How to apply to Computer Science at Murray State University: course structure in the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, the game development and data science tracks, math starting points, 2027 international deadlines, English requirements, 2026-27 costs and scholarships, and requirements and timelines for students in China, Canada and transfer applicants

Murray State University is in Murray, Kentucky. Its Computer Science (CSC) program is offered by the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS) in the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business. This guide summarizes the official requirements 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

• Degrees: the department home page lists the BS in Computer Science and the BS in Computer Science with a Game Development Track or a Data Science Track. The department’s academic plan says “Bachelor of Science/Arts”; BA students complete 12 hours of a foreign language. The department also offers a BS in Computer Information Systems.
• Accreditation: the department home page says the business college is AACSB accredited and that the CIS and MSIS programs are part of that accreditation. The pages we read do not mention ABET accreditation for Computer Science.
• Core competencies (major page): programming, database design, SQL, mobile computing, operating systems, algorithm design and software engineering. The major page says there are 21 to 24 hours of electives, which can go to a track or a minor (examples include math, business, CIS, electro-mechanical technology, cybersecurity and physics).
• Credit structure (department academic plan, marked catalog year 2020-21; check the current catalog): 120 hours, made up of 41 hours of University Studies, 52 hours of area and co-requirements, and 27 hours of free electives. The 49-hour core is CSC 100T, 101, 145, 23X (one of 232, 233 or 235), 300, 325, 345, 405, 410, 415, 425, 430, 445, 455, 530, 540 and CIS 407, with CNM 135 as a co-requirement; University Studies include MAT 250 Calculus I and STA 135. The plan says students who choose a “major” instead of an “area” must add a second major or minor.
• Benchmarks (same plan): earn 27 hours with at least a 1.90 cumulative GPA before the second year; declare a major within the first 45 hours; graduate with at least a 2.0 cumulative, Murray State and major GPA, at least 42 upper-level hours from a four-year institution, and 20 of the last 32 hours in residence.
• Tracks (tracks page):
  • Data Science: on top of the major, CSC 375 Introduction to Machine Learning, CSC 508 Advanced Machine Learning and CIS 543 Advanced Business Analytics, plus at least two of three statistics courses; co-requirements include MAT 250, MAT 335 Linear Algebra and statistics. The tracks page says Data Science is “currently under the approval process”, while the department home page already lists it as a degree option; check with the department.
  • Game Development: restricted electives CSC 275 Introduction to Game Programming, CSC 370 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, CSC 515 Computer Graphics Programming and CSC 575 Advanced Game Development, plus one art or media production course; co-requirements include CNM 135, ENG 214 Creative Writing, MAT 250, MAT 335, a statistics course and a physics course with lab.

2. Admission and math starting point

• The pages we read do not give a separate admission threshold for Computer Science or conditions for switching into it, so this is not published; check with the CSIS department or admissions.
• Math start (department FAQ): students in the department’s undergraduate programs must start at MAT 140 (or MAT 150). Admissions generally places math by ACT score; students without ACT (or equivalent) scores are referred to the department chair and take a KYOTE exam: MAT 140 needs 14 on the College Algebra exam or 27 on the College Readiness exam, and MAT 150 needs 9 on the KYOTE Calculus exam.
• The academic plan notes that MAT 250 Calculus I requires MAT 140 and 145 (or MAT 150) for students whose ACT math score is below 26.

3. Deadlines and documents (international undergraduates)

• Deadlines (international application page): bachelor’s applicants November 15 for spring 2027 (January intake) and July 19 for fall 2027 (August intake). Transfer students already in the US: December 1 and July 20.
• Application fee: the international application page says USD 100 online, or USD 200 for conditional admission through the ESL program; the international FAQ says USD 30 by check or money order. The two pages differ; go by what the online application shows.
• Documents: upload your passport, transcripts for all years of high school (minimum GPA 2.0), diploma or graduation certificate, bank statement and test scores; non-English documents need certified translations.
• Financial support: a bank statement issued within the last six months showing at least USD 30,706, or a scholarship letter.
• Applicants without an English score, or with a lower one, can apply for conditional admission and start in the university’s ESL program.

