Especially for Prospective Freshmen »

Not a prospective freshmen? We'll help get you started:

Thank you for considering the Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences!

Picking the university and program that is right for you is not an easy decision, and we are thrilled that you our considering us for the next step in your education.

Below you will find information that you may find helpful when considering UC Irvine as one of your options. We hope that you will join the ranks of Bren School students that have gone on to change the world.

› Admissions Process
› Majors
› Advanced Placement (AP) Tests
› International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams
› Community College Credit
› Summer School at UC Irvine

Admissions Process

Every applicant is unique. UC Irvine selects it's admitted class from a large group of very qualified candidates. No single grade, factor or score will automatically gain or deny you admission.

Each application is reviewed individually, taking great care to make the admission decisions fair, thorough and sensitive.

We are interested in students who can be successful at UC Irvine, while taking full advantage of all the university has to offer and enriching our campus community. For more detailed information on factors that affect admissions, please visit Admission's page on preparation for juniors and seniors.

The freshmen admissions process is handled by the Office of Admissions, and any questions you have should be addressed to their office.

You can find all the information you need regarding admissions as well as contact information by visiting the Office of Admissions website.

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Majors

The Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences is unique to the UC system as well as most Computer Science programs in the United States.

Though our field is growing and ever changing, most institutions have Computer Science as a department under the school or college of Engineering. At UC Irvine, our program has become an independent school, meaning that we have all the resources and abilities of a school at our disposal.

This has allowed us to not only extend the scope of the education we offer, but to also develop more specialized and interdisciplinary majors. For more information about our majors, please visit the Bren School majors page.

Tip If you're still unsure which major to pursue after you research them, check out the major advisor.

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Advanced Placement (AP) Tests

Though completing AP tests prior to enrolling at UC Irvine is not required, doing so may give you credit for certain courses you'll need to take while you're here. All AP tests passed with a score of 3 or higher will give you unit credit, which will count towards the 180 units required to graduate from UC Irvine.

Only certain AP tests (with certain scores) will give course credit. For more information, please view the AP Chart.

Depending on what major you're admitted as, there are several different AP tests that can provide valuable credit. Please remember that while these are recommended, they are not required.

Major
Applicable Tests
Business Information Managment - Computer Science A or Computer Science AB
- Mathematics AB or Mathematics BC
- Economics: Macro and Economics: Mirco
Computer Science - Computer Science A or Computer Science AB
- Mathematics AB or Mathematics BC
- Physics Exam C, Part 1 or Part 2, or Chemistry
Computer Science & Engineering - Computer Science A or Computer Science AB
- Mathematics AB or Mathematics BC
- Physics Exam C, Part 1 or Part 2
Information & Computer Science - Computer Science A or Computer Science AB
- Mathematics AB or Mathematics BC
Informatics - Computer Science A or Computer Science AB
- Statistics

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International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams


Like AP tests, IB Exams can give you unit credit as well as course credit. While valuable for taking care of General Education credit, IB Exams will not provide course credit for most Bren School majors.

The one exception is listed below.

Major
Applicable Tests
Business Information Managment - Economics

For more information on credit you can receive from IB tests, please view the IB Exam chart.

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Community College Credit


Some students have been known to supplement their high school educations with courses at local community colleges. If you have done so, then you might have earned credit towards your general education and/or degree.

You can check by visiting www.assist.org and looking up the articulation agreement between the community college and UC Irvine.

If you have trouble understanding the information provided on assist, counselors are available to answer your
questions. You can contact us by emailing ucounsel@uci.edu or by calling (949) 824-5156.

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Summer School at UC Irvine


For some students local to the Irvine area, it may be advantages to get an early start on certain courses by taking summer school at UC Irvine.

Several of our beginning ICS and Math courses are offered each summer, and it's a great opportunity to get a head start on your degree.

However, this approach is not best for all students, so before you consider signing up, please contact a counselor at the Bren School of ICS Student Affairs Office to talk with you about your situation.

You can reach the office by phone at (949) 824-5156 or by email at ucounsel@uci.edu. You can read more about summer session at UC Irvine by checking out their website.

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