How to Apply for Computer Science at Oakland University (Michigan): the 128-credit BS in Computer Science in the School of Engineering and Computer Science, starting as Pre-Computer Science and earning major standing, and requirements and timelines for students in China, Canada and transfer students

Oakland University is in Rochester, Michigan. Its computer science degree is offered by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS). 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 catalog states that the BS in Computer Science is accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission.
• Department majors: the department offers five undergraduate majors (Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Information Technology) and six combined BS/MS options; the combined programs require an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.2 and students usually apply in the junior year.
• Credits: the 2026-2027 undergraduate catalog requires a minimum of 128 credits.
• Quantitative foundations: Calculus I, Calculus II, Discrete Structures (or Discrete Mathematics), Computational Linear Algebra (or Linear Algebra), and Applied Probability and Statistics, at least 15 credits in total; plus one approved biology, chemistry or physics course with lab.
• Computer science core: Introduction to Python Programming and Unix, Object-Oriented Computing, Data Structures, Programming in C (or C++ for Programmers), and Introduction to Computer Networks.
• Required professional subjects: Software Engineering and Practice, Theory of Computation, Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Database Design and Implementation, Security and Privacy in Computing, Computer Organization, Programming Languages, Operating Systems, Parallel and Distributed Computing, and the Senior Capstone Project (C or better required). Introduction to Ethics in Science and Engineering is also required.
• Electives: three professional electives from six areas (Artificial Intelligence, Computer Systems and Networking, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Game Development, Web and Mobile Systems), plus at least 6 credits of flexible electives.
• Optional concentrations: each of the six areas can be taken as a concentration with at least 15 credits, noted on the transcript.

2. Admission: Pre-Computer Science, then major standing

• Pre-major: the catalog says students must gain major standing before enrolling in 3000-level or higher courses and becoming degree candidates; when it is approved, the major changes from Pre-Computer Science to Computer Science. The application form is on the SECS advising website and should be submitted before the intended 3000-level enrollment.
• Major standing requirements:
  • a minimum average GPA of 2.0 in eight major standing courses: Calculus I, Calculus II, Discrete Structures (or Discrete Mathematics), an approved science elective with lab, Introduction to Python Programming and Unix, Object-Oriented Computing, Data Structures, and Introduction to Computer Networks;
  • no more than two grades of C-, D+ or D in those courses;
  • no major standing course attempted more than three times;
  • no more than three different major standing courses repeated (W grades not counted).
  Conditional major standing, which allows registration in 3000- or 4000-level SECS courses, is granted in the semester the requirements will be completed.
• Performance requirements: an average of at least 2.0 in each group (quantitative foundations plus science, CS core, and professional courses); within the professional courses at most two different courses may be repeated, three attempts per course, and at most two grades below C.
• First-year admission: the first-year page says admission is generally based on a cumulative high school GPA of 3.2 or above; applicants between 2.5 and 3.2 may be admitted after review of their academic preparation. SAT/ACT is not required for applicants with at least a 2.5 GPA, and the test requirement has been permanently removed. An essay is optional and recommendations are not required. Whether Pre-Computer Science has extra entry requirements is not stated on the pages we read; confirm with admissions.
• Programming background: the first CS course is Introduction to Python Programming and Unix; the catalog does not list prior programming as an entry requirement.

3. Deadlines and materials

• International deadlines: complete applications by July 1 for fall, November 1 for winter (January) and March 1 for summer. Admission can be deferred for up to one year.
• Materials: online application; high school transcripts and English scores (unofficial transcripts and copies of score reports can be emailed to international admissions); financial documents uploaded to the application portal. Students from non-English-medium high schools outside the US must add a literal English translation.
• Application fee: not stated on the international page we read; confirm with admissions.

4. English

• Minimum scores: TOEFL iBT 79 (tests before January 20, 2026) or 4.5 on the new scale (January 21, 2026 and later); IELTS 6.5; PTE Academic 53; Duolingo 100.
• Other ways: completing all high school coursework outside the US at a school where instruction was in English; a US high school diploma with one year of study; completing ELS Level 112, among others.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: how Gaokao results are used is not published; confirm with international admissions.
• Transcripts: transcripts from non-English-medium high schools need a literal English translation.
• AP and IB: the Registrar evaluates AP and IB scores for credit or exemption, and the IB diploma is recognized; score tables are not on the pages we read, so check the Registrar’s AP/IB policy. A-Level credit is not published.
• Scholarships: the scholarship page says international students are not eligible for OU scholarships, except where noted.

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

• Non-Resident Award: citizens and permanent residents of Canada may qualify for the Non-Resident Award, which charges in-state tuition. It requires a high school GPA of 2.5 or higher and non-Michigan residency, is considered automatically at admission, and first-year students must live in university housing for their first two years. The international page also says first-year and transfer students from Canada or Mexico may qualify.
• English: the international page accepts completion of all high school coursework outside the US at a school where instruction was in English.
• Grades: BC grade requirements are not published; ask admissions how BC grades are converted to a GPA.

7. Transfer students

• Threshold: with 24 or more college credits, a GPA of at least 2.5 is considered, along with recent grade trends; with fewer than 24 credits, both college and high school records are reviewed.
• Universities outside the US: a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES member is required.
• Entering CS: transfer students must meet the same major standing requirements; the catalog says students with fewer than 15 transferred quantitative foundations credits must take additional courses approved by petition.
• Transfer credit, two different statements: the transfer page says there is no limit on transferable credits and at least 30 credits must be earned at Oakland; the first-year page says up to half of the degree minimum can come from a community college and at least 45 credits must be earned at Oakland. Confirm with admissions.

8. Costs and scholarships

• International estimate (no year shown; fall and winter at 12–14 credits per semester): out-of-state tuition USD 19,788, living expenses USD 11,454, medical insurance USD 2,292, total USD 33,534; budget another USD 4,000 a year for books and personal costs. For Canadian and Mexican students the page applies the Non-Resident Award: tuition USD 15,426, total USD 29,172.
• 2026-2027 tuition: tuition depends on the school offering each course. SECS courses at the 0001–2999 level are USD 614.00 per credit and 3000+ courses USD 722.75 per credit. The non-resident rates on the page are listed for Arts and Sciences and Education courses (lower division USD 795.75, upper division USD 853.25 per credit); non-resident rates for SECS courses are not listed separately, so confirm with the university. Oakland says it charges no separate fees.
• Fall 2027 first-year merit scholarships: considered automatically from high school GPA and test scores, USD 2,000 to 12,000 a year, with materials due by March 1. The page states that international students are not eligible for OU scholarships.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Complete the application by July 1 for fall
• Prepare TOEFL 79 (new scale 4.5) or IELTS 6.5
• Build strong math: major standing depends on Calculus I and II and Discrete Structures
• Ask admissions how Gaokao results are used and what the application fee is

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

• Canadian citizens and permanent residents may qualify for the Non-Resident Award at in-state tuition
• Confirm how BC grades are converted with admissions

Transfer students:

• At least a 2.5 college GPA (24+ credits); line up transcripts against the eight major standing courses

Sources: Oakland University, Department of Computer Science and Engineering; 2026-2027 undergraduate catalog: Computer Science, B.S.; International applicants; First-year students; Transfers; Scholarships; Non-Resident Awards; 2026-2027 tuition rates; SECS academic advising. Scholarships are for fall 2027 entry and tuition is for 2026-2027. Check Oakland University’s website for the latest.