How to apply to Computer Science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi: the five options and courses of the BS in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (2026-2027 catalog), automatic admission by class rank, English and scholarships for international students, and what students in China, students in Canada and transfer students need

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) is in Corpus Christi, Texas. Its BS in Computer Science belongs to the Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. This guide summarizes what the university’s website says 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 (2026-2027 catalog)

• Credits: the catalog text says the degree totals 120–122 semester hours, while the requirement table on the same page totals 120–124. Your degree audit is the final word. The hours come from the University Core Curriculum (42), a major curriculum shared by all options (39 hours of computer science and mathematics), the option courses (39–40) and 0–1 hours of electives. Full-time first-year students also take University Seminar (USSE 1201).
• Shared major courses: COSC 1435 and 1436 (Introduction to Problem Solving with Computers I and II, 4 hours each), COSC 2334 Computer Architecture, COSC 2437 Data Structures (4 hours), COSC 3300 Computing Ethics and Professional Skills, COSC 3336 Database Systems, COSC 3346 Operating Systems, COSC 3370 Software Engineering, COSC 4354 Senior Capstone Project, ENGL 3310 Technical and Professional Writing for Computer Science, MATH 2305 Discrete Mathematics I, and MATH 3342 or 3345 (statistics). Calculus I (MATH 2413) is required for computer science majors within the core.
• Five options (choose one):
  • Systems Programming (SYPO): accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET; the ABET page names this option. It requires Cyber Security, Object-oriented Programming, Software Project Management, Computer Networks, Algorithms, Systems Programming, Principles of Programming Languages, Linear Algebra, Calculus II, Compiler Construction or Models of Computation, 12 hours of upper-division CS electives, and a one-year lab science sequence (biology, chemistry, geology or physics).
  • Cyber Security and Infrastructure: scripting, Linux systems, network systems, internet programming, network security, cyber defense, digital forensics, Windows security, firewalls and intrusion detection, penetration testing and 6 hours of electives, 39 hours in all.
  • Computer Game Programming: game design, game programming, advanced game programming, computer graphics, numerical methods, introduction to AI and more, 40 hours.
  • Computer Information Systems: Cyber Security, Object-oriented Programming, Computer Networks, 12 hours of upper-division CS electives, and a minor of at least 18 hours as the application area.
  • Artificial Intelligence: computer vision, introduction to AI, machine learning, foundations of language models, deep learning, knowledge representation, plus linear algebra, algorithms and 12 hours of electives, 39 hours.
• First semester (Systems Programming sequence): University Seminar, Writing and Rhetoric I, COSC 1435 and Calculus I; the second semester adds COSC 1436, Cyber Security and Discrete Mathematics.
• Grades: a major GPA (including the option) of at least 2.25 is required to graduate. The college also requires a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a 2.25 GPA in major courses taken at TAMU-CC, at least 45 upper-division hours, and at least 30 upper-division hours in residence, including 12 in the major.
• Fast Track BS/MS: seniors with at least 90 hours, a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours and a faculty member willing to serve as graduate advisor can apply. Accepted students may take up to 6 graduate hours in their last semester that count toward both degrees.

2. Getting into Computer Science

• The international freshman and first-year pages say nursing, engineering, graphic design, music and theatre have additional requirements after university acceptance. Computer science is in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, but the pages do not say whether it counts as “engineering”. Whether CS has its own admission threshold is not published; ask the department or admissions.
• Requirements for switching into Computer Science from another major are not published; ask the college’s advisors.

3. International freshman applications and timing

• Who applies as an international freshman: applicants who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents, who hold or will hold an F-1 visa, and who have graduated or will graduate from high school.
• Application and fee: ApplyTexas or Common App; the international application fee is USD 75 (non-refundable), and the late fee is USD 85.
• Deadlines: admission is rolling, but late fees apply after June 1 for fall, November 1 for spring and April 1 for summer (no year shown).
• Automatic admission (test scores optional):
  • Top 25% and second quarter of the high school class: guaranteed admission; test scores optional but encouraged.
  • Third quarter: SAT 1170 or ACT 23.
  • Fourth quarter: SAT 1270 or ACT 27.
  • Students who do not meet these criteria or do not submit scores get a holistic review of test scores, weighted high school GPA and class rank. For schools that do not rank, admissions assigns a rank from the GPA using its internal system.
• Conflicting statements: the same page says test scores are optional, but Step Four says “ACT and/or SAT scores are required for an admissions decision”. Confirm with admissions.
• Transcripts: send transcripts from all international high schools and universities to an approved agency for a detailed course-by-course evaluation, sent directly to admissions. Approved agencies are FCSA, ECE, GCE, TEC and WES; WES must not be used for high school transcripts. Do not send international transcripts to the university.
• After admission: students not exempt by SAT/ACT must submit Texas Success Initiative (TSI) scores. First-year students under 21 from outside the Coastal Bend must live on campus.

