How to apply to Computer Science at Sacred Heart University (Connecticut): the BS in Computer Science, required internship, ABET accreditation and 4+1 master’s, English requirements and scholarships, and requirements and timelines for students in China, Canadian high school students and transfer students

Sacred Heart University (SHU) is in Fairfield, Connecticut. Its BS in Computer Science is offered by the School of Computing & Engineering, on campus or hybrid. This guide is based on the university’s website and is written 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 program page says the four-year BS in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
• Required CS courses (degree requirements page): CS 111 Intro Structured Programming, CS 112 Data Structures, CS 113 Discrete Structures, CS 125 CS Explorations, CSE 125 CSE Explorations, CS 215 Computer Systems Organization, CS 241 C Programming Concepts, CS 262 Programming Paradigms, CS 311 Database Design, CS 312 Software Engineering, CS 321 Research Methods Seminar, CS 339 Networking and Data Communication, CS 341 Analysis of Algorithms, CS 349 Operating Systems, CY 221 Foundations of Cybersecurity and CS 481 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.
• Required internship: CS 390 Internship (3 credits), which the course description says is mandatory for CS, IT and GDD majors. Employers listed include IBM, Lockheed Martin (Sikorsky), NBCUniversal, Prudential, MetLife, Dell Technologies and UBS.
• Senior project: CS 417 Senior Project Design in the fall of senior year (define a problem and propose a team solution), then CS 418 Implementation in the spring, ending with a public presentation of the working project.
• Electives: one of CS 432 Cloud Computing or CS 481 (the page lists CS 481 both as required and in this choice); one of three philosophy courses; and two computing and engineering electives (network security, digital design, OOP with C# and games, systems analysis and design, data analytics, project management).
• Supporting courses (C or better): CS 319 Computer Ethics, Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, Probability, Mathematical Statistics, and Physics I with lab. Calculus I requires a C in MA 140 or department placement.
• Credits: the pages we read do not state total degree or major credits; check the university catalog.
• 4+1: CS majors can join the Bachelor’s–MS in Computer Science & Information Technology (CSIT) program and finish both degrees in five years. First-year applicants can be admitted to both at once; a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of the bachelor’s is required to start the MS. There is also a 3+2 engineering dual degree (three years at SHU, then two at Columbia or RPI).

2. Choosing the major

• Whether CS has its own admission bar, and the conditions for switching into CS from another major, are not published; ask the School of Computing & Engineering.

3. First-year application

• Deadlines (no year shown): Early Decision I November 15 (decision by December 1, binding); Early Action I December 1 (by January 15); Early Decision II January 15 (by February 1); Early Action II February 1 (by February 15); later applications fall under Regular Decision. Deposits are due May 1. The international instructions page lists the same dates.
• Early Decision: admitted ED students get a one-time USD 1,000 Welcome Home Grant, priority registration and one free intersession course. SHU will not hold students to the ED contract if enrollment is not financially feasible or they are not admitted to their first-choice program.
• Materials: Common App, official high school transcript, one recommendation from someone other than a family member, and a USD 50 non-refundable fee. Students who visit and apply ED I or EA I get a fee waiver. An interview is required for ED and highly recommended for everyone else.
• Testing: test optional; all merit and need-based programs are open whether or not scores are sent.
• Review: holistic, looking at high school GPA and rigor (college-level, honors, AP/IB courses), the recommendation, co-curricular activities and personal qualities. The fall 2026 first-year class had an average high school GPA of 3.6 on a 4.0 scale.

4. International applicants

• Application: international students can use the Common App (fee plus an SHU supplement) or the SHU International Application, which is only for international students and has no fee. U.S. citizens and permanent residents must use the Common App.
• Deadlines: the same as first-year; later applications are reviewed case by case. SHU recommends applying early to leave time for the visa interview, housing and orientation.
• Materials: official records from all secondary schools and universities, one recommendation, the passport identity page, and an official bank letter (on letterhead, signed, dated within six months of enrollment; do not send statements). Non-native English speakers send one English test score or a waiver request.
• Testing: the exception to the test-optional policy says international students whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL scores, while the English page lists IELTS, Duolingo and other tests. Both are on the website; ask international admissions which tests are accepted.
• I-20: issued after admission, tuition and housing deposits, and proof of funds. F-1 students must take at least 12 credits a semester and cannot enroll in online programs.

