How to apply to Computer Science at Seattle University: direct entry to the BA and BS in the College of Science and Engineering, the semester curriculum from 2027, the year-long industry project and the accelerated BS/MS, with requirements and timelines for students in China, Canadian high school students and transfer students

Seattle University is a Jesuit private university on the First Hill campus in central Seattle. Computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Science and Engineering, with a BA in Computer Science and a BS in Computer Science. This guide covers fall 2027 entry from Seattle University's website for students at high schools in China (including A-Level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including British Columbia and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Direct entry

• Apply to the major: you can apply directly to your intended major and start in it from your first term. Some colleges have extra direct-entry requirements; applicants who don't meet a major's minimums may be admitted to a pre-major or advising program.
• College of Science and Engineering: four units of college-prep math, with pre-calculus or equivalent preferred for most programs (complete or in progress) and B grades preferred in math and science; at least two lab sciences including chemistry; and shown interest in STEM. If you submit scores, all majors except Pre-Science and Pre-Engineering require SAT 560 and ACT 23; the page does not say whether these are composite or section scores.
• Undecided: Pre-Science or Pre-Engineering let you take prerequisites in the college before choosing a major.
• Internal transfer: requirements for switching into CS from another major are not published; ask the Science and Engineering Advising Center (CSEAdvising@seattleu.edu).

2. Moving to semesters from 2027

• Seattle University is moving from quarters to semesters. The department publishes two plans: a semester plan (fall and spring) for students who enroll in summer 2027 or later, and a quarter plan for earlier students. Fall 2027 first-years follow the semester plan.
• The program page says course offerings will be updated for the move; the university says programs are being converted so students can finish with a mix of quarter and semester classes.

3. What you study (semester plan)

• Credits: at least 120 semester credits to graduate (180 quarter credits). BS major credits are 72–73 semester credits and BA major credits 61. Major and cumulative GPAs must be 2.0, and every CPSC course used for the major needs a C (2.00) or better.
• Sample BS plan:
  • Year 1: Programming and Problem Solving I and II (CPSC 1420, 1430), Calculus I and II (MATH 1344, 1346).
  • Year 2: Data Structures, Computer Organization, Foundations of Computer Science, Fundamentals of Databases, Computing Systems, Probability and Statistics, and calculus-based mechanics with lab.
  • Year 3: Languages and Computation, Object-Oriented Development, Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence, Linear Algebra and a science elective.
  • Year 4: Software Engineering and Project Development I and II, Technical Communication and Professional Ethics, and three 4000-level CPSC electives.
• BA: the same intro programming courses and a required 30-credit area of application that is often met with a minor in another discipline. It suits careers that apply computing to fields such as business or education. The BA can be combined with the 3+3 bachelor's/JD pathway; the BS cannot.
• Other options: the CS transfer guide lists the BA, BS, BS with Specialization in Business and BS with Specialization in Mathematics.
• Year-long industry project: all undergraduates complete a year-long industry-sponsored capstone run by the college's Project Center.
• Accelerated BS/MS: a BS and MS in Computer Science in five years. The program page says up to 10 elective credits count toward both degrees; the BS plan's curriculum notes say up to six credits of 5000-level electives apply to the general MS and up to nine to the data science or software engineering specialization. The figures differ, so confirm with the department.
• Accreditation: the university's accreditation page lists ABET accreditation for civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering; computer science is not listed.

