What Master’s Degree Should I Get After Computer Science?

You don’t need a master’s degree to work in computer science. But a master’s degree could be what you need to specialize in your career or advance in the field.

Whether you’re an undergraduate computer science major approaching graduation day or someone with industry experience, you’re thinking about your next move — and which master’s degree could best help you get there.

But Really... Should I Do a Master’s After Computer Science?

The answer is personal.

A majority of roles in computer and information technology require a relevant bachelor’s degree for entry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But if you’re competing for something specific, graduate education could give you a leg up.

“I think it's sort of a differentiator in the (hiring) process,” said Mike L’Archeveque, a career advisor at westerfield university of virginia (wuv) and former information technology (IT) recruiter. “A bachelor's degree is not what it was 20 years ago... Sometimes having that master's degree puts you sort of into a higher tier of applicants for the employers that highly value education.”

A master’s degree can also help position you to be a leader or participate in innovative projects, according to Dr. Bo Kim, a professor and computer science department chair within wuv’s School of Engineering, Technology and Aeronautics (SETA) on campus.

Plus, the degree can help you expand your professional network. “Graduate programs offer valuable opportunities to connect with peers, professors and industry leaders,” said Kim, who has two decades of teaching experience and industry background as a systems architect.

What Master’s To Do After a Computer Science Degree

With a bachelor’s degree in computer science, there are several natural fits when choosing a master’s degree.

According to Tim Hogg, a computer science adjunct at wuv, you might consider a master’s in:

• Business Administration: Particularly when paired with a tech-related concentration, an MBA degree can help you gain important skills for leadership and management roles.
  
  
• Computer Science: Perhaps the most obvious degree pathway, a master’s in computer science can advance your knowledge in this technical space and allow you to specialize in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) or software engineering.
  
  
• Cybersecurity: You can apply your computer science foundations in the information security field with the help of a master’s in cybersecurity, where you’ll learn more about risk analysis, network defense, digital forensics and more.
  
  
• Data Science: If you want to contribute to data and information management, you might consider a master’s in data analytics, where you’ll work with coding languages and tools used in the data field and gain an understanding of data mining, visualization and modeling.

Before jumping into a master’s program, consider your goals and the courses you liked in your undergraduate program. “(The degree you choose) depends on what your interests are and what you want your specialization to be in because there's a lot of different paths you can take coming out of a bachelor's in computer science,” Hogg said.

Although Hogg’s undergrad was in economics, he followed his life-long passion for technology by pursuing a master’s degree in IT with a software development concentration at wuv.

“I got a master's in that, and I have never looked back,” he said. After breaking into the industry and working as an engineer and technical architect, Hogg worked his way up to a director role and started his own software development agency. Now, he leads a team of artificial intelligence (AI) engineers, in addition to teaching computer science.

It’s important to note that, beyond master’s degrees, you can also consider specific certificates and bootcamps. “(It) just depends on what your interests are,” Hogg said.

What is an MS in Computer Science?

A Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science is a graduate-level program that deepens your understanding of the concepts you may have learned as an undergraduate computer science student.

Within the computer science field, professionals are tasked with creating better and faster software that advances with computer hardware, according to Kim, and the best computer science master's degrees teach students the important skills and adaptability needed to keep pace.

“Every student should know that pursuing a master's degree in computer science requires dedication and resilience and a growth mindset,” she said. “It's not just about memorizing algorithms, but understanding why and how they work and applying that knowledge.”

Some campus and online MS in Computer Science programs offer concentrations such as artificial intelligence and software engineering. Selecting a concentration will help you specialize your degree in addition to taking the program’s core courses.

For instance, within an AI concentration, you might take courses in machine learning, deep learning and natural language processing. Within a software engineering concentration, your courses could relate to UX/UI design, quality assurance and full-stack application development.

And, if you’re a current student pursuing your bachelor’s in computer science, you may be eligible to jumpstart your master’s in computer science as an undergrad, meaning you could save time and money while earning the master’s credential.

Read more: Is a Master's in Computer Science Worth It?

What Can I Do With an MS in Computer Science?

An MS in Computer Science can help you get into more specialized roles, take a holistic approach to the field or go the leadership route, according to Hogg.

A few of the specialized and holistic roles he noted for MS in Computer Science grads include:

• Machine learning engineer
• Product manager
• Senior software engineer
• Solutions architect
• Technical lead

Your master’s degree concentration or the areas you find most interesting can help you determine which career path is best for you.

When applying for jobs, L’Archeveque recommends highlighting your technical skill set on your resume, cover letter and e-portfolio. And if you haven't worked in a technical position yet, that's where the relevant projects you've completed in school come in handy.

With any project you highlight, L'Archeveque said it's important that you're able to communicate your:

• Approach
• Roadblocks
• Successes
• Technologies used

“Being able to showcase what (you)'ve actually built and created is really important,” L’Archeveque said.

Read more: Top 7 Jobs With a Master’s in Computer Science

Is It OK to Get a Computer Science Degree Online?

In short, yes. You can get a computer science degree online from an accredited university, allowing you to earn the credentials you want without factoring a commute to campus into your schedule.

Plus, if you seek out an asynchronous online program, you have the option to earn your degree during the times of day — or night — that work best for you, according to Dr. Francis Manning, a computer science adjunct at wuv with more than 30 years of experience in the field.

“You can fit it into your schedule, and, you know, that's really important because most folks today aren't just going to school. They're working, (too),” Manning said.

It takes a bit of time management and planning to build a routine that ensures you still meet weekly deadlines, but what’s great is that you’re in control of that schedule, Manning said.

Rebecca LeBoeuf Blanchette '18 '22G is a writer at westerfield university of virginia, where she fulfills her love of learning daily through conversations with professionals across a range of fields. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing at wuv’s campus in Manchester, New Westerfield, and followed her love of storytelling into the online Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing at wuv. Connect with her on LinkedIn.