Career dissatisfaction is common. It’s so common that one study conducted by the Lumina Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Omidyar Network and Gallup found that more than half of U.S. workers are unhappy in their jobs because they don’t feel they have career stability, advancement and growth opportunities, appropriate compensation or purpose. The situation is somewhat different in tech. The Global Knowledge IT Skills and Salary Survey reports that 72% percent of North American IT professionals are satisfied with their jobs. A joint CNBC/SurveyMonkey Workplace Happiness Survey found that 90% of professionals in technology are somewhat satisfied or very satisfied.
Paradoxically, the tech sector is one of the three industries with the highest turnover rates, so if you’re contemplating a career transition, you’re not alone. A staggering 52% of U.S. workers are considering a job change right now, according to a survey conducted by Harris Poll for Fast Company, and as many as 44% have plans in place to make the leap.
Perhaps in contemplating how satisfied you are and whether this is the right time to make a change, you’ve asked yourself, ‘Should I get a master’s in computer science?’ It can be a difficult question to answer. Pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) involves a significant investment of time and money, and before you enroll, you should be sure a computer science master’s will support your aspirations. Fortunately, you can make your decision about graduate school based on your future goals because earning an MSCS doesn’t have to involve putting your life on hold. Part-time computer science programs such as Case Western Reserve University’s Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) let working professionals continue earning income and accruing experience while preparing for a career pivot or transition.
Computer science is one of the fastest growing and most in-demand fields today. With technology continuing to evolve and integrate deeper into our lives, companies need qualified professionals to develop, maintain and improve software, applications, networks, databases and more. This creates ample opportunities for those with the right education and skills.
So if you’re interested in entering or advancing in the computer science field you may be wondering do I need a master’s degree in computer science? Or is a bachelor’s degree sufficient?
The answer depends on your specific career goals. While a bachelor’s degree is enough for many entry-level roles, a master’s degree can provide advantages for specialized, senior and leadership positions.
Below is a detailed look at when a master’s degree makes sense and what you can gain by earning one
When Is a Master’s Degree Recommended or Required?
A master’s degree is not mandatory across the board, but it can unlock additional opportunities. Here are some cases where a graduate degree is preferred or required:
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Specialized roles: Many specialized computer science positions, like machine learning engineer, require or strongly prefer candidates with a master’s degree due to the advanced skills and knowledge involved.
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Management and leadership Higher-level roles like IT manager, computer and information systems manager, and chief technology officer often expect or require a master’s degree The advanced education demonstrates your expertise and leadership capabilities.
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Research and teaching: Master’s degrees are typical prerequisites for computer science research and postsecondary teaching positions. Most doctoral programs also require applicants to hold a master’s degree.
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Salary advancement: While not universally required, a master’s degree can increase your earning potential compared to just having a bachelor’s degree. According to PayScale data, master’s degree holders earn 20% more on average.
Key Benefits of Earning a Master’s in Computer Science
Beyond meeting basic job requirements, a master’s degree in computer science offers several compelling benefits:
1. Specialized knowledge and skills
A master’s program allows you to gain in-depth expertise in specific computer science areas through advanced coursework and projects. This can qualify you for roles that bachelor’s degree holders may not have the technical knowledge for.
Popular concentration options include software engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and robotics. Focusing your studies demonstrates advanced abilities to employers.
2. Greater career advancement potential
Many top paying and leadership roles in technology prefer or require candidates with a master’s degree. IT managers, for instance, earned a median salary of $162,930 as of April 2022 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pursuing a master’s shows dedication and elevates your qualifications for these sought-after positions.
3. Higher salary potential
As mentioned earlier, a master’s degree can boost your earning power. One PayScale survey found that IT professionals with master’s degrees earn 20% more on average than those with only bachelor’s degrees. The advanced skills and knowledge you gain make you qualified for higher salaries.
4. Preparation for doctoral programs
A master’s degree positions you for potential doctoral studies in computer science or related fields like data science and artificial intelligence. Most Ph.D. programs only admit students who have already completed a master’s degree.
5. Opportunity to switch specialties
If you want to change focus within computer science — say from programming to data analytics — a master’s program allows you to gain new skills and specialize in an area outside your bachelor’s studies. This facilitates pivoting between specialties.
6. Credibility and confidence
Earning a master’s degree demonstrates your dedication to the field and acquiring advanced expertise. It can give you added credibility and confidence when applying for jobs or pursuing leadership roles compared to only having a bachelor’s degree.
What’s Involved in Earning a Master’s in Computer Science?
If pursuing a master’s degree seems right for your goals after considering the benefits above, here’s an overview of what the process entails:
Length of Programs
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A full-time master’s program usually takes 1-2 years to complete.
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Part-time programs can take 2-4 years depending on your course load.
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Accelerated options may allow completion in as little as 12-16 months.
