Quick question about transferring when you have UC units

So I’m a Cal freshman leaving at the semester or year for CC with plans to tag to UCSB or Irvine, and I’m aware of the 60 unit minimum/90 unit max you need to transfer, however, I have several questions.

I was wondering how my current courses would play into my transfer process. I should have 14 units completed by the end of the semester and have 26.7 units from AP, would this help me or hurt me when applying for transfer?

I’m currently taking a philosophy course, a geography course which fulfills Berkeley’s American Cultures requirement, and a Film R1A class, which meets 1 of 2 of required english/writing requirements. Could I count these toward IGETC?

I read in the FAQs that UC credits don’t play into the unit cap and lower division courses aren’t counted, what does this mean?

Could I still TAG and complete my transfer in a timely manner?

All UC units, both lower and upper, are added to the lower division number, even if it caps at 70. However, based on your AP (which are not part of this rule), you should be applying with a low LD count, so it won’t affect you. In theory, you already have about 40 units (I say this because AP credit is not always awarded the same at each UC college, so it could be less at certain UCs). You will only need 20 or so more units to reach the 60 minimum.

Yes, you can TAG and the Phil and Geo courses should fulfill IGETC, although I’m not sure Film fulfills the transfer English requirement. If you want to TAG UCSB the IGETC math and both IGETC English courses need to be completed by fall when you apply. You need to talk to a berkeley advisor as to the legitimacy of the film course. Worse case, it should fulfill IGETC area 3. Also be aware if you are going to a CCC and plan IGETC, the second English can only be taken at a CCC as it’s a special blended course not available at a UC.

@Ohm888
So I would need to do the 2nd English and Math in spring 2019? Or could I be doing it in Fall 2019 which is when I would be submitting my TAG?

You can do it spring summer or fall.

UCB courses with R prefixes are reading and composition courses, so they should be acceptable as English composition courses, but check the community college’s IGETC certification person.

^^ thx @ucbalumnus didn’t know that.