4. English requirements

• Full undergraduate admission: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 71, Duolingo 100, PTE 51, SAT 960, GTEC 1190 or TOEIC 790 (speaking 160), among others.
• Full admission with condition: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 61, Duolingo 90, PTE 45 and so on; these students must keep a 2.0 GPA in the first semester. The international FAQ describes conditional admission differently (TOEFL 61–70 or IELTS 5.0 for ESP, lower for ESL), which does not match the application page; check with international admissions.
• Exemptions: the country list on the international application page includes Canada (the page does not say whether Quebec is excluded); China is not on the list. Five O-Level subject passes in British or Cambridge International exams (GCE, GCSE, IGCSE, AICE, HIGCSE) or B2 or higher on a Cambridge English exam also qualify, as does graduating from a US high school or completing one full-time semester (at least 12 credits) with a 2.5 GPA at an accredited US institution.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Submit transcripts for all years of high school and your diploma or graduation certificate, with certified English translations; the minimum high school GPA is 2.0.
• How the Gaokao is used and how Chinese grades are converted are not published; ask international admissions (msu.intl@murraystate.edu).
• Which computer science courses AP, IB or A-Level results can replace is not on the pages we read. The department has an AP credit mapping page and challenge exams; ask the department.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• Applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents apply as international students.
• Canada is on the English exemption list; the page does not say whether Quebec is excluded.
• Grade requirements and conversion for BC courses are not published; ask international admissions.

7. Transfer students

• Transfer admission page: at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA (4.0 scale); applicants with fewer than 24 degree hours must also meet freshman admission requirements. Credit transfers only from recognized institutions.
• International transfers: submit high school transcripts and diploma, college transcripts (minimum GPA 2.0), proof of funds (at least USD 30,706) and English scores; F-1 students already in the US also submit the transfer form.
• Department FAQ: students coming from a community college should check transfer equivalents with the Transfer Center; associate degree holders can follow a “finish-in-five” Computer Science route, which may take longer without the required math or programming foundation.
• Conditions for entering the Computer Science major are not published; ask the CSIS department.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 tuition (undergraduate tuition page): non-resident students pay a flat USD 7,995 per semester for 12 to 15 hours and USD 666.25 per hour below 12 or above 15. Fees include a USD 200 technology fee and a USD 150 Racer Experience fee per semester and a USD 10 per hour asset preservation fee (capped at 15 hours per semester). The cost-of-attendance table on the same page lists tuition and fees of USD 15,990 a year for non-regional students.
• International undergraduate estimate (international costs page, year not stated): tuition and fees USD 15,990, housing and meals USD 12,484, books and insurance USD 2,232, totaling USD 30,706 for one academic year.
• First-year Academic Achievement Scholarships (fall 2027): awarded automatically by GPA, USD 1,000 to 10,000 a year, but the page says they are only available to domestic students.
• Transfer Scholarship (2026-27 figures on the international costs page): first-time transfer students with at least a 2.75 transferable GPA who enroll full time receive USD 1,500 to 5,000 a year for up to three years. The page also says Murray State scholarships are open to both domestic and international students, and admitted students can submit the scholarship application form.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Prepare IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 71, Duolingo 100 or another accepted score
• Apply by July 19 for fall 2027 and upload transcripts, graduation certificate, passport and a bank statement of at least USD 30,706
• Ask international admissions about the application fee and whether the Gaokao is considered

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

• Apply as an international student; Canada is on the English exemption list (confirm whether Quebec is excluded)
• Ask international admissions how BC grades are reviewed

Transfer students:

• College GPA of at least 2.0; with fewer than 24 hours you must also meet freshman requirements
• Ask the CSIS department about entering Computer Science and which credits transfer

Sources: Murray State University, Computer Science major; Computer Science tracks; Department of Computer Science and Information Systems; Department FAQs; Computer Science academic plan (2020-21 catalog year); International student application; International admissions FAQs; International costs and scholarships; First-year scholarships; Transfer admission; 2026-27 undergraduate tuition. Deadlines are for spring and fall 2027 entry and tuition is the 2026-27 rate; check Murray State’s website for the latest.