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Master's degree Information technology
MSc (Master of Science in Engineering)
120 ECTS
Autumn semester (September)
5 individually selectable specialisations: Business Informatics | Data Science & AI | Web Software Engineering & E-Commerce Technology | Security | Resilience & Sustainability
A semester usually comprises three synchronous on-site attendance days, three synchronous online attendance days and two asynchronous distance learning phases.
With your FERNFH master’s degree in information technology, you will acquire the know-how needed in a rapidly changing world of digitalization and technologization. With sharpened and newly acquired knowledge in the core areas of IT and additional expertise in technological management, as a master's graduate, you will not only be able to react to changes in business and society but also proactively shape them. This could be through the targeted use of AI in business processes, the development of customer-centric e-commerce solutions, or by strengthening and implementing resilience, security, and sustainability in technology companies.
The degree program prepares you to develop, implement, and manage complex IT projects. In the master's degree program in Information Technology, you will not only theorize about what the economy and information technology of the future will look like, but you will also learn how state-of-the-art information technology and the digitalized economy are and can be put into practice. Practical relevance is important to FERNFH, which means you can apply what you have learned in your professional environment straight away. Thanks to the innovative distance learning model, which does not force you to choose between work and study, you can continue to apply this knowledge in your job during your studies.
Admission requirements
- Relevant Bachelor's degree programme OR
- Completion of an equivalent degree programme
Information session
Note: The Master's degree programme in Information Technology is the further development of the Master's degree programme in Business Informatics. Click here for the expiring curriculum for the 2023 intake...
Your studies - specialization and diversity
Five innovative specializations allow you to deepen your skills and knowledge in a selectable area of information technology: Business Informatics, Data Science & AI, Web Software Engineering & E-Commerce Technology, Security or Resilience & Sustainability. No matter which specialization you choose, each offers you unique opportunities and career prospects. Specialize in one of these promising areas of IT and pursue the master's degree that suits your interests and career goals.
Your branches on your career path to becoming an IT Manager
The ‘Business Informatics’ specialization deepens your understanding of the integration of IT into operational processes and strategies. You will learn how information systems can help optimize business processes, create competitive advantages, or even make certain business processes possible in the first place. Topics such as the management of IT processes, IT governance, and business analysis and planning are at the center of this specialization.
With the 'Data Science & AI' specialization, you will tap into the potential of data analysis and artificial intelligence for innovative solutions. You will focus on machine learning algorithms, deep learning techniques, and the applications of artificial intelligence in business. The aim is to analyze and process large amounts of data in order to gain new insights and make well-founded decisions.
The specialization 'Web Software Engineering & E-Commerce Technology' focuses on the development of web applications and e-commerce solutions. You will acquire knowledge and skills in software development for the web, as well as in the design and implementation of online shops and the technical management of web software projects. The program covers topics such as web technologies, software design, and quality and security in e-commerce.
In the "Security" specialization, you will focus on the security of IT systems and the defense against cyber threats. You will explore the latest security concepts, technologies, and practices to protect organizations from hacker attacks, data breaches, and other security risks. The goal is to identify security vulnerabilities, address weaknesses, and develop and implement effective security strategies.
In the 'Resilience & Sustainability' specialization, you will research ways to make IT solutions more sustainable and resilient. You will deal with topics such as environmental protection, energy efficiency, green transition, and security in information technology. The aim is to design and implement IT systems that are not only environmentally friendly but also robust enough to withstand the challenges of a constantly changing world.
Your Career future
Graduates of the Master's degree programme in Information Technology have a wide range of career opportunities. Your career prospects also depend on your chosen specialisation and include the following career paths:
- E-Business / E-Commerce Solution Specialist
- IT project manager
- Senior IT Consultant (internal or external)
- Manager for IT departments
- Digitalisation specialist
- Data Science Engineer
- Data Scientist
- Web Software Engineer
- E-commerce system developer
- Tech Lead Engineer
- IT Security Engineer
- IT Sustainability Manager
Your curriculum
The curriculum of the Master's degree program in Information Technology comprises a core curriculum with core subjects (60 ECTS) as well as a wide range of electives and an individual curriculum (choose 30 ECTS from our elective catalog of 37 possible courses) for your individual specialization. Additionally, you have the opportunity to specialize in one of the five innovative focus areas (this accounts for a quarter of your studies), thereby deepening your expertise in the field of information technology in the areas needed for the next step on your individual career path.
