How to Apply for Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University: the BS in Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the pre-professional program with C grades in core courses, required SAT/ACT, and requirements and timelines for students in China, Canada and transfer students

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) offers computer science through the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, with its main campus in Boca Raton, Florida. This guide summarizes what the university publishes 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. Degree and courses

• Accreditation: the BS in Computer Science is accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission under the General Criteria and the computer science Program Criteria. It is offered in person and fully online.
• Credits and grades: at least 120 credits; every course counted toward the degree needs a C or better; pass/fail courses are not accepted for computer science students.
• Structure (program summary): general education 24; math 11 (Calculus with Analytic Geometry 1 and 2, Matrix Theory); science 7 (biology, chemistry, physics or geology, with at least one lab); common core 24; CS–computer engineering core 15; computer science core 12; two semi-core groups of 6 each; electives 15.
• Core: Programming 1 and 2, Foundations of Computing, Computer Logic Design, Computer Architecture, Introduction to Data Science and Analytics, Stochastic Models, two engineering design courses, Principles of Software Engineering, Communication Networks, Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis, Operating Systems, Introduction to Database Structures, Principles of Programming Languages, Design and Analysis of Algorithms, and Theory of Computation, 51 credits in all.
• Semi-core: group 1, two of deep learning, AI, data mining and machine learning, applied cryptography and security, and foundations of cybersecurity; group 2, two of internet computing, Python programming and other listed courses.
• BA in Computer Science: the department also offers a BA focused on software development. FAU says the BS requires higher-level math and science, while the BA uses general-education-level math and science.

2. Getting into the major

• Pre-professional first: the CS admission page says students must meet university admission requirements and then the college’s preprofessional requirements to be accepted into Computer Science.
• Pre-professional rules: the college page says entering freshmen and all transfer students are admitted as pre-engineering students; each listed core course needs a C or better; at most two attempts per course, and failing the second attempt (including withdrawals) is grounds for denial; after the core courses, students apply to the major and are admitted on core-course performance. AP scores of 4 or higher give credit (5 counts as an A, 4 as a B). Denials can be appealed by academic petition.
• Note: the college page’s core-course table lists the engineering BS programs (Calculus 1, Physics for Engineers 1) and does not list computer science separately; check the catalog or ask the college advising center (engineering-services@fau.edu) for the CS core list.
• Math starting point: the entry-level math for engineering programs is Calculus 1. Students placed lower may not find courses that count toward the program, which can delay entry.
• Changing majors: conditions for switching into Computer Science from another FAU major are not published; ask the college advising center.

3. Admission

• Tests required: under Florida Board of Governors rules, first-year applicants must submit ACT, SAT or CLT scores; international first-year students and transfers with fewer than 60 transferable credits must too. Scores must be from the last five years.
• 2026 admitted middle 50%: recalculated GPA 3.66–4.29, SAT 1090–1270, ACT 22–28, CLT 60–84.
• Factors: high school GPA, core grades, course selection, college readiness in math and reading/writing, class rank and test scores. At least 18 core units are required (English 4, math 4, natural science 3, social science 3, one foreign language 2, academic electives 2), and only these count in the admission GPA.
• Engineering and computer science: the college is competitive and selective; Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus/Trigonometry and Calculus 1 (or AP Calculus) are strongly recommended, while Statistics, Math for College Readiness and Financial Algebra are not recommended. Pre-engineering students not yet ready for college calculus may be considered for the STEM Bridge Program.

4. Dates and materials

• Application: international first-year students use the Common App; USD 30 non-refundable fee.
• Deadlines (no year shown, subject to change): Early Action October 15 (materials October 22, last scores November 20), decisions December 4; rolling decision March 12; spring September 15. First-year merit scholarships are considered automatically for applications complete by January 15. The international page says FAU offers Early Action and rolling decisions, about four weeks after a complete file, and may offer a different term.
• Credential evaluation: international freshmen not in a U.S. or IB curriculum must have all high school records and exam results evaluated course by course, with a GPA, by a NACES member.

