Welcome to the School of Social Ecology at the University of California, Irvine!
Congratulations on choosing to pursue your education at UC Irvine. As a new transfer student, it is important to review the information below, which will assist you in navigating UCI's academic climate and assist you throughout your academic career with our campus.
Your First Three Steps
Step 1: Sign Up For a Mandatory Summer Advising Session
The SIR Deadline is June 1 at 11:59PM.
Students will be emailed in early June with information about registering for their advising session
Morning and afternoon advising sessions will be held in June and July. Most sessions will be offered remotely, and there will be a limited number of in person sessions.
Step 2: Submit your UC IGETC or CalGETC
The UC IGETC or CalGETC is a series of courses that California community college students can complete to satisfy some general education requirements before transferring to most colleges and majors at UC campuses. This page explains IGETC and CalGETC in more detail.
Certified UC IGETC or CalGETC must be requested by you from your community college. These must then be sent to UCI Admissions. (Click here to read more about how to send your UC IGETC or CalGETC)
Without UC IGETC or CalGETC certification, you MUST complete UCI’s General Education requirements.
Step 3: Understand Your Degree Requirements
It is your responsibility to be aware of your degree requirements and to ask questions when you are unsure. Please use assist.org to determine course equivalencies for courses you have already taken at your community college.
Be sure to utilize DegreeWorks each quarter as you choose your courses.
We encourage you to attend an Academic Planning Workshop to learn how to read DegreeWorks and plan your courses. If you have specific questions, please visit our office for a same day appointment starting in Fall quarter.
Below are sample two year plans for transfer students. Please be aware that these assume you have a completed UC IGETC or CalGETC and transferred in with 105 quarter units (90 semester units).
Two Year Plans
Utilize Your Resources
Social Ecology Resources
- Admitted Anteater Guide
- This handy guide will explain all the key elements you need to begin your educational journey at UCI.
- Online Workshops
- These pre-recorded workshops will help you better understand topics such as academic planning, getting involved in research, deciding to double major, and more.
- Field Study
- Interested in starting to learn about Field Study? Explore the Field Study website and begin your planning process!
- Transfer Advising Session
- Interested in reviewing the transfer advising presentation? Check them out in your Canvas.
Campus Resources
- Transfer Student Center
- Learn about different transfer students' experience at UCI.
- Learning and Academic Resource Center (LARC)
- LARC connects "what to learn" with "how to learn" in a student-centered, collaborative learning experience.
- Wellness, Health & Counseling Services
- Services such as: Disability Center, Child Care Services, Student Health Center, and Counseling Center.
- Basic Needs Hub
- FRESH Basic Needs Hub is a student-initiated effort that promotes equitable access to basic needs through student empowerment, community collaboration, and institutional integration.
- Study Abroad
- Explore UCI's Study Abroad Center to learn more about opportunities to study abroad, including locations, the process, and how to begin planning.
Transfer FAQs
As a transfer student, you'll have a lot of questions! Here are frequently asked questions by our transfer students to guide you in your transition.
What is a UC IGETC or CalGEC? How do I know if I have one?
The UC IGETC or CalGETC is a series of courses that California community college students can complete to satisfy some general education requirements before transferring to most colleges and majors at UC campuses. If you are unsure whether or not you have a UC IGETC, please contact your community college.
How do I send my UC IGETC?
Your community college needs to send your UC IGETC to UCI Admissions. Once your IGETC has been sent, you will need to fill out a Current Student Update Form.
Is every IGETC the same?
No- if you started community college prior to Fall 2025, your community college may give you a UC IGETC or a CSU IGETC. If we receive a CSU IGETC, we may contact you to reach out to your community college and request a UC IGETC instead. Please confirm with your counselor prior to transferring what type of GETC you have on your official transcripts (CalGETC went into effect Fall 2025, removing the UC or CSU distinction)
I have a complete UC IGETC or CalGETC. Do I still need to complete Upper Division Writing?
Yes, the upper division writing requirement is required for all UCI students, and must be completed here at UCI. For more information on this requirement, you can view our workshop here.
I have a partial IGETC. How do I fulfill the rest of my GE requirements?
There are two options to complete a partial IGETC:
1. Return to your community college and take the required classes there to complete your IGETC. Your community college would then need to resend your UC IGETC after you complete it and request that they send it.
2. You can take the required classes at UC Irvine. You will need to look at your UC IGETC and determine what class(es) at your community college would be required to complete your UC IGETC. You would then use assist.org to find the equivalents of these classes at UCI. After you choose a few options to complete your UC IGETC, we encourage you to reach out to Social Ecology Undergraduate Affairs to confirm these classes will indeed complete your UC IGETC.
How can I check if any of my community college courses can be applied to school or major requirements here at UCI?
You can use assist.org to determine if any of the courses you have taken at your community college will fulfill any lower division school and/or major requirements. When using assist.org to check for school and/or major requirements, you can use the most recent academic year, and then choose the major you are interested in.
The UCI course will be listed on the left, and the equivalent community college course(s) will be listed on the right. Not all UCI courses will have a community college equivalent. If the community college courses are listed with an "AND" you must complete all the courses listed to receive credit here at UCI. If the community college courses are listed with an "OR" you may choose one of the options to receive credit.
If you have completed a course outside of UCI at a different university (i.e out-of-state schools/community college courses not articulated on assist.org), you can submit a Course Waiver Petition. For out-of-state community colleges, only lower-division courses can be petitioned. If you are considering petitioning a course, you can use the General Catalogue to find a similar course here at UCI. You will also need to prepare supplemental documents to include in the form (i.e., syllabi, course assignments, course description, homework, etc.).
