An online Master of Information Technology is a versatile degree. Studying for a masters can help you start an IT career or shift technology fields. You can also upgrade professional credentials and qualify for leadership roles.
You may want to study for an IT masters online if you:
- have a university degree of any kind and want to formally study information technology for the first time, or
- have an established IT career and are keen to improve your knowledge and academic qualifications.
A good online masters program (a) allows you to achieve your personal learning and career goals and (b) provides an enjoyable study experience along the way.
For information technology candidates with some work experience, a master’s degree holds the promise of advancement. It can pave the way to jobs in management or senior-level technical jobs as well as consulting positions.
~ Bentley University
Beauty of an Online IT Masters
You should know that IT masters are available 100% online. That's powerful. You can access any of the courses we list no matter where you live. And you are able to combine study with other things, including full-time work.
For coursework programs (as opposed to masters by research), you study as part of a virtual group.
- Fellow students work through the same content on a weekly basis. They should be available online for discussing the course and anything else you want to chat about.
- You're also able to interact with instructors online.
Studying online allows you to manage your time effectively. For example, lectures are recorded and always available online. That saves you from having to ever turn up for lectures at particular locations and times.
Why a Master of Information Technology?
A Master of Information Technology (MInfoTech) represents a different kind of learning experience for most IT professionals. It's a big single investment in study. You cover a selection of topics in depth.
University study can be a change from regular professional development, where you might keep up with technology through internet research, self-training and micro courses.
Benefits
Working through a graduate program offers distinct benefits. You:
- finish with a recognised qualification, helping you better compete for IT jobs
- have the opportunity to become a new or better-rounded IT professional, or to go from novice to expert in a particular specialisation
- may learn useful things that weren't previously on your radar
- are able to indulge in learning for enjoyment and general development.
Job examples
The kinds of roles available to Master of Information Technology graduates include: algorithm engineer, android/iOS developer, big data engineer, business intelligence consultant, data infrastructure engineer, data scientist, front-end developer, IT consultant, programmer, project manager, python developer, quantitative analyst, software engineer/developer, virtual reality developer, web developer. Source: UniMelb
Study Periods vs Semesters
Online IT programs can be structured into semesters or study periods, which mean different things for your learning experience.
Semesters
You'll be familiar with semesters if you've studied at a university campus.
- It means 2-3 start dates per year and taking multiple units simultaneously.
- The online course is normally an adapted version of a course being run concurrently at a campus.
- Exam time can be intense, with up to 4 finals scheduled.
Study periods
Study periods are popular for online degrees and can be as short as 6-8 weeks.
- Typically, you complete a single unit from start to finish within each period.
- Assessment is continuous (using assignments and short tests), with less reliance on final exams.
The top 3 graduate programs in Information Technology each offer something different.
- Monash Online's 8-unit data science program is a great way to become proficient in this field. Data management, analysis and presentation are large and growing IT activities.
- If you want to get ahead as an IT manager, the leadership masters from Deakin University is an outstanding option. The program aims to quickly give experienced IT professionals formal recognition of achievements.
- CSU has one of the biggest IT academic programs, especially online, and is able to cater to most graduate needs.
Monash Graduate Diploma of Data Science
Monash Online allows you get up to speed with what's happening in big data with its Graduate Diploma of Data Science. The 100% online course consists of 8 units. You do 1 unit at a time, each taking 6 weeks of part-time study. Subjects include data curation, pattern recognition, visualisation and data wrangling. The program is open to students with a relevant degree, and certain other graduates. You may need to do foundation units if you've studied business, engineering or science, or if you are seeking entry based on relevant experience.
Deakin Master of IT Leadership
Deakin University offers the ultimate credentials program for IT managers. The Master of IT Leadership is ideal if you already have experience managing IT projects and teams. The affordable, fully online program allows you to demonstrate capabilities in a convenient way. You balance online academic study with 'credentials units', where you present evidence of accomplishment. You can start with the Graduate Certificate part of the course. 12 months fast-tracked completion of a masters is available – while you're working. Graduates come away with extra credentials and skills to keep winning management roles.
CSU Master of Information Technology
Charles Sturt University offers a flexible Master of Information Technology degree. Available specialisations include business analysis, computer networking, IT management, network security, software design and development, and systems analysis. You can choose to do a general program, or specialise by doing 1 or 2 majors. CSU has Australia's largest online computer science faculty.
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