2009-10 Graduate Bulletin and Course Catalog

Master of Science in Computer Science

Department of Computer Science
College of Arts and Sciences

James T. Wilkes, Chair and Professor
WilkesJT@appstate.edu

James B. Fenwick, Jr., Program Director and Associate Professor
FenwickJB@appstate.edu

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http://www.cs.appstate.edu/

The Department of Computer Science offers a Master of Science degree in Computer Science (224A/11/0701). The Computer Science MS program is for students who would like to advance beyond the undergraduate level of professional competence or to prepare for future doctoral study. The curriculum includes a balance between theory and applications and is built around a core of required courses in the basic areas of computer science. Through an appropriate selection of elective courses and thesis topics, students may choose either a theory emphasis or an applications emphasis. The program normally can be completed in two years with the appropriate undergraduate education or work experience.

PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE (Major Code: 224A/11.0701)

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the graduate school; official GRE general exam scores; 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.

Minimum Criteria for Unconditional Admission: Cumulative Undergraduate GPA = 2.75; GPA in related course work (including prerequisite courses and courses equivalent to a computer science major at Appalachian) = 3.0; GRE Verbal + GRE Quantitative = 1050.

Location: On Campus

Course Requirements for the Master of Science in Computer Science (224A)

Required Courses
  • CS 5100: Seminar in Computer Science (1)
  • CS 5110: Design and Analysis of Algorithms (3)
  • CS 5483: Computer Architecture (3)
  • CS 5520: Operating Systems (4)
  • CS 5666: Software Engineering (3)

14

Thesis Option (CHOOSE ONE)

With Thesis (6 s.h.)

  • CS 5999: Thesis (6)

OR
Without Thesis (12 s.h.)

  • CS 5800: Project (3)
  • 9 s.h. of approved graduate electives

6 or 12

Electives

  • 10 s.h. of approved graduate electives

10

Total Semester Hours Required for the Master of Science in Computer Science (224A)

30
(thesis)
OR
36

Other Requirements for the MS in Computer Science:

  • Thesis: Optional
  • Proficiency: None required
  • 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: None required

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