 Eligibility and Selection
Establishing Eligibility
California Residents
To be eligible for admission to UC as a transfer student, you must fulfill both of the following criteria. Keep in mind that meeting these requirements may not be sufficient to gain admission to the campus or to the major of your choice.
1. Complete at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of UC-transferable college credit with a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.40. No more than 14 semester/21 quarter units may be taken on a pass/not pass basis.
2. Complete the following course pattern requirements, earning a grade of C or better in each course:
- Two UC-transferable college courses (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units each) in English composition; and
- One UC-transferable college course (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units) in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning; and
- Four UC-transferable college courses (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units each) chosen from at least two of the following subject areas: the arts and humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, and the physical and biological sciences.
If you satisfy the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC, see below) prior to transferring to UC, you may satisfy part 2 of the transfer admission requirements.
If you were eligible for admission to the university when you graduated from high school--meaning you satisfied the Subject ("a-g" courses), Scholarship (GPA and test scores), and Examination requirements, or were identified by the university during your senior year as Eligible in the Local Context --you are eligible for transfer if you have a C (2.00) average in your UC-transferable course work.
If you met the Scholarship Requirement in high school but did not satisfy the Subject Requirement, you must take UC-transferable college courses in the missing subjects, earn a C or better in each required course, and have an overall C (2.00) average in all transferable course work to be eligible to transfer.
Nonresidents
The minimum admission requirements for nonresident transfer applicants are the same, except that nonresidents must have a GPA of 2.80 or higher in all UC-transferable college course work.
Deadline for Establishing Eligibility
UC Santa Cruz requires that transfer eligibility be established by the end of the spring term 2008 for students applying for fall 2008. Students who plan to complete the required courses in English composition and mathematics in spring 2008 must have demonstrated adequate preparation in the related prerequisite course work. If any of the prerequisites are met through a placement exam, this information should be noted in the personal statement portion of the application.
No more than two courses may be completed in a summer term prior to fall transfer if those units are needed to reach the 60 semester/90 quarter unit minimum needed for eligibility. Courses to meet the English composition requirement, mathematics requirement, and other four-course requirement may not be completed in the summer term prior to fall transfer.
For winter 2009 applicants, all admission requirements must be completed no later than the end of the fall 2008 term. Please note that UC Santa Cruz is not always open to winter-quarter applicants. (See "Application Filing Periods" below).
UC Santa Cruz Transfer Admission Guarantee (UCSC TAG)
The UC Santa Cruz Transfer Admission Guarantee (UCSC TAG) Program is designed for California community college transfer students at the junior level. To apply for the UCSC TAG Program, students planning to transfer must: (1) have completed a minimum of 30 UC-transferable semester units (45 quarter units) of course work at the time of application; (2) have fewer than 20 semester units (30 quarter units) completed at a four-year institution; (3) have at least a 3.00 GPA in all UC-transferable course work; and (4) be enrolled at a participating California community college.
The benefits of participating in the UCSC TAG Program include early review of your academic records; early notification that your admission to UC Santa Cruz is guaranteed (subject to the conditions of the program); and opportunities for advising about major preparation, general education, and/or IGETC requirements.
With the help of their community college advisers, UCSC TAG students complete an agreement listing courses they will take to fulfill university requirements. All California community colleges have been invited to participate in the UCSC TAG Program, and UC Santa Cruz currently has UCSC TAG agreements with nearly all of the California community colleges. If you are interested in UCSC TAG, contact your community college transfer center or counseling office for information about application procedures and deadlines. UCSC TAG offers guaranteed admission for fall quarter only. For further information about UCSC TAG and an application form, go to http://admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/docs/TAG_Matrix_and_Form-REVISED_0607.pdf.
Selection Criteria
Once they have established eligibility for admission, students will be selected primarily on the basis of academic performance and preparation, as assessed by a thorough review of the following: GPA in all UC-transferable courses; completion of and performance in lower-division prerequisite courses in the applicant's proposed major; completion of a specified pattern of courses that meet general education requirements; participation in academically selective honors programs and performance in honors courses. Other factors that may be assessed include outstanding performance in one or more academic subject areas, special projects, or programs; talents, achievements, experiences, or interests that will contribute to the vitality and educational environment of the campus; and special circumstances or personal challenges, especially as they relate to the social or educational environment(s), that have affected a student's life experience.
For students in the following categories, please see the links below:
Lower-Division Transfers
Transfers with over 90 UC-transferable credits
Second Baccalaureate applicants
Applicants with international academic records
Preparing to Transfer
Preparing for Your Major
You are strongly encouraged to concentrate on completing as many of the lower-division requirements as possible for your chosen major. This is particularly important if your major requires preparatory courses in mathematics and the sciences. Strong preparation will ease your transition to the university, shorten your time to degree, and leave more flexibility in your schedule to explore additional academic interests. Information regarding the required courses for each major can be found in the UC Santa Cruz General Catalog.
