How to apply to Computer Science at the University of Central Arkansas: the ABET-accredited 120-hour BS with no minor required, international deadlines, English requirements, the on-campus out-of-state tuition scholarship and merit scholarship, and requirements for students in China, Canada and transfer applicants

The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) is in Conway, Arkansas. Its Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is offered by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. 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

• Accreditation: the department says the BS in Computer Science is accredited by the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC); its FAQ says the accreditation dates from 2006.
• Hours: under the 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin, the degree is 120 hours, including 39 hours of lower-division UCA Core; upper-division Core requirements are met through major, minor or elective courses, and the program does not require a minor. The department’s advising table lists 42 hours of required computer science, 12 of computer science electives, 13 of required math, 3 of math/science electives, 8 of required science and 15 of general electives (assuming 12 hours of overlap between the Core and the math and science requirements).
• Required computer science courses (42 hours): Computer Science I and II (CSCI 1470, 1480), Data Structures, Networking, Algorithms, Database Systems, Principles of Programming Languages, Object-Oriented Software Development with Java, Artificial Intelligence, Operating Systems, Information Security, Ethical Implications of Technology and Software Engineering (the capstone).
• Computer science electives (12 hours): choices include introductions to cybersecurity, data science and software engineering, internship, requirements engineering, software design and construction, Linux/UNIX systems, software testing, cloud computing, multimedia, mobile programming, web technologies, data mining, machine learning, data clustering, computer forensics, ethical hacking, software security, network security, cyber-physical security, digital image processing and digital logic. No more than 3 hours of 2000-level electives count (3 more with the chair’s consent).
• Mathematics (at least 16 hours): Applied Calculus or Calculus I, Discrete Structures I, Statistical Methods and Linear Algebra, plus at least 3 hours from Calculus II, Nonparametric Statistics, Multivariate Analysis, Numerical Methods or Regression Analysis.
• Science (8 hours): lab courses in biology, chemistry, earth systems science or physics from the list in the bulletin.
• Math starting point: the bulletin says first-time, first-year computer science majors enter the College Algebra pathway and must take MATH 1390 in their first year unless they already have credit for it. The eight-semester sample plan notes that students with an ACT math score of 27 or higher may take Calculus I instead.
• Sample plan: the eight-semester plan effective fall 2026 starts with Computer Science I and College Algebra, then Computer Science II and Applied Calculus; the second year covers Data Structures, Networking, Discrete Structures, Database Systems, Programming Languages, Artificial Intelligence and Statistics.
• No background needed: the department FAQ says many incoming students have limited technical backgrounds and every BS program starts with introductory classes for beginners. Classes average about 20 students. The department offers no online degree programs.
• Double majors and the accelerated BS+MS: students can double-major in any two of the department’s four BS programs (Computer Science, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science) with about 30 extra hours. Computer Science students can take the 4+1 accelerated option with a cumulative GPA of 3.25, at least 75% of the required 3000-level CSCI/CSEC courses completed (no Ds), and within 12 months of finishing the BS; up to 9 hours count toward both degrees.
• Internships: the internship course (CSCI 3V75) is an elective, the internship must be paid, and up to 3 hours count toward the BS; international students must contact the Center for Global Learning and Engagement (CGLE) first.

2. How admission works

• The international freshman page lists university-wide materials and academic requirements and does not give a separate threshold for computer science; the pages we read also do not state conditions for switching into the major. Both are not published; check with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
• Testing: the international FAQ says UCA is test-optional, so international students do not need SAT or ACT scores for admission, and merit scholarships are awarded through holistic review without them.
• UCA does not offer conditional admission. Students who meet the academic requirements but not the English requirements are admitted to the Intensive English Program (IEP), which the FAQ describes as a full admission.

3. Dates and materials

• Deadlines (all documents by this date; no year shown): fall (August–December) July 1; spring (January–May) November 1. The page advises leaving time for the visa interview.
• Application fee: USD 50, non-refundable; the FAQ says it is not waived for international students except in very rare circumstances.
• Materials: the online application; a copy of the passport biographical page; financial documentation (the financial support statement and an English bank statement from the last six months covering two semesters); secondary school transcripts covering at least 3 academic years with a minimum 2.50 GPA on a 4.0 scale, with English translation; an English translation of the diploma or leaving certificate; SAT/ACT scores if applicable, sent by the testing agency (SAT code 6012, ACT code 0118); and English scores.
• Housing: the FAQ says first-year freshmen must live on campus.

