MSc in Computer Science
University Of L'Aquila
Key Information
Campus location
L'Aquila, Italy
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Introduction
Computer Science
Department: Information Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics
Level: Master's
Class: LM18
Admission typology: Open admission with assessment of personal competencies and skills
Internationalization: International degree course
The Master Programme in Computer Science is characterized by a marked autonomous activity of the student, in order to develop her ability in solving problems.
The expertise provided by the program is mainly devoted to distributed systems and mobile applications, computer networks, advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence, and the analysis and development of complex software systems.
Admissions
Curriculum
Graduates must have sufficient knowledge and a thorough understanding of mathematics and basic computer skills for the analysis and design of complex computer systems. Such skills include advanced algorithms and data structures, formal methods and verification of complex software systems, the design and optimization of networks, systems and telematics applications, artificial intelligence, software and advanced engineering, and web engineering.
Graduates must also have a thorough knowledge of computer science and related fields, and methods, from the basic ones up to the most innovative and advanced.
From this knowledge, graduates must be able to autonomously understand the principles and solutions related to applications and complex information technologies, even if not considered during the course of study because they are characterized by recent developments, or related to specific contexts.
In summary, graduates will have:
- Knowledge and understanding of mathematical concepts and advanced computing at the foundation of complex information systems;
- A thorough knowledge of computer science and a systematic understanding of the related key concepts;
- The ability to understand autonomously and to influence the latest developments in the IT sector and the innovative and specific applications.
In each provided program, these objectives are achieved through highly specialized didactic activities amounting to more than 80 credits.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Graduates must be able to apply their knowledge and understanding to the analysis and development of information technology and advanced telematics systems and solutions.
In particular, they must be able to analyze complex information technology problems, to evaluate the corresponding solutions and propose new ones suited to their level of knowledge and understanding, and that may require interdisciplinarity and ability to take actions outside of their field of specialization. The analysis involves the identification of the problem, a clear definition of the specifications, the examination of the possible methods of solution, and finally selecting the most appropriate methods and technologies and their proper application.
Graduates should be able to use a variety of methods, including mathematical analysis, computational modeling, or practical experiments, in order to design and implement complex IT solutions, both working independently, and directing or working with graduates and professionals, not necessarily in the IT domain.
In summary, the graduates must therefore have:
- The ability to apply their knowledge and understanding to identify, formulate and solve complex IT problems using traditional or advanced methods;
- The ability to apply their knowledge and understanding to analyze engineering products, processes and IT methods, even when these are of high complexity;
- The ability to apply their knowledge and understanding to the development and implementation of complex solutions and advanced projects that meet defined or partially specified requirements;
- An understanding of the design methodologies and the ability to use them.
These objectives are achieved through a consistent set of advanced courses, that allow to put into practice the knowledge acquired and call for the implementation of projects both on a standalone basis or through participation in working groups.
Making Judgements
Graduates must have acquired a high critical thinking skill, an ability to identify the most appropriate methods to analyze and solve complex IT problems and to design advanced systems, an ability to understand the limits of their knowledge and undertake appropriate improvements to their own level of knowledge and of understanding. Such investigations may involve literature searches, regulatory and within specific databases. They can also lead to the design and implementation of experiments, interpretation of data and computer simulation, and when necessary to generate the development of original theoretical and practical solutions and methodologies, including extending the frontier of knowledge in the areas of interest.
As far as the computer profession is concerned, graduates must be able to apply their knowledge and understanding to develop theoretical and practical ability to solve problems, conduct investigations and implement complex IT solutions, coordinating and directing different workgroups. These skills may include the knowledge, use and awareness of processes and hardware and advanced software, the testing, the use of scientific and technical literature and of other sources of information.
Graduates should also be able to recognize the broader implications of the computer profession, not only its technical aspects, but also ethical, commercial and industrial.
In summary, the graduates should have:
- The ability to use appropriate methods to conduct research both theoretical and applicative or other detailed investigations of appropriate technical topics, using references to the scientific and technical literature, regulations, databases and other information sources;
- The ability to direct the working groups for the realization of complex IT projects;
- The ability to design and conduct appropriate experiments, interpret the data and draw conclusions;
- The ability to choose and use equipment, appropriate tools and methods combining theory and practice;
- An understanding of applicable techniques and methods and their limits;
- An awareness of the non-technical implications of computer science practice.
Besides teaching and project activities, these objectives are also achieved through direct placement in the IT labour market, and through the training activities related to the development of the master thesis.
Communication skills
Graduates must:
- Be able to effectively work individually, as part of a group and as coordinators or managers of groups;
- Know how to use methods to communicate effectively with the computer science community and with society in general;
- Have the skills needed to integrate and to organize activities within collaborative projects;
- Have the skills needed to capture the requirements of the problem through interaction with clients, the transfer of specific knowledge to its employees, and the presentation and effective communication of results;
- Be able to effectively use, in addition to Italian, the English language both in the technical-scientific field and for the exchange of general information.
These objectives are achieved through learning activities that involve group work, the preparation of project reports written in English, and finally through the preparation of the written and oral presentation of the master thesis.
