Earn a top-ranking degree online with our M.S. in Computer and Information Science
Choose hands-on projects, cutting-edge best practices and experienced instructors who are readily available to help when you need it. Our online master's in Computer and Information Science is defined by a single goal: providing you with the skill sets that are directly applicable to your career.
Program Details
- Complete in as few as two years
- 3 starts through the year: fall, spring and summer
- Part-time and full-time course loads available
- Optional career-changer pathway for industry newcomers (summer start only)
- 1 specialization and 3 concentration options to hone your skills
Choose your path
One specialization and three concentrations give you the option to customize the curriculum to the computing skills and career pathway you’re interested in.
Information Assurance and Cyber Defense (IACD) specialization
Solution architecture/software and systems development concentration
Analytics/AI concentration
IT management concentration
Join an in-demand field.
With the flexible program design of our online master of science in Computer and Information Science, you’ll gain the experience and qualifications to succeed in any one of today’s top IT and cybersecurity roles. From machine learning to information systems analysis, and from engineering to cybersecurity, today’s information technology field is facing an unprecedented shortage of experienced professionals. By 2031, it’s expected to outpace other industries with 15% growth.2
With a computer and information science master's degree, you can meet that need while also growing your earning potential. Graduates with information technology master’s degrees are earning $93,000 on average3 in roles like software engineer, lead systems engineer, business analyst and senior risk engineer.
Median annual salaries for master’s in CIS jobs
Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers:4
25% projected growth rate by 2031
Computer and Information Systems Managers (IT Manager/Director):5
16% projected growth rate by 2031
Computer and Information Research Scientists:6
21% projected growth rate by 2031
Operations Research Analysts (Analytics Manager):7
23% projected growth rate by 2031
Marquette Master’s in Computer and Information Science program outcomes
Students graduating from the online M.S. in Computer and Information Science program are expected to be able to perform the following skills in their computing jobs on a daily basis:
- Appraise relationships among a variety of computing practices and technologies to create integrated solutions to computing problems.
- Communicate computing problems and suggested solutions to other professionals and with business clients.
- Formulate and defend realistic and detailed designs for solutions of problems of enterprise scope.
- Evaluate and apply common standards for technology and technology management.
Dr. Michael Zimmer, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science, has built a robust scholarly career evaluating the intertwining of computing practices like social media, data and even health care and how the interplay of these fields impacts our lives. IT jobs outside of research and academia like systems administrators, software developers and chief information officers will also require an understanding of how multiple puzzle pieces of computing fit together to inform best practices.
When it comes to data, a majority of companies have embraced the immense value of their data and are actively seeking professionals who understand how various data systems, products, and tools work together in a larger business ecosystem, as well as those who can identify areas and plans for improvement. Similarly, consider cybersecurity: it’s critical to understand not only how you build effective security systems as a cybersecurity engineer but also how to perform quality assurance tests and quickly deploy solutions in crisis situations. A gap in knowledge in one of these areas could weaken the whole system.
As an information technology professional in any setting, one of your most frequently faced challenges will be to communicate your ideas, solutions, and methods clearly to the rest of your team and the stakeholders of a given project. This is critical for any computing career but especially those who work with executive teams, governing boards and other top-level roles. In this same vein, strategic-thinking with an eye on solutions will serve you in all roles. Courses in visual and data analytics, business intelligence and your practicum projects, plus discussions and collaborations with peers in all courses, will give you a chance to build and practice these skills.
Through hands-on, in-depth curriculum and professors with expertise in topics including health care technology, blockchain, artificial intelligence and more, Marquette University’s online information technology master’s will prepare you with hard and soft skills to be successful in any computing role.
Make a new start with a master's in computer and information science.
For those with no experience in IT, getting started in the tech industry can feel like a challenge—but it doesn’t have to be.
Our career-changer pathway for the online master's in information science is designed to meet the needs of newcomers to this fast-paced field. Instead of taking prerequisite courses or a tech bootcamp before applying, you’ll learn from a trusted institution—entirely online. In one 7-credit-hour course, you can learn the foundations for the rest of your master’s in computer and information science education, master tools that are essential building blocks of the industry and better understand the culture that fuels this unique and evolving field.
