Master of Science – Computing and Information Systems

The Master of Science – Computing and Information Systems at Athabasca University is an online graduate program requiring either 30 or 39 credits depending on an applicant's prior academic background. The curriculum combines core courses covering technical and managerial topics with elective courses for specialization, plus a required research methodology course, and concludes with a choice of capstone: an integration project, an essay, or a thesis. Students can specialize in one of ten areas, including Information Technology Management, Information Systems Development, Data Analytics, Information Security, Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems, Cloud Computing, Health Informatics, Learning Technology, Bioinformatics, or Environmental Data Analytics. The program admits twice yearly, in September and January, and can be completed in 2.5 to 3.5 years of full-time study, with a maximum of five years allowed. Admission requires a baccalaureate degree in a related area or equivalent education and experience. It is designed for students seeking both technical and managerial capability for careers in information technology and related services, and its range of specialization areas suits those wanting to tailor graduate study toward a specific segment of computing or information systems practice.