How to Apply to Computer Science at UT Dallas: Holistic Review, Change-of-Major Standards and Curriculum for the BS in Computer Science in the Jonsson School, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), undergraduate computer science is the BS in Computer Science offered by the Department of Computer Science in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. Here is what you need to know, based on UT Dallas’s website, for students at high schools in China (including A-level and IB students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. The degree and curriculum

• Degree and accreditation: the BS in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. The department also offers a BS in Software Engineering (ABET engineering accreditation) and interdisciplinary BS degrees in computer engineering, data science, computational and geospatial science, and cybersecurity technology and policy.
• Size: the fact sheet says the department has more than 2,800 students.
• Curriculum: computer science and software engineering share a foundation in programming, algorithms and data structures, and operating systems; computer science emphasizes theoretical and computational depth. The core covers programming methodologies, analysis of algorithms and data structures, and operating systems, continuing with advanced data structures, programming languages and automata theory, and ending with a project course. Application areas include data science, AI, machine learning, networks, embedded systems, visualization, virtual and augmented reality, human-computer interaction and secure systems.
• Full requirements: in the catalog, which was not read for this guide (the catalog site shows a challenge page); see the catalog’s computer science page.
• Fast-Track: exceptional undergraduates can include up to 15 hours of master’s courses in their degree plan and are automatically admitted to UT Dallas graduate school, reducing the master’s hours accordingly.
• Internships: the fact sheet says the school averages more than 2,800 undergraduate and graduate internship and co-op placements a year.

2. Getting into the major

• Holistic freshman review: grades and trends, curriculum rigor (AP, IB, dual credit), class rank and GPA, and preparation for success in the intended major.
• Optional materials: UT Dallas encourages a resume, an essay, up to three letters of recommendation, and SAT or ACT scores if available.
• First-choice major: students not admitted to their first-choice major because of capacity or major-specific requirements may be offered another major, as stated in their letter.
• High school preparation: the fact sheet says elementary algebra and geometry are the minimum, with trigonometry, calculus, physics and chemistry highly recommended; AP courses in computer science or advanced technology are highly beneficial.
• Changing into the Jonsson School (case by case), starting from these standards:
  • 15 or more UT Dallas credit hours of major-preparatory and major-required courses (3+ hours each) for the requested major, with a 3.000 GPA in those hours and a 3.000 cumulative GPA;
  • at most two previous changes of major at UT Dallas;
  • courses commonly used for computer science: CS 1436, CS 1337, CS 2336, MATH 2413, MATH 2414, MATH 2418, PHYS 2325 and PHYS 2326.

3. Dates and materials

• Application: Common App or ApplyTexas, opening August 1; the application fee is USD 75.
• Deadlines (domestic and international; no year is stated):
  • December 1 priority deadline: complete files get early review and Academic Excellence Scholarship consideration;
  • May 1 regular deadline: later files are still reviewed, but fall enrollment is not guaranteed.
• Records: all secondary school grades from grade 9 through at least the end of grade 11, plus final examinations such as GCE O- and A-levels or leaving certificates, with certified English translations. The country-by-country credentials PDF is hosted on a third-party site and was not read.

4. English proficiency

• Test minimums: Duolingo 105, IELTS 6.5, PTE 67, TOEFL iBT 80 (including Home and Paper Editions), or ELS level 112; scores must be under two years old at admission.
• SAT/ACT sections: SAT EBRW 560 or ACT English 21 (valid for five years).
• Other options: three or more years at a U.S. high school with graduation; three or more years at an IB, British-system (Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel), AP or similar school taught solely in English; or coming from a country whose government language is English with education solely in English.
• TOEFL exempt countries: the list includes Canada (excluding Quebec).

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: UT Dallas does not say how Gaokao results are used; ask admissions.
• A-levels, IB, AP: considered as curriculum rigor; three or more years at an English-only IB, British-system or AP school meets the English requirement. Credit for A-levels and other exams was not checked for this guide.
• English: if none of the options in section 4 applies, you need IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 80 or Duolingo 105, or SAT EBRW 560 / ACT English 21.

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

• English: Canada (excluding Quebec) is on the TOEFL exempt list.
• Grades: UT Dallas does not publish BC grade requirements; review is holistic. Ask admissions.

7. Transfer students

• Holistic review: cumulative GPA, overall coursework and preparation for the intended major; a resume and up to three letters may be submitted.
• Assured admission (Option 1): 42+ transferable hours, a 3.0+ cumulative transferable GPA, fewer than 90 attempted hours across institutions, and good standing. Other assured options apply to Comet Connection members with a completed associate degree and to Texas top 10% graduates.
• Deadlines: domestic transfers apply by July 1 (fall), November 1 (spring) or May 1 (summer); the pages read do not list separate international transfer deadlines.
• Materials: attested transcripts or semester mark sheets (not consolidated mark sheets), degree certificates, and course syllabi or descriptions.
• Entering computer science: the pages read do not say whether admitted transfers enter the major directly or face additional criteria; ask admissions.

8. Costs and scholarships

• Tuition plans: new students choose a variable plan, set one year at a time, or a guaranteed plan locked for four years; the variable plan is the default.
• Amounts: UT Dallas uses a tuition estimator by school, residency and term; the pages read give no fixed international figure. Use the estimator (Jonsson School, non-resident).
• Academic Excellence Scholarship (AES): first-time freshmen who complete their application by the December 1 priority deadline are reviewed automatically; criteria and amounts vary each year.
• Eugene McDermott Scholars Program: open to all majors from all states and countries; finalists interview each spring and about 20 Scholars are selected a year.
• The Top 10% Scholarship is for Texas residents; see the financial aid website for other scholarships open to international students.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Complete your Common App or ApplyTexas application by December 1 for AES consideration
• Take algebra and geometry, and ideally trigonometry, calculus, physics and chemistry
• Submit IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 80 or Duolingo 105; optionally a resume, essay, letters and SAT/ACT

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

• Canada (excluding Quebec) is TOEFL exempt; ask admissions how BC grades are reviewed

Transfer students:

• 42+ hours and a 3.0 GPA for assured admission; submit syllabi; changing into computer science later needs 15 related hours with a 3.0 GPA

Sources: The University of Texas at Dallas, Computer Science undergraduate studies; BS in Computer Science fact sheet; Changing majors into the Jonsson School; Freshman criteria; Freshman deadlines and fees; International applicants; TOEFL exempt countries; Transfer criteria; Freshman scholarships; Tuition plans; Tuition estimates. The deadline page does not state a year. Check UT Dallas’s website for the latest.