Computer Science, M.S.

Get a Master's in Computer Science

Experts in computer science are needed more and more in today’s digital society. A master’s degree in computer science provides students with the technical expertise they need to enter top careers such as information technology, database administration, systems engineering, software development, software architecture, and IT systems analysis. Graduates develop algorithmic thinking and the ability to design, develop, and test software and information systems in order to create new methods of human–computer interaction, design intelligent systems, or program high-powered software applications.

A Leader in Science and Engineering Education

For more than 50 years, Florida Tech has been recognized for its science and engineering degree programs. With its vast research opportunities available to students, the master’s degree in computer science combines classroom learning with hands-on research experiences similar to the challenges students might face when on the job. Professors create an environment of mentorship, working closely with students on coursework and research, giving them a chance to develop imaginative solutions to a complex technology problem.

Research Experiences

Students with a master’s in computer science get first-hand experience with computer security, intelligent systems, complex networks, software design and testing, and more. Graduates also have experience with faculty-led research projects covering topics such as machine learning, bio-inspired computing, data mining, cryptography, and speech recognition. Florida Tech’s research portal provides information on the available research projects.

In addition, the Harris Institute (see below) brings together computer science, psychology, business, and biology to carry out cutting-edge research in computer security, solving real-world issues in the field. Students earning a computer science master’s degree also build leadership and professional experience through internships and participation in professional organizations.

There are many reasons students choose Florida Tech for their computer science master’s degree. It begins with a reputation for providing a rigorous and challenging curriculum that fully prepares students for a growing, demanding career. With a background in supercomputers, model computation, algorithmic thinking, and information systems design, graduates are ready to begin a career.

Advanced Professor Mentorship

Florida Tech is known for its small class sizes and low faculty-to-student ratio. This tight-knit learning community allows professors to give individualized attention to students seeking a computer science master’s degree, mentoring them to grow academically and pursue advanced research. This student-centered culture encourages graduates to challenge themselves beyond classroom learning, particularly if they happen to be working professionals who can bring work-oriented experience to the classroom for study and problem-solving.

Florida Tech’s faculty are internationally known researchers with expertise in computer security, intelligent systems, computer vision, complex networks, software testing, biologically inspired computing, cyber security, and more.

Cutting-Edge Computing Facilities

The state-of-the-art F.W. Olin Engineering Complex attracts students for its computing laboratories and advanced tools for student learning and research. Computers at Florida Tech are upgraded every three years to ensure they are always capable of running the most up-to-date software, and a full suite of software development tools is freely available to all computer science students.

Additionally, the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET accredits Florida Tech’s computer science program—a distinction that is recognized among employers, giving Florida Tech grads with a computer science master’s degree a job placement advantage. 

Great Florida Location

When considering a university’s location, Florida Tech’s location can’t be beat. The campus is in the heart of Florida’s Space Coast, near one of the nation’s largest high-tech workforces with 5,000 high-tech companies in the Florida High Tech corridor, including NASA Kennedy Space Center, Grumman, Harris Corp., DRS, research laboratories, and more.

Computer science training at Florida Tech involves classroom study and participation in field research projects where students apply their coursework. This interdisciplinary approach puts students to work before they begin their technology career, allowing them to collaborate with their peers and professors on topics they will face while on the job, including:

• Computer security, malicious code, and information protection
• Intelligent systems
• Computer vision
• Complex networks
• Software design and testing
• Bio-inspired computing
• Data mining
• Cybersecurity
• Cryptography
• Speech recognition
• Machine learning

Students are often able to find computer science research internships with one of the many technology companies in central Florida.

Harris Institute for Assured Information

Founded in 2009, the Harris Institute brings together computer science, psychology, business and biology to carry out cutting-edge research in computer security. A partnership with the technology giant Harris Corp., a corporate leader in cyber security based in Melbourne, Florida, near the Florida Tech campus, the institute is one of the primary sources for graduate-level information assurance and cybersecurity research at Florida Tech for solving real-world cybersecurity problems. In addition to their own resources, the Harris Institute for Assured Information actively collaborates with the Institute for Human Machine Cognition in Pensacola and Ocala, Florida, to offer additional resources. 

Florida Tech also offers a research portal where students searching for computer science research can learn more about programs in which they can participate. Visit fit.edu/research/portal.

The demand for computer science experts has never been higher. Graduates with a master’s degree will find a diverse offering of careers in computer science and employers eager to take advantage of their technology expertise.

Often referred to as a recession-proof job, careers in computer science are among the most popular for college graduates because the demand for these experts grows at a rapid pace. New systems and applications are born everyday, so employers are always looking for qualified software developers, web designers, computer systems analysts, database administrators and security experts, to name a few. As this technology-focused society we live in expands, so do the job prospects and the salaries that come with them.

Career Outlook

Graduates with a master’s degree in computer science find employment opportunities in nearly every market segment as technology expands into every aspect of our lives: work, home, social and recreation. Employers that have recruited Florida Tech students for internships and careers include IBM, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, GE, Google, Zynga and Texas Instruments.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, provides detailed information about specific jobs including median annual pay, working conditions and job outlook, among other things. Computer science careers involve a variety of duties including inventing and designing new technology or finding new uses for existing technology. Experts invent software languages, analyze methods to improve the way we work with computers and improve the experiences and ease of use of technology.

According to the bureau, careers in computer science are expected to grow 19 percent through 2020. As companies continue to add personnel to develop software and manage larger and larger amounts of data, they need computer experts to manage these duties. From cars, toys, appliances, hand-held devices and large equipment to healthcare, recreation, and more, there is a growing desire to create technology-driven solutions for the way we live. As a result, this also demands experts with innovative ways to prevent attacks, manage cyber security and track hackers. Check the handbook for careers in computer science.   

Career Options

• Software Designer and Developer
• Computer Support Specialist
• Computer Systems Analyst
• Computer Programmer
• Database Administrator
• Computer and Information System Manager
• Information Security Analyst
• Web Developer
• Computer Network Architect
• Network Administrator
• Potential Employers

Students who graduate with a master’s in computer science find computer science careers in all sectors of the economy and have gone on to work for:

• Electronic Arts (EA Games)
• General Electric
• Google
• HP
• Microsoft
• Mozilla
• NSA
• Zynga

Doctoral Program  

Students interested in pursuing an advanced degree in computer science at Florida Tech before considering careers in computer science have gone on to study fields such as:

• Database Development
• Computer Vision
• Bioinformatics
• Computer Graphics
• Networks
• Information Management

For full-time doctoral graduate research assistants, tuition scholarships are available.