Appalachian State University

How this program compares

Benchmark this program against our national recognition pages and use the key guides below to evaluate ROI, admissions difficulty, and outcomes.

Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: Bachelor’s in CS or demonstrably equivalent coursework; Appalachian frequently waives GRE for strong CS GPAs plus communication prerequisites—read graduate.appstate.edu for the admission term you target. International applicants satisfy Graduate School English proficiency rules.

About This Program

Appalachian State’s Department of Computer Science delivers a master’s focused on rigorous CS foundations with flexible concentration areas so students can bias electives toward AI/ML or systems depending on advisor guidance. Boone’s mountain campus keeps total cost comparatively modest while tapping Charlotte and Research Triangle recruiter pipelines.

Career Outcomes

36-credit MS CS at Appalachian State with thesis/non-thesis or project concentrations covering algorithms, OS, SE, plus depth electives routed toward machine learning & visual computing stacks.

• 1. Software Engineer
• 2. Machine Learning Engineer
• 3. Applied Research Developer
• 4. Cloud Platform Engineer
• 5. University/Gov Lab Engineer

What You'll Learn

• Execute graduate-level algorithms and systems coursework required of all MSCS admits.
• Pursue departmental concentrations that can include computation for AI-heavy electives.
• Communicate thesis, project, or portfolio outcomes aligned to chosen track.
• Apply responsible engineering practices emphasized in departmental graduate seminars.

Curriculum Highlights

Per Appalachian graduate materials, the MS Computer Science totals 36 credits with unified core coursework (algorithms CS 5110, operating systems CS 5521, software engineering CS 5666) and departmental concentration coursework (Data Science & Visual Computing, Foundations, Systems, Theoretics, Web & Mobile). Students select thesis, non-thesis, or project culminating structures per current graduate handbook language. Confirm active catalog text at compsci.appstate.edu and bulletin.appstate.edu.

Top Employers

Regional fintech/logistics employers, defense-adjacent contractors (where eligible), Charlotte/RTP technology firms, remote-first software companies—verify hiring via career services.

Admissions

Bachelor’s in CS or demonstrably equivalent coursework; Appalachian frequently waives GRE for strong CS GPAs plus communication prerequisites—read graduate.appstate.edu for the admission term you target. International applicants satisfy Graduate School English proficiency rules.

Application Materials

• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Letters of Recommendation: Typically three
• Resume/CV: Required
• Transcripts: Official transcripts required

Academic Requirements

• CS bachelor’s preferred or leveling coursework approved by the graduate coordinator
• Minimum GPA aligns with Graduate School thresholds (commonly ~3.0 expectations)
• GRE: verify waiver vs required status each cycle
• English proficiency per Graduate School for international admits