How to Apply to Computer Science at George Mason University: Direct Admission to Computer Science If You Meet the Math Conditions or CEC Undeclared Otherwise, the BS Curriculum and Change-of-Major Rules, and Requirements and Timelines for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

George Mason University is in Fairfax, Virginia. Undergraduate computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science in the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong School of Computing, part of the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC). The degree is the Computer Science, BS, accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. Here is what you need to know, based on Mason’s official information, for students at high schools in China (including A-level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Direct admission to Computer Science

• How admission works: Mason says admission to the university and to a major is usually simultaneous, but Computer Science and Engineering majors are selective and have extra requirements.
• Direct admission (selective majors page): four years of high school math, including one course more advanced than Algebra II, and one of the following:
  • at least 550 SAT Math or 24 ACT Math;
  • grades of B or higher (not B-) in all high school math courses through Algebra II.
• If you do not meet them: applicants admitted to the university without meeting these requirements are placed in CEC Undeclared.
• Applying score optional: the score-optional and international freshman pages say Computer Science and Engineering applicants without SAT/ACT will be considered if they have four years of high school math (one beyond Algebra II by senior year), with all math courses at B or higher. “All math courses” differs from “through Algebra II” on the selective majors page; both are quoted as written.
• Other programs in the department: the BS in Applied Computer Science (with concentrations such as AI, bioinformatics, business, game design, linguistics and software engineering), a minor and an undergraduate certificate. This guide covers the Computer Science, BS.

2. Changing into Computer Science

• Requirements: meet with the CEC Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising; have a GPA of at least 2.75 in all CS and math courses countable on the major; and complete at Mason, with B or better, one of CS 109, CS 112 or CS 211 and one of MATH 113, 114, 124 or 125.
• Attempts: required math, science and CEC courses may be attempted at most three times; students who do not pass within three attempts are terminated from the major and cannot declare it again.
• Grades: courses used as prerequisites for CS courses need a C or better, and at most one C-, D or XP may count toward department requirements.

3. Curriculum

• Total: 120 credits.
• Computer science core (32 credits): Essentials of Computer Science, Introduction to Computer Programming (CS 112, or CS 108 and 109), Object-Oriented Programming, Low-Level Programming, Data Structures, Software Engineering, Formal Methods and Models, Computer Systems and Programming, Ethics and Law in Computing, Database Concepts, Operating Systems and Analysis of Algorithms. CS 110 must be taken within the first year as a CS major.
• Senior computer science (12 credits): at least one of networking, secure programming and systems, or concurrent and distributed systems, plus three more from courses such as compilers, graphics, virtual reality, mobile apps, natural language processing, AI, computer vision, data mining, robotics, cryptography, deep learning and an industry-sponsored senior design project.
• Mathematics (17 credits): Calculus I–III, Discrete Mathematics and Linear Algebra, plus one probability and statistics course.
• Natural science (12 credits): must include a two-course lab sequence in biology, chemistry, geology or physics.
• Other: CS-related electives, Mason Core general education and free electives. The writing-intensive requirement is met through projects and reports in Software Engineering and Ethics and Law in Computing.
• Exam credit: AP Computer Science 4 earns credit for CS 112; IB Computer Science 4 earns CS 112, and 5 or higher earns CS 211.
• CS Honors: apply after 12 CS credits; maintain a 3.50 overall and major GPA, complete a research project and take two advanced courses.
• Bachelor’s/accelerated master’s (BAM): apply after 60 credits with a 3.30 GPA and B or better in Data Structures and Formal Methods and Models; earn the BS and MS in Computer Science in five years with up to 12 graduate credits counting toward both. Other MS options include Software Engineering, Information Systems and Data Analytics Engineering.
• Co-op: students may join Mason’s co-op program or a work-study program in the Washington, DC area. A Computer Science and Computer Engineering double major is possible with credits beyond 120.

