How to Apply for Computer Science at Western Carolina University: the ABET-accredited B.S. in the College of Arts and Sciences with a 73-hour major and eight-semester plan, declaring after admission, the February 1 international deadline and USD 3,500 NC Promise tuition per semester, and requirements for students in China, Canada and transfer students

Western Carolina University (WCU) is in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Its computer science degree is offered by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science in the College of Arts and Sciences. 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 accreditation

• Degree: B.S. in Computer Science, accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission. It is on the main campus in Cullowhee, with some courses offered online for residential students.
• Minors along the way: completing the major fulfills the Mathematics minor, and three more courses complete the Cybersecurity minor in the College of Business.
• Capstone: every student develops a software product for real problems in industry and the community. Many students do a summer internship for academic credit with companies, government agencies or non-profits.

2. Course structure

• Hours: the program page says the major is 73 hours: 16 in Pre-Computer Science, 43 in Computer Science and Mathematics, 8 in Natural Sciences and 6 of major electives. The Major Check Sheet (revised Fall 2025) splits the same 73 hours into 48 hours of major requirements and 25 of program requirements; the split differs but the total matches. The degree is 120 hours, with general electives as needed.
• Core CS (15 hours): CS 150 and CS 151 (Problem Solving & Programming I and II), CS 253 (Software Development) and CS 351 (Data Structures and Algorithms).
• Required CS (27 hours): CS 260 (Computer Organization), CS 352 (Programming Languages), CS 353 (Professional Ethics in Computing), CS 364 (Software Engineering), CS 370 (Operating Systems), CS 453 (Database Systems), CS 465 (Computer Networking), CS 466 (Information Security I), and CS 495 and CS 496 (Capstone I and II).
• CS electives (6 hours): 3 hours must be at the 400 level.
• Mathematics (17 hours): MATH 153 (Calculus I), MATH 255 (Calculus II), MATH 250 (Logic and Proof), MATH 310 (Discrete Structures) and MATH 270 or 370 (Statistics).
• Natural sciences (8 hours): from two different disciplines, chosen from BIOL 150/151, CHEM 139/140, PHYS 130/131 or PHYS 230/231.
• Eight-semester plan (Calculus I sequence, October 2025): first fall CS 150, MATH 153 and a first-year seminar (CS 192), then CS 151 and MATH 255; sophomore year CS 253, CS 351, MATH 250, CS 352, CS 364 and MATH 310; junior year CS 260, CS 465, CS 466, CS 370, CS 453, statistics and two sciences; senior year CS 495, CS 496, CS 353 and two CS electives. The first math course depends on placement. There are also a plan starting with Precalculus and a CS and Math (Data Science concentration) plan.
• Course frequency: CS 150, CS 151 and CS 253 are offered every fall and spring; other required CS courses run yearly, and CS courses are not usually offered in summer.

3. Admission and declaring the major

• Admission is to WCU, not a program: the admissions office decides admission to the university, not to a specific degree program. WCU says very few programs have an application process for entering first-year students (some School of Stage and Screen programs are exceptions).
• When to declare: first-year students are encouraged to declare within the first year and no later than 45 credit hours; transfer students who have met most liberal studies requirements should declare on entry or within the first semester.
• Thresholds for CS: WCU notes that many programs have prerequisites, sequences, minimum GPAs or extra requirements. The CS program page lists no separate declaration GPA or cap; whether internal changes into CS have extra conditions is not published. Ask the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

4. International applicants

• Deadlines (year not stated): fall February 1 for first-year students and April 1 for transfers; spring October 1 for all applicants; summer April 1 for transfers only. Applications open up to a year in advance, and deadlines apply to the form and all supporting documents, official test scores and transcripts.
• Application fee: the miscellaneous fees table on the tuition page lists USD 65.
• Transcript evaluation: non-U.S. high school, college or university transcripts not on the U.S., IB or Cambridge grading scales must be evaluated by an approved company; only students who attended a U.S.-based high school are exempt. WCU recommends WES, IEE and TEC and accepts NACES members.
• English scores: TOEFL iBT 75 (537 paper), IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.0, Duolingo 95 or PTE 50.
• English waivers: coming from a country where English is the primary language (the list includes Canada, except Quebec); completing the IB diploma; graduating from an English-medium high school or college (the institution must send a letter); or completing 24+ credit hours at a U.S. college.
• Testing: the international page says international students who graduate from a U.S. high school must take the SAT (880) or ACT (18); it states no test requirement for students at high schools outside the U.S.

