Applied to through a school
Penn says you apply to one of four undergraduate schools or a coordinated dual-degree programme. Computer Science sits in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Undergraduate · Penn Penn Engineering
Penn Computer Science B.S.E.: seven concentrations in Penn Engineering
Penn says applicants apply to one of four undergraduate schools or a coordinated dual-degree programme. Computer Science B.S.E. is a major in Penn Engineering, with a 37-unit curriculum and seven concentrations, one of them Artificial Intelligence. Penn also offers a separate Artificial Intelligence B.S.E., which Avandy covers in its own guide.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Penn says about Penn Computer Science
Taken from Penn's University Catalog entry for Computer Science, BSE and Penn Admissions' Four Schools, Specialized Degree Programs, International Applicants and Testing pages, read on 1 November 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Penn's pages for the 2028-entry details.
A 37-unit B.S.E.
The catalogue lists a total of 37 course units.
Seven concentrations
Students may select one of seven, including Artificial Intelligence.
Computing across industries
The catalogue says expertise in computer science is essential in finance, health, science labs and more.
The SAT or ACT is required
Penn says applicants must submit scores for the SAT or ACT, with a waiver for hardship.
Official sources
- Penn Admissions: The Four Schoolsadmissions.upenn.edu
- Penn University Catalog: Computer Science, BSEcatalog.upenn.edu
- Penn Admissions: Testingadmissions.upenn.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on Penn's University Catalog entry for Computer Science, BSE and Penn Admissions' Four Schools, Specialized Degree Programs, International Applicants and Testing pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. The department's own pages, the course descriptions, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The programme
What the catalogue says the programme is
Penn's catalogue says computer scientists and engineers have revolutionised society and created the computer and telecommunications industries, and that expertise in computer science is essential in many new areas, from consulting and finance to health and research. The B.S.E. reflects 37 course units, and students may select one of seven concentrations, including Artificial Intelligence. The page is dated as a guide for students entering in Fall 2026 and later. This guide does not list individual courses or the other concentrations.
Is it the right route?
Computer Science B.S.E. beside Artificial Intelligence B.S.E. and Computer Engineering
Penn describes these as separate schools and programmes, so the choice is made at application. Avandy's comparison is general.
Computer Science fits if
you want a broad computing degree with a concentration of your choice.
Artificial Intelligence B.S.E. fits if
you want AI as the degree itself. Avandy's Penn Artificial Intelligence guide covers it.
Computer Engineering fits if
you want computing from the hardware up. Avandy's Penn Computer Engineering guide covers it.
Admission and testing
Penn Engineering, an SAT or ACT and predicted grades
Penn requires applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores, with a waiver for hardship. It has no explicit course requirements or minimum test score requirements, and it asks schools to provide predicted scores if final exams are not yet available. Computer Science is not a separate application: the application is to the School of Engineering and Applied Science. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Penn's.
Do you want a general computing degree with an AI concentration, or an AI degree?
Penn offers both.
Is a concentration important to you?
Students may select one of seven.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT with your A levels or IB?
Penn requires one of them from applicants.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Penn's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Penn's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The curriculum on the Penn catalogue page read on 1 November 2026, which describes itself as a guide for students entering in Fall 2026 and later
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Penn has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any updated curriculum for the 2028 cohort: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Penn for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the catalogue entry and plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with the University of Pennsylvania. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Penn Computer Science?
You apply to the School of Engineering and Applied Science, one of four undergraduate schools. Penn says you do not technically apply to Penn itself.
How is it different from the Artificial Intelligence B.S.E.?
Penn lists them as separate B.S.E. majors; Computer Science offers Artificial Intelligence as one of seven concentrations.
How many units?
The catalogue says 37.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Yes. Penn says applicants must submit scores for the SAT or ACT, with a waiver for hardship.
Does Penn name specific A levels or IB subjects?
Penn says it has no explicit course requirements for admittance.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Penn's wording with no entry-year label. Check Penn's pages again when Penn publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Penn Computer Science
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their mathematics, how they weigh computer science against artificial intelligence and engineering routes and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.