UCLA Arts will consider sophomore level transfers from California Community Colleges, out-of-state community colleges, and other 4-year colleges/universities. A sophomore transfer is someone who has 30-59 semester units or 45-89 quarter units.
We have this special option for our majors in Architectural Studies, Art, Dance, Design|Media Arts, and World Arts and Cultures as an important equity consideration. The majority of our transfer applicants come from California Community Colleges and visual/performing arts studio class availability varies significantly from campus to campus.
For that reason, we do not have established major preparation coursework, and instead place weight on the portfolio/audition/supplemental materials no matter where the creative work was done/made. Self-directed work and/or work done in community is equally valid in the admission process. Many of our applicants attend community college to take lower division general education coursework (IGETC/Cal-GETC) and save all their studio coursework for UCLA.
-
Please note that meeting minimum UC eligibility does not guarantee admission to the University. The requirements listed below represent the minimum academic criteria for eligibility to the University of California.
On the UC application, true sophomore-level transfers must meet ALL the following criteria:
1) Will have completed a minimum 30 semester units or 45 quarter units by the end of Spring prior to matriculation.
2) Must have met minimum UC eligibility requirements out of high school. Criteria is listed HERE on the UC website. Note: this requirement often disqualifies Non-Resident (OOS/Intl) applicants from the sophomore transfer option.
3a) Must take two courses in English composition/critical thinking and writing*
3b) Must take one Math/quantitative reasoning course (with a prerequisite of intermediate algebra or higher).
The English and Math courses MUST be completed by the end of Spring prior to matriculation. There is no Summer option.
You need a B average in all three classes (ex. all Bs; 2 As, 1 C).
*1 of the two English courses required can be satisfied by a 3+ on the AP English Language/Composition or AP English Literature/Composition exams.
-
Students who meet sophomore-level transfer criteria are now able to select sophomore-level transfer status on the UC application, if you are listing your first choice major in the School of the Arts and Architecture at UCLA. However, in the case that your intended program is not listed as available under the sophomore-level transfer status, you can apply as a junior-level transfer applicant level in the UC Application. If you have under 60 semester or 90 quarter units reported, you will be evaluated as a sophomore-level transfer by Undergraduate Admission.
-
Prioritize English and Math classes: you need them for minimum eligibility. Specifically for California Community College students (which are the great majority of our applicants), approved English and Math classes will be listed in your community college’s IGETC/Cal-GETC pattern.
The English classes are sequential; you cannot take them both in the same semester. Taking the first one in Fall and the second in Spring is strongly recommended.
If you are worried about passing Math, then take it in Fall, so if you have trouble with it in Fall, you have a second chance in Spring. You need to be done with these three classes by the end of Spring before you come to UCLA.
Again, these classes are MANDATORY for admission eligibility. -
You can, but you don’t have to. None of our majors require it for admission, so it doesn’t give you an advantage. We are only looking for English and Math.
The main reason our applicants work towards/complete IGETC/Cal-GETC is so that they can create space in their schedules to take studio classes in their UCLA Arts major by completing their lower division general education requirements prior to arriving at UCLA.
Working towards IGETC/Cal-GETC is particularly illuminating for the majors in Architectural Studies, and World Arts and Cultures.
both majors value strong academic performance in core subjects, and working towards IGETC/Cal-GETC expresses that competency.
both majors attract students with diverse backgrounds and interdisciplinary interests, and IGETC/Cal-GETC coursework tells those stories.
-
- Any major prep coursework listed on ASSIST.org is recommended, but not required. We understand the range of available arts courses at community colleges can vary, and if students are making/doing work outside of the classroom then that work is equally valid in the supplemental review process. We do not emphasize taking classes that are UC-transferable since the department has final say over which courses they will accept towards their major, and we do not prioritize the associate degree pathway.
- You may use https://www.transferology.com/ as another articulation resource to see what arts classes have articulated to UCLA in the past.
Please remember that we look at course articulations for each admitted student on an individual basis. While it is useful to note what coursework has successfully transferred before, just because a course articulated in the past doesn’t guarantee it will for you.