Computer Science at Texas State: the B.S., the Austin job market, and the 3-year OPT

Computer Science is one of the most-requested programs among international applicants to Texas State, for two reasons that reinforce each other: the degree is STEM-designated, so graduates can work in the U.S. for up to three years on OPT, and the campus sits 30 minutes from Austin, one of the largest technology employment markets in the country.

What the B.S. covers

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is a 120-hour program, offered with a general track or a Computer Engineering Concentration. Representative courses from the official catalog:

• CS 1319 — Fundamentals of Computer Science
• CS 1428 — Foundations of Computer Science I
• CS 2308 — Foundations of Computer Science II
• CS 2318 — Assembly Language
• MATH 2471 — Calculus I
• MATH 2472 — Calculus II
• CS 3190 — Cooperative Education
• CS 3290 — Advanced Cooperative Education
• CS 4100 — Computer Science Internship
• CS 4298 — Undergraduate Research I

The sequence is conventional and rigorous: two foundations courses, assembly language and calculus in the first two years, then networks, operating systems, compilers and electives such as computer vision. A B.A. in Computer Science suits students combining computing with another field, and a Ph.D. is available for research careers. Program pages: B.S. · B.A. · Ph.D.

Why Austin matters

The Austin metro area hosts major offices of Dell, IBM, Apple, Google, Amazon, Oracle, Tesla and Samsung, alongside a dense startup scene — the reason it is nicknamed “Silicon Hills”. For a computer science student that translates into internship interviews within driving distance, employer visits on campus, hackathons and meetups you can actually attend, and a job market to graduate into without relocating.

The OPT advantage

Graduates of STEM-designated programs can apply for 12 months of Optional Practical Training plus a 24-month STEM extension — 36 months of U.S. work authorization, and three H-1B lottery cycles instead of one. Every Computer Science degree at Texas State is STEM-designated.

How to apply

Undergraduate applicants follow the standard freshman or transfer route — transcripts, an English score, the $90 fee — with the same deadlines as other majors; strong mathematics preparation is expected. The Ph.D. is a departmental application with research statement and references. Cost of attendance is about $43,720 a year for undergraduates, before scholarships.

Credit hours, concentration and course list come from the Texas State University catalog as indexed on this site (see the program pages for the catalog links). OPT rules are U.S. federal policy and can change; confirm current terms with International Student and Scholar Services before relying on them.