How to Apply to Computer Science at UT San Antonio: Four Concentrations, Math Readiness and Guaranteed Admission Criteria for the BS in Computer Science in the College of AI, Cyber and Computing, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At The University of Texas at San Antonio (now UT San Antonio, formerly UTSA), undergraduate computer science is the BS in Computer Science offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of AI, Cyber and Computing; the department also offers a BS in Software Engineering. Here is what you need to know, based on the university catalog (the 2026-28 Undergraduate Catalog and 2026-27 Student Policies), 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. The admissions and costs websites were not consulted for this guide, so check dates, scholarships and tuition there.

1. The degree and curriculum

• Structure: 120 credit hours: 42 of university core, 42 of required CS courses, 30 of CS electives and 6 of free electives, with at least 39 upper-division hours. All required and elective CS courses need a C- or better.
• Required courses: Programming I for Computer Scientists, Fundamentals of Object-Oriented Programming, Data Structures, Discrete Mathematical Structures, Computer Programming in C, Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science, Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Systems Programming, Application Programming, Operating Systems, Computer Organization, Computer Architecture, plus Calculus I and II and Applied Linear Algebra.
• Upper-division electives: 30 hours of upper-division CS, of which up to 6 can be listed MAT or STA courses.
• Four concentrations (most students complete at least one, within the standard requirements):
  • Cloud and Systems: declare after Systems Programming with a C- or better;
  • Cybersecurity: declare after Data Structures with a C- or better;
  • AI and Data Science: declare after Design and Analysis of Algorithms with a C- or better;
  • Software Engineering: declare after Application Programming with a C- or better.
• Cyber Operations Track: an option within the BS in Computer Science focused on offensive cyber operations; the catalog says it is designated by the National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations.
• Recommended first year: Programming I and Calculus I in fall; Object-Oriented Programming, Discrete Mathematical Structures and Calculus II in spring, plus writing and Texas politics core courses.

2. Math readiness

• The college expects applicants to have a strong math foundation; each department sets its own math readiness requirements, which can also affect admission. All students must take the first math course required for their degree within their first three semesters.
• Computer Science and Software Engineering: applicants seeking to declare the major should qualify for MAT 1073 Algebra for Scientists and Engineers or higher, and it is highly recommended that they qualify for MAT 1213 Calculus I. Incoming freshman and freshman-transfer CS majors are expected to take MAT 1213 or higher in their first semester.
• Programming I for Computer Scientists (CS 1083) requires completion of or concurrent enrollment in MAT 1073; the catalog does not say you need programming experience before you start.
• Math prerequisites can come from college courses, dual credit, AP, CLEP or IB exams, and students can take the ALEKS math placement assessment.

3. Getting into the major

• University admission first: the catalog says admitted international students are not guaranteed admission to a specific academic program, and international freshman applications are reviewed individually once complete. The college says math readiness can affect admission, but whether computer science has a separate GPA threshold is not published; ask admissions or the college.
• Guaranteed freshman admission (for students meeting the Texas freshman curriculum requirement): top 25% of the class with no minimum test score; second 25% with SAT 1170 or ACT 24. Tests are optional and considered if submitted. If your transcript has no class rank, admissions assigns one based on coursework and grades.
• Holistic review: applicants who do not meet guaranteed admission are reviewed holistically, considering academic and nonacademic achievement, activities, leadership, community activities and work experience, among other factors.
• International freshmen: qualifications must be equivalent to graduation from an accredited U.S. secondary school, as determined by International Undergraduate Admissions; the catalog refers to the admissions website for detailed criteria.
• Changing major after enrolling: the CS catalog pages give no GPA threshold for transferring in, only the math readiness rules above; ask an undergraduate advisor.

4. Dates and materials

• Application: the ApplyTexas international undergraduate application or the Common App; the catalog gives a USD 75 nonrefundable fee.
• International deadlines: fall June 1, spring November 1, summer April 1. All materials must arrive by the deadline.
• Materials: application, fee, official secondary school transcripts and certificates, official English scores and supporting documents, with your full name and date of birth as on the application.
• These dates are from the 2026-27 Student Policies; check the admissions website for fall 2027.

5. English proficiency

• Tests: TOEFL iBT 79 (before January 21, 2026) or 4.0 (from January 21, 2026), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 95, PTE Academic 58, iTEP Academic 3.8, or Cambridge C1 Advanced 180 (grade C). Meeting the English requirement does not guarantee admission.
• Waivers:
  • graduation from a high school in the U.S. or a listed English-speaking country, with at least two full years of standard English courses;
  • SAT evidence-based reading and writing 500 or higher, or ACT English 21 or higher;
  • college English Composition I with a B- or better;
  • applicants from listed countries are exempt; the list includes Canada (except Quebec) and the United Kingdom.

6. Students at high schools in China

• Qualifications: equivalent to graduation from an accredited U.S. high school, with official secondary school transcripts and certificates.
• Gaokao: the catalog does not say how Gaokao results are used; ask International Undergraduate Admissions.
• A-levels, IB, AP: AP and IB exams can satisfy math prerequisites; credit rules were not checked for this guide, and A-level requirements are not published.
• Math: aim to start in Calculus I; you can take the ALEKS placement assessment.
• You must also meet the English requirement.

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

• English: applicants from Canada (except Quebec) are exempt; so are graduates of high schools in Canada with two years of standard English courses.
• Grades: BC grade requirements are not published; ask International Undergraduate Admissions.
• The Texas college readiness curriculum rules apply to Texas high schools; ask admissions how Canadian applicants are reviewed.

8. Transfer students

• International transfer: with 30 or more transferable hours from an accredited institution outside the U.S., a 2.25 cumulative GPA (4.0 scale) and a foreign credential evaluation from FCSA or a NACES member are required. With fewer than 30 hours, you must meet both freshman and transfer requirements.
• University transfer rules:
  • fewer than 12 hours: meet the freshman guaranteed admission rank and test criteria, plus a 2.25 GPA;
  • 12–29 hours: a 2.75 GPA, or a 2.25 GPA plus the freshman guaranteed criteria;
  • 30 or more hours: a 2.25 GPA; below 2.25 may be admitted with conditions.
• Credit: college-level courses with a D or higher transfer, and the major department decides how they apply to the degree. Freshman-transfer CS majors are expected to take Calculus I or higher in their first semester.
• You must be eligible to return to your last institution.

9. Costs and scholarships

• Tuition: UT San Antonio has a Traditional Rate Plan and an optional Guaranteed Rate Plan; upper-division College of AI, Cyber and Computing courses carry differential tuition of USD 42 per credit hour. Tuition, international student costs and total cost of attendance are not listed in the catalog; check Fiscal Services and One Stop.
• Scholarships: the catalog does not describe international freshman scholarships; check the admissions website or ask admissions.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through the ApplyTexas international application or the Common App, with all materials by June 1 for fall
• Submit TOEFL 4.0 (new scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 95, plus secondary school transcripts and certificates
• Be ready for at least MAT 1073, and ideally Calculus I, when you start

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

• Applicants from Canada (except Quebec) are exempt from English tests; ask admissions about BC grade requirements

Transfer students:

• A 2.25 GPA with 30+ hours; credential evaluation for non-U.S. transcripts; Calculus I in your first semester

Sources: UT San Antonio catalog, Department of Computer Science (2026-28 Undergraduate Catalog); College of AI, Cyber and Computing; First-time freshman admission; International undergraduate admission; Application dates; Application and fee; Transfer student admission; Admission to colleges and programs; Tuition. Admission policies are from the 2026-27 Student Policies. Check UT San Antonio’s admissions website for the latest dates and requirements.