Academic Planning

There are three things to keep in mind as you plan:

Meeting minimum requirements,
Preparing for your major, and
General education courses.

Note: Universities can and do change their admission/selection requirements so make sure you meet with a counselor at least once a semester to review and update your Student Education Plan (SEP).

Minimum Requirements

The UC and Cal State campuses share the requirement of completing two transferable English courses and one transferable math class. This can be fulfilled by completing area 1A, 1B and 2A of the IGETC. It is recommended to check your major preparation to determine which math is best for you.

UC Transfer Admission Planner

Major Preparation Requirements

Once you have an idea of what you want to major in, get to know the coursework for that major at the universities you’re interested in. Look up your major in the course catalog of the universities you plan to apply to — this can help give you a sense of the major’s focus. Your major may have preparation requirements. These courses are often prerequisites for other courses that are required as part of the major.Start with required courses for your major: Majors at some campuses will require you to complete specific courses before you transfer. Take recommended courses for your major: Completing these courses before transfer makes you a more competitive applicant—and will help you graduate on time after you transfer.

UC Preparation for the Major Courses

CSU Preparation for the Major Courses

California Private Universities

General Education/Breadth Requirements

General education or breadth requirements are designed to give undergraduates a broad background in various academic disciplines — natural sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, mathematics, humanities, and visual and performing arts. The general education/breadth requirements specify the courses students must take or credit hours they must accumulate in each area. Each university has its own set of requirements, described in the campus General Catalogs and articulation agreements. With careful planning, a student can meet many of the requirements while attending community college. At some campuses and in some majors, transfer students must fulfill all or a portion of the general education/breadth requirements before transferring.