5. English requirements

• Exemption by test: SAT EBRW 490, or ACT Reading 19 and English 17.
• Other exemptions: three years at a high school with full English instruction, in the U.S. or abroad; or three years of secondary school in a country where English is the majority native language or the primary language of instruction from the primary grades.
• Minimum scores: TOEFL iBT 4.5 (PBT 550); IELTS 6.5; Cambridge English 180; PTE 55; Duolingo 110; IGCSE English C/4; IB English HL 6; HKDSE English 5. Students below the standard can use the Conditional Admissions Track.

6. Students at high schools in China

• Minimums: the China section of the credentials page lists a minimum of B or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; 80 or B on the five-point scale or 75 or B on the four-point scale; and the Certificate of Results of the General Examination for High School Graduates (Huikao). Records must be evaluated by a NACES member.
• Gaokao: the site does not say how Gaokao results are used; ask admissions.
• Testing: plan on the SAT, ACT or CLT.
• AP, IB, AICE: up to 45 credits from AICE, AP, IB and CLEP; AP 4 or higher also gives credit for pre-professional core courses. The credentials page applies the NACES evaluation to international freshmen “not educated in a U.S. based or IB curriculum”. A-Level credit is not listed separately; ask admissions.

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

• English: the English page does not list countries; the rule is three years of secondary school where English is the majority native language or main language of instruction. Ask admissions whether this covers you, or use SAT/ACT section scores.
• Grades: BC grade requirements are not published; records need NACES evaluation, so ask admissions.
• Testing: SAT, ACT or CLT is required.

8. Transfer students

• Testing: international transfers with fewer than 60 transferable credits must also submit SAT, ACT or CLT scores.
• Application: international transfers use the FAU Application; non-U.S. college work can be evaluated internally by FAU or by a NACES member.
• Prerequisites: complete lower-division and major prerequisites (see the Transition Guides); courses outside Florida’s common course numbering need a catalog description and syllabus. Students entering with more than 30 credits see the undergraduate advisor for course evaluation.
• Major entry: transfer students also start in the pre-professional program.

9. Cost and scholarships

• International undergraduate annual estimate (no year shown; fall or spring entry, 24 credits and 12 months of living costs): tuition and fees USD 17,324, books 1,320, living 25,758, insurance 1,844, total USD 46,246. Summer entry is based on 36 credits: USD 54,908.
• President’s International Scholarship: USD 6,000 a year, renewable up to four years, for freshmen on F-1 or J-1 visas with a GPA of 3.5 or higher (U.S. 4.0 scale), SAT/ACT/CLT scores and English proof. Candidates are considered automatically, but the application must be complete by fall January 15 (priority) or March 15 (regular), or spring August 15 or October 15. Transfers: USD 6,000 a year for up to three years with a 3.5 transfer GPA.
• Scholarships are offered only for spring and fall and are limited; Florida Linkage Institutes tuition waivers exist for students from specific countries or regions.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Take the SAT, ACT or CLT; prepare TOEFL 4.5 or IELTS 6.5 (or exempt with SAT EBRW 490)
• Reach calculus in high school; earn a C in each pre-professional core course at FAU
• Complete the application by January 15 for fall scholarships; arrange a NACES evaluation

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

• Tests are required; ask admissions about the English exemption and BC grade expectations

Transfer students:

• Under 60 credits, submit test scores; finish major prerequisites and keep course descriptions and syllabi

Sources: Florida Atlantic University, BS in Computer Science; Admission requirements; Degree requirements; Program summary; Pre-Professional Engineering; Freshman admission requirements; STEM requirements; Freshman deadlines; International admissions and cost; International how to apply; English proficiency; Academic credentials by country; International FAQ; International scholarships. Deadline and cost pages do not state a year; check FAU’s website for the latest.