How to Apply for Computer Science at UNC Wilmington: two B.S. options (the ABET-accredited Systems Option and a concentration option), admission without a major, the USD 80 fee and April 1 international deadline, and requirements for students in China, Canada and transfer students

2026-10-19 · Application guides

UNC Wilmington’s B.S. in Computer Science has two options: the Systems Option, accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission, and Option 2, which adds a concentration. First-year students are not admitted by major and declare after enrolling. International applicants are reviewed on a rolling basis, with deadlines of April 1 for fall and October 1 for spring, and pay a USD 80 application fee. English: TOEFL 71 (4.0 on the updated scale), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 105. The 2026-27 non-resident estimate is USD 49,352, and new international undergraduates are automatically considered for a renewable scholarship of USD 2,000 to 5,000 a year.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) is in Wilmington, North Carolina. Its computer science degree is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Science and Engineering. 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. The degree and courses

Degree: B.S. in Computer Science, offered in two options. Both follow the ACM and IEEE Computer Society framework for undergraduate computer science.
Option 1 (Systems Option): accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Computer Science. It covers operating systems and scientific computing in more depth and has more upper-level CS elective hours. It requires 3 science courses: one of the sequences PHY 201-202, BIO 240-241 or CHM 101-102, plus one more lab science from a list.
Option 2: computer science with in-depth study in one area. The program details page says “any 1 of 6” concentrations; the program page names Artificial Intelligence, Digital Arts, Security and Software Engineering, and the department FAQ also mentions pairing with biology, business, chemistry, geographic information systems, neuroscience or statistics. The business option requires 2 ECN courses.
Introductory sequence: CSC 131 (Introduction to Computer Science I), CSC 231 (Introduction to Data Structures) and CSC 331 (Object-Oriented Programming and Design). The program page says the sequence uses Python and Java; the FAQ says CSC 131 and 231 use Python and CSC 331 uses Java. Later courses may use C/C++, Prolog and others.
Math: the FAQ lists Calculus I (MAT 161), Calculus II (MAT 162) and Introductory Statistics (STT 215). The program details page gives the Systems Option math sequence as MAT 111, 112, 161 and 162, with MAT 115 equal to 111 plus 112; students start at the highest course their placement allows.
Sample courses: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (CSC 302), Scientific Computing (CSC 340), Design & Analysis of Algorithms (CSC 380), Computer Gaming (CSC 421) and Software Engineering (CSC 450).
Class size: the FAQ says classes are generally capped at 24; some core lectures combine sections, which split back into 24-seat labs on Fridays.
Credits: total degree credits and the full course list are in the academic catalogue (catalogue.uncw.edu), which this guide could not verify. Check the catalogue.

2. Where to start

Programming background: the program details page recommends CSC 112 (Introduction to Computer Programming) for students with little or no programming experience; the FAQ says CSC 131 itself is meant for students with no programming background and starts from the very beginning. Both statements are on the website; ask an advisor which fits you.
Math prerequisite for CSC 131: the two pages differ. The program details page says MAT 111 or MAT 115 (or placing into a higher math course); the FAQ says MAT 112, MAT 150 or MAT 160 (trigonometry, pre-calculus or calculus). Follow the catalogue in force when you enroll.
Sequencing: CSC 131 and CSC 133 (Discrete Structures) may be taken together; CSC 133 must precede CSC 242; CSC 231 should follow 131 as soon as possible and be taken together with 242.

3. Admission and declaring the major

Not admitted by major: the first-year page says applicants are not selected based on their chosen major, since UNCW students do not declare until sophomore year.
When to declare: the program page says students may declare computer science “at any point”; the department FAQ says students may declare after completing about one year of college credit, with criteria set by the Center for Academic Advising. The two differ; confirm with academic advising.
Extra requirements: the website does not list a separate GPA threshold or cap for computer science. Whether internal changes of major have extra conditions is not published; ask the department (cscdept@lists.uncw.edu).

4. First-year applications

Holistic review: rigor, grades, GPA, class rank (not considered for graduating classes under 50) and personal qualities. The middle 50% weighted GPA of admitted seniors is 3.80–4.43; the UNC System minimum is 2.5, though UNCW says it is highly unlikely to consider a GPA in that range.
Minimum course requirements: 4 units of English, 4 of math (beyond Algebra II), 3 of science (life science, non-life science and a lab science), 2 of social science (including U.S. History) and 2 additional academic courses. Applicants who do not meet them are not considered.
Testing: generally optional. For fall 2026 and beyond, applicants with a weighted GPA from 2.50 to below 2.80 must submit an ACT of 17 or SAT of 930 or higher; non-submitters need at least a 2.5 weighted GPA. SAT Subject Tests, AP and IB scores are not used in admission decisions. The published score ranges are for fall 2021: SAT 1210–1330 and ACT 24–28.
U.S. first-year deadlines (year not stated): Early Action November 1 (non-binding, decisions around January 20) and Regular Decision January 15 (decisions around March 15), via the Common App only.