4. First-year deadlines and materials

• Early Action (non-binding): 1 November, with priority for the Honors College, University Scholars and merit scholarships.
• Regular Decision: 1 February; the final fall deadline for international applicants is 1 June.
• Spring entry: priority deadline 1 October.
• The deadlines page does not show a year, so check again before you submit.
• Materials: Common App or Mason’s own application (treated equally); official transcripts from all secondary schools and official results of any leaving certificates or university entrance exams, with certified English translations; two recommended letters (counselor and teacher); an optional but strongly encouraged statement of about 250 words; a resume if you have gaps in enrollment.
• Testing: optional. If you submit scores, self-reported results are used and official scores are required before enrollment.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: the international freshman page asks for official results of any university entrance exams taken, but no Gaokao score requirement is published.
• Mathematics: meet the four-year math conditions in section 1; without test scores, all math courses need a B or higher.
• A-levels and IB: no A-level or IB requirements for Computer Science are published. From fall 2026 applicants, students from IB or UK-curriculum schools with four years of college-preparatory English at C or 4 or better can be exempt from English testing.
• English: CEC applicants need IELTS 6.5 (no subscore minimum) or TOEFL 4.5 (80 for tests before 21 January 2026), with no subscore minimum. Other university minimums include Duolingo 110, PTE 59, SAT Reading and Writing 500, ACT English and Reading 20 and IB HL English A 6. Scores must be within two years.

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

• Mason does not publish grade requirements for Canadian curricula or say which BC courses count as math “beyond Algebra II”; confirm with admissions.
• English waiver: Canada (excluding Quebec) is on the waiver-eligible list; four years (grades 9–12) at an English-medium high school with college-preparatory English at the equivalent of C or better exempts you.

7. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 tuition: about USD 39,803 a year for full-time out-of-state undergraduates (based on 12–15 credits a semester).
• Other estimates: on-campus housing and food USD 15,020, transportation USD 1,380, personal expenses USD 2,384, books USD 1,380; some courses add course or lab fees. 2027-28 costs have not been published.
• International aid: non-US citizens cannot receive federal aid. Mason offers a limited number of merit scholarships to international freshmen and transfers; all admitted applicants are considered automatically, renewable up to four years for freshmen and two for transfers.

8. Transfer students

• Computer Science requirements: before applying, complete one CS course (equivalent to CS 112 or CS 211) and one math course (equivalent to MATH 113, 114 or 125), each with an A or B; from fall 2027, a GPA of at least 2.75 is also required.
• General: competitive transfer applicants have at least a 2.5 GPA, 24 credits, English composition equivalent to ENGH 101 and college-level math; those with fewer than 24 credits must meet freshman and transfer requirements and send a high school transcript.
• International transfer: coursework outside the US needs a course-by-course evaluation (with GPA and degree equivalencies) from WES, ECE or another NACES member.
• Deadlines: 1 March for fall and 1 October for spring (priority; later applications are considered as space allows).

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 1 November (EA) or 1 February (RD) and choose Computer Science
• Four years of math (one beyond Algebra II), plus SAT Math 550 / ACT Math 24 or B grades in math
• IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 4.5; send transcripts and Gaokao results

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

• Confirm how your math courses map with admissions; four years at an English-medium school exempts you from English testing

Transfer students:

• Complete one programming course and one calculus or discrete math course with A or B; GPA 2.75 from fall 2027; apply by 1 March for fall

Sources: George Mason University, CS undergraduate programs; 2026-2027 Catalog: Computer Science, BS; School of Computing undergraduate admissions; Freshman requirements; Selective majors; Score optional; International freshman requirements; Freshman deadlines; English language requirements; International financial aid; 2026-27 cost of attendance; Transfer requirements; Selective transfer majors; International transfer requirements; Transfer deadlines. Degree requirements follow the 2026-2027 catalog and costs are 2026-27 rates; the deadlines pages show no year. Check George Mason for the latest details.