How to Apply to Computer Science at Florida State University: No Specialized Admission to the Arts and Sciences BS, Prerequisites Before the Major, Required SAT/ACT/CLT, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Florida State University (FSU), computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Arts and Sciences. Undergraduate options include the BS in Computer Science, the BA in Computer Science, the BA in Computer Programming and Applications, and interdisciplinary BS majors in Computational Biology and Cyber Criminology (the BA in Computer Science – Math/FSU-Teach is suspended for students admitted from fall 2025). This guide focuses on the BS and covers fall 2027 entry, based on FSU’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Getting into the computer science major

• No specialized admission: the program guide lists the BS with “Specialized Admission: No”. The department says undergraduate admission is handled by the Office of Admissions, not the department; students may be admitted to the university before completing prerequisites, but not to the major until they are completed.
• Prerequisites (C- or higher):
  • an introductory programming course (C, C++, Java or equivalent; C++ preferred);
  • Calculus I (MAC 2311) and Calculus II (MAC 2312);
  • 12 hours of science for majors (at least 8 as prerequisites): physics with labs (PHY 2048/2049), or chemistry plus two biology courses, topped up with “Science for Majors” courses.
• Entry to the major: prerequisites at C- or higher, plus at least 52 credit hours and half of General Education (including two English and two mathematics courses), or an A.A. degree.
• Staying in the major: after admission, students must keep a 2.50 GPA in FSU courses required for the major (core, electives and collateral courses, excluding prerequisites), with no more than five D or F grades in 3000/4000-level computer science courses (and listed math and statistics courses). The department also says students with more than five grades below C- in mathematics, statistics, science or computer science courses, at FSU or elsewhere, cannot continue in its majors.
• Mapping: FSU checks progress each fall and spring against a term-by-term map; missing milestones in two consecutive semesters leads to a required change of major.
• High school preparation: the department advises taking higher-level mathematics and, where possible, AP, IB or CLEP tests for college credit.

Curriculum

• Total: 120 hours to graduate, including 60 hours of major coursework.
• Computer science core (28–29 hours): Introduction to C++ for majors (or Programming I plus Introduction to UNIX), Data Structures, Algorithms, and Generic Programming I and II, Computer Organization I, Software Engineering I and Capstone, Ethics in Computer Science, Operating Systems & Concurrent Programming, Secure Parallel & Distributed Programming with Python, and Theory of Computation.
• Computer science electives (23 hours): at least 15 at the 4000 level; one 4000-level elective may be replaced by an advanced math or statistics course.
• Mathematics and statistics (9 hours): Discrete Mathematics I and II and Introduction to Probability. These collateral courses form a built-in interdisciplinary minor.
• Other requirements: the College of Arts and Sciences requires a foreign language through the intermediate level, and there is an oral communication requirement. Internship and CGS courses do not count toward the major.
• Languages: the program guide says students become proficient in C, C++ and assembly language and may also use languages such as Java, C# and Python.
• Artificial Intelligence concentration: a new concentration requiring Intro to AI and Deep Learning, either LLM Agent Systems or Projects in Data Science, and one course from options such as full-stack development, advanced Python, secure and parallel computing, or databases.
• BS vs BA: the BS requires Calculus II, Discrete Mathematics II, probability/statistics, 12 hours of science and Theory of Computation, and is ABET-accredited; the BA does not require these and needs 7 science hours, but requires 9 humanities hours and a minor, and is not ABET-accredited. The department encourages students who can complete the BS to choose it.
• Combined BS/MS: the department offers combined pathways, such as the BS in Computer Science to the MS in Computer Science; see the department page for conditions.

2. How and when to apply

• Application: the Common App or FSU’s own application; the fee is $30 (plus a $5 Common App processing fee). Recommendations are not required or considered.
• Plans open to international applicants: Early Decision is for US domestic students only and Early Action for Florida residents only, so international applicants use:
  • Regular Decision: apply by 1 December, materials by 8 December, extra test scores by 1 January, decisions on 18 February;
  • Rolling: apply by 1 March, materials by 8 March, decisions on a rolling basis from April.
• Scholarships: admitted first-year students are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on academic performance and test scores. FSU notes that funds are limited and priority goes to ED and EA applicants.

