Have you ever wanted to study a computer science master’s program online? Listed below is all you need to know to get started.
As we roll into the second half of 2020, the need for computer science professionals is ever-increasing, and studying to complete a computer science master’s program seems like it could be a great idea, as it will be the key to opening many job opportunities.
Put simply, it is possible for anyone who is willing to work hard to reach success in their chosen field of study, and there are many people collaborating together to develop the field of computer science into more specific disciplines.
If you’re looking to obtain an online masters in data science, cybersecurity, or even software engineering, now could be your chance to learn!
Here are 7 reasons you should study computer science.
1. It’ll build your life skills
Without a doubt, you will end up learning and mastering new skills throughout your course that you can use in the workplace.
Skills like efficient management and big data analysis, as part of the course, will be things that will stay with your whatever your job going forward. Evolving your knowledge of programming languages and even web development means you will be open to many different options.
2. You’ll grow your professional network
Being a student also provides you an ideal opportunity to cultivate and broaden your professional network.
Every day you will have the opportunity to connect and communicate with new contacts that may develop into a potential job or perhaps even a new collaboration that could lead to your next great idea.
You’ll be able to get to know people and their interests. You may find that you have common professional goals with your classmates, which may result in something big in the future.
Growing your network is essential: there is a constant need for connections with other professionals and the benefits they may bestow on your future career. It is in your best interest to meet and befriend as many other individuals as you are able to while studying.
3. You’ll boost your earnings potential
With new skills and a master’s degree comes higher pay. A computer scientist with a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn between $70,000-$80,000, while earning a computer science master’s degree could raise that expectation to $90,000-$105,000.
These well-paid job roles may be in Information Security or even Software Development. Data analysts are needed across the field, and in a post-COVID world, having a skill and qualification that can be malleable and used in many different job areas will be vital for continuing professional development.
4. You’ll discover more of what interests you
Specializing in computer science can be an excellent way to really dive into what interests you. Is it game development? Artificial intelligence? Biocomputation? All of these areas need highly skilled and well-educated professionals to get passionate enough to take a deep dive into their work to push new discoveries forward.
Choosing your degree program is one step towards getting your future dream job, but you may find while you are studying and you’ve had your eyes opened to more possibilities, that your own world is opened up and more things pique your interest than they did before.
5. You’ll learn from industry professionals at a time to suit you
Most online master’s programs include teaching by some of the top lecturers from around the world. Being involved with some of the greatest minds in the industry opens students up to a new world of possibilities and innovative technologies.
Studies have shown that people are more likely to succeed if they are surrounded by successful people and this is something you can guarantee when you do an online degree.
6. You’ll get a new insight into the way you think and the way that you see the world
Being a student is synonymous with deeper thinking and gaining better insight into the world. Studying computer science is arguably one of the most in-depth subjects on the science side of the course structure.
Learning computer science, especially data science, involves thinking both logically and creatively at the same time and the technical skills require a lot of problem-solving and ‘out of the box’ thinking. This is a fantastic skill to develop throughout your life, and having the ability to practice as a student is an invaluable life skill.
7. You’ll be used to a fast-paced environment
Computer science is a field that has moved fast; it seems that by the time you’ve mastered one programming language, it’s obsolete and replaced by another. While this may seem very frustrating, getting used to this fast-paced environment and getting accustomed to working in an agile manner so as to adapt to change will serve you well in your future life.
Giovanni Sasso from the website Pivot or Die states; “I’ve come to realize that in order to live a fulfilling life I must continually adapt, change, learn and grow. Standing still is not the way to a contented life.” This kind of attitude to life and work means you’ll be more adaptable to change and less fearful of it, especially in a post-pandemic world.
Summing Up
Data Science and Computer Science are fields that require a very strict and very creative brain. There aren’t many people who can succeed in doing both at the same time, but this is part of the reason why only the greatest minds can really make this field their own.
It’s a field that really needs new blood and new thinkers, and you’ll be welcome as a new thinker in the field, pushing technology forward and exploring our understanding of the world on a deeper level.
In brief: Computer science will be the backbone to jobs in the latter end of 2020 and beyond. Studying now puts you ahead of the crowd and puts your earning potential higher than your peers, definitely an idea worth thinking about going forward into this new world we find ourselves in.
