Honors Students and STEM majors

Our program has many STEM majors! in fact, each year ~40% of our incoming students are STEM majors!

In the past few years, our Honors Transfer Program graduates included students transferring in/to:

  • Engineering - all specializations (SJSU, Cal Poly SLO, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego)

  • Physics (UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSC, UC San Diego, UC Davis)

  • Chemistry (UC San Diego, Scripps, UC Berkeley, UCLA)

  • Biology (UC Davis, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Santa Clara University, Williamette)

  • Mathematics (UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis)

  • Animal Science (Cal Poly SLO)

  • Computer Science (UCSC, SJSU)

  • Architecture (UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, Cal Poly SLO)

  • Environmental Science/Studies (UCSC, Humboldt)

(to name a few)

The UC system gives students points in the admission process just for being in an Honors program; AND, every honors course or course with a contract for honors credit that you are able to complete gives you an increased edge in admissions to the UC.

Planning your honors courses as a STEM major:

It can be a challenge to incorporate honors versions of courses into your education plan as a STEM major because of lab time-offerings and just the sheer number of major/core courses required in STEM.

Our Advice:

See a STEM Counselor early in your Cabrillo career

If possible for your major, plan at least one honors version of a course into your education plan for the first two semesters - it may get more difficult to include an honors course as you get closer to graduation. (Note: this may not work for engineering majors - consult with a STEM Counselor - your priority must be your major/core courses).

Know what honors courses are offered using List A or List B to give yourself flexibility in your schedule

Remember that a maximum of 6 units of List B Courses may be used toward the 15-units required for Completion of the Honors Program, Honors Scholar Status and UCLA TAP Certification, and UC Irvine priority admission which means:

If you want to achieve Honors Scholar - you need three courses (9 units) that have an "H" - see Courses available for Honors Credit

You may earn honors credit for the following STEM courses through writing a Designated Honors Course Contract with your instructor (a maximum of 6 units may be applied from this area).

STEM courses include: (Note: it is always up to the instructor if they are willing to write a contract for honors credit with you)

BIO 9A

BIO 9B

CHEM 1B

CHEM 12A or CHEM 12AL

CHEM 12B or CHEM 12BL

MATH 6

MATH 7


MATH 12/12H

PHYS 4B


PHYS 4C

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