Community College to UC · Popular Majors
Community College to UC Psychology:Prerequisites by Campus
The psychology transfer pathway covers seven UC campuses, and its prerequisites center on introductory psychology, statistics, calculus and science courses. Screening rules differ widely by campus, and UC Irvine closes psychology to TAG starting in fall 2028.
- UC Transfer Pathway
- Yes, recognized by 7 campuses; UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara are not included
- Pathway prerequisites
- Introduction to Psychology, statistics, Calculus I, Biology I, 1 additional science course, 2 social science courses
- TAG for fall 2027
- Open at all six TAG campuses, with GPA thresholds from 3.0 to 3.4
- UC Irvine starting fall 2028
- Psychology B.A., psychology B.S. and Cognitive Science are closed to TAG
- UC Santa Cruz screening requirements
- B- or better in Introduction to Psychology and statistics, plus one mathematics course
Transfer Admission Data for Psychology at Each UC Campus (Fall 2025)
According to the University of California Information Center, admit rates for fall 2025 transfer applicants across the 9 campus majors in the table below range from 8.9% for UC Berkeley Psychology to 98.3% for UC Santa Cruz Psychology. Of these, 3 fall below the overall transfer admit rate of their campus.
Major names follow the official UC wording; "Pre-" in UCLA major names indicates admission in pre-major status. An admit rate reflects how competitive a major is and does not represent the chance of admission for any individual student.
Admit rate for this majorOverall transfer admit rate of the campus
| Campus | Major (Official UC Name) | Applicants | Admits | Admit Rate | Admit GPA (Middle 50%) | 2016 to 2025 Admit Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | Psychology | 1,934 | 173 | 8.9% | 3.78 to 4.00 | |
| UCLA | Pre-Psychology | 2,391 | 509 | 21.3% | 3.79 to 4.00 | |
| UC San Diego | Psychology | 1,475 | 979 | 66.4% | 3.44 to 3.90 | |
| UC Irvine | Psychology | 1,231 | 639 | 51.9% | 3.64 to 4.00 | |
| UC Davis | Psychology | 1,432 | 736 | 51.4% | 3.46 to 3.89 | |
| UC Santa Barbara | Psychological and Brain Science | 1,209 | 803 | 66.4% | 3.41 to 3.88 | |
| UC Santa Cruz | Psychology | 173 | 170 | 98.3% | 3.08 to 3.81 | |
| UC Riverside | Psychology | 1,045 | 520 | 49.8% | 3.22 to 3.78 | |
| UC Merced | Psychology | 951 | 847 | 89.1% | 3.23 to 3.79 |
Fall admission data. UC does not publish categories with fewer than 5 applicants or with fewer than 3 admits or enrollees; these appear as "—". GPA is the self-reported transfer GPA of applicants, and the range covers the middle 50 percent of admitted students. The trend charts use a fixed vertical axis from 0 to 100% for easier comparison; a line breaks in years when the major was renamed. The UC Information Center campus summary table does not yet list UCLA data for fall 2025, so the UCLA rows have no campus-wide admit rate marker. Campus names link to the corresponding transfer guide. Source: UC Infocenter · Transfers by major (visualizedata.ucop.edu, Transfersbymajor workbook, fall admission), retrieved September 27, 2026.
For a community college transfer to UC in psychology, the number of prerequisites is smaller than in science and engineering majors, but the rules differ widely across campuses. UC San Diego does not cap enrollment in psychology, while UCLA states that demand for psychology far exceeds available space. UC Santa Cruz requires a B- or better in Introduction to Psychology and statistics. Cognitive Science is a separate major at several campuses, and this page mentions it only for comparison. The data section below lists transfer admission figures for this major at each campus.
