Prospective Geology Transfer Students

Van under rainbow

The UC Davis Earth and Planetary Sciences department welcomes prospective transfer students

UC Davis is a wonderful place to study Geology, with plenty of opportunities for transfer students and a thriving transfer community. Watch this presentation to California Community College students for more information about applying, joining the Geology major, and resources for success as a Geology major at UC Davis.

UC Davis: a Best Value College

In 2019, money.com ranked UC Davis 5th in the nation for Best Value Colleges; over half of our students graduated debt-free.


Prior to transferring into UC Davis, students must meet the Transfer Admission requirements. For the Bachelor of Science degree program in Geology at UC Davis, we strongly recommend that transfer students complete preparatory coursework equivalent to the following:

  • Calculus with Linear Algebra (MAT 016A-016B-016C-022A or 017A-017B-017C or 019A-019B-019C or 021A-021B-022A or MAT 021A-021B-021C) 
  • Three quarters of Chemistry (CHE 002A-002B-002C). (CHE 002C replaces GEL 055).
  • Three quarters of Physics (PHY 007A-007B-007C or 009A-009B-009C). (PHY 007C/009C replaces GEL 056).
  • Physical Geology with Laboratory (GEL 050, 050L)
  • History of Life (GEL 003) or Geobiology (GEL 053; only offered at UC Davis)
  • Statistics (STA 013)
  • IGETC, or the full General Education requirement

Students who transfer in with all this coursework done will be well prepared to finish the degree in two years. Students who are missing some or all of chemistry, math, or physics cannot be guaranteed a two-year plan. Our core Geology classes have strict prerequisites, are only taught in sequence, and are offered every other year.

Please feel free to contact the geology major advisor if you would like to discuss your specific preparation for transfer.

  • Transfer credit evaluation
  • If you are an incoming student who has transfer credit from another 4-year university (including other UC's), out-of-state community college, or from A-Levels, you likely have coursework that needs to be evaluated. While there are transfer agreements in place already with the California community colleges*, which can be reviewed on assist.org, this is not the case for any school that is not a California community college. A-Levels need to be evaluated for course equivalence as well. Please note that this evaluation does not apply to General Education (GE) attributes such as Science & Engineering (SE) or Social Science (SS). To have any courses evaluated for GE attributes, please contact the College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences dean's office.

    *California community college students who took only a partial series at their community college or completed a series at multiple schools, even if they are in the same district, will need to have that course work evaluated.

    Common subjects for evaluation

    Biology: For each biology course you would like evaluated, please email a complete syllabus that also includes a lecture schedule to cbsundergrads@ucdavis.edu.

    Chemistry: Email the syllabi for any chemistry classes that you want evaluated to chemundergrads@ucdavis.edu. Include a detailed syllabus of the class (showing week-to-week topics covered in lectures and labs).  Course descriptions from the website or catalog are not sufficient.  Also the following information about each class: Name of college or university, Course name and number, Course description, Textbook information, UCD chemistry course that is being proposed as equivalent. Once this is sent in, students can expect a response within 2-4 weeks

    Geology: Email the syllabi for any geology classes that you want evaluated to geology-advisors@ucdavis.edu.

    Economics: Email the syllabi for any economics classes that you want evaluated to eheadvisingcenter@ucdavis.edu. You can also check their transfer database for pre-existing articulations for non-Assist schools.

    Math: Math has an equivalency request form. You can also check their transfer database for pre-existing articulations.

    Physics: Physics has an equivalency request form. You can also check their transfer database for pre-existing articulations.

    Political Science: Email the syllabi for any political science classes that you want evaluated to poladvising@ucdavis.edu.

    Statistics: Statistics has an equivalency request form.

2-year Transfer Students | GEL Sample Academic Plans

The following are sample academic plans for 2-year transfer Geology B.S. majors. They assume you've completed the preparatory coursework. This information is provided for your convenience, but should be adjusted to each student's specific needs. These plans are not meant to replace a consultation with a major advisor, who can help you create a personalized academic plan. Classes are subject to change. 

