Post-Baccalaureate Admissions

Applications for 2023 Semesters Now Open

Applications for the Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science are reviewed on a first-come, first reviewed basis. All transcripts, letters of recommendation and ALEKS scores must be turned in by the deadlines. Late application materials will not be accepted. 

Returning students who are enrolled in the program but do not register for courses for three consecutive semesters will have to reapply to the program.

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2023 Application Deadlines

Spring 2023 Session | Apply by November 30th, 2022
Summer 2023 Session | Apply by May 11th, 2023
Fall 2023 Session | Apply by July 31st, 2023

First Day of Classes

Spring 2023 | Begin January 17th, 2023
Summer 2023 | Begin May 22nd, 2023
Fall 2023 | Begin August 28th, 2023

Register for a Virtual Open House

Attend a virtual open house, where you can ask your questions directly to our faculty, advisors and program chair. RSVP is required, and there is a different registration link for every open house date. All times are Mountain Time Zone.

Admission Requirements

General Requirements Math Requirements International Students Helpful Application Information
General Requirements

In order to apply for the post-baccalaureate program in Applied Computer Science, you must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Have a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
  • Have a minimum accumulated GPA of 2.75 in your existing bachelor’s degree. Applicants with significant life experience but a lower GPA will be considered.
  • Meet the math requirements.
  • Complete and submit all application materials by the specified application deadline. We do not offer late acceptance or extensions.
  • International students must meet a minimum standard of English proficiency.

Additional Requirements

  • Complete ad submit an admissions application. Typically you are required to pay the $50 application fee ($70 for international students) but that has been waived for 2022 academic year applications.
  • Provide a personal statement of 200–1,000 words specifically explaining why you are interested in the Applied Computer Science degree. Reflect on your personal strengths (e.g. intellectual passion, academic abilities, disposition to work with professional colleagues) and any past experience with computer science.
  • Submit all transcripts directly to CU Boulder. Unofficial transcripts are accepted when applying, and if/when you are admitted, you will be required to provide official transcripts before the end of your first semester. Additionally, if you wish to transfer credits prior to beginning the program, you must submit official transcripts. 

    Transcripts must be sent to transcripts@colorado.edu or mailed to the Office of Admissions

You are required to fulfill one of the following:

  • Completion of AP Calculus or Calculus 1 with a minimum C- grade.
    • Note that "Calculus for Business" or other courses not explicitly listed as "Calculus 1" do not satisfy this requirement. If you did not take a "Calculus 1" course, you will need to take the ALEKS online course (see below).
  • Successful completion of CLEP exam for Calculus. (CLEP exam credit may be granted for a score of 54 or above).
  • Completion of the self-paced ALEKS Prep for Calculus with Limits course. 
    • For this option, visit the ALEKS website and sign up for the course using the class code: HMWQJ-3DWWN. You will be required to purchase an access code to take the course. 
    • Additional ALEKS Information:
      • The cost is approximately $30, and you will be granted 6 weeks of access to complete the self-paced course. 
      • After purchasing access, you will be given an “Initial Knowledge Check”. This will determine the percentage of the course content you are already proficient in. As you progress through modules, you will periodically be given “Progress Checks”. Your performance in this or any other ALEKS check in no way impacts your application. 
      • Once you achieve 80% tested knowledge, you will receive a certificate of completion via email. This signifies that you have met the math prerequisite of our program. Our admissions team has access to these certificates and will review them as part of the admissions process.

IMPORTANT: Applications that fail to meet the math prerequisite will not be considered. If you are unsure, please reach out to our office via the contact form and we will be more than happy to discuss this with you. It is very important that you do not assume you have met it, check your transcript or make sure you have completed 80% of ALEKS. 

In addition to our general admission requirements, all international applicants are also required to meet a minimum standard of English proficiency. Applicants are evaluated based on their overall application.

