PHYSICS, Biophysics and Soft Matter Emphasis

Admission reality

Cherrypicker does not estimate anyone’s chance of admission, and never will. Historical outcomes are context, not a prediction.

Planning reality

Counts over the courses ASSIST maps for this pathway. Every figure is a plain count with one definition — there is no score or ranking here.

• 41Mapped preparation courses
• 26Scheduled Fall 2026
• 12With open seats reported
• 232Current sections

Sections offered at De Anza College this term for the courses listed in this agreement. Open one to see instructors, meeting times and CRNs.

Not scheduled at De Anza College this term: CIS 26A, CIS 26B, CIS 22BH, CIS 27, CIS 36B, CIS 36A, MATH 23, ENGL C1000H, COMM 9H, EWRT 1C, ENGL C1001H, PHYS 4D, BIOL 6B, CHEM 1BH, CHEM 1AH. A course can still be part of the requirement and offered in a later quarter.

Enrollment availability changes frequently. Confirm status in the official FHDA registration system before enrolling.

Where this path usually starts

Ranked by how central each course is to the agreement — whether it is the only option for a requirement, how many requirements it covers, and whether it is running now. This is Cherrypicker’s ordering of published requirements, not advice about your situation, and it does not know your transcript.

1. BIOL 6BCell and Molecular BiologyNot currently offered
   • The only course ASSIST lists for one of this major's requirements.
   • Not scheduled this term — plan it for a later quarter.
2. MATH 23Engineering StatisticsNot currently offered
   • The only course ASSIST lists for one of this major's requirements.
   • Not scheduled this term — plan it for a later quarter.
3. PHYS 4APhysics for Scientists and Engineers: MechanicsWaitlist
   • The only course ASSIST lists for one of this major's requirements.
   • No open seats reported this term.
4. CIS 22ABeginning Programming Methodologies in C++Open
   • Listed as preparation for this major.
   • Counts toward 2 separate requirements.
   • 5 seats reported this term.
5. CIS 22BIntermediate Programming Methodologies in C++Open
   • Listed as preparation for this major.
   • Counts toward 2 separate requirements.
   • 24 seats reported this term.
6. CIS 41APython ProgrammingOpen
   • Listed as preparation for this major.
   • Counts toward 2 separate requirements.
   • 20 seats reported this term.

Things to watch

Derived from this agreement and the current class data — not generic advice.

Major preparation

Left: what UC Merced requires. Right: the De Anza College course or courses ASSIST accepts for it. Alternatives are labelled or; courses joined by + are all required together.

• CSE 019Recommended

  Introduction to Computing

  • CIS 26A

    C as a Second Programming Language

  • or
    CIS 26B

    Advanced C Programming

  • or
    CIS 22A + CIS 22B

    Beginning Programming Methodologies in C++ · Intermediate Programming Methodologies in C++

  • or
    CIS 22BH + CIS 22A

    Intermediate Programming Methodologies in C++ - HONORS · Beginning Programming Methodologies in C++

  • or
    CIS 27

    Programming in C++ for C/Java Programmers

  • or
    CIS 36B + CIS 36A

    Intermediate Problem Solving in Java · Introduction to Computer Programming Using Java

  • or
    CIS 41A

    Python Programming

• CSE 022Recommended

  Introduction to Programming

  • CIS 22A + CIS 22B

    Beginning Programming Methodologies in C++ · Intermediate Programming Methodologies in C++

  • or
    CIS 22BH + CIS 22A

    Intermediate Programming Methodologies in C++ - HONORS · Beginning Programming Methodologies in C++

  • or
    CIS 26A

    C as a Second Programming Language

  • or
    CIS 27

    Programming in C++ for C/Java Programmers

  • or
    CIS 36A + CIS 36B

    Introduction to Computer Programming Using Java · Intermediate Problem Solving in Java