5. U.S. first-year applicants (for reference)

• Deadlines (year not stated): Early Action November 1; regular action periods January 1 and February 1.
• Minimum course requirements: 4 units of English, 2 of social studies (including U.S. history), 4 of math (beyond Algebra II), 3 of science (life science, physical science and a lab course) and 2 additional academic units.
• Testing: the current page covers Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 entry, when students with a weighted GPA below 2.80 must submit the ACT or SAT; the rule for fall 2027 has not been posted, so confirm with admissions.
• Brinson Honors College: a weighted GPA of 4.00+, top 10% class rank, SAT above 1870 or ACT 30+ (any one) leads to a referral.

6. Costs

• NC Promise: under North Carolina’s NC Promise Tuition Plan, all WCU undergraduates pay USD 500 (in-state) or USD 3,500 (out-of-state) tuition per fall and spring semester; international undergraduates pay the out-of-state rate, with no application needed.
• Fall 2026–Spring 2027 rates: full-time (12+ hours) non-residents in the 2026-27 cohort pay USD 6,690 per semester in tuition and required fees. This includes the USD 1,312 undergraduate health insurance fee, which can be waived with proof of coverage. Housing and meals are extra.
• I-20 proof of funds: international undergraduates must show at least USD 30,304 for the first year. The page lists USD 10,598 for tuition and fees, 13,033 for living expenses and 6,355 for other personal expenses; these add up to USD 29,986, not the stated total. Follow the certificate of finance you receive.
• Scholarships: the international cost page says applicants can apply for WCU scholarships through the scholarship portal after applying, but it still gives the 2025-2026 opening date. Which awards international students can receive, and their amounts, are not published; ask scholarships@wcu.edu.

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 the Office of Global Engagement (global@wcu.edu).
• Transcripts: Chinese high school transcripts are not on the U.S., IB or Cambridge scales, so under the published rule they need an evaluation from an approved company.
• A-Level, IB: transcripts on Cambridge or IB grading scales do not need a separate evaluation, and the IB diploma waives the English requirement. Credit for A-Level and IB is not published; confirm with admissions.
• English: China is not on the exempt country list, so students generally submit TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or PTE.

8. Students at Canadian high schools

• English: Canada (except Quebec) is on the exempt country list.
• Applicant type: the website does not say which process or deadline Canadian students follow; confirm with admissions.
• Transcripts and BC grades: whether Canadian transcripts need a separate evaluation, and grade requirements for the BC curriculum, are not published; confirm with admissions.

9. Transfer students

• Admission: applicants who are 21 or older, have 24+ college hours or hold an associate or bachelor’s degree are exempt from the high school minimum course requirements; more credits and a higher college GPA improve the chance of admission. No minimum transfer GPA is published.
• International transfers: need a course-by-course evaluation; those with fewer than 24 U.S. college credits also submit a full secondary school transcript.
• CS credit: completing both courses of either NC Community College sequence, CSC 151/CSC 251 (Java) or CSC 121/CSC 221 (Python), earns credit for CS 150. Other courses are reviewed case by case and may require syllabi or projects.
• Time to finish: with liberal studies, Calculus I and approved sciences done and CS 150 credit, the major can be completed in five semesters, though the load is heavy; a six-semester plan leaves room for a minor or a double major in Mathematics.

10. Timeline and checklist

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

• Grades 11–12: take math up to calculus or pre-calculus; your first WCU math course is set by placement. Students in China prepare TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or PTE
• The fall before entry: apply as soon as the application opens and arrange a transcript evaluation
• By February 1: the application and all materials (evaluation, official test scores) must arrive
• After admission: submit the certificate of finance for the I-20; after enrolling, take CS 150 and declare computer science within the first year

Transfer students:

• International transfers apply by April 1 for fall or October 1 for spring; two community college Java or Python programming courses can earn CS 150 credit

Sources: Western Carolina University, Computer Science program; Major Check Sheet (revised Fall 2025); Eight Semester Plan, Calculus I sequence (October 2025); FAQ for Computer Science Transfer Students; Academic Program Requirements; First-year Admission Paths; First-year Admission Requirements; International Students; Costs for International Students; NC Promise; Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Undergraduate Tuition and Fees; Transfer Requirements. Check WCU’s website for the latest.