Visit the CU Boulder English Proficiency Requirements page to view the most up-to-date English proficiency requirements, as set by CU Boulder Admissions.

Also, please be aware that the Post-Baccalaureate program adheres to the US Mountain Time Zone and our servers are housed in Boulder, Colorado. We welcome students from around the world, however please be aware this may result in some additional work in relation to deadlines and/or software accessibility. Flexibility will be at the discretion of the instructor. 

Personal Essay

We encourage applicants from all different backgrounds to apply to our program. Even if you are new to the field of computer science, there are several ways to express your interest in your personal essay:

  • Share a recent experience you had that led to your interest in CS
  • Outline goals you have for after you complete our program
  • Touch on ways you would apply your new knowledge in your professional and/or personal life.

Transfer Students

Students who have taken on-campus computer science courses at CU-Boulder through Continuing Education can receive credit for a maximum of 15 credit hours before matriculating into the program.

Students who have taken computer science courses from other universities can transfer a maximum of 9 credit hours to the program assuming that the courses are equivalent to the courses in the program. 

Students may combine CU Boulder and other university transfer credits, however, they may not exceed more than 15 credits total. As part of the admissions process, the Office of the Registrar will officially evaluate your credits approximately 2 weeks after admission. All possible transferable credit will be transferred and reflected in your transfer credit report in your student portal. How these transferable courses apply to your specific degree will require a conversation with your assigned academic advisor and can be viewed in your degree audit.

Furthermore, courses that have been taken over 10 years ago may not be transferred to the program.

Transfer Credits

New students are eligible to transfer credits from CU Boulder and outside institutions. 

All credits

  • Must be equivalent to classes from our curriculum. Credits not equivalent to these courses, or computer science courses outside of our curriculum, are not eligible to be transferred. 
  • Must have been passed with a C- or better. 
  • Must have been taken within the past 10 years.
  • Must provide an official transcript to be eligible to receive credit

CU Credits

You may transfer a maximum of (15) eligible credit hours from CU Boulder or CU Continuing Education. 

Outside Institution Credits

You may transfer a maximum of (9) eligible credit hours from an outside institution and must have been issued by an accredited institution.

Furthermore, it is highly encouraged that transfer credits are completed prior to applying to the program. (Example, completed by Summer, 2020 if applying for Spring, 2021) Failure to do so may result in a delay of matriculation into the program.

Eligibility

As part of the admissions process, the Office of  Admissions will officially evaluate your credits approximately 2 weeks after acceptance into the program. 

To determine if your credits are eligible to be transferred, please review the CU Admissions guidelines. Their office handles all transfer credit eligibility.

Tuition & Fees

Post-Baccalaureate Degree

Students enrolled in the post-baccalaureate program will pay tuition rates and fees as determined by the University of Colorado Boulder. For the current rates, please review the tuition and rate sheets corresponding to each academic session. At this time there is no financial aid specific to our program. However, you can learn about the many options you have for tuition assistance on the CU Financial Aid website. 

Fall, 2022 & Spring, 2023 Tuition Rate Sheet 

Students are additionally responsible for: 

  • One-time Application Fee: $50 ($70 for International Students) 
  • One-time New Student Fee: 
    • $232 (New Students and Transfers) 
    • $500 (International Students) 
  • Minimal Student Fees, depending on credi hours taken
    • $45.62 (6 or less)
    • $79.24 (7 or more)
  • Textbooks for courses and a computer that meets the recommended minimum computer standards.

*The Board of Regents reserves the right to change the tuition and fee rates at any time. The current tuition and fee structure is specific to students taking courses in the Applied Computer Science degree program. Students enrolled in this degree program cannot take main campus courses. 

Non-Degree Option

All non-degree students, regardless of residency, will be charged a flat rate of $847.00 per credit hour.

  • No additional fees
  • Free application
  • Access to the full curriculum, provided prerequisites are met*

*See Course List for list of courses, prerequisites found on each course page