How to Apply to Computer Science at SMU: Entering Dedman College as a Pre-Major, Transferring into the Lyle School, Seven BS Specializations, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, undergraduate computer science is offered by the Computer Science Department of the Lyle School of Engineering, as a B.S. and a B.A. This guide focuses on the B.S. and covers fall 2027 entry, based on SMU’s website, 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. Getting into the major

• Start in Dedman College: SMU says that, apart from business (where you indicate interest on the application for direct admission) and arts majors requiring auditions or portfolios, all first-year students are accepted as pre-majors in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, regardless of intended major. You can indicate two areas of interest. The catalog also says all admitted first-year students enter Dedman College, and strongly recommends that prospective engineering students interview with Lyle’s Recruitment and Retention Office.
• Transferring into Lyle (catalog): complete 24 credit hours with a 2.000 cumulative GPA, plus the computer science subset: two writing courses (WRTR 1312 and 1313 or equivalents), MATH 1337, MATH 1338, CS 1341 and CS 1342, with a subset GPA of 2.500 and C- or better in every subset course. Transfers are approved by the department chair and the Director of Undergraduate Advising and Records.
• All attempts count in the subset GPA (except under the Grade Replacement Repeat policy); courses covered by AP or IB credit are left out of the subset GPA.
• Declaring: majors are declared or changed through the Lyle Office of Undergraduate Advising and Student Records.
• High school preparation: the catalog suggests strong maths and science, with a minimum SAT math score of 600 or ACT math of 27, as guidance that does not guarantee admission.

2. Curriculum and specializations

• Credits: the catalog’s requirements page gives 120 total credits and 95–99 for the major; the catalog overview gives a minimum of 122+. Check with the catalog and your advisor.
• Lyle EDGE curriculum (9–13 credits): six categories including interdisciplinary projects, AI fundamentals, leadership and mentoring, innovation and entrepreneurship, and experiential learning, plus an advanced or domain-specific AI requirement met within the major.
• Mathematics and science (24–26 credits): set maths courses (including MATH 1337 and 1338, or MATH 1340), plus one 3000-level or higher MATH or STAT course; and two courses from the same area of biology, chemistry, geology or physics. The department says the B.A. does not require these two science courses.
• Specializations: the B.S. requires 9 credit hours in one option. The requirements page lists seven: artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer organization, data engineering, general, research, security, and software engineering (AI/ML, computer organization and software engineering are specializations printed on the transcript). The catalog overview refers to “five concentration tracks or a general program”, so the two differ.
• Second language: SMU’s University Curriculum requires all students to demonstrate second-language proficiency; students entering below four college semesters must improve by two semester levels or reach four semesters.
• Accelerated Pathways: a B.S. and M.S. in as little as five years; apply the semester before reaching 90 credit hours. The catalog requires a Lyle undergraduate with junior standing and a 3.0 GPA.

3. Deadlines and materials

• Fall 2027: early action (non-binding) and early decision I (binding) close on 1 November 2026; regular decision and early decision II close on 15 January 2027. The international checklist says these are also the scholarship consideration deadlines.
• Platforms: Common App, ApplyTexas or Coalition with SCOIR.
• Materials: essay, official high school transcript and counselor recommendation (required); the international checklist lists teacher recommendation and extracurricular résumé as optional; SAT/ACT optional.
• Minimum high school courses: 4 units of English, 3 of maths (algebra I and II, geometry), 3 of social science, 3 of science including 2 lab sciences, and 2 consecutive units of one foreign language.
• Application fee: the requirements and tuition pages give USD 60; the international page says SMU is waiving the fee for first-year and transfer applicants. Check the application system when you submit.
• Admitted profile (Class of 2028): unweighted GPA mid-50% 3.54–3.94, ACT 31–34, SAT 1370–1500; average TOEFL 103 and IELTS 7.7. These are university-wide figures.

4. Testing and English

• SAT/ACT: fully test-optional with no preference either way; SMU superscores.
• English: required for graduates of high schools without an English-based (non-bilingual) curriculum. The requirements page recommends TOEFL 90 (20+ reading and listening, 24+ writing and speaking), Duolingo 115 and PTE 60; it also lists an exam labelled “ACT” with a recommended 6.5 overall and in each section, which appears to be a labelling error, so check with admissions. The international checklist says SMU accepts Duolingo, TOEFL and IELTS.
• Exemptions: students at English-based high schools, or with SAT reading and writing 580+ or ACT writing 25+. Academically admissible students without sufficient scores may receive a conditional offer requiring a retake or SMU’s Intensive English Program.

5. Students at high schools in China

• International applicants are assigned an admission counselor by high school; look up yours on SMU’s website.
• Gaokao, A-levels, IB: SMU does not publish how Gaokao results are used or score requirements for A-levels and IB; ask your counselor.
• AP: AP and IB credit can cover courses; covered subset courses are excluded from the subset GPA.
• Graduates of high schools without an English-based (or with a bilingual) curriculum must submit English scores; check exemptions with your counselor.

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

• Graduates of high schools outside the US follow the international process, including US citizens.
• Students at English-based high schools do not need English scores.
• SMU does not publish BC-specific score requirements.

7. Transfer students

• SMU requirements: one full semester after high school; 24 transferable credits with a 2.7 GPA (with fewer than 24 credits, the committee also considers the high school record). SMU welcomes about 500 transfer students a year.
• Into Lyle: the catalog says transfers must meet requirements equivalent to internal transfers into Lyle (see section 1); credit is given for courses with Lyle counterparts and grades of C- or better. Because 60 credit hours must be earned at SMU, transferable credit is capped.
• Fall 2027: priority deadline 1 April, final deadline 1 August; spring entry closes on 1 November.

8. Tuition and aid

• 2026-2027 undergraduate tuition: full-time (12–18 hours) USD 31,868 per term, plus mandatory fees; above 18 hours, USD 2,046 per extra credit. One-time fees include a USD 400 orientation fee, USD 300 matriculation fee and USD 100 housing deposit.
• Scholarships: all applicants, regardless of citizenship, are automatically considered for academic merit scholarships, with no separate application; most are stackable but cannot exceed tuition and fees. Need-based aid is only for US citizens and permanent residents.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 1 November (EA or ED I) or 15 January (RD or ED II, also the scholarship deadline)
• Prepare English scores (for example TOEFL 90 or Duolingo 115) and a counselor recommendation
• Build strong maths and science; after arrival take the writing courses, MATH 1337/1338 and CS 1341/1342, aiming for a 2.5+ subset GPA

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

• Follow the international process; English-based high schools are exempt from English tests
• Check BC requirements with your counselor

Transfer students:

• 24 transferable credits with a 2.7 GPA; fall priority deadline 1 April
• Complete the CS subset courses with C- or better

Sources: Southern Methodist University, Lyle B.S. in computer science; Computer science bachelor’s programs; Accelerated Pathways; Catalog: CS-BS; Catalog: CS-BS requirements; Catalog: Lyle undergraduate admission; Admission requirements; First-year application process; International students; International application checklist; Transfer; Undergraduate tuition. Information is for fall 2027 entry (tuition is for 2026-2027). Check SMU for the latest details.