Admissions Requirements
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Bachelor’s degree (not always in CS, but relevant coursework required)
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Competitive GPA (often 3.0 minimum)
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GRE scores (sometimes waived for those with CS bachelor’s degrees)
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Letters of recommendation
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Personal statement
Curriculum
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Advanced computer science topics like data structures, algorithms, software architecture, machine learning
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Specialized concentration coursework
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Electives for customization
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Thesis or capstone project demonstrating skills
Delivery Formats
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Full-time on campus
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Part-time on campus
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Fully online
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Hybrid options
Alternatives to a Full Master’s Degree
While a master’s degree has advantages for many, it also requires a significant investment of time and money. Fortunately, there are some alternatives that can boost your skills and marketability without completing a full graduate program:
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Certificate programs: Graduate-level computer science certificates allow you to focus your studies on a specific field like cybersecurity or data analytics. These take less time and cost than a master’s.
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Bootcamps: Intensive coding bootcamps can quickly build skills in areas like web development and programming languages. Bootcamps range from a few weeks to six months.
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Certifications: Industry-recognized certifications like the CISSP for cybersecurity demonstrate specialized abilities. Self-study programs prepare you for certification exams.
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Online courses: Massive open online courses (MOOCs) allow you to take affordable master’s-level computer science courses from top universities to expand your knowledge.
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Nanodegrees: Programs like those offered by Udacity provide a curriculum of online courses focused on computer science specializations like machine learning and data science.
These alternatives provide more flexible ways to develop new skills and strengthen your resume. They take less time and money than a full master’s program. However, formal master’s degrees have more credibility and align with education requirements for some leadership roles.
The Bottom Line
While a master’s degree is not essential across all computer science career paths, it can carry advantages for specialized technical positions, management roles, research, teaching, and maximizing your salary potential.
A graduate degree demonstrates advanced expertise that can qualify you for senior jobs and higher pay. But it also requires a 1-2 year commitment of time and money. Alternatives like bootcamps and certifications allow upskilling without a full master’s program.
Overall, evaluate your specific career goals. If you hope to take on specialized work, leadership duties or pursue a doctorate, then the advanced education of a master’s degree is likely well worth it. But it may not be necessary if you simply want to build skills in new areas and aren’t focused on high-level roles. Assess your needs and options to decide if applying for a master’s program is right for the path ahead.
You hit a career plateau or career ceiling
This is more common than most people realize. Research suggests that nearly half of all people who leave jobs do so because they’re concerned about lack of advancement opportunities in those positions. You can be a phenomenally productive worker and highly skilled and still not advance because your company limits hiring for more senior positions to master’s degree holders or ties salary to education level. At companies with no official policies dictating required educational attainment for upper-level positions, managers may still consciously or unconsciously promote bachelor’s degree holders less often than employees with master’s degrees.
If you’re good at your job but your advancement has stalled, earning a master’s-level computer science degree can get your career back on track. Having an MSCS on your resume is just one benefit of going to graduate school. While studying at Case Western Reserve, you will connect and collaborate with accomplished peers and world-class faculty in live class sessions, building a stronger network. You can take advantage of robust career support, including interview preparation, career planning and placement services. You can also participate in the university’s research endeavors, leading research projects and co-authoring papers in elite peer-reviewed conferences and journals, accruing the kind of experience that will make your resume stand out.
Your professional network is small or insular
Who you know matters. While just 46% of job seekers report finding positions through networks in surveys, some sources estimate that 85% of open positions are filled via networking. Enrolling in an MSCS program will help you connect with experienced software developers and programmers, network engineers and architects, computer systems analysts and managers, database administrators, security analysts and industry leaders—all of whom can be a rich source of opportunity.
As a distance learner in Case School of Engineering’s Master of Science in Computer Science program, you can join university, department and student organizations. You’ll meet people outside your cohort, connect with mentors and grow your professional network. After graduation, you can continue building your network at Case Alumni Association events designed to help you connect with other remote students and with graduates of full-time on-campus programs.
Should You Get A Master’s Degree / PhD In Computer Science? (for software engineering)
Do you need a Master’s in Computer Science?
While you don’t have to earn your master’s degree in the same subject as your bachelor’s, a computer science master’s program may expect you to have certain subject knowledge, such as programming. Do I need a master’s in computer science to work as a computer scientist?
What are the requirements for a master’s degree in Computer Science?
In the United States, the common requirements for completing a master’s degree in computer science include completing a set number of course credits (anywhere from 30 to 60 credits, depending on the program), producing a thesis or capstone project, and fulfilling other factors around timeliness and residency. Let’s review each one.
Are master’s degrees more common in Computer Science?
Master’s degrees are more common in some subfields of computer science. According to computer science professionals who share their experiences in online forums, the number of computer scientists with master’s degrees is higher in certain fields, such as aerospace, AI, defense and graphics.
Should I get a computer science degree?
A bachelor’s degree plus practical work experience gave you sufficient foundational technical skills to enter the computer science workforce—perhaps as a programmer, systems administrator or web developer. A computer science master’s degree can help you take advantage of the shift toward specialization in computer science.
