MASTERʼS DEGREE IN
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Our Computer Science Master Degree Programme is structured in such a way as to further the theoretical and methodological foundations laid by our Computer Science Bachelor Degree, as well as the technical knowledge of graduate students, by including current computer science disciplines sought-after by the job market, such as:
- distributed and concurrent programming;
- Bioinformatics;
- information systems security;
- software verification;
- information systems management;
- advanced user interfaces;
- computer forensics;
- image processing;
- operational research;
- artificial intelligence.
In order to let students practice what they learn, the Programme includes a training internship activity whose goal is to allow students delve into emerging trends in the field of Computer Science and gain experience with the advanced technological tools available in our research laboratories. This integral part of the training programme promotes the transfer of technological innovation from the academia to businesses and helps students familiarise with the methodologies of the scientific research.
Why choose this degree programme?
Here are a few reasons:
- you like solving complex problems using theoretical and practical IT tools;
- you want to become a specialist in one of the following fields: software systems design and development, algorithms and automated reasoning, interactive systems, programming languages, concurrent and distributed systems;
- you want to develop a qualified profile enabling you to enter the job market in a role of technical or managerial responsibility or to continue your studies through a PhD or second-level master degree (master di secondo livello), in Italy or abroad;
- you want to explore the frontiers of scientific research in the field of Computer Science.
Since the 2013/14 academic year, the Programme has been awarded the GRIN mark, issued by the Italian Association of Computer Science University Professors (GRIN) and the Italian Association for Computer Science and Automated Calculation (AICA), which certifies the quality of Computer Science master degrees.
Programme structure
The Programme includes four compulsory exams:
- Artificial Intelligence 6 CFU
- Languages and Compilers 9 CFU
- Formal Methods and Logic for Computer Science 12 CFU
- Operations Research 6 CFU
There are also mandatory training activities for 42 CFU:
- Free-choice credits (12 CFU)
- Training and orientation internships (10 CFU)
- Final test (20 CFU)
The remaining 45 course credits must be earned by choosing among the offered courses.
What happens after graduation?
Upon completion of your studies, you will be qualified for positions of employment pertaining to the design, organisation and management of computer systems in a wide range of areas such as industry, IT and computerised services, public administration, health, scientific research, environment and land, culture and cultural heritage, multimedia and, generally, within any organisation that uses complex computer systems.
A Computer Science master degree will also enable you, subject to passing the corresponding selection processes, to access more advanced levels of education – such as our PhD in Computer Science – in Italy or abroad.
By passing a qualifying State exam, you may also enroll on the Italian Register of Chartered Engineers, Section A – Information Engineering.
Another possible occupational outlet is teaching in secondary school, which (in Italy) requires completion of the training process in accordance with the provisions of the current legislation. It is worth noting that the recent approval of the decree implementing Law no. 107 of 13 July 2015 concerning “the system of initial training and access to teaching positions at lower and upper secondary schools” has introduced a new recruitment model.
Specifically, “all graduates who have earned 24 academic credits in psychological, anthropological or pedagogical training areas or in teaching methodologies are eligible to participate in the selection processes” clearing the way for a career as a teacher in the secondary education system. The offering of the University of Udine includes courses tailored to meet such requirements.
The unemployment rate for graduates with a Computer Science master degree is zero a few weeks after graduation, as demonstrated by the AlmaLaurea survey as well as the frequent enquiries received by the Programme’s coordinators from businesses and enterprises in the local area and beyond.
