The freshman and sophomore years are typically spent in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences or the College of General Studies. During the first two years, students will take courses needed for admissions and begin satisfying some of the required Skills, General Education, Related Area, and SCI major course requirements.
To be considered for transfer to the School of Computing and Information, applicants must present an adequate lower-level undergraduate academic record and be in good academic standing in the college or school in which they are currently enrolled. Specifically, qualified students typically:
- have completed at least 55 credits (which may include current term credits)
- have an overall GPA of at least 2.75 if currently enrolled at Pitt’s Oakland campus
- have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 if currently enrolled outside of Pitt’s Oakland campus
Additionally, students working towards their first degree at the University of Pittsburgh must be admitted to a SCI degree program. For degree-specific admissions requirements, click here.
Note: Meeting minimum qualifications is not a guarantee of admission to the program. Exceptional students that do not meet these criteria may still be admitted. The total student record, as well as the probability of completion of the degree requirements within the remaining credit hours, will be considered.
Deadlines for all applications: August 1 for the Fall Term, December 1 for the Spring Term, April 1 for the Summer Term.
Admission of Students from Other Countries: Applicants are required to submit original or certified, official secondary school records; literal translations of your records if they are not in English; and an official credential evaluation of all international documents (transcripts, marksheets, certificates, examination results, etc.) from an approved evaluator. See details on the OAFA webpage for International Transcript Evaluation. The application process should be started 9 to 12 months in advance of the intended enrollment date.
An applicant whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and submit official test results.
For more information on international student applications, including TOEFL requirements and exceptions, refer to: http://www.oafa.pitt.edu/intladm.aspx.
Second-degree Pitt: Students who have already earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and who are returning to complete a second degree may be admitted to SCI directly as undeclared students while they complete the requirements for admission to a specific degree program. Students may not remain undeclared for more than three semesters after admissions.
Students who fall into this category should apply directly to the School of Computing and Information. Applicants should note the following:
- Course work for the second degree will continue to be recorded on the original University of Pittsburgh undergraduate transcript.
- All appropriate course work from the first degree will apply to the second degree.
- The cumulative GPA and credit total will be based on all credits from the first degree and all new course work taken that applies to the second degree.
- Students must earn a minimum of 30 new credits.
Post-baccalaureate and Guest students: Students who have completed an undergraduate degree and wish to take additional undergraduate courses on a non-degree-seeking basis (post-baccalaureate) or students who are students enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at another university who plan to take courses for credit at the University of Pittsburgh with the intention of transferring those courses back to their home institution (guest students) should apply directly to the College of General Studies (CGS). Eligibility and application instructions are available on the CGS website.
Reinstatement: Students who have left the University for one calendar year or more (whether of their own volition or as a result of a suspension), who did not complete work at another institution, and who wish to continue their studies must apply for reinstatement through the School.
For more details regarding the different definitions and regulations for readmitted and reinstated students, see the Leave of Absence (LOA), Readmission, and Reinstatement section of the SCI Catalog.
(Internal) Pittsburgh campus schools: Upon completion of 55 credits, students can apply to the School of Computing and Information by meeting with their advisors and completing an Undergraduate Academic Program/Plan Add/Change Form with their current School’s Records Office or other administrative center.
(Regional) Relocation from regional campuses: Regional transfer students may apply directly to the School if they have met both the relocation requirements and the major-specific admissions requirements. Those who do not meet the both the relocation requirements and degree-specific admissions requirements must apply through the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.
Students in Pitt’s undergraduate schools or regional campuses at the University should initiate the process of transferring into a SCI program by submitting an Undergraduate Academic Program/Plan Add/Change form with their current campus’s Records Office or other administrative center. Students currently on inactive status in the school of last registration must first be reinstated in that school before the transfer process can be completed.
Applications for internal transfer are reviewed by the SCI Records Office in conjunction with departmental faculty. Decisions are made in about two to four weeks. Students will be contacted by the SCI Records Office regarding the admissions decision.