Take our Foundations of Computing course to learn:
- The current status of computer science and an overview of the field professionallyIntroduction to abstraction, algorithmic thinking, simulation and testing for computer-based problem-solving using higher-level programming languages
- Algorithm analysis and computational complexity in the context of data structures, algorithms and alternatives
- Graphical user interfaces, database connections, parallel computing
- How to use an interactive development environment by studying software development methodology, and testing code, basic system administration, computer networking and operating system configuration
Once you complete the Foundations course you'll join the rest of your peers in graduate level courses. Dig into the details of software project management, operating systems, computer networks and more while honing your technical expertise and knowledge of computer information systems. You get to choose the courses that make up your degree so that you can shape your education to meet your goals and interests.
Meet today’s cyber defense needs.
2022 saw hundreds of thousands of cybersecurity jobs left unfilled.8
At Marquette, we’re preparing students to fill the gap in the coming years.
Our Information Assurance and Cyber Defense (IACD) specialization for the online master’s in computer and information science prepares you to meet this growing demand. Our program has been named an Academic Center of Excellence by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Marquette is among the select colleges and universities which have been recognized for in-depth cybersecurity curriculum and leadership within the field. This designation provides our students the opportunity to apply for more than $30,000 in scholarship funds from the Department of Defense. The cybersecurity curriculum offered in our master’s in computer and information science program begins with core courses providing a theoretical investigation of the foundational knowledge required for the field followed by practical application of the lessons learned to professional experiences. Through our two curriculum pathways, both beginners and experienced IT professionals can become true cyber defense experts.
The IACD specialization was established by Marquette’s Center for Cyber Security Awareness and Cyber Defense which is dedicated to providing excellent cybersecurity education, serving the cyberdefense needs of others through partnerships with the university and community and offering research opportunities in cybersecurity technology, preparedness and education. Attend events on cyberdefense risks, trends and predictions, cybersecurity awareness and more with your Marquette peers. Break into the fast-paced world of cybersecurity with a crew of experienced professionals at your side.
Find a face-to-face experience online.
When you’re ready to make the commitment to earn your computer and information science master’s degree, know that you’re choosing a program with small class sizes, responsive instructors and an experience tailored for your needs as a working professional and an online student.
Our online M.S. in Computer and Information Science is built for your success. With part-time and full-time course loads available, you can take full advantage of Marquette University without putting your career on pause. Just as important, you’ll experience a rewarding program that will set you up as a true leader in information technology.
Customize your degree.
You’re earning your computer and information sciences degree online for a reason. At Marquette, we want to help you meet your goals, without wasting time. That’s why we offer four different pathways for our online M.S. in Computer and Information Science, so we can meet you where you’re at in your career and tailor our curriculum to your needs:
- M.S. in Computer and Information Science
- M.S. in Computer and Information Science (Cybersecurity Focus)
- M.S. in Computer and Information Science for Career Changers
- M.S. in Computer and Information Science for Career Changers (Cybersecurity Focus)
No matter which path you decide to pursue to earn your master of science, you will still gain the skills to tackle today’s complex IT challenges in software development, database management, data security, computer information systems and more. You’ll be able to take advantage of our wide-ranging course topics with the added flexibility of part-time or full-time online courses.
Get to know the experts.
Our online M.S. in Computer and Information Science is not an average online degree. As one of the top-ranked online IT master’s programs in the country, we know that the flexibility of virtual classrooms allows you to continue working and still make a needed career change. The key to our success comes from the commitment of our faculty to the online programs. Our instructors are committed to seeing you succeed, and that means creating an accessible and rewarding online experience.
- Retrieved on March 5, 2024, from usnews.com/education/online-education/marquette-university-OCIT0079/computer-information-technology
- Retrieved on February 2, 2023, bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm
- Retrieved on February 2, 2023, payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Science_(MS)%2C_Information_Technology_(IT)/Salary
- Retrieved on December 6, 2022, from bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm
- Retrieved on December 6, 2022, from bls.gov/ooh/management/computer-and-information-systems-managers.htm
- Retrieved on December 6, 2022, from bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-and-information-research-scientists.htm
- Retrieved on December 6 2022, from bls.gov/ooh/math/operations-research-analysts.htm
- Retrieved on February 2, 2023, from cyberseek.org/heatmap.html