Georgia Southern University to Offer Online Master of Science in Computer Science

The University System of Georgia's Board of Regents approved a new online Master of Science in Computer Science degree in Georgia Southern University's Collge of Information Technology. Classes in the new program are set to begin in the fall of 2010.

"The online Master of Science in Computer Science degree program is another example of how Georgia Southern’s College of Information Technology is leading the way in preparing professionals for a future in a field that touches every aspect of our lives," said Georgia Southern University President Brooks Keel. "As the only College of Information Technology in Georgia we are dedicated to educating professionals who will have a large impact on the businesses and industries already in Georgia, and whose presence here will attract new ones as well."

The program is the latest addition to Georgia Southern’s growing list of 100 percent online programs that are opening up educational opportunities for professionals and other non-traditional students. The University’s online programs are particularly attractive for individuals who need more flexibility in order to complete a degree and may not be able to travel to the University’s main campus.

"A student’s distance from Georgia Southern, or the obligations of a demanding career, used to stand in the way of many professionals pursuing degrees," said Gary Means, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Georgia Southern University. "Our new online Master of Science in Computer Science degree program will allow students to do their coursework and interact with professors and classmates when it is convenient for them and without interfering with their day-to-day responsibilities."

The online Master of Science in Computer Science degree is the first graduate degree to be offered by Georgia Southern’s College of Information Technology, which was founded at Georgia Southern University in 2003. Since that time, the College has quickly positioned itself as a leader in information technology higher education. The College was the first four-year institution in the world to teach virtualization on VMware and its undergraduate game design program was recently ranked one of the top in the U.S. and Canada by The Princeton Review.

"This new masters degree program is an important step for the College of Information Technology and our students," said Interim Dean Ronald Shiffler. "There is a definite need and we are seeing an increasing demand for information technology professionals. This new online program has been specifically designed to provide an advanced level of education and expertise in a high-demand field."

The degree program places an emphasis on data mining and data warehousing and will prepare students for positions including data warehouse managers and architects, business intelligence engineers, database application developers and principle data analysts.

"There are many IT professionals actively involved in using databases and database queries. This masters degree program carries their knowledge one step further, allowing them to understand how to query information from sources that are not as strictly organized as databases," said Jim Harris, who leads the department of computer sciences in the College of Information Technology.

The online Master of Science in Computer Science is a 30-hour degree program that can be completed by taking two courses a semester for five semesters. The courses in data mining and data warehousing will be taught by faculty who are internationally recognized in their fields.

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