| Information technology and information systems (IT) | Digital Transformation and Business Process Digitalization | ||||||||
|
Course Number:
DAT601
Course Type:
Core subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
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| Requirements Engineering and Cost Estimation | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
SED601
Course Type:
Core subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Grid Computing | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM503
Course Type:
Core subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| AI assisted Engineering | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
DAT503
Course Type:
Core subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Management and Communication (MN) | Communication, Negotiation and Conflict Management | ||||||||
|
Course Number:
MGT401
Course Type:
Core subject
Course Level:
Introductory
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
2
|
|||||||||
| Recht (RE) | Advanced Topics of Law and Information Technology | ||||||||
|
Course Number:
LAW501
Course Type:
Core subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Quantitative Methoden der Informatik (MT) | Optimierung | ||||||||
|
Course Number:
MAT501
Course Type:
Kernfach
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Simulation and Cryptography | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
MAT502
Course Type:
Core subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Methoden der Datenanalyse | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
MAT503
Course Type:
Kernfach
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten (WI) | Wissenschaftstheorie und Werkzeuge für die Forschungspraxis | ||||||||
|
Course Number:
ERM401
Course Type:
Kernfach
Course Level:
Introductory
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
2
|
|||||||||
| Research Designs and Methods in Business Informatics (Master) | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ERM501
Course Type:
Core subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
2
|
|||||||||
| Capstone units (CU) | Writing a Thesis Proposal | ||||||||
|
Course Number:
ITC501
Course Type:
Core subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Masterseminar 1 | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ITC601
Course Type:
Kernfach
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Thesis Seminar 2 | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ITC602
Course Type:
Core subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
4
ECTS Credits:
1
|
|||||||||
| Masterkolloquium | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ITC604
Course Type:
Kernfach
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
4
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Master´s Thesis | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ITC603
Course Type:
Core subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
4
ECTS Credits:
20
|
|||||||||
| Specialisation in Business Informatics | Business Analysis & Planning | ||||||||
|
Course Number:
ACF503
Course Type:
Elective subject
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Führung und Organisation im IT-Bereich | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM401
Course Type:
Wahlfach
Course Level:
Introductory
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Corporate Finance | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ACF504
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Applied Macroeconomics | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ECO504
Course Type:
Elective suject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| IT Process Management | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM502
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| International IT Project Management and Controlling | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM605
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Information Security Management | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM501
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| IT Frameworks and -methods | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM606
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| IT-Governance, Compliance & Ethics | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM610
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Market- Orientated Management | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
BUS501
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Specialization Data Science & AI | Business Analysis & Planning | ||||||||
|
Course Number:
ACF503
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Introduction to Computational and Artificial Intelligence | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
DAT504
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Data Visualization Laboratory | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
CIS604
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Business & Competitive Intelligence Systems | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
DAT501
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Numerical Methods and Performance Computing | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
MAT601
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Machine Learning in Practice | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
SED604
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| BigData-Usecases | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
DAT602
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Information Security Management | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM501
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Knowledge Management Instruments & Enterprise Knowledge Infrastructures | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
DAT502
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Use Cases of Artificial Intelligence in Business | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
DAT603
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| specialization direction Web Software Engineering & E-Commerce Technology | Market- Orientated Management | ||||||||
|
Course Number:
BUS501
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Legal matters of World Wide Web | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
LAW503
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| E-Commerce-Systems | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
CIS601
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Advanced Topics in Web Software Engineering | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
SED602
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Web Development | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
SED501
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Ethical Hacking and Web-Application-Security | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM606
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Web Software Quality Assurance: Best Practices & Tools | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
SED603
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Cryptography and Access-Control | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM602
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Frontend Development | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
SED502
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Webserver Infrastructures | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM604
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Specialization in Security | Information Security Management | ||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM501
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Management & Organisation | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
