What Are the UC Math Requirements?

The University of California is a public university system in California comprising ten universities across the state.

The admissions requirements for each are uniform, but degree requirements vary.

The UC math requirements for admission include a handful of courses.

In contrast, the UC math requirements for bachelor's degrees depend on the university and the college or school within the university.

Keep reading to learn more about UC math admissions requirements and earn your degree.

What Are the UC Math Requirements for Applicants?

UC has several requirements that freshman applicants must have completed before they begin their college studies.

This includes math requirements.

Students must have three years of college-preparatory mathematics that include the topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and two- and three-dimensional geometry.

A fourth year of math is not required but is strongly recommended.

Students should have also completed a geometry course or an integrated math course with a sufficient amount of geometry content.

In some cases, students can switch out course requirements for exams.

A score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Calculus AB or Calculus BC exam satisfies two years of the requirement, but not the geometry requirement.

Additionally, a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the IB Mathematics HL Analysis and Approaches exam satisfies two years of the requirement, but again, does not satisfy the geometry requirement.

Students may also be able to fulfill the course requirements with college courses in elementary algebra, geometry, intermediate algebra, or trigonometry.

What Are the UC Math Requirements for a Degree?

Almost every college and university requires bachelor's degree students to complete general education courses.

These are core courses that provide a solid foundation and create a well-rounded education.

Each university within the UC System has different math requirements within its general education requirements.

Some don't require any math within general education, including UC Berkeley and UC Davis.

However, it's important to note that just because the university itself does not require a math course, that does not mean your program won't require a math course.

Reach out to your advisor to learn more about what your major requires.

Other universities, like UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz do not require math as part of the general education core.

However, math courses can be used to fulfill requirements within the core if you wish.

• UC Irvine: Math courses can be used to fulfill the science and technology category requirement and the formal reasoning category requirement
• UC Merced: Math courses can be used to fulfill the quantitative reasoning category requirement
• UC Riverside: Course in mathematics, statistics, or computer science must be taken to fulfill part of the natural sciences and mathematics category requirements
• UC Santa Barbara: Math courses can be used to fulfill the science, mathematics, and technology category requirements and the quantitative relationships requirement
• UC Santa Cruz: Math courses can be used to fulfill the mathematical and formal reasoning category requirement, the statistical reasoning category requirement, the textual analysis category requirement, and the Practice: Collaborative Endeavor category requirement

Again, keep in mind that your specific major and program may still require you to take some math courses either as preparation for the major or within the major.

UCLA and UC San Diego both leave the general education requirements up to each school or college within the university.

UCLA Math Requirements

UCLA is home to 13 different colleges and schools. None require math as part of their general education requirements.

However, many require students to fulfill a quantitative reasoning requirement.

This requirement can be fulfilled through a variety of courses in areas like life sciences, philosophy, political science, and public affairs.

It can also be fulfilled through the following math courses:

• Calculus for Life Sciences Students
• Differential and Integral Calculus
• Introduction to Statistical Reasoning
• Introduction to Statistical Methods for Geography and Environmental Studies
• Introduction to Statistical Methods for Life and Health Sciences

UC San Diego Math Requirements

UC San Diego has eight colleges within the university.

Many require some sort of mathematics courses, but these requirements vary:

• Revelle College: Requires two calculus courses
• John Muir College: Students can choose from a three-course sequence in calculus or natural science
• Thurgood Marshall College: Students can choose between two courses in mathematics or one course in mathematics and one course in computing
• Earl Warren College: Requires calculus, symbolic logic, computer programming, and/or statistics
• Eleanor Roosevelt College: Requires two courses in quantitative and formal skills, which can be fulfilled with calculus courses
• Sixth College: Requires one course in math or logic
• Seventh College: Requires two courses in quantitative reasoning, which can be fulfilled with calculus or linear algebra courses
• Eighth College: Requires two courses in quantitative methods and engineering, which can be fulfilled with a variety of math courses

Learn More About Math Requirements at UC

UC requires at least three math courses for admission, but most of the universities within the UC System do not require math in their general education courses.

To learn more about math requirements or UC, reach out to Learn.org today.