How to Apply to Computer Science at Purdue University: The 1 November Priority Deadline, Applying by Major, No External Transfers, and the A- in CS 18000 Needed to Change Major, for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At Purdue University, computer science is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Science, which also offers undergraduate majors in data science and artificial intelligence. Programs run in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Here is what you need to know, based on the CS department’s website, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

Note: Purdue’s Office of Admissions website (admissions.purdue.edu) returned a blocked page when we tried to read it, so this guide does not cover the international academic, English, testing or cost requirements published there. Check them directly with Purdue Admissions.

1. How to get into the major

• Apply through Admissions with your major: the department says you apply through the Office of Admissions. The priority deadline for Computer Science is 1 November; after that, applications are accepted only if space allows. If you apply after 1 November, check the closed programs page on the Admissions website first.
• What the FAQ says: the Common App opens on 1 August; for competitive departments like computer science, you must apply by the 1 November Early Action deadline. Applying by then automatically qualifies you for merit scholarships and guarantees a decision by 15 January. The FAQ adds that you technically have until 1 December, but 1 November applicants receive priority.
• Admitted to a major: the FAQ speaks of students being “accepted as a CS/DS/AI major”; switching to or adding another major in the department later also goes through CODO, subject to space.
• Merit scholarships: the FAQ says the only way to qualify is to meet the 1 November deadline.
• Location: West Lafayette and Indianapolis each have a set number of seats, and you choose a location in your application; curricula and tuition are the same. Admitted students may request a change of location, but it is not guaranteed.
• CS Honors: the CS Honors major is open only to CS majors, by invitation after the first semester, and is unrelated to the John Martinson Honors College.

2. Curriculum

• Six core courses (21 credits): CS 18000 Problem Solving and Object-Oriented Programming, CS 18200 Foundations of Computer Science, CS 24000 Programming in C, CS 25000 Computer Architecture, CS 25100 Data Structures and Algorithms and CS 25200 Systems Programming, usually taken in the first two years.
• Tracks: after the core, students complete six advanced courses in a track, each with two to four required courses and a list of electives; students may complete more than one track. The department lists Computational Science and Engineering, Visual Computing, Database and Information Systems, Algorithmic Foundations, Machine Intelligence, Programming Language, Security, Software Engineering and Systems Software. Machine Intelligence and Software Engineering are offered at both locations; the others are marked West Lafayette.
• Grades: all major requirements, track courses and their prerequisites, regardless of department, require a C or better. New majors take the 1-credit CS 19300 Tools in their first semester.
• 4+1 BS/MS: CS majors may combine the BS with an MS in CS within five calendar years. Applicants need 100 credit hours by the end of the semester they apply, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, a 3.5 GPA in nine specified CS courses and a B or better in MA 265 or MA 351. Data Science and AI majors are not eligible.

3. Changing into Computer Science (CODO)

• Space available: Purdue calls a change of major a CODO. The department’s majors are space-restricted, and CODO approvals are made on a space-available basis through an academic review; supplemental information such as personal projects, other courses or recommendations is not considered.
• Grades, worded differently in two places: the CODO requirements page says students wishing to receive the highest consideration should earn an A- in CS 18000, a B or better in an approved calculus course and a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA; the FAQ says an approved CODO requires additional academic requirements, including at least an A- in CS 18000 and at least a B in a Purdue calculus course. The full requirements follow the catalog for your entry term.
• Other rules: students on academic probation are not considered; CODO courses must be taken for a letter grade on a Purdue campus, and only the first or second attempt (withdrawals count) is considered. You must be enrolled in or have completed CS 18000 when you apply; non-majors can take CS 18000 only in spring or summer, and its prerequisite is MA 16100 or MA 16500 (which may be taken concurrently).
• Timing: applications are due by 5 pm on the Thursday of finals week in fall, spring and summer, submitted by your academic advisor; late applications are not considered. Decisions are made the week after finals and cannot be appealed. The FAQ says you must complete at least one semester at Purdue first.
• No programming background: the department strongly encourages CS 17700 first, but it does not count in the CODO GPA.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Deadline: per the department, apply by 1 November for priority review and scholarship consideration.
• Academic credentials, Gaokao, A-levels, IB, English and testing: these are on the Admissions website, which we could not read. Check them with Purdue Admissions.
• AP and IB credit: the department’s FAQ says Purdue accepts credit from AP, IB and other exams; see the Admissions credit guidelines.

5. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• The department’s website has nothing specific to Canadian or BC curricula; Canadian requirements are on the Admissions website, which we could not read. Check them there.
• The 1 November deadline applies here too.

6. Transfer students

• No external transfers: the department’s FAQ says CS is a closed program that does not accept transfer students from other universities at West Lafayette or Indianapolis; current Purdue students can use the CODO process above.
• Credit: transfer credit for 100- and 200-level core courses (including from regional campuses) is possible only if taken before entering the CS program; 300- and 400-level CS transfer credit is not accepted, except pre-approved study abroad coursework.

7. Costs

• The department says tuition is the same at both locations but gives no amount. International tuition and total costs are on Purdue’s tuition calculator and Admissions website, which we could not read; check them there.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Prepare once the Common App opens on 1 August and submit by 1 November with Computer Science as your major and your chosen location
• Check academic, English and testing requirements with Purdue Admissions

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Submit by 1 November; check Canadian requirements with Purdue Admissions

Transfer students:

• External transfers cannot enter CS; current Purdue students should aim for an A- in CS 18000 and a B or better in calculus, keep a GPA of 3.00 or above, and have their advisor submit a CODO by the Thursday of finals week

Sources: Purdue University Department of Computer Science, Applying to Purdue CS; Future students FAQ; Undergraduate program; Computer Science degree requirements; CODO to Computer Science; CODO requirements; 4+1 BS/MS program. We could not read Purdue’s Office of Admissions website; check general requirements and costs with Purdue Admissions.