3. Testing

• Required: under Florida Board of Governors rules, every first-year applicant, including international students, must submit at least one SAT, ACT or CLT score.
• Reporting: self-report scores in FSU’s admissions portal (Common App self-reports are not accepted); FSU superscores. February is the last test date that can be used.
• Admitted profile: the middle 50% of admitted students for fall 2026 had a core GPA of 4.3–4.6, ACT 31–34 and SAT 1380–1480.

4. International materials and English

• International School Form: completed in the portal after you apply, so FSU can tell you what other documents it needs.
• Records and evaluation: students at schools outside the US that do not follow a US-patterned curriculum send official records (with certified English translations) directly from the school, plus a secondary school evaluation with a US-equivalent GPA, ideally from a NACES member. The evaluation can be waived for IB, British-patterned exam curricula such as A-Levels, and schools abroad using a US grading scale. FSU says nothing specific about Chinese or BC curricula; follow the requirements in your portal after submitting the form.
• English minimums (official scores required from non-native speakers, valid for two years):
  • TOEFL 80 for tests before 21 January 2026, or 4.0 on the new scale after;
  • IELTS Academic 6.5;
  • PTE 55, Michigan Language Assessment 55, Duolingo 125, Cambridge C1/C2 180.
• Gaokao: FSU publishes no Gaokao policy.

5. Costs

• 2026-27 estimates for out-of-state undergraduates on the Tallahassee campus (US$, 13 credits per term): tuition 22,232, fees 50, on-campus housing 8,420, food 5,740, books 1,380, transportation 3,590 and personal 2,504, a total of 43,916 on campus. 2027-28 figures are not yet published.
• Need-based aid for international students: FSU does not say whether international students can receive need-based aid; ask the Office of Financial Aid.

6. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall 1 June, spring 1 October, summer 1 March; some programs set earlier deadlines.
• Basic requirements: at least 12 transferable semester hours after high school; at least 3 hours each of college English composition and math with a C or better; a world language through the second level in high school or college.
• Two groups:
  • 12–59 hours: a strong high school record and ACT or SAT scores, with at least a 2.0 college GPA; FSU says very few applicants below 3.0 are admitted;
  • 60+ hours: at least a 2.0 college GPA, again with very few admitted below 3.0; juniors and seniors are encouraged to send test scores too.
• International transfer materials: a course-by-course evaluation of university work from outside the US, with credit recommendations and a GPA; English scores for non-native speakers; and a personal statement if you will have attempted 90+ hours. The program guide asks prospective computer science transfers to contact Arts and Sciences Admissions (as-admissions@fsu.edu) about admission and mapping, and says transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 1 December (Regular) or 1 March (Rolling); ED and EA are not open to international applicants
• Submit SAT, ACT or CLT, self-reported in the FSU portal
• TOEFL 4.0 new scale (80 before 21 January 2026), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 125
• Take higher-level maths in high school; after entry, start programming, Calculus I and II and science prerequisites early

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

• Foreign nationals also use Regular or Rolling and must submit a test score
• Complete the International School Form and send transcripts and evaluations as required

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 1 June; at least 12 transferable credits, ideally a 3.0 GPA
• Complete programming, Calculus I and II, and physics or chemistry plus biology at C- or higher; no more than five grades below C- in math, science and computer science

Sources: Florida State University, Computer Science undergraduate programs; Computer Science BS program guide; Computer Science BS academic map; Differences between the BS and BA; Artificial Intelligence concentration; Combined BS/MS pathways; Department undergraduate admissions; First-year application and deadlines; What we’re looking for; International first-year applicants; English language proficiency; International FAQ; International transfer; Transfer application; Cost estimates 2026-27. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check FSU for the latest details.