Common Prerequisites
This section explains the psychology prerequisites listed in the UC Transfer Pathway. UC Transfer Pathways are prerequisite lists that UC has compiled for popular majors. UC states that completing the courses on the list satisfies all transfer coursework requirements for the participating majors. The psychology pathway applies to seven campuses: UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced. Psychology at UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara is not part of the pathway.
| Course type | Courses | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Psychology | 1 | |
| Statistics | 1 | |
| Calculus 1 | 1 | Life sciences level or higher |
| Biology 1 | 1 | Version for science majors |
| Additional science course | 1 | Biology, chemistry or physics |
| Social science courses | 2 | Choose from anthropology, logic, introduction to sociology and modern philosophy |
Community colleges offer an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) in psychology. UC notes that some ADTs include one fewer science course and two fewer social science courses than the pathway. Verify the local course number for each course by following the ASSIST guide.
Campus-by-Campus Differences
This section compares the requirements of the nine campuses for psychology transfer students. The table below lists only what each campus admissions office or department states on its website.
| Campus | Screening | Minimum GPA | Required prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | Admitted by the College of Letters and Science | 3.0 | The Department of Psychology lists 5 prerequisites: Introduction to Psychology, biology, social science and two quantitative courses |
| UCLA | Highly competitive; direct admission required | No published major minimum | Introduction to Psychology, biology, philosophy, quantitative reasoning, plus one of physics, chemistry or calculus |
| UC San Diego | No enrollment cap | No major minimum listed | Introduction to Psychology not required; natural science, formal skills, programming and statistics required |
| UC Davis | Selective major | Admission minimum 2.80; course group 2.90 | Introduction to Psychology, statistics, biology |
| UC Irvine | Thresholds set by school | 3.0 | The B.S. requires two introductory psychology courses plus 4 courses from calculus, biology, chemistry and physics |
| UC Santa Barbara | Pre-major first, then application to the full major | No major minimum listed | The department recommends completing one year of general chemistry before transfer |
| UC Santa Cruz | Screening major | B- or better in Introduction to Psychology and statistics | Introduction to Psychology, statistics, one mathematics course |
| UC Riverside | College-level threshold | 2.7 | One mathematics course |
| UC Merced | Major requirements suspended | 2.4; 2.8 for nonresidents | Lists Introduction to Psychology and statistics, which are not admission conditions during the pilot |
UCLA states that demand for psychology far exceeds available space and that students cannot change into this major after enrolling. Starting in fall 2027, the UC Berkeley College of Letters and Science admits transfer students directly into their chosen major. The Department of Psychology website still describes a process of applying to the major after enrollment, so how the two fit together should follow the latest guidance from the college. The UC Irvine psychology B.A. belongs to the School of Social Ecology, and the admissions office lists no additional prerequisites for it. Cognitive Science at UC Irvine requires a 3.2 GPA and two calculus courses with grades of B or better. The UC Merced pilot began in fall 2025 and ends with the fall 2027 application cycle.
TAG Availability
This section explains whether TAG applies to psychology. TAG is the Transfer Admission Guarantee. UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC San Diego do not participate in TAG. The table below is based on the June 9, 2026 version of the TAG matrix and applies to fall 2027 admission.
| Campus | TAG minimum GPA | Additional conditions for psychology |
|---|---|---|
| UC Davis | 3.2 (College of Letters and Science) | Complete the course group for selective majors |
| UC Irvine | 3.4 | Complete major prerequisites; closed starting fall 2028 |
| UC Merced | 3.0 | Complete minimum major prerequisites |
| UC Riverside | 3.3 | Major preparation courses required |
| UC Santa Barbara | 3.4 | For majors with a pre-major, only pre-major status is guaranteed |
| UC Santa Cruz | 3.0 | Screening majors require completed prerequisites |
Starting with fall 2028 admission, the UC Irvine psychology B.A., psychology B.S. and Cognitive Science are all closed to TAG. Students who enter community college in fall 2026 and transfer two years later are affected. Students targeting UCLA can review the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), and the full rules are in Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG).
