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2025-2026 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]

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Applied Computer Science

For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the College of Computing section of this catalog.

Degrees Offered

The Master of Science degree in applied computer science is offered in the College of Computing.

The primary purpose of the program is to provide a solid foundation of knowledge in applied computer science, ensuring that graduates have the skills currently in-demand by industry.

The program consists of 11 three-credit courses (33 credit hours), consisting of an area of specialization, electives, and either a Capstone course, a project course, or a thesis option. Classes are offered fully online, in a hybrid format, or in-person in the late afternoon or evening in downtown Grand Rapids.

Mission

The mission of the College of Computing is to provide the GVSU student community with the intellectual foundations and experiences necessary to use information technology effectively in their chosen careers.

To enable students to attain this goal, computing faculty members have two primary responsibilities. First, provide a solid conceptual foundation required for a career in information technology. Second, provide direct, experiential knowledge of technology is necessary to be a productive user/producer of information technology.

To achieve these goals, we

  • work continuously to keep our curriculum relevant to our mission;
  • ensure that work-relevant experience is part of every class;
  • establish and nurture industrial contacts;
  • establish an integrated, supported co-op experience for computing majors; and
  • provide all students, regardless of their major interests, fundamental knowledge of computers and information processing.

Admission Requirements

In addition to Grand Valley's admission requirements (https://www.gvsu.edu/admissions/graduate-degree-seeking-student-application-procedure-39.htm), all students seeking the M.S. degree in applied computer science must also meet the following requirements:

  • Grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from all undergraduate coursework.
  • Résumé detailing work experiences and accomplishments.
  • Recommendations from two professional or academic references.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Deadline for fall semester is May 1, international; and July 1, domestic. Deadline for winter semester is October 15, international, and December 1, domestic.

Selection process

  • Admission decisions focus on the whole person, which includes academic achievement, work experience, and courses and training while employed in industry or government. Applicants who lack appropriate background in object-oriented programming, algorithms, data structures, and networking may be required to complete one or more Laker Ready prerequisite courses (see www.gvsu.edu/computing). Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements may still be offered admission. In such cases, admission depends heavily on other indicators of the student's ability to handle graduate-level work. These include a strong GPA in the major, relevant industry experience, and/or other experiences indicative of strong academic ability.

Study Plan

Before starting the program, students must have a study plan approved by the graduate program director. Students are responsible for keeping the plan of study current before the beginning of each semester and getting the advisor's approval for any changes to the plan.

Program Location

Classes are offered fully online, in a hybrid format, or in-person in the late afternoon or evening in downtown Grand Rapids.

Available Programs

The following programs are available:


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