Classes in italics must stay in the quarter they’re listed, although not always in the year listed.


Geology B.S. Sample Academic Plan for Transfers (pdf) revised 12/2023
Geology A.B. Sample Academic Plan for Transfers  (pdf) revised 12/2023


There are 2 options for Transfer Students
Example 1: Structure coursework first | Example 2: Petrology coursework first


GEL Transfer Example 1: Structure Coursework first

The full Structure series (101/L-103-110A) is offered in the 2023-2024 year, or the 2025-2026 year, etc. Choose this option if you’ve completed the physics prerequisites by then. Split up taking the structure and petrology series to keep a balanced schedule

Junior Academic Year | Structure coursework
  • Fall Quarter Total: 12-15 units
    • Geology 107: Paleobiology (3)
    • Geology 107L: Paleobiology Lab (2)
    • Upper Division Geology Elective (3)
    • UWP 101 or 102 or 104 or UDCE
  • Winter Quarter Total: 12+ units
    • Geology 101: Structural Geology (3)
    • Geology 101L: Structural Geology Lab (2)
    • Upper Division Geology Elective (3)
  • Spring Quarter Total: 12+ units
    • Geology 103: Spring Field Geology (4)
    • Upper Division Geology Elective (3)
    • Upper Division Geology Elective (3)
  • Summer Total: 0-8 units
    • Geology 110A: Summer Field Geology (4)
    • Units for financial aid (2+)
Senior Academic Year | Petrology coursework
  • Fall Quarter Total: 12+ units
    • Geology 60: Earth Materials (4)
    • Upper Division Geology Elective (3)
    • Upper Division units (4)
  • Winter Quarter Total: 12+ units
    • Geology 105: Igneous Rocks (4)
    • Upper Division Geology Elective (3)
    • Upper Division units (4)
  • Spring Quarter Total: 12+ units
    • Geology 108: Paleoclimates (3)
    • Geology 109: Sediments and Strata (3)
    • Geology 109L: Sediments and Strata Lab (2)
    • Upper Division units (0-4)
  • Summer Total: 0-8 units
    • Geology 110B: Summer Field Geology (4)
    • Units for financial aid (2+)

GEL Transfer Example 2: Petrology Coursework first

The full petrology series (60-105-109/L-110B) is offered in the 2023-2024 year, or the 2024-2025 year, or 2026-2027, etc. Choose this option if you’ve completed the chemistry prerequisites by then. Split up taking the structure and petrology series to keep a balanced schedule.

Junior Academic Year | Petrology coursework 
  • Fall Quarter Total: 12-15 units
    • Geology 60: Earth Materials (4)
    • Upper Division Geology Elective (3)
    • UWP 101 or 102 or 104 or UDCE
  • Winter Quarter Total: 12+ units
    • Geology 105: Igneous Rocks (4)
    • Upper Division Geology Elective (3)
    • Upper Division Geology Elective (3)
  • Spring Quarter Total: 12+ units
    • Geology 108: Paleoclimates (3)
    • Geology 109: Sediments and Strata (3)
    • Geology 109L: Sediments and Strata Lab (2)
  • Summer Total: 0-8 units
    • Geology 110B: Summer Field Geology (4)
    • Units for financial aid (2+)
Senior Academic Year | Structure coursework
  • Fall Quarter Total: 12+ units
    • Geology 107: Paleobiology (3)
    • Geology 107L: Paleobiology Lab (2)
    • Upper Division units (4)
  • Winter Quarter Total: 12+ units
    • Geology 101: Structural Geology (3)
    • Geology 101L: Structural Geology Lab (2)
    • Upper Division Geology Elective (3)
    • Upper Division units (4)
  • Spring Quarter Total: 12+ units
    • Geology 103: Spring Field Geology (4)
    • Upper Division Geology Elective (3)
    • Upper Division Geology Elective (3)
    • Upper Division units (0-4)
  • Summer Total: 0-8 units
    • Geology 110A: Summer Field Geology (4)
    • Units for financial aid (2+)

Updated December 2023