How to Apply to Computer Science at Missouri S&T: The 127-Credit BS in Computer Science, AI and Cybersecurity Emphasis Areas, and Applying to the Department After Freshman Engineering, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) in Rolla, undergraduate computer science is taught by the Computer Science Department in the College of Engineering and Computing. Here is what you need to know, based on the university’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.

1. Freshman engineering first, then apply to the department

• How you enter: the department says computer science freshmen spend their first two or three semesters on courses required by all engineering departments, then formally apply to the Computer Science Department; admission is "nearly automatic" once these requirements are complete.
• International applicants choose a major: the international freshman page asks you to select a specific area of study, not Undecided or Undecided Engineering, because your degree program must be listed on your I-20 or DS-2019.
• No guaranteed program: meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission or admission to a particular program.
• Dual degree: the department says a BS in both computer science and computer engineering takes about one extra semester.

2. What you study

• Degree: BS in Computer Science, accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission. The department also offers a BS in Data Science.
• Hours and grades: the 2026-2027 catalog requires at least 127 credit hours (excluding algebra, trigonometry and basic ROTC) with at least a 2.0 average; a C or better is required in every CS course used for the degree, in COMP ENG 2210 and in the required ethics elective.
• First year (sample plan): Introduction to Computer Science, Computational Problem Solving (COMP SCI 1500), Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science, Introduction to C++ Programming with lab, two English courses, a history or political science course and a lecture-lab science, with MATH 1214 or 1211 and MATH 1215.
• Later requirements: Data Structures with lab, File Structures and Introduction to Database Systems, Algorithms with lab, Theory of Computer Science, Software Engineering I, Programming Languages and Translators, Introduction to Computer Networks, Introduction to Operating Systems, Computer Organization and Design, Computer Security, and the Software Systems Planning and Ethics and Software Systems Development capstone; plus COMP ENG 2210, MATH 3108, a statistics course, an ethics course and 6 hours of science/engineering electives.
• CS electives: 18 hours, at least 9 at the 5000 level or above.
• Emphasis areas: CS electives can complete an Artificial Intelligence emphasis (Introduction to Data Science, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Introduction to Machine Learning and two more approved courses) or a Cybersecurity emphasis (Introduction to Cryptography, Internet Security, Ethical Hacking and one more approved course).
• Other: every CS undergraduate completes an Experiential Learning requirement outside the classroom; cooperative education lets you work full time for one or two semesters; and the Graduate Track Pathway (GTP) helps undergraduates move faster through a master’s.

3. Dates and materials (international freshmen)

• Application: the S&T application or the Common App. The first-time freshman and transfer pages say S&T charges no application fee; the international pages do not mention a fee.
• Recommended dates: admission is rolling with no firm deadline; apply by April 1 for fall and October 1 for spring, leaving time for a visa. The domestic freshman page gives December 1 as the fall priority scholarship deadline and February 1 as the final one.
• Review: secondary core curriculum, ACT/SAT (if available), GPA and class rank percentile; for non-ranking schools, GPA is used. ACT/SAT are not required for international students but should be sent if available. Fall 2027 freshmen can choose a review without test scores by a committee, and applicants with a core GPA below 3.2 may be asked for recommendation letters or test scores.
• High school courses: at least 17 units of college-prep work, including 4 of English, 4 of math (Algebra I and higher), 3 of social studies, 3 of science (one with a lab), 1 of fine arts and 2 of one foreign language.
• Materials: decisions can be made on unofficial transcripts showing courses, grades, class rank and GPA; official transcripts are sent directly by the school after admission. An optional personal statement of up to 500 words. Only U.S.-equivalency evaluations are accepted, not Canadian-equivalency evaluations. A financial statement is needed for immigration documents.

