Yellow Cluster Advising oversees the equivalency request process for Psychology, Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and Science & Technology Studies courses only.
Equivalencies for Psychology, Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and STS Courses
What is an equivalency?
An equivalency means that a course at UC Davis and a course at another institution are considered to cover the same or very similar material.
Equivalencies aren’t automatic — faculty review the course syllabi, assignments, and learning outcomes to decide if the content truly matches a UC Davis course. This ensures that the courses meet the same academic standards and learning goals before credit is granted.
In short, equivalencies help ensure you get credit for work you’ve already done. They recognize when a course you’ve taken elsewhere (like a transfer or study abroad course) or in another department meets the same learning goals as a UC Davis course.
Courses taken at a California Community College
Courses from California Community Colleges (CCC) are a little different when it comes to equivalencies. These courses are already reviewed and approved through a statewide system called Assist.org, which lists how community college courses transfer to UCs and CSUs. What you see on ASSIST is final.
It’s also important to know that all community college courses transfer as lower-division credit.
Lower-division courses (numbered 001–099) usually cover foundational concepts.
Upper-division courses (numbered 100–199) go deeper into theory, research, and application.
So even if the topics sound alike, a community college course can’t replace an upper-division UC Davis course because it’s not taught at the same level of depth or rigor.
Courses taken at a non-California Community College
Your course may have already been evaluated by our department. You can find a list of previously evaluated courses below.
Previously Evaluated PSC, PHI, CGS, STS Courses
If your course has not been previously evaluated, you can submit your request below.
Course Equivalency Request Form
If you are looking for a course equivalency for another department, check out the links below
Substitutions for Psychology, Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and STS Majors
What is a substitution?
A substitution is when a faculty member approves a non-approved course to satisfy a major requirement.
Most substitutions are only approved on a case-by-case basis. Some substitutions apply to everyone and can be found below. Look under the "Request Type" column for "Substitution".
Reasons to submit a substitution request
- Your course equivalency request was denied, but you think your transferred course can satisfy a major/minor requirement.
- A course you took at UC Davis is similar to other courses required for your major/minor.
- A course you took at UC Davis is related to your major/minor and might satisfy a category for your major/minor requirements.
Previously Evaluated PSC, PHI, CGS, STS Substitution Requests
Frequently Asked Questions
- What do I do if don't have the syllabus yet for the course I want evaluated?
- If you are seeking an evaluation of a course at UC Davis that you haven't taken yet, email the instructor or department to see if they can provide you a syllabus.
If you are a seeking an evaluate of a course outside of UC Davis that you haven't taken yet, locate the department's contact information and email them to see if they will provide you a syllabus. - If my course is granted equivalency, will it show up in my Academic Record?
- If a course is granted equivalency, we always make a record of it by writing a note in your OASIS account. The note is only visible to advisors, not students. When we verify your degree requirements, we will refer to the notes to know how these apply to your major.
If you want the course officially updated in your Academic Record, please email us so we can request the update. This is typically done for courses that are prerequisites for other courses you need so you don't need to fill out a prerequisite petition each time you register for courses. - I plan on studying abroad. How do I know which courses will count towards my major requirements?
- Check our previously evaluated courses to see courses that students have taken abroad and if they were granted equivalency. If you can't find your desired courses on our database, you can submit equivalency requests ahead of time. You will need to provide the syllabi for the faculty to review. Contact the university or the department directly to see if they would be willing to provide you a syllabus.
- I plan to take courses elsewhere in my last year at UC Davis. Is that ok?
- Maybe. Students are subject to the UC Davis Campus Residence Requirement (or Senior Residence), which requires that at least 35 of your final 45 units before graduation must be UC Davis courses. For questions about this, contact L&S Advising.
- How can I get General Education credit for a class I took somewhere else?
- Use the General Education Credit Request in OASIS and contact L&S Advising (or your college, if it's not L&S) for any questions about GE.