4. Deadlines

• Early Action (non-binding, all majors): 1 November. The deadlines page says decisions come in late December; the international undergraduate page says mid-December.
• Regular Decision: 15 January, decisions in early March. Early Decision is only for Nursing and Diagnostic Ultrasound.
• If you submit scores, they must arrive by 1 November (EA) or 15 January (RD); self-reported scores on the Common App are accepted provisionally.
• Other terms: the international page lists winter (recommended 1 October, final 1 November) and spring (recommended 1 January, final 15 February); new international students cannot start in summer. International students should apply at least three months before the term for visa processing. These winter and spring dates follow the quarter calendar, and the page does not say how they change with semesters.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Application: the Common App plus a few short answers; the fee is $60 and non-refundable. Anyone who has taken college coursework after high school must apply as a transfer.
• Academics: transcripts for the equivalent of US grades 9–11 (and 12 if complete), at least three years. Students from national exam systems (the examples include the Gaokao) should send those results too. Copies are accepted for review; official documents are needed before enrolling. Competitive applicants usually have the equivalent of a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Recommendations: two, from a classroom teacher and a school counselor or other official.
• Testing: the SAT and ACT are not required for international first-years or transfers. SAT reading and writing 500+ or ACT reading and English 20+ can replace an English test.
• English:
  • No English bridge (ELCB) courses: TOEFL 86, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 120, PTE 58.
  • Admission with ELCB courses: TOEFL 68–85, IELTS at least 6.0, Duolingo 105–115, PTE 48–57, with diagnostic tests on the first day that may waive ELCB.
  • Course-based options: A/AS Level English Language, English Language and Literature or English General Paper at C or better; IB English A at 4+, or English B at 4 (HL) or 5 (SL); AP English Language or Literature at 3+ taken at a US or US-accredited school.
  • The most recent result counts, even if an earlier score was higher.
• Finances: a pre-financial information form with the application (no proof needed); after you confirm enrollment, a declaration of finances and bank statements covering at least one year for the I-20.

6. Students at Canadian high schools

• English: students who completed primary and secondary education in English-speaking Canada are exempt from proving English. The international FAQ says that otherwise, English-medium instruction alone does not lead to an automatic waiver.
• BC curriculum: Seattle University does not publish BC grade requirements; ask admissions how BC grades are converted.
• Deadlines and materials are the same as above.

7. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 (quarter system): full-time tuition $59,400; the on-campus budget is $82,726, including average housing of $11,202, food of $6,426 and technology, wellness and activity fees. International health insurance is $2,392 a year unless waived with comparable coverage. Semester-system costs for 2027-28 are not yet published.
• Deposit: $500 for first-years; international students pay it for every start term, with $200 refundable if you cancel before 1 May.
• Merit scholarships: first-year, transfer and international applicants are considered automatically, based on the application rather than finances, at least $8,000 a year and renewable up to four years for first-years. Award tiers are not published.
• Other: no need-based aid and no full-cost scholarships for international students.

8. Transfer students

• CS transfer guide: recommended major GPA of at least 3.0; two quarters of programming (Python, Java or C++), Calculus I–III, Linear Algebra and a year of calculus-based physics (or one quarter of physics plus two quarters of other major-level science). About a third of the department's undergraduates are transfers.
• Deadlines: fall priority 1 March. The final fall deadline is 1 August in the CS transfer guide and 15 August on the transfer application page; the international page says applications after 1 March are reviewed on a rolling basis. Winter 1 November, spring 15 February.
• Materials: the transfer application (with an essay), all college transcripts, a high school transcript if you have fewer than 45 transferable quarter credits (30 semester credits), optional test scores and a $60 fee (hardship waivers available).
• The quarter course numbers (such as MATH 1334–1336) come from the transfer guide and may change with semesters; check equivalencies with the university's transfer tool.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to Computer Science on the Common App by 1 November (EA) or 15 January (RD)
• Four years of math and at least two lab sciences including chemistry; send Gaokao or other national exam results
• Two recommendations; TOEFL 86 or IELTS 6.5 avoids English bridge courses

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

• Exempt from English proof if all schooling was in English-speaking Canada; same math and chemistry expectations

Transfer students:

• Fall priority deadline 1 March; complete programming, three quarters of calculus, linear algebra and a year of physics
• Aim for a major GPA of 3.0 or higher

Sources: Seattle University, Computer Science BA and BS; BS four-year plan; BA four-year plan; Move to semesters; International undergraduate admission; International FAQs; First-year admission requirements; Deadlines; 2026-27 undergraduate cost of attendance; Undergraduate scholarships; Transfer application; Computer Science transfer guide; Accreditation. Courses follow the semester plan for students entering in summer 2027 or later; costs are 2026-27 figures; the deadline pages do not state a year. Check Seattle University for the latest details.