Sample Two-Year Course Plan
This section gives a sample plan for a community college on the semester system. Psychology prerequisites overlap substantially with general education courses, so both can progress at the same time.
| Term | Major prerequisites | General education and core courses |
|---|---|---|
| First-year fall | Introduction to Psychology; preparatory mathematics or Calculus I | English composition |
| First-year spring | Statistics; Biology I | Second English composition course |
| Second-year fall | Additional science course; introduction to sociology | One humanities course |
| Second-year spring | Logic or anthropology | Remaining general education courses |
A community college on the quarter system has three regular quarters per academic year, so the courses above can be spread over six quarters. The UC Riverside College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences requires completion of Cal-GETC or the college’s own general education. UC Merced also recommends that students in social science majors complete Cal-GETC. When choosing general education courses, students can select social science courses that satisfy both the pathway and general education; see Cal-GETC general education.
EDUBUS advice: UC Santa Cruz requires a B- in Introduction to Psychology and statistics. UCLA recommends completing prerequisites by the end of the fall term of the year before transfer. Students should complete Introduction to Psychology and statistics in the first academic year and aim for grades above B. The major coursework at UC San Diego and the admission requirements for the UC Irvine B.S. both include substantial mathematics and science. Students targeting these two campuses should begin calculus and biology in the first year. Students transferring in fall 2028 with psychology as their goal cannot use TAG at UC Irvine. These students can consider TAG at UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz or UC Riverside.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which courses does a community college student need to transfer to UC in psychology?
The UC psychology transfer pathway requires Introduction to Psychology, statistics, Calculus I at the life sciences level or higher, Biology I for science majors, one additional biology, chemistry or physics course, and two social science courses. The social science courses can be chosen from anthropology, logic, introduction to sociology and modern philosophy. The specific course equivalents should be verified on ASSIST.
What does UCLA require for transfer admission in psychology?
UCLA requires Introduction to Psychology, biology, one philosophy course, one quantitative reasoning course, and one of physics, chemistry or calculus. These courses must be completed by the end of the spring term before transfer, and UCLA strongly recommends completing them by the end of the fall term. UCLA states that demand for psychology far exceeds available space; students must be admitted directly into this major and cannot change into it after enrolling.
Is psychology a screening major at UC San Diego?
No. The UC San Diego Department of Psychology states that none of its majors has an enrollment cap, so students admitted to the university can become psychology students. The department does not require Introduction to Psychology; it requires natural science, formal skills, programming and statistics courses. The department recommends that transfer students complete at least three foundational preparation courses.
Can TAG still be used for psychology?
For the fall 2027 admission cycle, all six TAG campuses are open to psychology. The psychology threshold is 3.3 at UC Riverside, 3.0 at UC Merced, and 3.4 at UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara. Starting with fall 2028 admission, the UC Irvine psychology B.A. and B.S. are closed to TAG.
Sources and Verification Date13 official sources · last verified September 27, 2026
- Transfers by major, fall 2025 and earlier years (UC Infocenter, retrieved September 27, 2026)universityofcalifornia.edu
- UC Transfer Pathways: Psychology (UC Admissions)admission.universityofcalifornia.edu
- UC TAG Matrix, fall 2027 and spring 2028 cycles (June 9, 2026 version)admission.universityofcalifornia.edu
- Major Requirements (UC Berkeley Department of Psychology)psychology.berkeley.edu
- Transfer admission information by college (UC Berkeley Office of Undergraduate Admissions)admissions.berkeley.edu
- Transfer Preparation Requirements: Psychology (UCLA Undergraduate Admission)admission.ucla.edu
- Psychological & Brain Sciences Major (UC Santa Barbara Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences)psych.ucsb.edu
- Prospective Transfer Students (UC San Diego Department of Psychology)psychology.ucsd.edu
- Major requirements for the College of Letters and Science (UC Davis Admissions)ucdavis.edu
- Transfer Requirements by School (UC Irvine Office of Undergraduate Admissions)admissions.uci.edu
- Psychology B.A. transfer screening requirements (UC Santa Cruz General Catalog)catalog.ucsc.edu
- Majors Preparation Guide (UC Riverside Admissions)admissions.ucr.edu
- Major Preparation (UC Merced Admissions, fall 2027)admissions.ucmerced.edu
Major requirements, TAG conditions, and admission data change every year. Before applying, confirm the figures published by UC and each campus for the current year.