Selective Majors
Most transfer students are admitted to the campus as prospective majors (as listed on the UC application). Most majors are readily available to transfer students once they have completed the lower-division prerequisite courses. Junior transfers are required to declare their major during their second quarter of attendance.
Art majors: Junior transfer students are accepted into the art major after passing the portfolio review. The UC application and the Art Department Portfolio Review application are separate and independent processes. Being accepted to UC Santa Cruz does not guarantee that a student will pass the portfolio review, and passing the portfolio review does not guarantee admission to UC Santa Cruz. More information on the portfolio review can be found at art.ucsc.edu or by calling the Art Department at (831) 459-3551.
Jack Baskin School of Engineering: Acceptance into any Jack Baskin School of Engineering (SoE) major will be based on overall college academic record, especially completion and grades in the individual department's foundation courses. Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum is not recommended for engineering transfer students. The foundation courses required for admission to SoE majors are described on the SoE Undergraduate Advising web site. For more information, e-mail soeadmissions@soe.ucsc.edu or call (831) 459-5840.
During the declaration of major process, which occurs once the student is already enrolled at UC Santa Cruz, some departments may screen for admission to their majors using criteria beyond minimum eligibility requirements. These majors currently include business management economics, the creative writing concentration within the literature major, economics, film and digital media, global economics, psychology, and sociology. Consult the UC Santa Cruz General Catalog or the department for more information.
General Education Requirements
General education requirements are designed to introduce students to diverse subject areas. While not an admission requirement, these courses should be taken prior to transfer, if possible. Keep in mind that general education requirements should not be completed at the expense of completing lower-division major preparation. A course may be used to meet both a general education and a major requirement. You have the option of completing either the UC Santa Cruz campus's general education requirements or, if you are transferring from a California community college, the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum.
Campus General Education Requirements: UC Santa Cruz has one campuswide set of general education requirements. A detailed explanation of the requirements can be found in the UC Santa Cruz General Catalog. Any unfulfilled general education requirements can be satisfied at UC Santa Cruz after transfer.
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC): IGETC is a pattern of courses prospective transfer students from a California community college may complete to satisfy the lower-division breadth/general education requirements for both the University of California and the California State University. For more information about IGETC, please see the IGETC web page. Please note that IGETC is not recommended for majors that require extensive course preparation.
Other Information
Application Filing Periods
Fall quarter: November 1-30
Winter quarter: July 16-August 17
*Note: Check the Admissions web site in June to see whether applications will be accepted and/or if restrictions apply to winter quarter applicants. UC Santa Cruz does not typically accept applications for spring quarter.
Applying for Admission
You may apply to UC Santa Cruz online by completing the University of California application.
Paper applications are only available as a PDF through the UC Office of the President Admissions web site (see URL above). If you do not have web access or are unable to download and print an application, call UC Santa Cruz Office of Admissions, (831) 459-4008, and a printed copy of the application will be mailed to you. Both applications, electronic and paper, explain the filing process, fees, and all information you must submit with your application.
To ensure that you will be considered for admission to the university, you must file your application during the appropriate filing period shown above.
Financial Aid
All students concerned about their ability to meet educational costs should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application form is available at the financial aid office at any college or university and on the web. The form is used to determine your eligibility for grants, part-time work-study, employment, and need-based loans. California residents should also submit a GPA Verification Form to be considered for the Cal Grant program.
The priority deadline for submitting financial aid applications is March 2. This deadline applies to applicants for winter quarter as well as fall quarter. Funds will be awarded to late applicants on a funds-available basis. Financial Aid web site.
ASSIST
Comprehensive articulation information, including transferable course agreements (TCAs) for all California community colleges, is available on the ASSIST web site.
Prospective students and their families in California, as well as California community college counselors, may contact their Admissions Regional Representative for more information. Please see admissions.ucsc.edu/contact.cfm for the representative in each county.
Other Contact Information
Office of Admissions
admissions@ucsc.edu
(831) 459-4008
UC Santa Cruz Home Page
Campus Tours
visits@ucsc.edu
STARS (Services for Transfer and Re-entry Students)
(831) 459-2552
Disability Resource Center (DRC)
drc@ucsc.edu
Voice: (831) 459-2089
TTY: (831) 459-4806
Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP)
(831) 459-2296
Financial Aid
fin_aid@ucsc.edu
(831) 459-2963
Housing Office
housing@ucsc.edu
(831) 459-2394
Residential Colleges
Parent Guide
Bay Tree Bookstore
(831) 459-4544
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UC Santa Cruz Transfer Admissions Guide