Learning skills
Graduates must have acquired the ability to study scientific subjects, also in relation to different advanced contexts, in order to effectively integrate the received notions. They must also be able to understand the limits of their knowledge, and must be skilled in identifying the scientific literature, textbooks, other sources and material useful to the investigation. These skills should enable graduates to undertake effectively even higher level training courses, such as PhD or post-Master Degree, and managerial careers that require a high degree of autonomy and self-update capability.
Finally, they must have the ability to read and learn in English language.
The ability to learn is constantly monitored during the course of study through progress tests and exams related with those notions that should be acquired mainly through self-study.
English is learned in specific courses and through the gradual use of it in the classes.
Program Outcome
The Master Programme in Computer Science is characterized by a marked autonomous activity of the student, in order to develop her ability in solving problems.
The expertise provided by the program is mainly devoted to distributed systems and mobile applications, computer networks, advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence, and the analysis and development of complex software systems.
The course of studies by a suitable constant action of analysis, it is proposed to implement but also to anticipate the demands of the prevailing market needs. The degree program in fact intends to introduce students to the most advanced topics in Informatics, both scientific and applied. According to the vision of the Study Programme, the Master Graduate in Informatics is a candidate to be a technological innovation protagonist in the international arena. In practical terms, the course aims to provide in-depth theoretical, methodological and professional competencies in relevant information technology areas: the Master Graduate will be able in the task of analysis, specification, development, testing and maintenance of software systems, configuration and management of network services and telecommunications systems, development and management of complex computer and information systems.
The Master Programme is particularly concerned with all the aspects related with Internationalization, and to this aim all the mandatory courses, in every provided curricula, are given in English. For interested and deserving students, it is provided the opportunity to attend one of the two-year course of study at a foreign university in place of the courses offered by our University, as part of specific agreements with foreign Universities. These students will be able to achieve, at the completion of the training course, the foreign qualification in addition to that issued by our University. The list of partner Universities and rules that govern access to mobility programmes and methods of selection, appear each year in our Degree Programme, which is available on the School website.
In particular, the currently planned courses are:
- Domestic, to be carried out entirely in L'Aquila;
- International Double Title consortium with the University of Nice (France), called UBIDIS;
- International Double Title consortium with the University of Mälardalen (Sweden) and the VU Amsterdam (Netherlands), called GSEEM.
We are also in the process of designing and implementing courses of excellence, also in collaboration with the Gran Sasso Science Institute.
In relation to the quality of the training process, we note that the degree course was awarded of the so-called "Bollino GRIN".
The Bollino GRIN, granted annually since 2004 in collaboration between GRIN (Computer Scientists Group - the association of computer science academics) and AICA (Italian Association for Informatics and Automatic Calculation), certifies the quality of the content of bachelor and master degrees in computer science (classes L-31 and LM-18, in our academic system).
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Role in a work environment:
Programmer: Knowledge of the main methods and algorithmic programming languages also related to advanced and innovative applications, including applications on networks, for Mobile Devices and Applications involving Artificial Intelligence.
Web Programmer: Knowledge of the main languages from the internet and mobile applications, and of their application and possible advancements.
Systems Engineer: Knowledge of major operating systems. Networks Designer: knowledge of the main systems, protocols and network applications. Software designer and project coordinator: knowledge of the elements and the most advanced methods of Software Engineering.
Databases and DBMS Designer: knowledge of the main languages and formalisms for the definition and use of databases, knowledge of possible future developments.
Administrator of Database Systems: knowledge of major DBMS. Technical trainer: general knowledge acquired in the master programme.
Marketing expert: knowledge of the main computer systems and of their industrial and commercial applicability.
Researcher: advanced knowledge acquired in the master programme in the basic and application context.
Entrepreneur (especially in relation to innovative start-up): ability to apply owned skills in an innovative way to create and sell new applications.
Skills associated with the function
Skills associated with the role:
The Computer and information technology are now pervasive and widely applied in almost all fields. In the future, the prospect is that of a further extension of the domains and their application. Consequently, the Master Graduate in Computer Science will find job opportunities both in the companies and organizations that elaborate new computer application, and in those who simply apply them and manage them.
In general, employment and professional fields of reference for the graduates of the class are those of the conception, design, organization, implementation, management and maintenance of information systems (in particular with regard to advanced application areas, new theoretical and technological developments, with special care to the requirements of reliability, performance and security and, today, even the Ethics of Computer Science).
Graduates are prepared for work in companies producing computer systems, networks and mobile applications, both in businesses, public administrations and, more generally, in all organizations that use IT systems.
The graduates will be able to access the coordination and management functions, and roles related to basic and applied research both in industry and in research institutes.
Finally, they can also be employed in teaching in training Organizations. Moreover, the International Programmes GSEEM and UBIDIS provide specific skills in advanced ICT fields, that can be spent in Italy or abroad.
Professional status.
Career opportunities:
Employee in a Private Company of Computer Science, ICT (Information and Communication Technology) or other areas where IT will find its application (ie virtually all employment sectors). Employee of a public administration with role of development or management of computer systems or related areas. Entrepreneur in the ICT field. ICT consultant.
Teacher or Researcher in training institutions or public or private research centers.