Second-degree, non-Pitt: Students who completed a degree at another institution submit a Transfer Application and supporting materials to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. .
First degree transfers from external institutions: Students at other institutions who wish to apply for admission as transfer students to the School of Computing and Information should submit a Transfer Application and supporting materials to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
Readmission: Students who previously attended the University of Pittsburgh before attending another institution and who wish to return to the University are considered transfer students and must reapply following the guidelines for transfer students. Former students who have enrolled in other institutions may apply for readmission with advanced standing. Such students should submit a Transfer Application and supporting materials to the University’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
For more details regarding the different definitions and regulations for readmitted and reinstated students, see the Leave of Absence (LOA), Readmission, and Reinstatement section of the SCI Catalog page.
All applications for external transfer (second-degree, non-Pitt; first degree transfer; and readmission), including the associated evaluation of course work taken at other colleges and universities, will be reviewed by the SCI Records Office in conjunction with departmental faculty and the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. Decisions are made in about two to four weeks and notifications will be made by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. Students will later receive an evaluation of transfer credits and welcome letter from the School.
Previous course work for transfer students is evaluated by the Records Office with respect to general education requirements. As well, the Records Office liaises with departments to ascertain transfer credit for major-specific course requirements. Before initial registration, students transferring credits from one Pitt school or campus, or an external institution will receive an Academic Advisement Report that illustrates the requirements that they have satisfied, and which requirements remain to be satisfied in order to complete their degree. Transfer students may be required to complete one or more placement tests to determine if certain requirements have been met.
Note for Internal and Regional students: All credits and previously approved exemptions will be re-evaluated by SCI. In some instances, this may mean that not all transfer credits or previously approved exemptions or waivers will be accepted or applied toward their SCI career.
Transfer credits are subject to the following conditions:
- An official transcript of all courses taken at other institutions must be submitted at the time of application, whether or not it is intended that such courses be counted toward the degree. For acceptance, courses must be passed with a satisfactory grade (minimum of C or equivalent) and must be earned at an institution accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association. Grades for such courses are not used in computing a student’s GPA nor in determining probationary status or eligibility for graduation honors.
- Generally, courses that have a reasonable counterpart in the curricula of the various schools/departments of the University of Pittsburgh are eligible for transfer.
- The number of credits granted for a course cannot exceed the number on the transcript from the institution where they were earned nor, usually, exceed the number to be earned in the corresponding course at the University of Pittsburgh.
- No transfer credits may be part of the final 30 required credits for the degree. These credits must be earned in residence at the School of Computing and Information. Credits earned at regional campuses and in international programs are considered as transfer credits.
- Credits accepted for advanced standing must have been earned within 12 years of the date when the degree requirements must be completed.
- Transfer credits for courses that do not have reasonable counterparts in the curricula of the various schools or departments of the University cannot be used to satisfy requirements for the degree, unless approved by the director of the undergraduate program.
- No more than 90 credits may be transferred from a four-year institution, and no more than 60 credits may be transferred from a two-year institution.
- If a course for which advanced standing credit has been granted is repeated, the advanced standing credit is canceled.
Transfer guides / articulation agreements: The School of Computing and Information utilizes the “Pitt Connection Guides” and official Articulation Agreements maintained by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid when evaluating transfer credits. Students considering transfer to the School may find these resources useful.
ADVANCED STANDING
In addition to the aforementioned transfer credit options, the School of Computing and Information may accept other forms of advanced standing.
Advanced Placement (AP) Credits: See the AP credit section of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid Web site.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher-Level Examinations: See the IB Examination section of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid Web site.
Students who wish to transfer out of SCI to another school at the University must submit the Academic Plan Change Form available on the School’s Current Student website.
Note: All transfer credits and authorized exemptions or waivers are subject to re-evaluation when a student transfers from one school to another within the University of Pittsburgh.
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