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Transfer Course Criteria for

Child Development


Along with the general selection criteria, every major has required and recommended coursework for transfer students to have completed in order to be considered competitive during the selection process.

Required Courses

Before applying to a major, you should successfully complete or be in the process of completing the required courses to maximize (but not guarantee) your chance of selection. You must complete these units by the spring of the term before your intended fall enrollment to receive consideration during the selection process.

Desired Courses

Because Cal Poly is highly impacted and selection to all majors is very competitive, desired courses should also be successfully completed or in progress when you apply for admission.

Evaluating Your Courses

All the courses listed are Cal Poly Courses. You can use www.assist.org to identify the course equivalencies between Cal Poly and the California Community Colleges. Be sure to use the corresponding academic year in which you completed the course. If you are out-of-state or a transfer student from another four-year institution, you may have to compare your catalog course descriptions with Cal Poly’s catalog to identify the equivalent courses. Cal Poly is unable to evaluate transcripts for you prior to selection.

Course Listings

Fall 2024

Required Courses

English Language Communication and Critical Thinking

  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication/English Composition
  • Critical Thinking


Statistics

  • STAT 217/Introduction to Statistical Concepts and Methods

Psychology

  • PSY 201/General Psychology
    or PSY 202/General Psychology


Major Related 

  • CD 254/Family Psychology
    or PSY 254/Family Psychology
  • PSY 256/Developmental Psychology


Desired Courses


Arts, Literature, Philosophy, and Foreign Languages

  • Any CSU GE Area C course

These courses correspond to the Major Related section of the supplemental application for admission for this major.

Biology

  • BIO 111/General Biology
    or BIO 123/Biology of Sex
    or BIO 161/Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
Fall 2025

Required Courses

English Language Communication and Critical Thinking

  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication/English Composition
  • Critical Thinking


Statistics

  • STAT 217/Introduction to Statistical Concepts and Methods

Psychology

  • PSY 201/General Psychology
    or PSY 202/General Psychology


Major Related 

  • CD 254/Family Psychology
    or PSY 254/Family Psychology
  • PSY 256/Developmental Psychology


Desired Courses


Arts, Literature, Philosophy, and Foreign Languages

  • Any CSU GE Area C course

Biology

  • BIO 111/General Biology
    or BIO 123/Biology of Sex
    or BIO 161/Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology

All information is subject to change without prior notice.