Admission Requirements for Computer Science Colleges

Computer science career options are growing rapidly, and most colleges now offer computer science programs. Whether you want to attend a school for computer science alone or start a program at a community college or university, plan in advance by researching the entry requirements for schools you’re interested in. By preparing ahead of time, you can ensure you’ll be able to keep up with programming and design coursework.

General Requirements

• A great interest and curiosity about how computers work and how humans and computers interact


• Mathematical and logical thinking skills


• Experience working through problems imaginatively (the ability to work from multiple perspectives)

Degree Programs

Two-year colleges (most community colleges) offer associates degrees in arts and science (AA and AS), while universities have bachelor’s, master’s and so on. You can transfer credits to complete a bachelors or higher at a university if you start at a two-year college. Many people use this option to supplement their previous education, to attend part time, or to explore other degree programs available. Before beginning a computer science program at a college or university, there are specific classes that you’ll need to take (either in high school or freshman year of college). Check the degree program requirements (pre-requisites, testing scores, or GPA minimums) for the schools you are interested in to get a better idea of how to prepare best.

• Physics


• Chemistry


• Foreign language


• Statistics (at the very least, be ready to take this course in the program)


• Three or more (recent) math courses


• Introductory calculus


• Be ready for further courses in physics, engineering, etc.


• To get a head start, consider learning Linux, computing concepts or other aspects of programming in advance

Computer Science Schools

Years ago, colleges of computer science were few and elite. Today, nearly all universities offer degree programs in programming, game design, networking, and other fields of computer science. If you already have a degree in another field (or have started one), it is easy to continue schooling in a different direction. If you are looking at universities to attend for the first time, here are the general requirements for starting a degree program as an incoming college freshman:

• Three to four years or more of math classes (at least up to an introductory calculus course)


• SAT and ACT scores (take math, reasoning and any other available subjects)


• Four years of English courses


• One year of Physics


• Two years of foreign language (computer languages are sometimes accepted)


• Two years of Chemistry, Biology or Computer Science