How to Apply to Computer Science at The University of Alabama: The Computer Science BS in the Styslinger College of Engineering, Its Cyber Security Concentration and Calculus Progress Rule, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa), undergraduate computer science is the Computer Science, BS, offered by the Department of Computer Science in the Styslinger College of Engineering. Here is what you need to know, based on UA’s official websites, 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. The degree and curriculum

• Accreditation and credits: the BS is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET and requires 120 credits. The department also offers a Cyber Security BS and an Artificial Intelligence BS; Computer Science majors cannot add a Cyber Security major.
• Major courses (58 credits): two engineering introductions (ENGR 101, 104), CS I and II for Majors (CS 100/110, 101/111), Software Design & Engineering, Data Structures and Algorithms, Database Management Systems, Networking and OS, Programming Languages, Computer Algorithms, Capstone Computing, Digital Logic and Microcomputers, plus 15 credits of 400-level CS electives.
• Ancillary courses (37 credits): Engineering Statistics or Theory of Probability, Calculus I and II, Introduction to Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, 8 credits of approved science and 12 credits of free electives.
• Cyber Security concentration: three courses (9 credits) from Computer Security, Computer Communication & Networks, Cryptography, Digital Forensics, Software Security, Software Reverse Engineering and Network Security, replacing 9 credits of CS electives without adding to the 120 credits.
• Flowcharts: the college publishes a Computer Science flowchart covering 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

2. Entering engineering and academic rules

• Freshman admission: the catalog says a student who meets UA’s freshman admission criteria is eligible for the College of Engineering. Freshmen may enroll in a specific degree program or as undesignated engineering students, and all engineering majors take a common first-year program.
• Math placement: students are placed in math and English courses by test scores or prior college credit; a math placement exam can qualify you for a higher course.
• Math Progress Rule: students who do not complete Calculus I (MATH 125) with C- or better within two years (six semesters including summers) cannot continue in the College of Engineering and must change to a major outside the college. To graduate in four years, students should generally take Calculus I or higher in their first semester; those who need preparatory math may plan to take it in the summer before entry.
• Prerequisite grades: every prerequisite to a required course needs C- or higher, or it must be repeated.
• Transferring in from another UA college: a minimum 2.0 UA GPA and overall GPA.

3. International freshman applications

• Application: all international students apply through the UA Undergraduate App.
• Priority deadlines: 4 December for fall, 2 November for spring and 4 December for summer.
• Grades: applicants from schools outside the US are considered with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, calculated on all coursework. Transcripts need a course-by-course evaluation with GPA from a NACES member; preferred agencies include ECE, IEE, The Evaluation Company and WES.
• Testing: for 2027 entry, SAT or ACT is required only if your cumulative high school GPA is below 3.0. Scores are required for automatic scholarships.
• High school courses: 3 units of mathematics (Algebra I, Algebra II and one of geometry, trigonometry or calculus are recommended), 3 of natural science (two with labs) and 10 other academic units.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: UA does not say how Gaokao results are used. Check with international admissions.
• English: TOEFL iBT 79 (tests before 21 January 2026) or 4.5 (from that date), IELTS 6.0, PTE 54, Duolingo 110, IB Literature or Language & Literature 4 or above, A or AS Level English Language at A–E, SAT EBRW 550 or ACT English 22. Students with lower writing or speaking subscores must add academic writing or speaking courses. Students who meet academic and financial requirements but not English can apply for conditional admission through the English Language Institute.
• A-level, IB and AP: UA lists English results that meet the English requirement; this guide has not checked which computing or mathematics courses they earn credit for. See the registrar’s transfer credit page.

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

• English: citizens or residents of Canada (except Quebec) are exempt.
• Grade requirements: UA does not publish requirements for BC or other provinces beyond the 3.0 GPA and credential evaluation for schools outside the US. Check with international admissions.

6. Transfer students

• International transfer: priority deadlines are 1 March for fall and 1 October for spring. With 24 or more credit hours you apply as a transfer; with fewer you must also meet freshman requirements. You need a 2.00 GPA on all university work; technical, remedial, vocational and ESL classes are not accepted. Coursework outside the US needs a NACES course-by-course evaluation.
• Into engineering: the catalog requires a 2.0 GPA on all college work; D grades are not applied when the course is a prerequisite for another required course.
• Computing credit limit: Computer Science degrees accept at most 12 transferred credits at the 200/300/400 level, and the senior design course must be taken at UA.

7. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 international estimate (for the I-20): tuition USD 35,924, international fee 200, course/college fees 800, books 700, housing 12,000, meals 5,850, health insurance 2,428 and personal expenses 1,200, a total of USD 59,102 including summer. Course and college fees vary with enrollment. Costs for 2027-28 have not been published.
• Automatic scholarships (2027 out-of-state and international freshmen): with a 3.50+ GPA, tiered by ACT or SAT from USD 6,000 to 28,000 a year, for example USD 6,000 for SAT 1200–1250 and USD 28,000 for SAT 1420–1600. No separate application, but test scores are required and are not superscored; the application and official scores must arrive by the 2 November or 4 December deadline. Students without scores can still be considered for competitive scholarships.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through the UA Undergraduate App by 4 December for fall; you can choose Computer Science directly
• Have transcripts evaluated course by course by a NACES member; GPA 3.0 or higher
• IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 79 (4.5 on the new scale) or Duolingo 110
• Submit SAT or ACT if you want automatic scholarships
• Pass Calculus I with C- or better within two years of entry

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

• No English test outside Quebec; confirm grade requirements with admissions

Transfer students:

• Fall priority deadline 1 March; 2.0 GPA; at most 12 transferred computing credits

Sources: The University of Alabama, Computer Science, BS; Computer Science undergraduate programs; 2026-27 Catalog: Computer Science, BS; College of Engineering admission and regulations; International freshman admissions; English proficiency policy; International transfer admissions; International student expenses; Out-of-state and international freshman scholarships. Costs for 2027-28 have not been published; those quoted are 2026-27 estimates. Check The University of Alabama’s website for the latest.