General Education for Transfers
Transfer students may apply courses taken at other institutions toward lower-division general education requirements. The disciplinary communication (DC) course(s) must be taken at UCSC.
If you are currently attending one of the California community colleges, see the ASSIST website, consult with the UC Santa Cruz Office of Admissions, or consult with your current counselor to determine which college courses satisfy UCSC requirements.
Transfer students who have satisfied the general education or breadth requirements of another UC campus prior to transfer will be considered to have completed the UCSC general education requirements, with the exception of the DC requirement. Students will need to request a Letter of Reciprocity from their former UC campus in order to have their general education requirements satisfied by completion of requirements at that campus. Completion of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), or the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) prior to enrollment at UCSC will also be accepted in lieu of the campus general education requirements, with the exception of the DC requirement.
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) was a series of courses that prospective California community college (CCC) transfer students could complete to satisfy the lower-division general education requirements at UC Santa Cruz, excluding the upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. As of Fall 2025, IGETC has been replaced with the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC). UC Santa Cruz still accepts full or partial IGETC certifications from the last CCC a student attended.
For more information about IGETC, visit the UC Admissions IGETC webpage and the IGETC section of the 2025-26 UC Santa Cruz General Catalog.
For more information about Cal-GETC, see the Cal-GETC page for the UCSC General Catalog and the Cal-GETC page for University of California Admissions.
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
The California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) is a series of courses that prospective California community college (CCC) transfer students may complete to satisfy the lower-division general education requirements at UC Santa Cruz, excluding the upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. As of fall 2025, Cal-GETC replaced IGETC as the singular general education pathway for students at the California Community Colleges.
For more information about Cal-GETC, visit the UC Admissions Cal-GETC webpage, and the Cal-GETC campus guidance webpage.
Major Requirements and Course Prerequisites for Transfer Students
Students who believe they have taken courses at other institutions that satisfy major requirements or UCSC course prerequisites should review
ASSIST.org for existing transfer articulation agreements from California community colleges. If they have additional questions for courses from other institutions, they should contact their major advisor for review.