4. English requirements

• Any one of: TOEFL iBT 73 (tests before January 21, 2026) or 4 (tests on or after that date), IELTS Academic 6.0 (General not accepted), PTE Academic 53, SAT EBRW 550, ACT English 21, Cambridge C1 Advanced 175 or C2 Proficiency 180.
• Duolingo: the freshman page says Duolingo 100 (English3 105) is currently accepted from applicants where TOEFL and IELTS are impacted by COVID-19; the international transfer page lists Duolingo 100 without that condition.
• Exemptions: citizens of listed countries are exempt, including Canada (except Quebec) and the United Kingdom. Two years of English-taught instruction at a U.S. or Canadian high school or college also counts. China is not on the list.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Your high school transcript goes to an approved agency for a course-by-course evaluation.
• If your school does not rank, admissions assigns a rank from your GPA; for the third- and fourth-quarter routes you need SAT or ACT scores.
• How Gaokao scores are used and whether A-Level or IB earns credit are not published; ask admissions.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• Citizens of Canada (except Quebec) are exempt from English testing; two years of English-taught study at a Canadian high school also meets the requirement.
• Canadian students without U.S. status apply as international freshmen, and their transcripts also need a course-by-course evaluation.
• Grade requirements for the BC curriculum are not published; ask admissions.

7. Transfer students

• International transfer: you have or will have 24 or more transferable college hours. Automatic admission needs a 2.5 GPA, at least 24 transferable hours and English proficiency (if applicable); English requirements are the same as for freshmen.
• Apply only through the ApplyTexas international transfer application (USD 75, late fee USD 85) and submit the Affidavit of Support; F-1 students transferring from another U.S. school also submit the Transfer Report Form. Deadlines follow the freshman rules.
• International college transcripts also need a course-by-course evaluation (WES may be used for post-secondary transcripts).

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-2027 cost of attendance (out-of-state/international, 12 hours per semester, on campus): tuition and fees USD 24,469, total USD 43,924 (housing 8,202, food 5,888, books 1,661, transportation 1,454, miscellaneous 2,250). Actual tuition varies by college and courses.
• International freshman scholarships (per year, by high school GPA on a 4.0 scale and English score):
  • GPA 3.5 and IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 94: USD 3,001–4,000
  • GPA 3.3 and IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 89: USD 2,001–3,000
  • GPA 3.2 and IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 84: USD 1,001–2,000
  • GPA 3.0 and IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 79: USD 1,000
  The undergraduate application is open October 15 to May 1. Funds require 30 credit hours per academic year, for up to four years. The page says these scholarships do not make students eligible for an in-state tuition waiver.
• International students transferring from U.S. institutions are tiered by college GPA (from 3.00, up to USD 3,001–4,000).

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through ApplyTexas or Common App and pay the USD 75 fee; apply before June 1 for fall to avoid the late fee
• Send your transcript to an approved agency for a course-by-course evaluation
• Prepare TOEFL 73 (4 on the new test), IELTS 6.0 or another accepted test; scholarships need at least IELTS 6.5
• If you are not in the top half of your class, prepare SAT or ACT scores
• Apply for international scholarships between October 15 and May 1

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

• Confirm the English exemption (Canadian citizens outside Quebec)
• Ask admissions how BC grades are converted

Transfer students:

• 24+ transferable hours and a 2.5 GPA for automatic admission
• Use the ApplyTexas international transfer application and submit the Affidavit of Support

Sources: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Computer Science program; ABET accreditation; Computer Science, BS overview; 2026-2027 catalog: Computer Science, BS; Catalog: College of Engineering and Computer Science; Fast Track BS/MS; International freshmen; International transfer admission; First-time freshmen; International student scholarships; 2026-2027 cost of attendance. Courses and costs are for 2026-2027; the international deadline pages show no year. Check the university’s website for the latest.