Program of Study for the Master of Science in Computer Science

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Graduate School ; official general GRE exam scores, unless waived; undergraduate course work in: Advanced programming in a high-level language; Discrete mathematics; Introductory theoretical computer science; Data structures; Assembly language; Computer architecture; Calculus (two semesters); Matrix or linear algebra; Calculus-based probability and/or statistics.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet or exceed the criteria for admission to the Graduate School . Meeting this condition does not guarantee admission.

Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility: The standardized exam (GRE) requirement may be waived for applicants who achieved a 3.2 GPA in undergraduate computer science courses involving programming and software engineering, architecture and systems, algorithms and theory, and written communication skills (as demonstrated by a grade of “B” or better in a communication course).

Accelerated Admissions Option: This program offers an accelerated admission option for undergraduate students currently enrolled at Appalachian State University.

Location: On Campus

Additional Information about Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility

Any standardized exam waiver for a graduate degree program at Appalachian State requires that applicants hold a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in their last earned degree (undergraduate or graduate; some programs have established higher GPA requirements). No exam waiver is automatic but will require review and approval by the Graduate School upon submission of a complete application. An approved waiver request does not guarantee acceptance into the program. A denied waiver request does not mean that a candidate is denied admission to the program, only that a standardized exam score is needed to more fully evaluate the application. Standardized test scores may be required for scholarship consideration.

Course Requirements for the Master of Science in Computer Science

Concentration Requirements (9 Hours)

9 hours of graduate courses chosen from:

• C S 5450 - Computer Networking (3)
• C S 5465 - Advanced Computer Graphics (3)
• C S 5483 - Computer Architecture (3)
• C S 5560 - Advanced Operating Systems (3)
• C S 5620 - Real-time Systems (4)
• C S 5680 - Embedded Systems (3)

Thesis Option (15 Hours)

Choose One:

Other Requirements for the MS in Computer Science

• Thesis: Optional
• Proficiency: Not required
• Candidacy: Required for thesis option; awarded upon approval of thesis committee and prospectus
• Comprehensive: A grade of B- or less in any of the required courses listed above requires passing a separately administered examination for the course; an oral defense of the thesis or project is also required
• Product of Learning: Not required