Transfer Student Entry into the Bioengineering Major
Admission of transfer applicants into Bioengineering is limited to those who have demonstrated a high level of achievement commensurate with the prospect of success in these majors. Transfer students interested in Bioengineering should indicate Bioengineering as their “FIRST CHOICE” of major on the UC Undergraduate Admission Application. These students will be notified directly by the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools whether they have been admitted into their desired major, based on admissions criteria and their ranking in the applicant pool.
Successful applicants must have completed substantial training at a community college with a high level of academic performance. The required minimum of ninety quarter transfer units must include eighteen quarter-units of calculus, twelve quarter-units of calculus-based physics (including lab experience), ten quarter-units of general chemistry (including lab experience), and the highest level of introductory computer programming language course offered at the community college. Applicants seeking admission as transfer students will be considered for direct admission into the Bioengineering major in the Department of Bioengineering. The only way to become a Bioengineering major as a transfer student is to be directly admitted from community college. Although the actual required GPA cutoff depends on the number of openings, at least a 3.2 GPA in the community college transfer courses, and a 3.4 GPA in math, physics, and computer science courses, are likely to be needed to gain admission.
The following courses (or their equivalents) are recommended preparation for all engineering transfer students.
- Calculus I—for Science and Engineering (MATH 20A)
- Calculus II—for Science and Engineering (MATH 20B)
- Calculus and Analytic Geometry (MATH 20C)
- Differential Equations (MATH 20D)
- Linear Algebra (MATH 20F)
- Complete calculus-based physics series with lab experience (PHYSICS 2A-B-C)
- Chemistry 6A (included in a total of ten quarter-units of general chemistry with lab experience)
- Highest level of introductory computer programming language course offered at the community college**
**Refer to the UCSD General Catalog to select major prerequisite requirements for computer language courses.