How to Apply to Computer Science at Auburn University: Pre-Engineering and Required Courses to Enter the Major, the Engineering Curriculum and Required SAT/ACT, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, undergraduate computer science is offered by the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering (CSSE) in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. The degree is the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science, accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. The department also offers a Bachelor of Software Engineering, an online Bachelor of Computer Science, minors in Computer Science and Information Technology, and undergraduate certificates in Cyber Defense and Artificial Intelligence Engineering. Here is what you need to know, based on Auburn’s official website, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Getting into the major

• First-year admission: the Bulletin says freshman eligibility is determined by the Office of Enrollment Services.
• Pre-Engineering: the Bulletin describes the Pre-Engineering Program as a freshman program of studies that helps students choose a curriculum; pre-engineering students move into a major after completing its requirements. The pages read do not say explicitly whether all new students start there; check with the college.
• Requirements for Computer Science and Software Engineering: an unadjusted cumulative Auburn GPA of 2.0, and a C or better in Calculus I (MATH 1610), Discrete Structures (COMP 2240), an approved lab science (BIOL 1020/1021, CHEM 1030/1031 or PHYS 1600), ENGR 1100 and ENGR 1110, and Introduction to Computing: Java (COMP 1210).
• Time limit: these minimum requirements must be completed within four resident semesters, not counting the summer between freshman and sophomore years.
• Internal transfer: moving into engineering from another Auburn college must be approved by the College of Engineering under the same requirements.
• High school preparation: the college recommends at least four units of English; four of math including algebra, geometry and trigonometry; one of chemistry; and two or three of history, literature and social science. Calculus, physics and a foreign language are recommended but not required.

2. Curriculum (122 hours)

• First year: English Composition I and II, a science sequence (biology, chemistry or engineering physics), Calculus I and II, Fundamentals of Computing I (COMP 1210) and II (COMP 2210), Discrete Structures, Introduction to Engineering and Engineering Orientation.
• Second year: linear algebra, statistics for engineers and scientists, digital logic circuits, Software Construction (COMP 2710), Professional Development I and Introduction to Algorithms (COMP 3270), plus history, literature and social science core courses.
• Third year: operating systems, principles of programming languages, software modeling and design, computer organization and assembly, and computer networks, plus public speaking, ethics, fine arts, a math elective and a free elective.
• Fourth year: formal languages, senior design, Database Systems I, computer ethics and Professional Development II, plus 18 hours of technical electives.
• Technical electives: 18 hours, of which 9 must be approved COMP courses and the rest approved COMP or allied-discipline courses; these let students specialize in areas such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
• Science sequence: 8 hours from Series B (biology), D (chemistry) or H (engineering physics) only.
• Math electives: Calculus III and Linear Differential Equations count; other MATH courses must be 4000-level or above and STAT courses 3000-level or above.
• Co-op: the Cooperative Education Program is offered in all engineering curricula.

3. Dates and materials (international first-year)

• Dates: the application opens 1 August, the final early action deadline is 1 December and the regular deadline is 1 February; the enrollment deposit is due 1 May (or 15 days from acceptance). The page does not state a year.
• Scholarships: the freshman deadline for general and departmental scholarships is 12 February through AUSOM, with offers accepted or declined by 1 May. Scholarships specifically for international students are not published on the pages read.
• Materials: a USD 60 fee; the SAT or ACT is required of all international freshman applicants, sent by the testing agency; TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores; a high school transcript evaluated by an independent credential evaluator with a U.S. GPA (WES is preferred, and NACES members are encouraged); an affidavit of financial support and a bank letter.
• Selectivity: Auburn says admission is competitive and more students apply than it can admit; no GPA or test cut-off is published for international freshmen.
• Lower English proficiency: students may apply through Auburn Global.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: the pages read do not mention it, so its use is not published. Chinese high school records must be evaluated by a credential evaluator.
• A-levels, IB and AP: admission or credit policies for these are not published on the pages read; ask admissions.
• English: TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 6.5 or PTE 53; or a C or better in the equivalent of ENGL 1100 and 1120 at an accredited U.S. institution, or graduation from a U.S. high school.

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

• Academic requirements: no Canadian or BC-specific requirements are listed, so they are not published. Under the international freshman rules you still need the SAT or ACT and an evaluated transcript.
• English: the pages read only exempt U.S. high school graduates, so whether Canadian high school students are exempt is not published; ask admissions.

6. Transfer students

• Fewer than 24 semester hours (freshman transfer): at least one core course, a 2.5 college GPA, a final high school GPA of 3.0 and ACT 22 or SAT 1100, plus English scores, financial documents and evaluated transcripts.
• 24 or more semester hours: a 2.5 cumulative GPA and two required core courses; use your intended major’s curriculum and the transfer equivalency database to plan courses.
• Deadlines: 1 July for fall and 1 May for summer.
• Engineering credit: courses must match Auburn courses in time and content, and courses taught at the 3000 level or higher at Auburn are generally not transferable from junior colleges. Engineering courses are specialized, so contact the college early. After transfer you still need to meet the requirements in section 1 to enter Computer Science.

7. Costs

• 2026-2027 international undergraduate estimate: tuition and fees USD 36,246, living expenses USD 15,000 and health insurance USD 2,013, total USD 53,259 (tuition for fall and spring, living costs for 12 months, excluding transportation).
• Professional fees: the cost page says Architecture, Business, Nursing, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine may have extra professional fees; engineering is not listed. Check with Auburn whether computer science has any extra fee.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Take four years of math including trigonometry; calculus and physics are recommended
• Take the SAT or ACT (required), plus TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5; have your transcript evaluated by WES or a similar service
• Apply by 1 December for final early action and submit the AUSOM scholarship application by 12 February
• After enrolling, earn a C or better in Calculus I, Discrete Structures, Java programming and the other required courses, with a 2.0 GPA, within four resident semesters

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

• The SAT or ACT is still required; ask admissions about English exemptions

Transfer students:

• College GPA 2.5 with core courses; with fewer than 24 hours, also a high school GPA of 3.0 and ACT 22 / SAT 1100
• Fall deadline 1 July; you enter Computer Science after meeting the Pre-Engineering course requirements

Sources: Auburn University, CSSE undergraduate programs; Computer Science curriculum; 2026-2027 Bulletin: Computer Science; 2026-2027 Bulletin: Samuel Ginn College of Engineering (Pre-Engineering); International admissions; International estimated costs. The international dates do not state a year, and costs are 2026-2027 estimates. Check Auburn for the latest details.