How to Apply to Computer Science at the University of New Mexico: Pre-Major Entry to the School of Engineering BS in Computer Science, Course Requirements for Department Admission, the Required Minor and BS/MS Shared Credit, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of New Mexico (UNM), undergraduate computer science is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the School of Engineering, and the department says the degree is ABET-accredited. Here is what you need to know, based on UNM’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), and transfer students.

Note: UNM’s catalog is hosted on a third-party platform and was not used here. Courses and department admission follow the curriculum sheet on the department website (revised September 2019, effective fall 2019) and the degree plan worksheet. Requirements may have changed; the catalog for your year governs.

1. Getting into the major

• Pre-major first: the department’s admissions page says entering freshmen who do not meet department criteria first enter the School of Engineering, which is typical. On the UNM application, specify the Computer Science Department, School of Engineering.
• Department admission (curriculum sheet):
  • at least 23 credit hours applicable to the BS in Computer Science with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher;
  • B- or better in Computer Programming Fundamentals (CS 152L) and Calculus I (MATH 1512);
  • C or better in Data Organization (CS 241L), Intermediate Programming (CS 251L), Math Foundations of CS (CS 261) and Composition II (ENGL 1120).
  Students who complete these are admitted to the department automatically.
• Programming prerequisite: pre-CS students take CS 105L (Intro to Computer Programming) or CS 108L (CS for All) before CS 152L; neither counts toward the degree.
• Math placement: UNM uses ALEKS PPL to place students in math. Engineering recommends taking it before New Student Orientation; it can be retaken up to two more times, and the highest score counts.
• If not admitted: students denied for lack of credits or courses may keep taking CS classes and reapply; those seeking an exception see a department undergraduate advisor.
• Changing majors: UNM students in non-engineering majors must transfer into the School of Engineering; paperwork starts at the Computer Science Department.

2. Curriculum

• Total: 120 credit hours.
• Computer science: Computer Programming Fundamentals, Intermediate Programming, Data Organization, Math Foundations of CS, Social and Ethical Issues in Computing, Computer Logic Design (ECE 238L), Design of Large Programs, Declarative Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms I and II, Intro to Numerical Computing, Intro to Computer Systems, Software Engineering, Operating Systems, and three 400-level CS electives.
• Math: Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, and Elements of Mathematical Statistics and Probability (STAT 345).
• Science: four science courses totaling 14 credit hours, including two lab sciences taken in sequence (for example Physics I and II).
• Required minor: all CS students must complete a minor.
• Term offerings: Data Structures and Algorithms I is fall only; Declarative Programming and Data Structures and Algorithms II are spring only.
• Grades: the curriculum sheet says School of Engineering students must pass all CS classes with B- or better and other courses with C or better, and a student who does not pass a class within three attempts is dismissed (a fourth attempt needs an appeal to the Dean of Students). The degree requirements on the same sheet say upper-division CS courses need B or better. Both are listed here; confirm with the department.
• Advising every term: a hold is placed each semester until the student meets an academic advisor.
• BS/MS shared credit: up to 12 hours count toward both the BS and the MS in Computer Science, including CS 561, which counts toward the MS theory core and as CS 362 and up to three other 500-level courses as BS electives. Engineering says students may finish both in five years depending on math preparation.

3. Dates and materials (international applicants)

• Fall 2027: priority application March 1, 2027; final application May 1, 2027; required documents June 1, 2027.
• Spring 2027: priority application May 1, 2026; final application August 15, 2026; required documents October 1, 2026. First-year students cannot start in summer.
• Steps: apply online and pay the USD 50 fee; UNM then lists the documents needed, usually official transcripts, graduation certificates (with translations if needed) and English scores; after review you receive the admission decision and any scholarship nomination; after accepting, submit financial documents for the I-20.
• Timing: admission is rolling, and the FAQ suggests starting 10–12 months before the term.
• Tests: SAT or ACT are not required but encouraged; for GPAs between 3.0 and 3.5 they can help with scholarships, and they can also exempt students from an English course and help with placement.