  • or
    CIS 41A

    Python Programming

• MATH 032

  Probability and Statistics

  • MATH 23

    Engineering Statistics

• WRI 001

  Academic Writing

  • ESL 5

    Advanced Composition and Reading

  • or
    ENGL C1000

    Academic Reading and Writing

  • or
    ENGL C1000H

    Academic Reading and Writing - HONORS

• WRI 010

  College Reading and Composition

  • COMM 9

    Argumentation: Analysis of Oral and Written Communication

  • or
    COMM 9H

    Argumentation: Analysis of Oral and Written Communication - HONORS

  • or
    EWRT 1B

    Reading, Writing and Research

  • or
    EWRT 1C

    Literature and Composition

  • or
    ENGL C1001

    Critical Thinking and Writing

  • or
    ENGL C1001H

    Critical Thinking and Writing - HONORS

  • or
    PHIL 3

    Critical Thinking and Writing

• MATH 022

  Calculus II for Physical Sciences & Engineering

  • MATH 1B + MATH 1C

    Calculus II · Calculus III

  • or
    MATH 1BH + MATH 1CH

    Calculus II - HONORS · Calculus III - HONORS

• MATH 021

  Calculus I for Physical Sciences & Engineering

  • MATH 1B + MATH 1A

    Calculus II · Calculus I

  • or
    MATH 1BH + MATH 1AH

    Calculus II - HONORS · Calculus I - HONORS

• MATH 023Recommended

  Vector Calculus

  • MATH 1D + MATH 1C

    Calculus IV · Calculus III

  • or
    MATH 1CH + MATH 1DH

    Calculus III - HONORS · Calculus IV - HONORS

• MATH 024Recommended

  Linear Algebra and Differential Equations

  • MATH 2A + MATH 2B

    Differential Equations · Linear Algebra

  • or
    MATH 2AH + MATH 2BH

    Differential Equations - HONORS · Linear Algebra - HONORS

• PHYS 010Recommended

  Introductory Physics III

  • PHYS 4C + PHYS 4D

    Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Fluids, Waves, Optics and Thermodynamics · Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Modern Physics

• BIO 011 + BIO 011LRecommended

  Introduction to Molecular Biology

  • BIOL 6B

    Cell and Molecular Biology

• PHYS 008 + PHYS 008L

  Introductory Physics I for Physical Sciences

  • PHYS 4A

    Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics

• PHYS 009 + PHYS 009L

  Introductory Physics II for Physical Sciences

  • PHYS 4C + PHYS 4B

    Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Fluids, Waves, Optics and Thermodynamics · Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Electricity and Magnetism

• CHEM 002 + CHEM 002LRecommended

  General Chemistry I

  • CHEM 1A + CHEM 1B

    General Chemistry I · General Chemistry II

  • or
    CHEM 1A + CHEM 1BH

    General Chemistry I · General Chemistry II - HONORS

  • or
    CHEM 1AH + CHEM 1B

    General Chemistry I - HONORS · General Chemistry II

  • or
    CHEM 1AH + CHEM 1BH

    General Chemistry I - HONORS · General Chemistry II - HONORS

Agreement year 2025-26, captured from ASSIST. Verify against the official agreement and confirm with a counselor before making transfer decisions.

The other FHDA college

Foothill College has its own ASSIST agreement for this major. It is a separate agreement with its own courses and its own source — not an extension of the De Anza College one, and the two are never combined on this page.

Whether a course taken at one college satisfies the other college’s requirements is a separate question from articulation. Confirm with a counselor before relying on it.

Other UC Merced majors from De Anza

• SOCIOLOGY, Race and Racial Justice EmphasisDe Anza → UC Merced
• ACCOUNTING, B.S. (*Updated* - Transfer Starting Spring 2027)De Anza → UC Merced
• AEROSPACE ENGINEERINGDe Anza → UC Merced
• ANTHROPOLOGYDe Anza → UC Merced
• APPLIED MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES, Computational Biology EmphasisDe Anza → UC Merced
• APPLIED MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES, Computational and Data Sciences EmphasisDe Anza → UC Merced
• APPLIED MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES, Computer Science EmphasisDe Anza → UC Merced
• APPLIED MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES, Economics EmphasisDe Anza → UC Merced

Common questions