Transfer Edge enables incoming transfer students to get a head start academically by registering for 6–12 units that align with their individual educational goals. Through participation in the program, students are enrolled in transfer-specific courses that help them get the most out of their UC Santa Barbara experience by highlighting campus resources, research opportunities, on-campus jobs, and more.
Did you know?
At UC Santa Barbara, the Summer Quarter is divided into several sessions of varying lengths. Transfer Edge operates within Summer Session B, a popular session offering courses in a six-week format. Students are not required to be enrolled in Transfer Edge to take Summer Session classes; however, students can be part of the program while taking summer classes. By pursuing summer education through participation in the Transfer Edge program, students build community, gain critical campus knowledge, make progress to degree, and construct an individualized framework for overall academic success.
Transfer Edge Curriculum
As a Transfer Edge participant, you will benefit from a transfer-focused curriculum consisting of a Core Course, Major Exploration Course, and Academic Course(s). This combination is designed to help you build upon foundational skills to support a successful transition to UC Santa Barbara.
Upon admission to Transfer Edge, our program staff will ensure that you are registered in the Core Course and a Major Exploration Course. You will then be required to register for Academic Course(s) that suit your educational goals to meet the program unit minimum. From College and Major Requirements to electives, you are invited to make progress toward your degree in a variety of ways. Click through the infographic below to learn more.
Transfer Edge Curriculum
6–12 units total
Transfer Edge Seminar (1 unit): All Transfer Edge students participate in this required seminar, which explores resources that support transfer students' successful transition to UC Santa Barbara and assists students in identifying the transferable skills they already have to navigate this new system. Students engage in large and small group discussions and are active contributors to their own and their classmates' learning.
Required Course. The entire Transfer Edge cohort will take this course during the program.
Transferring to the Research University (2 units): This fully online course introduces incoming transfer students to the varying disciplines of study and research opportunities available at UCSB. The course delivers a series of videos featuring UCSB faculty detailing their specific discipline, and explaining how research is conducted within the discipline. Transfer students will learn about their selected major (if previously determined) and have opportunities to consider additional majors/minors, and research interests.
Transfer Exploration Seminar in Communication (1 unit): Students who have declared Pre-Communication as a major learn about how this discipline is approached at UC Santa Barbara, get introduced to campus faculty and their research areas, and learn "insider information" about the department and its opportunities.
Transfer Exploration Seminar in Economics (1 unit): Students who have declared Pre-Economics/Pre-Economics & Accounting as a major learn about UC Santa Barbara’s approach to this varied discipline, and how to be a successful Econ major at a Research I university.
Transfer Exploration Seminar: Statistics & Data Science (2 units): This hybrid course introduces students to pre-major courses and foundational programming concepts for data analysis and visualization. Students will also explore research areas in the discipline, undergraduate research opportunities, and varied career tracks available to Statistics & Data Science graduates.
Required Course. All Transfer Edge participants will take one of the four major exploration courses during the program.
Complete any pre-major requirements (if applicable), or dip your toes into your upper division major coursework while taking advantage of smaller class sizes and Transfer Edge resources.
Fulfill college requirements as needed. Be sure to check in with advisors in your respective college to avoid any course duplication!
Explore the wide variety of courses UC Santa Barbara has to offer. Consider a potential double major, minor, or area of research interest.
Variable. Students will round out their Transfer Edge schedule by selecting one or more courses that align with their academic goals.
Course Registration Process for Admitted Students
Within one week of admission to Transfer Edge, UC Santa Barbara Summer Sessions will:
Provide students with information on how to seek academic advising at the university.
Register students for the required Transfer Edge coursework (core course and major exploration course).
Upon admission to Transfer Edge, students should:
Students should contact their academic advisor (specific information will be listed in the Transfer Edge acceptance email) to ensure the courses they would like to take align with their educational goals. Please note that most academic advisors will request unofficial transcripts.
Review Summer course offerings on GOLD, UC Santa Barbara's course registration system (filter by courses offered in Session B). To learn how to utilize this resource to its fullest capacity, check out Navigating GOLD.
Register for 1-2 academic courses on GOLD. Students must maintain a schedule of 6 units in Session B to sustain Transfer Edge eligibility and may not drop the Core Course or their Major Exploration Course from their schedule.