Online MS in Computer Science

Join the Rapidly Growing Field of Computer Science

The online master’s in computer science program from the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace University prepares students for a variety of careers within the evolving IT industry and computing world. The MS in Computer Science program is an excellent option for both emerging computer science leaders and career changers. Focusing on excellence in applied computing for major enterprises, the program utilizes and provides hands-on experience with current technologies — we regularly update the curriculum to ensure that our students gain proficiency with industry-standard tools and best practices.

By teaching both the how and the why, we help our students stand out in the field and flourish in their careers. This approach is why Seidenberg School alumni are in high demand by corporate recruiters and successful start-ups.

Pace University

Students in the program use the Seidenberg Portable Lab, which enables them to virtually access a full-featured personal lab of software development tools and enterprise servers on their own laptops. Our coursework and virtual lab offer hands-on experience with a wide range of the latest industry-standard tools and frameworks, including tools for:

• Web and mobile computing
• Game development
• Cloud computing
• Machine learning
• Big data processing, e.g., Map Reduce

With online coursework and our cutting-edge virtual lab, you can learn and practice any time from anywhere.

LEARN FROM FACULTY WITH INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Throughout the program, you will learn from and connect with faculty members who are accomplished professors and have real-life experience in the field. Their personalized, expert attention is just one of the factors that differentiates the Pace MS in Computer Science from other CS programs.

Personalized Learning: Customizable Curriculum

Our online MS in Computer Science curriculum is designed to enable personalized learning through a wide variety of electives and three ways to focus your studies. Pace offers two pre-planned degree focus areas, or you can work with your advisor to create a custom focus.

• Artificial Intelligence—Utilize deep learning and intelligent systems for optimizing system and business efficiency and quality
• Application Development—Learn to create real-time applications and translate game design into workable script language for different computer and mobile platforms.

Students with limited or no experience in computer science or programming will take a four-credit prerequisite bridge course. A student with a baccalaureate in computer science should be able to waive the prerequisite. (The bridge course does NOT count toward the degree; however, grades earned are computed into the student’s QPA.) To learn more about the computer science curriculum, please visit the curriculum page.

Computer Science Careers

The IEEE Computer Society has identified emerging trends and technologies technologies that are expected to significantly affect the computer science industry and the world at large. These include:

• Artificial intelligence
• Configuration management
• Data governance
• Data privacy
• Internet of Things security
• The metaverse
• Sustainability

As the world continues to embrace technology, it’s no surprise that demand for computer science skills continues to grow. Advancements in artificial intelligence and cloud computing have revolutionized business IT, making computer science one of the most dynamic and relevant fields in the modern world. A master’s in computer science can prepare those with experience for more managerial and leadership roles, and prepare career-changing students within the computer science field. Graduate computer science education may also help you negotiate higher salaries throughout your career. The labor database Lightcast estimates that computer scientists with a master’s degree earn a median salary of $118,000. Some skills linked to higher salaries include expertise in machine learning, artificial intelligence, algorithms, deep learning, and data analysis. As the world continues to embrace technology, it’s no surprise that demand for computer science skills continues to grow. Over the past decade, advancements in artificial intelligence and cloud computing have revolutionized business IT, making computer science one of the most dynamic and relevant fields in the modern world. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 23% expected job growth for computer and information research scientists from 2022-2032, much faster than the 3% average for all occupations. A master’s in computer science can prepare those with experience for more managerial and leadership roles, and prepare career-changing students within the computer science field. Graduate computer science education may also help you negotiate higher salaries throughout your career. Burning Glass estimates that computer scientists with a master’s degree earn an average of $96,000. Some of the skills linked to higher salaries include expertise in machine learning, data science, deep learning, and computer vision. In addition to giving you the opportunity to build your proficiency with high-demand skills like those above, earning an MS in Computer Science can help you broaden your IT and management skills to help you enter or advance in a variety of careers, such as:

• Computer Programmer
• CIO
• Database Administrator
• Mobile App Developer
• Network Administrator
• Security Analyst
• Software Engineer
• Systems Manager
• Web Developer

Occupation	Median salary
Web developer	$92,750
Computer systems analyst	$103,800
Information security analyst	$120,360
Software developer	$130,160
Research computer scientist	$145,080

Source: Lightcast and BLS (August 2024)

Pace master’s in computer science students also gain access to our career services team, which can connect you with employers, help you to improve your resume, or give you a chance to practice your job interviewing skills.

Admission Requirements

Candidates must hold a four-year undergraduate degree or equivalent in any area from a regionally accredited institution. A 3.0 undergraduate GPA is preferred, though we use a qualitative approach when looking at applications. Students who have completed two introductory programming in Java courses and have working knowledge of a personal computer operating system can directly start the program study. Otherwise, they will be required to take one prerequisite course required for the program, CS 505 Introduction to Computer Science with Java, before officially starting the program study. For more details on admission requirements and the application process, visit our admission page.