4. English requirements

• Full admission (any one): TOEFL 4.5 (80 for tests before January 1, 2026), IELTS 6.5, PTE 58, Duolingo 115, Cambridge English 176, ACT English plus Reading 37, SAT ERW 500, IB English 5 on the HL exam, AP English Language 3, or a B in O-Level/A-Level English.
• Pathway Program: academically admissible students who have not met the English requirement can take degree classes plus one English course (English 1110) in their first semester; minimums are TOEFL 3.5 (60 on the old scale), IELTS 5.5, PTE 50, Duolingo 105 or Cambridge English 162.
• Exemptions: S&T keeps a list of English Proficiency Exempt Countries; applicants with a degree from a university in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand or Canada (except Quebec) are also exempt.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: the website does not say how Gaokao results are used. This is not published; ask International Admissions (intadm@mst.edu).
• AP: a 4 or 5 on AP Computer Science A waives Computational Problem Solving (COMP SCI 1500) with no extra hours required; AP English Language 3 meets the English requirement.
• A-Level: a B in O-Level or A-Level English meets the English requirement.
• IB: IB English 5 on the HL exam meets the English requirement.

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

• Grade requirements for the BC curriculum are not published.
• The countries on the English Proficiency Exempt Countries list were not shown on the pages read here; ask International Admissions whether high school in Canada exempts you from English testing.
• Only U.S.-equivalency credential evaluations are accepted, not Canadian-equivalency evaluations.

7. Transfer students

• With fewer than 24 college credit hours, send official college and high school transcripts (and ACT or SAT if available); you are reviewed as a first-time freshman.
• With 24 or more hours, admission is based on college GPA, at least 2.50 cumulative on a 4.00 scale; engineering and science departments generally require at least 2.50, and programs may set higher GPA standards.
• Transfer credit is evaluated separately; the last 60 credits of any bachelor’s degree must be completed at Missouri S&T. The international transfer page lists the same recommended dates of April 1 for fall and October 1 for spring.

8. Costs and scholarships

• Tuition: the fall 2026 and spring 2027 fee schedule places the BS in Computer Science in Rate 3, the highest tier. Nonresident tuition for 12–18 hours is USD 19,718 per semester (USD 1,643 per credit hour below 12 or above 18), plus an activity and facility fee of USD 42 per credit hour (capped at 12 hours) and a health service fee of USD 223.59 per semester. All international students also pay a USD 150 international student service fee each semester and are enrolled in mandatory health insurance. The schedule does not list a separate international tuition tier.
• Provost’s International Merit Scholarship: international first-time freshmen and transfers starting in 2027-28 and working on a first bachelor’s degree are eligible; for fall 2027 it is USD 15,000 a year (split between fall and spring). No separate application is needed. Students generally must be on an F-1 visa; company- or government-sponsored students are not eligible. Renewal requires at least 12 hours and a 3.00 cumulative GPA, for up to 8 semesters, and the award cannot be combined with other automatic merit scholarships.
• Kummer Vanguard Scholars: USD 2,000 a year for STEM majors for up to four years, with leadership, research and innovation opportunities; the freshman scholarship page lists a 3.4+ GPA and ACT 26+ / SAT 1240+.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by April 1 for fall and select Computer Science as your area of study
• Prepare TOEFL 4.5 (80 on the old scale) or IELTS 6.5; consider the Pathway Program if you are slightly below
• Take four years of math and lab science in high school
• Ask admissions whether Gaokao results are used

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

• Use a U.S.-equivalency evaluation if one is requested; ask admissions about an English waiver

Transfer students:

• At least a 2.50 college GPA; under 24 hours you are reviewed as a freshman; the last 60 credits must be at S&T

Sources: Missouri University of Science and Technology, Computer Science undergraduate; Computer Science accreditation; 2026-2027 undergraduate catalog, Computer Science; First-time freshmen; International first-time freshmen; International transfer; Transfer; Tuition rates; International scholarships; Provost's International Merit Scholarship. Tuition is for fall 2026 and spring 2027 and scholarships are for fall 2027 entry. Check Missouri S&T's website for the latest.