Can my community college classes be applied towards upper division requirements?
No, community college classes are all lower division, so they cannot be applied to any upper division requirements here at UCI. Upper division courses are those numbered 100-199.
If a UCI class is listed on the Schedule of Classes with both a lecture and discussion, do I need to enroll in both?
It depends! Sometimes discussion sections are mandatory, while other times they are optional. Discussion sections are used to supplement the lecture and provide students with a chance to interact with lecture material in a deeper way, so we encourage you to enroll in the discussion regardless. If you only enroll in a lecture, WebReg will give you an error message if the discussion is also required, so please be alert when registering.
What are elective classes and why would I need them?
Elective classes are any class not required for General Education (GE), school, or major requirements. They are used to help you reach the 180 unit requirement for graduation and they give you a chance to explore interests outside your major. Typically, if students have a major in the School of Social Ecology and choose not to double major or minor, they will need some amount of elective courses to graduate. Elective courses can be upper or lower division, and in any school!
What if I am transferring from another UC?
If you completed your lower division General Education requirements at your previous UC, you should request a UC Letter of Reciprocity. This way, we can check off your lower division GE requirements at UCI. In order to have any major or school related courses evaluated for UCI course credit, you may need to submit a Course Waiver Petition for each course.
What if I am transferring from anywhere else?
Before your mandatory advising session, please let us know if you are transferring from anywhere other than a California Community College or UC. This way, we can do a full General Education evaluation for you and update your DegreeWorks to reflect the remaining GE courses you have to take at UCI. In order to have any major or school related courses evaluated for UCI course credit, you may need to submit a Course Waiver Petition for each course.
Some students are able to enroll in more than 20 units. How can I be approved for this too?
Students who would like to enroll in more than 20 units need to submit a 20+ Unit Petition. This form needs to be completed each quarter you would like to take more than 20 units, and is not guaranteed to be approved. Please note that this form cannot be submitted before the 18+ unit restriction is lifted by the Registrar. The dates for this can be found on the UCI Academic Calendar.
I would like to add a minor, how do I do that?
To add a minor, you will need to wait until Fall quarter begins. Once it begins, submit a DegreeWorks Update Form. It's that easy! If you choose a minor within the School of Social Ecology, you will be able to receive advising on the minor from us. If you choose a minor outside the School of Social Ecology, you will need to contact the school of the minor for specific questions about requirements and classes.
Am I able to double major as a transfer student?
Double majoring is possible as a transfer student! You may need to take courses during summer session, or enroll in more than 12 units depending on the major(s) you choose. If you would like to double major, you will first need to find and complete the change of major requirements found here. Once you have met the change of major requirements for your desired second major, you will apply to add the major using the "Applications" tab on Student Access.
You can find out more about the requirements for the majors offered at UCI in the General Catalogue, as well as by using the "What-If" function on DegreeWorks. We also offer workshops on double majoring versus minoring and academic planning on our website. You can use these workshops to see if double majoring is right for you, and if it is feasible!
I got an A- and it brought my GPA down! Why is that?
To get a 4.0 GPA, you will need A's and/or A+'s. A's and A+'s are worth the full amount of grade points, while an A- is worth slightly less. You can find out more about grade points here.
Is Field Study the same as Work Study?
No, Field Study is a school requirement for the School of Social Ecology, meaning it is required for all majors in our school. Field Study is a class, combined with hands-on experience with an approved community partner (similar to an internship). You can find more information about Field Study and the requirements here.
If I double major in the School of Social Ecology, will I need to complete Field Study twice?
No! Since Field Study is a school requirement, it only needs to be completed once, regardless of how many majors you have within the School of Social Ecology.
How long do I have to finish my degree from Social Ecology?
As a transfer student, you have 9 quarters to finish your degree from Social Ecology. If you are double majoring in a school other than Social Ecology, you will need to check with that school to confirm what their policies are, as well. If you are on financial aid, you will also need to consult with them to determine how much aid you have available for a third year.
How can I make an appointment with a counselor?
Please note that appointments are for current students only. You can start meeting with us once the Fall quarter begins.
Make the most of your time at UCI
Feeling overwhelmed? Below are a few things to consider each year:
Get Acclimated
- Focus on your academics! Adjusting to the quarter system can be difficult and requires constant focus and attention on your academics throughout the quarter. Consider taking only 12-13 units your first quarter.
- Attend Office Hours on a regular basis.
- Submit your official UC IGETC or CalGETC(see step 2 above or this page.)
- Attend a Field Study workshop to understand the steps for preparing for Field Study.
- Consider applying for Social Ecology Honors or Advanced Field Study. Applications for SE Honors and for Advanced Field Study open in Spring quarter for the following academic year.
Prepare for Life After UCI
- Complete Field Study (ideally in the Fall or Winter quarter).
- Complete all degree requirements.
- Continue to engage in research.
- Consider running for a leadership role in a club or organization.
- Gain experience in your field of interest. Conduct informational interviews, engage in internships, and strategically choose jobs that will help you explore your interests as much as possible.
- Take graduate school exams and submit graduate school applications, if applicable.
- Take your resume and cover letter to the our Career Services team or the Division of Career Pathways for review.
Final Run
- As a transfer student, you are eligible to remain at UCI for nine quarters (which does not include Summer Session).
- Some students choose to remain for a third year to finish their degree requirements.
- If you are interested in staying for a third year, consult with the Office of Financial Aid to determine if you are eligible for financial aid for a third year.