Information on Master of Science (MS) Degree Program in Internet Computing
Majors Overview July 13, 2015This article talks about Master of Science (M.S.) degree programs in Internet Computing and their education requirements, coursework, career choices, job and wage outlook, and continuing education choices.
Master of Science (M.S.) Programs in Internet Computing
Few schools, if any, offer master’s degree programs in Internet computing. Those interested in the field can earn master’s degrees in Internet technology or Web science. Alternatively, they may pursue computer science degree programs with Internet computing specializations. Coursework explores programming, information technology, Web development, and multimedia design.
Students enrolled in master’s degree programs in this field may be required to complete 32 semester hours of coursework, which they can do within two years. In some programs, students are offered real-world experience through collaborative team projects or internships. Coursework in such programs may cover Web applications, Internet programming, Internet technology, digital commerce, and Internet security through a combination of lectures and hands-on training.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree, in addition to submitting scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE).
Coursework
Program coursework covers topic areas such as multimedia applications, management strategies, optical communications, Internet computing, and languages. It also involves the application of students’ knowledge of Internet functions such as electronic commerce implementation, website design, and Web security. Students gain a thorough grasp of Internet computing software design, and they gain expertise in evaluating current Internet computing research. Core coursework covers topic areas such as:
•Operating systems
•Cryptography
•Human-computer interaction applications
•Computer networking
•User interface
Career Choices
Program graduates gain the advanced communication, technical, and research skills necessary for finding jobs within the information technology department of various businesses, or with Internet consulting firms. They may opt for possible job titles such as:
•Database administrator
•Systems Analyst
•Software developer
Job and Wage Outlook
Over the 2012 – 2022 decade, a job growth rate of 25% has been predicted for computer systems analysts (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Over the same period, software developers are expected to see a 22% job growth while database administrators could experience a 15% growth. In May 2012, computer systems analysts brought in an average annual wage of $79,680 and database administrators made $77,080 per annum, on average (BLS).
Continuing Education Choices
Program graduates may seek continuing education by pursuing a graduate certificate or doctoral program in computer science or a related field. Coursework in such a program may cover topic areas including information assurance, software design, multimedia systems, and Web data management.