE 20B, BIOE 20C and a general chemistry sequence (CHEM 3A-3B or CHEM 4A or equivalents), with no calculus required. The page shows no catalog year. Source
- Selection
The Biology B.S. screening section states no minimum GPA. Its major qualification rules require a C or better in qualification courses, taken for a letter grade, and two or more grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D- or F bar declaration (2026-27 catalog). Source
- Also note
Winter-entry Biology B.S. transfers must also complete a course equivalent to CHEM 8B before transferring. Source
Students who enter with advanced standing in a different major need department permission to change into Biology B.S. Source
Students denied their original EEB screening major and admitted to a non-screening major may not pursue any EEB major after admission, including Biology B.A. Source
- Every Santa Cruz major
For Fall 2026, UCSC screens transfer applicants for completion of major preparation courses in a published list of screening majors, with criteria given in each major's General Catalog entry. Source
Required major preparation must be completed by the end of the spring term before fall transfer, or by the end of the fall term before winter transfer. Source
UC’s shared course list
UC’s Biological sciences Transfer Pathway lists the courses that prepare you for this major at every campus, UC Santa Cruz included. Where Santa Cruz’s own list above asks for more, follow the campus.
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| General biology with lab (full introductory sequence) | Required |
| General chemistry with lab (one-year sequence) | Required |
| Calculus for STEM majors (one-year sequence) | Required |
| Organic chemistry with lab (one-year sequence) | Required |
| Calculus-based physics with lab (one year, not trigonometry-based) | Recommended |
| Statistics (one term) | Recommended |
Paste your course titles to see which items they cover.
TAG for this major
UC Santa Cruz’s TAG covers biological sciences for fall 2027 at a 3.00 UC-transferable GPA. TAG filing runs September 1–30 of the year before you transfer.
Your odds
Move the GPA to see a regular-review range at UC Santa Cruz for biological sciences.
The same major at other campuses
| Campus | Screens applicants | TAG |
|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | Not stated | No TAG |
| UCLA | Yes | No TAG |
| UC San Diego | Yes | No TAG |
| UC Irvine | Yes | 3.40 |
| UC Davis | Yes | 3.20 |
| UC Santa Barbara | Yes | 3.40 |
| UC Riverside | Yes | 2.80 |
| UC Merced | Yes | 2.90 |
Other majors at UC Santa Cruz
- Anthropology
- Bioengineering
- Business Administration
- Business Economics
- Chemistry
- Cognitive Science
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Earth Science / Geology
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- English
- Environmental Science
- Film and Media Studies
- History
- Linguistics
- Mathematics
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Official links
- UC Santa Cruz transfer admissionsadmissions.ucsc.edu
- ASSIST: course agreements to UC Santa Cruzassist.org
Questions
What GPA do you need to transfer to UC Santa Cruz for biological sciences?
The Biology B.S. screening section states no minimum GPA. Its major qualification rules require a C or better in qualification courses, taken for a letter grade, and two or more grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D- or F bar declaration (2026-27 catalog). A TAG needs at least a 3.00.
What classes do I need to transfer to UC Santa Cruz for biological sciences?
For the Biology B.S. (2026-27 catalog), transfers must complete CHEM 3A-3C or CHEM 4A-4B, CHEM 8A, BIOL 20A, BIOL 20L, BIOE 20B, and one of MATH 11A, 16A or 19A by the end of spring before fall entry. BIOL 20L is not required for students who completed BIOL 20A and BIOE 20B at a California community college. Check each course on ASSIST for your college.
Is biological sciences selective or screened at UC Santa Cruz?
Yes. UC Santa Cruz screens transfer applicants for it. The Biology B.S. screening section states no minimum GPA. Its major qualification rules require a C or better in qualification courses, taken for a letter grade, and two or more grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D- or F bar declaration (2026-27 catalog).
Can I get a TAG for biological sciences at UC Santa Cruz?
Yes, for fall 2027, with at least a 3.00 GPA. TAG filing runs September 1–30 of the year before you transfer.