MGT501
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Ethical Hacking and Web-Application-Security | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM606
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Business Continuity Management & Disaster Recovery | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM601
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Technical Aspects of Information Security | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM501
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Cloud Computing Security | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM605
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Cryptography and Access-Control | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM602
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Industry 4.0 and IoT Security | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM601
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Cyber-Defence | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM607
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| IT-Governance, Compliance & Ethics | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM610
Course Type:
Elective subjects
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Spezialisierungsrichtung Resilience & Sustainability (Auswahl) | Information Security Management | ||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM501
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Leadership and Organization | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM401
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Introductory
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
1
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Ethical Hacking and Web-Application-Security | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM606
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Business Continuity Management & Disaster Recovery | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM601
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Twin Transition | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM608
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Cloud Computing Security | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM605
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Webserver Infrastructures | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
COM604
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| IT-Governance, Compliance & Ethics | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM610
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Implementation and Management of Green IT | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
ISM609
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Advanced
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Management & Organisation | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
MGT501
Course Type:
Elective subject
Course Level:
Intermediate
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
3
|
|||||||||
| Individual courses | Individual subjects 2nd semester (Selection of 1 course from the elective course catalog) | ||||||||
|
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
3
As part of the individual curriculum, in the 2nd semester, you select one course to deepen your knowledge individually or complement your qualification profile. Suitable options for this include:
Courses taken at another academic institution must be approved in advance by the program management. It should be noted that retroactive approval is not possible. |
|||||||||
| Individual subjects 3rd semester (Selection of 2 courses from the elective course catalog) | |||||||||
|
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
6
As part of the individual curriculum, in the 3rd semester, you choose two courses to deepen your knowledge individually or complement your qualification profile. Suitable options for this include:
(i.e., a prerequisite is being enrolled as a regular student in the Master's program in Information Technology). |
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| Individual subjects 4th semester (Selection of 1 course from the elective course catalog) | |||||||||
|
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
4
ECTS Credits:
3
As part of the individual curriculum, in the 4th semester, you select one course to deepen your knowledge individually or complement your qualification profile. Suitable options for this include:
Courses taken at another academic institution must be approved in advance by the program management. It should be noted that retroactive approval is not possible. |
|||||||||
| Selection of free elective courses | Elective courses 2nd semester (Selection of 2 courses) | ||||||||
|
Course Number:
WP-SEM2
Academic Year:
1
Semester:
2
ECTS Credits:
6
In the second semester, students complete 6 ECTS through elective courses. These can be individually chosen from an elective course catalog, allowing them to deepen their knowledge in specific subject areas. ► All elective courses available for the second semester can be found in the PDF-Curriculum... Note: In addition to the elective courses listed in the curriculum, all elective courses from other specializations that were not chosen as part of the specialization are also available as elective and individual courses.
|
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| Elective courses 3rd semester (Selection of 3 courses) | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
WP-SEM3
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
3
ECTS Credits:
9
In the third semester, students complete 9 ECTS through elective courses. These can be individually chosen from an elective course catalog, allowing them to deepen their knowledge in specific subject areas. ► All elective courses available for the second semester can be found in the PDF-Curriculum... Note: In addition to the elective courses listed in the curriculum, all elective courses from other specializations that were not chosen as part of the specialization are also available as elective and individual courses.
|
|||||||||
| Elective courses 4th semester (Selection of 1 course) | |||||||||
|
Course Number:
WP-SEM4
Academic Year:
2
Semester:
4
ECTS Credits:
3
In the fourth semester, students complete 3 ECTS through elective courses. These can be individually chosen from an elective course catalog, allowing them to deepen their knowledge in specific subject areas. ► All elective courses available for the second semester can be found in the PDF-Curriculum... Note: In addition to the elective courses listed in the curriculum, all elective courses from other specializations that were not chosen as part of the specialization are also available as elective and individual courses. |
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| Total | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 120 | ||||
Your individual know-how
You would like to attend courses outside the boundaries of Information Technology and additionally educate yourself in other areas?
If you study at the FERNFH, you have the possibility to complete micro-credentials in the following topics outside your own study program:
- Business Administration and Economics
- Data, Information Systems and IT Management
- Digital Business
- Healthcare
- Psychology
- Software Development
- Science General
A Micro-Credential is a qualification certificate that you receive after successfully completing a learning pathway (several courses) at FERNFH. You can complete the MCs during your study time at FERNFH and thus individually compile and continuously expand your portfolio of skills and know-how, depending on your personal or professional interests.
More about the Micro-Credentials...
Programme overview
Advantages
part-time
individual
flexible