5. International applicants

Terms and deadlines: fall and spring entry, with rolling review once files are complete. Fall (August) April 1; spring (January) October 1; year not stated.
How to apply: the international page encourages the online application; the non-refundable fee is USD 80.
Materials: the essay and short answer in the application; official secondary-school transcripts sent directly by the school, with certified English translations. Student-uploaded transcripts are not accepted.
English scores: TOEFL 71 (4.0 on the updated scale), IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 105, PTE 54 or iTEP 3.7.
English waivers: English is your native language; English was the primary language of instruction at your secondary school; SAT critical reading 450+ or ACT reading 20+; two college-level English composition courses at a U.S. institution with a B or higher; or completing UNCW’s English Language Center program. For the ELC, the checklist says Level 4 and the waiver list says Level 3 (Advanced).
Proof of funds: students needing UNCW’s F-1 sponsorship submit financial evidence after admission when the Office of International Programs requests it.

6. Costs and scholarships

2026-2027 estimate (non-resident, full-time): tuition USD 23,275, fees 2,823, housing 10,064, meals 6,192, books 867, transportation 2,043, loan fee 64, personal 1,570 and health insurance 2,454, totaling USD 49,352.
Incoming international undergraduate scholarship: for new undergraduates needing F-1 sponsorship (excluding TABSA and Marmara students), USD 2,000–5,000 a year, renewable, based on the UNCW application with no separate application.
Other: the University Scholarship Application has a March 1 priority deadline and requires a UNCW login. The Global Student Ambassador Scholarship is only for current international students.
STEM designation: the B.S. in Computer Science is on the DHS STEM list, so eligible F-1 students can apply for a 24-month OPT extension.

7. Students at high schools in China

Gaokao: the website does not say whether Gaokao results can be used. This is not published; confirm with international admissions (international@uncw.edu).
Transcripts: sent directly by the school with certified English translations.
A-Level, IB, AP: AP and IB scores are not used for admission decisions; credit rules are in the catalogue, which this guide could not verify. Ask admissions about anything not published.
English: generally TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, PTE or iTEP; students whose high school teaches primarily in English can ask for a waiver.

8. Students at Canadian high schools

Applicant type: the website has no Canada-specific section; confirm with admissions whether you apply through the international or the U.S. first-year process and which deadline applies.
English: there is no country list for waivers. As written, native English speakers and students whose secondary school teaches primarily in English may be waived; confirm with international admissions.
BC grades: grade requirements for the BC curriculum are not published; confirm with admissions.

9. Transfer students

Requirements: 24 transferable credit hours completed or in progress; eligibility to return to the last institution; applicants under 21 or with fewer than 24 hours must also meet the high school minimum course requirements. A cumulative college GPA of 2.4 is recommended. Grades below C (including C-) do not transfer but count in the GPA. Meeting these does not guarantee admission or admission to a specific program.
International transfers: April 1 for fall and October 1 for spring, USD 80 fee; high school and all college transcripts with certified translations; after admission and before enrolling, foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES member to receive credit.
U.S. transfer deadlines: fall March 1 (priority) and June 1 (final); spring October 15. Apply by the priority deadline to be considered for admissions merit scholarships.
CS courses: North Carolina community college students can check equivalencies with UNCW’s articulation tool and compare them with the B.S. requirements.

10. Timeline and checklist

Students at high schools in China and Canada (international, fall entry):

Grades 11–12: take math up to pre-calculus or beyond to meet the CSC 131 prerequisite; prepare TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or PTE
From the fall before entry to April 1: apply online with the USD 80 fee, essay and transcripts (with certified translations)
After admission: submit proof of funds for the I-20; scholarships are reviewed automatically
After enrolling: start with CSC 131 or CSC 112 and declare computer science under the advising center’s rules

Transfer students:

Complete 24 transferable hours with a GPA of 2.4 or higher; international transfers apply by April 1 for fall and complete a NACES evaluation after admission

Sources: University of North Carolina Wilmington, Computer Science, B.S.; Program Details; Computer Science FAQs; Department of Computer Science; First-Year Students; Admission Requirements; Standardized Testing; Deadlines & How to Apply; International Undergraduate Admissions; Financial Resources; Transfer Admissions Requirements; Transfer Deadlines; Estimated Cost of Attendance. Check UNCW’s website for the latest.