5. English requirements

• Scores: TOEFL iBT 4 (old 80), TOEFL PBT 550, Academic IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110 (production subscore at least 85), PTE 62, Cambridge C1 Advanced 180, plus EIKEN, GTEC, iTEP, the Oxford Test of English and others.
• Other routes: an English-medium international school curriculum, AP English, SAT/ACT reading and writing scores, or completing Level 6 at SHU’s English Language Institute. To request a waiver, send a transcript showing English coursework.
• Provisional acceptance: students who miss the English minimum can be admitted provisionally and complete ESL courses at SHU’s English Language Institute or another ESL school first.

6. AP and IB credit

• AP: credit for scores of 4 or 5; apply to admissions before classes begin in the year of entry.
• IB: diploma holders get transfer credit by SHU equivalencies; without the diploma, HL scores of 4–7 earn credit per exam, up to 30 credits.
• A-Level: credit rules are not published.

7. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: the website does not say how Gaokao scores are used; ask international admissions.
• Transcripts: send official high school records (faxed or emailed copies are working documents only; originals or copies with a school seal and signature are required). Credit for foreign university coursework needs a course-by-course evaluation from WES, ECE or another NACES member; the page does not say whether high school records need one.
• English: students at regular high schools send TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo; students at English-medium international schools can request a waiver based on their curriculum.

8. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• English: the website only says non-native English speakers must send a score and does not list exempt countries; ask international admissions whether Canadian students need one.
• BC grades: no BC grade requirements are published; ask admissions.

9. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall priority May 1, regular August 1; spring priority December 1, regular January 1.
• Materials: the SHU application or Common App and a USD 50 fee; official transcripts from all colleges and the high school; AP scores of 4 or 5; an optional recommendation; no SAT/ACT.
• Credits: no minimum to transfer in; up to 66 credits from a two-year college and up to 90 from a four-year institution.
• GPA: a minimum transfer GPA is not published.
• Scholarships: transfer students may receive merit awards based on prior college work (Phi Theta Kappa, Transfer Achievement Award and others).

10. Costs and scholarships (2026-27)

• Tuition: full time (12–18 credits, fall and spring) USD 27,085 a semester; USD 1,225 per credit above 18.
• School fee: sophomores, juniors and seniors in the School of Computing & Engineering pay a USD 500 program fee each semester.
• Other costs: student services fee USD 175 a semester; health insurance USD 3,252 a year (waivable); residence halls USD 6,865–8,110 a semester; meal plans USD 515–3,485 a semester. New residents pay a USD 1,500 admission deposit. International students are not listed separately.
• Merit scholarships: every new student is considered automatically with no separate application, based on the transcript, class rank, course selection and GPA. Awards are USD 6,000–20,000 a year (President’s Excellence Award, Trustee Scholarship, College Scholarship, Conley Award), renewable for four years of full-time study with the required GPA; awards are limited and first-come, first-served. The international page says international students are considered automatically too.
• Other aid: activity-based grants (athletics, community service, music, theatre and more) depend on participation. International students cannot file the FAFSA.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Use the free SHU International Application or the Common App; aim for ED I (November 15) or EA I (December 1)
• Prepare TOEFL 4 (old 80), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 110, one recommendation and a bank letter
• Ask international admissions how Gaokao scores are used and which English tests are accepted

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

• Ask international admissions whether you need an English score and how BC grades are read

Transfer students:

• Fall priority is May 1; up to 66 credits from a two-year college or 90 from a four-year school; foreign coursework needs a NACES course-by-course evaluation and English course descriptions

Sources: Sacred Heart University, BS in Computer Science; Degree requirements; Senior project; Bachelor’s-MS in CSIT 4+1; Freshman admission; Freshman application checklist; Test optional policy; Early Decision; AP/IB credit policies; International application instructions; Acceptable tests & scores; International student scholarships; Transfer admission; Transfer application checklist; Full-time undergraduate tuition & fees 2026-2027. Costs are for 2026-27; application dates are shown without a year. Check Sacred Heart’s website for the latest.