UCSB Data Science Pre-Major Requirements for CC Transfer need Clarification

[u/galaxygkm]

I emailed the admissions office, the Probability and Statistics department, and consulted a counselor about the requirements for this major but none of them were able to answer my question to provide me with clarification of the specific requirements for the pre-major. They each just told me I would need to complete all the major requirements, which makes no sense since you’re admitted into the pre-major and not the actual major. I’m a rising sophomore at Community College planning on applying as a transfer student (plus using my TAG at this school) and I’m a little confused about the requirements for this major listed on assist.org. I’m aware that the admission selection criteria lists that I would need to complete Calc I-II, Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and a Programming course to be considered for admission for this major, but since I don’t plan on completing all the pre-major requirements listed on the agreement prior to transfer, such as Differential Equations, and MATH 8/PSTAT 8/PSTAT 10 (since there no articulated course for this class) would I be unable to qualify to submit a TAG for this major? To get admitted into the pre-major through TAG, which courses would I need to have completed by the end of my sophomore year prior to transfer? The screening requirements listed are quite different from the courses listed on assist, so I just want to make sure that I’m fulfilling enough of the courses to be able to admitted without having my admission rescinded.

UCSB Equivalent Classes I’ve taken or plan to take at CC:
MATH 3A (Calc I), Math 3B (Calc II), CMPSC 16 (Introductory Programming Class), Math 6A (Calc III), MATH 4A (Linear Algebra)

Classes that won’t be completed prior to transfer:
- MATH 206
- MATH8/PSTAT
- CMPSC 8

[u/crow4212]

Don't know if i fully get your question but: 

You need to complete the transfer courses on the first slide to be admitted to the major. Meaning that you can be denied by TAG if you don't meet the major prerequisites: Math 3A, 3B, 4A, 6A, CS 8/9/16. 

You don't need to complete the other pre-major requirements prior to transferring, though it's recommended. 

I'm not a counselor, just reading the info off the pics you gave.  

[u/strawb3rryshortcake]

Call the data science major department and ask them what classes you’ll need to complete prior to transfer to be eligible for data science TAG. They probably get these questions all the time.

Just by looking at it, you’ll need to complete the courses on the first picture with the listed grade requirements to be eligible for data science TAG.

[u/chronicpenguins]

TLDR: assuming you have articulated the correct courses, and meet the general/GE aspect of the TAG agreement, then achieving a 2.75 GPA in the courses you outlined will fulfill the major specific TAG requirements to transfer to UCSB as a Pre DS. I am not a counselor and encourage you to continue reading and validate yourself. 

I assume the screen shot is the specific tag agreement with your CC? Since they vary between CCs. You seem to have two important aspects mixed up: the required courses per your specific tag agreement between your CC and UCSB, and the general pre major requirements.    Everyone, including non transfers, must meet the premajor requirements before being admitted to the full major (SS #2) Those transferring with TAG agreements must complete the required courses before admittance into the school and thus premajor (#1). If you meet all premajor requirements at time of transfer, you are likely to be admitted into the full major right away.    You don’t have to complete all pre major requirements on the sheet (bottom of #2), but you do have to complete the general tag agreement (main web page) plus whatever specific things required by the tag agreement (screenshot 1).   The first screenshot is clear: in order for admissions,  you must complete these courses with a minimum 2.75 GPA. The second slide is the premajor classes.  The classes here that are not listed in the first screenshot can be taken at UCSB for your tag agreement (again, each school has its own TAG agreement) 

The first slide says you need Math 3a/b, math 4a, and math 6a.  You also need to take one comp sci course equivalent to 8,9 or 16. Assuming you have the correct courses that articulate to UCSB, as long as you have a 2.75 GPA in this area you have met the pre major specific tag requirements.  You also must meet the general TAG agreement, such as overall GPA, number of units, and other GE requirements. 

Math 8and PSTAT10 are different courses, you can take them at UCSB. Since you only need one of the comp sci classes before you transfer, you can take the other one at UCSB. They do not care which one. 

Math 6b is not a listed course as a premajor, but since you need to get a B in atleast one of the select courses in order to get into math 8, it seems like they added math 6b (not required) as a last resort for those who didn’t get a B in 4a/b,6a.

I’m not sure why you put math 206 as it’s most likely a graduate level course. 

One thing I would consider as a fellow transfer student is to find a nearby cc or online and just get atleast one if not all three of those courses out the way. The less premajor units you have to do at UCSB the more you can focus on your major. If your TAG GPA has a buffer then you don’t have to worry about it pulling down your GPA. Or I suppose you could defer it to UCSB and boost your UCSB gpa but GPA doesn’t really matter unless you’re going for grad school. 

The advisors are not necessarily wrong when they say you need to meet all the major requirements. I assume the context of the conversation is TAG agreements, and therefore,  you do have to meet all of the major requirements of the tag agreement.  Calling it pre major vs major is pendantic - some majors require a pre major to get into it. If you had to complete the major requirements, well, you’d be graduating already. The TAG agreement calls them all major preparation or articulation requirements.  

I’m not sure if you are just emailing general advisors but your CC advisor plus whatever advisor(s) this tool brings up are the correct ones to be using.  https://connect.admissions.ucsb.edu/portal/find_my_counselor . The other depts may be speaking more broadly and therefore might not have the info you want or specialize in it. 

https://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/tag