4. English requirements (undergraduate)

• Duolingo 95; IELTS 6.0; TOEFL 68 (4.0); TOEFL Essentials B2; SAT Reading/Writing 500; PTE 47; Cambridge CAE/CPE C1; LanguageCert 68 with no skill below 60; Oxford Test of English 125; PTE Express 76.
• Other exceptions include ACT English 19; four years of U.S. high school with a 2.5 GPA; and two semesters of freshman English composition with C or higher at a regionally accredited U.S. institution.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Documents: the requirements-by-country page lists official transcripts, the Upper Middle School Graduation Certificate and an English proficiency exam for China.
• Gaokao: the website does not say how Gaokao results are used; check with International Admissions at goglobal@unm.edu.
• GPA conversion: scholarships use a U.S. 4.0-scale GPA; how Chinese high school grades are converted is not published.
• AP and IB credit rules are on the admissions testing pages; equivalencies are not checked here.

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

• Documents: British Columbia requires official transcripts and the Secondary School Graduation Diploma; Quebec requires an English exam, official transcripts and the DEC or a certificate of graduation.
• English: the English-exempt country list (November 2018) includes Canada except Quebec.
• Grade requirements for the BC curriculum are not published.

7. Transfer students

• Applicants with at least 24 semester credit hours after high school apply as transfers. Admissions says meeting either condition guarantees transfer admission to UNM: 24 transferable credits with a C (2.0) average, or an associate degree from a regionally accredited community college. Those with fewer than 24 credits must also meet freshman requirements.
• For the department, apply for transfer to the Computer Science Department, School of Engineering; transfer credit is evaluated individually, and grades in equivalent courses determine eligibility for department admission.
• International transfers already in the U.S.: fall 2027 applications by May 1, 2027 and documents by July 1; spring 2027 applications by October 1, 2026 and documents by November 15.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2027-28 international undergraduate estimate (15 credits a term): tuition and fees without scholarship USD 38,850, room and board USD 12,471, books USD 1,869, transportation USD 2,498, miscellaneous and health insurance USD 4,000, total USD 59,688. With the Amigo Scholarship the total is USD 29,142; with the Leadership Scholarship, USD 41,731.
• International Amigo Scholarship: reduces tuition to the New Mexico resident rate (fees not included), valued by UNM at USD 27,000 a year. Eligibility is one of: a 3.5 high school GPA; a 3.0 GPA with ACT 26 or SAT 1240; or a 3.25 GPA with at least 30 transferable university credits.
• Leadership Scholarship (undergraduate only): a 3.0 high school GPA, valued at USD 17,000 a year.
• All undergraduate applicants are considered automatically for the highest award they qualify for; awards cannot be stacked. Priority deadlines are March 15 for fall and May 1 for spring, with later applicants considered as funds allow.
• Renewal: 15 main-campus credits and a 2.5 GPA each semester; up to four years for freshmen and two for transfers.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• For fall 2027, apply by the March 1, 2027 priority deadline and complete materials by March 15 for scholarships
• Prepare English scores such as IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 68; with a GPA of 3.0–3.5, consider sending SAT or ACT
• Choose the Computer Science Department, School of Engineering; after arrival, earn B- or better in CS 152L and Calculus I and finish the other admission courses

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

• Apply as an international student; outside Quebec, no English exam is required

Transfer students:

• 24 transferable credits with a 2.0 GPA guarantees UNM admission; department admission also depends on grades in equivalent courses

Sources: The University of New Mexico, Computer Science prospective undergraduates; Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science; BSCS degree plan worksheet; BS CS curriculum sheet (fall 2019); BS/MS shared-credit program; Computer Science undergraduate admissions; ALEKS PPL math placement; Freshman admission requirements; Transfer; International application timeline; Requirements by home country; English proficiency; English-exempt countries; International undergraduate costs and scholarships; International admissions FAQ. The curriculum sheet is the fall 2019 version; costs are the 2027-2028 estimates on the website. Check UNM’s website and catalog for the latest.