4. English requirements

• General undergraduate requirements: TOEFL 4.0 for tests after January 2026 or 61 for earlier tests; IELTS Academic 6.0; PTE Academic 50; Cambridge CAE 162; SAT Reading/Writing 520; ACT Reading and English 19; IB English (Language A) 5, 6 or 7; a C or better in English Composition I or II at an accredited US university; or a B or better on completion of UCA’s IEP. The page notes some programs may require different levels.
• TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and CAE scores must be less than 2 years old at application and SAT/ACT less than 5 years; certificates from a previous institution are not accepted.
• Waivers: the two pages differ. The international freshman page says residents of an exempt country who provide a letter from their school stating the language of instruction can be exempt; the exempt-country list (2024 PDF) says students whose first language is English and who graduated from an English-medium secondary school or university in a listed country are exempt. The list includes Canada (except Quebec) and does not include China.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Submit secondary school transcripts covering at least 3 academic years (with English translation) and a translation of the diploma; the minimum GPA is 2.50 on a 4.0 scale.
• How the Gaokao is used is not published; the page requires national examination report cards only from countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Nepal and India, not China. Ask international admissions (internationaladmission@uca.edu).
• China is not on the exempt-country list, so English scores such as TOEFL or IELTS are required.
• Whether A-Levels earn credit is not published; the FAQ says AP and IB subjects and minimum scores are in sections 8.3 and 8.4 of the Undergraduate Bulletin.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• The FAQ defines an international student as someone without US citizenship or permanent residency who is in the US on a non-immigrant visa (F-1, J-1 and so on). Ask international admissions which process Canadian students should follow.
• Canada (except Quebec) is on the exempt-country list; the waiver conditions follow the two wordings in section 4, so confirm before applying.
• How BC grades are converted to a 4.0 GPA is not published; ask international admissions.

7. Transfer students

• 24 or more credit hours: official transcripts from every college attended (translated into English) with a minimum 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. All non-US transcripts need a course-by-course evaluation from IEE, TEC, ECE or another NACES-approved company that includes a GPA comparison, the US degree equivalent and the institution’s accreditation.
• Fewer than 24 credit hours: in addition to college transcripts, submit high school transcripts and the diploma; the minimum high school GPA is 2.5.
• The application fee is also USD 50; students transferring from another US school submit their visa, I-94 and I-20.
• Whether entry to computer science has extra conditions is not published; check with the department. Its transfer page links to the transfer course equivalency guide and 2+2 partner institutions.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 undergraduate estimate (15 hours a term): in-state tuition and fees USD 11,400, out-of-state tuition 8,100, international administrative fee 500, insurance 1,600, housing 5,800, meals 4,500 and books 1,200, for a total of USD 33,100; minus the USD 8,100 out-of-state tuition scholarship, the on-campus total is USD 25,000.
• 2027-28 undergraduate estimate: a total of USD 35,500, minus the USD 8,300 out-of-state tuition scholarship, for an on-campus total of USD 27,200.
• Out-of-state tuition scholarship: every international student who is fully admitted and chooses university housing automatically receives a full out-of-state tuition scholarship, worth over USD 8,000 a year for undergraduates.
• International Student Merit Scholarship: for first-time degree-seeking international undergraduates, USD 4,000 a semester for up to 8 consecutive semesters, a maximum of USD 32,000.
  • Fall entry only; the admission application, all documents and the scholarship application are due by January 31 (it opens October 1; no year shown).
  • Applicants must meet the English requirements and one of: a UCA-calculated GPA of 3.25, SAT 1160 (superscore) or ACT 24.
  • Applicants submit an English essay of up to 250 words on their career goals (not the admission essay), one teacher recommendation and a resume of up to 2 pages.
  • Renewal needs a 3.0 UCA cumulative GPA and at least 12 hours each semester; recipients help CGLE with cultural events or a project each semester; recipients cannot also hold a scholarship from another UCA department; IEP applicants are not eligible.
• The FAQ says international students can also apply for general university scholarships through departments, and the Foundation Office manages foundation scholarships.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Prepare TOEFL 61 (4.0 on the new scale), IELTS 6.0 or another accepted score
• For the merit scholarship, submit both the fall admission application and the scholarship application by January 31; for admission only, complete everything by July 1 for fall and pay the USD 50 fee
• Prepare at least 3 years of transcripts, an English translation of the diploma and financial documentation
• Ask international admissions whether the Gaokao is considered

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

• Confirm the application process and the English waiver conditions with international admissions
• Ask how BC grades are converted to a GPA

Transfer students:

• With 24 or more hours, prepare college transcripts and a NACES course-by-course evaluation; the minimum GPA is 2.0
• Ask the Department of Computer Science and Engineering about entry to the major and transfer credit

Sources: University of Central Arkansas, Department of Computer Science and Engineering; Computer Science (BS); Department FAQ; Advising (BS); Accelerated BS+MS; 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin (Computer Science); Eight-semester sample degree plan; International first-time freshman admission; Admission deadlines; English proficiency standards; Exempt countries list; Cost of attendance; Scholarships; International Student Merit Scholarship; International transfer students; International application FAQ. Costs are 2026-27 and 2027-28 estimates; check UCA’s website for the latest.