Team of IT professionals at a table of computers working on a project

Information Technology Online Master's Degree Program

can be completed in as little as

6 terms*

*2 terms per semester; each term is 8 weeks

Tuition

$595/credit

$1,785 3-credit course

Active Duty Military

truED Preferred Tuition

Credit Hours Required

33-42*

Application Deadline

Spring 1: Dec. 20

Upcoming Start Dates

Spring 1: Jan. 6

Explore Information Technology

Take your technical expertise to the next level with an online master's in information technology graduate program designed for professionals with technical backgrounds in various fields of study including computer and information systems, software development, web design and development, and more. This unique master’s in information technology degree was developed in response to industry demand to provide a path for professionals - like computer network architects, software developers, web developers, and more - to master their crafts to demonstrate they are technically focused and disciplined to be compatible with today’s long-term technological workforce needs.

 

Differentiate Your Online Master’s in Information Technology

Set yourself apart from the competition and round out your online master's in IT with a certificate in a specialized area of focus. Choose from:

  • Business Management: Learn and practice advanced management concepts, with a specific focus on leadership and the global economy.
  • Data Science: Learn how to design and query databases, create and use scripts, visualize data, evaluate machine learning models, and examine uses for artificial intelligence to gain insight and resolve issues as you capture, maintain, process, analyze, and communicate information.
  • Digital Forensics & Incident Response: Learn how to classify risks, identify and categorize vulnerabilities, and recommend mitigation and remediation strategies that are effective in criminal and civil digital investigations in both the public and private sectors.
  • Software Engineering & Project Management: Learn how to apply software testing techniques to ensure the quality of software products, follow project management best practices, and use the latest analysis requirements to specify software products.

Build Your Career Future

Champlain’s online master’s in information technology combines the design, development, implementation, and management of systems organizations use in their operations to store, protect, and make use of information. In this advanced master's information technology program, you will learn to develop classifications of systems and information, design a database, develop reports according to stakeholder requirements, determine the feasibility and appropriate models for software development projects, and develop practical programming/scripting skills.

You’ll emerge from the online master's in IT program with a strategic, integrated view of information technology that will provide a robust framework for today’s technical professionals to think more critically and approach complex organization challenges more innovatively. You’ll also gain essential soft skills, such as communication, critical thinking, and leadership, that will be key assets for future career advancement as technology evolves.

Take the next step

Academic Excellence and Recognition

New England Commission of Higher Education Accreditation Logo

Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Best MBA Colleges in VT 2021

Ranked among the Best MBA Programs in Vermont by University Headquarters

Military Friendly Designation, Silver Badge 2024-2025

Designated as a Military Friendly School for our commitment to the military community

US News & World Report Best Online Bachelor's Degree Programs

Named the Best Online Bachelor's Programs by U.S. News & World Report

Prepare For What's Next

As technology evolves and changes, the industry need for highly skilled and qualified technical professionals is fast-growing across all sectors. With a valuable combination of technical acumen, subject matter expertise, and critical soft skills, graduates of Champlain's master's information technology program will be prepared to pursue advanced roles in the information technology field.

Master’s degrees are in high demand in the vast and varied world of information technology, and employment in master’s-level occupations is projected to grow by 13% from 2020 to 2030 - much faster than the average for all occupations. Additionally, the median annual salary for computer and information technology occupations is $91,250.

* *Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2020

Master's in Information Technology Careers

  • Computer Network Architect
  • Computer Programmer
  • Computer Support Specialist
  • Computer Systems Analyst
  • Computer and Information Research Scientist
  • Data Scientist
  • Database Administrator
  • IT Manager
  • Network and Computer Systems Administrator
  • Software Developer
  • Web Developer and Digital Designer
PHP programming student sitting at desk with two computer screens with code on them

Program Details

Learn more about Champlain's 100% online master's in information technology, designed for working professionals. 

MS Information Technology Courses

Required Courses (21 credits)*

Electives (3 credits)

Graduate Certificate (9-12 credits)

* For admission to this program, students must demonstrate previous coursework and/or experience in information technology (IT) and Digital Forensics. Students who do not display sufficient IT knowledge and skills will need to complete CMIT-500 and those without the necessary level of digital forensics experience or skills will be required to complete DFS-500 before starting the program.

 

Required Courses

Students will be using FTK Imager, Magnet Encrypted Disk Detector, OS Forensics Volatility Workbench, Kali Linux, Reg Ripper, Network Miner, and Wireshark to develop a foundation framework for the practice of Digital investigations, including technical and managerial issues.

Understanding risk and identifying the threats organizations face are essential skills for today's information security professionals. In this course that introduces students to the graduate degree program, students learn to compute impact scores for vulnerabilities, classify data, and use Champlain College Online's virtual environment to explore how to use IOCs (Indicators of Compromise).

In this course students learn to differentiate relational and non-relational databases, and to design a database to an organization's requirements. Preparing raw data for import into a database, using queries to manipulate data, and developing reports to meet stakeholder needs, and database integrity and security are also covered.

Students will gain an understanding and respect for emerging technology by exploring current trends in security and examining topics such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain and behavior analytics. Students will analyze the science behind these technologies as well as the ethical and privacy concerns and implications that may hinder their widespread adoption.

Prerequisites

Take OPSC-501

This course is designed to introduce a systematic process for planning, organizing and controlling projects. The course will present a practical methodology for completing projects more quickly with fewer problems. Student work will consist of readings, research, class special-topic presentations, group activities, a project management journal, and participation in a real world IT business project. Students will be encouraged to apply project-management techniques to solve existing real-world technology-related business problems.

In SDEV-520, Software Engineering, students learn about the field of software engineering, including project management methodologies applied to the field of Software Development, economic factors that affect development decisions and product life cycle, requirement gathering and assessment, and modelling languages. Disruptive technologies and methodologies and their impact on this field are also covered in this course.

Prerequisites

Complete MBA-506

In this course students demonstrate mastery of the information technology concepts and skills learned and acquired through the Master of Science in Information Technology degree program via successful completion of a Capstone project. Students are required to complete a reflection assignment to produce additional insight.

Prerequisites

Successful completion of 30 credits in the degree Information Technology MS program.

Students learn to create and use scripts to access, acquire, prepare, and transform data, including structured and semi-structured data, and to define and detect patterns in unstructured data to demonstrate how real world problems can be answered with data.

Scripting languages like Python can help security professionals extend available tools but also create new tools to address specific needs. Extensive labs in this course have students attacking MD5 hashes, web scraping, parsing security logs and breaking a cipher.

Prerequisites

Complete OPSC-501

Students will develop the ability to write basic python scripts (WIngIDE) to help in digital investigations. Students will also interpret scripts written in other languages, like EnCase Enscript or Perl or Microsoft Powershell or UNIX Shell Script.

Prerequisites

Complete DFS-501

Self-leadership is defined by a developed sense of who you are, what you can do, and where you are going, coupled with the ability to affect your behavior and emotions and to communicate effectively through the process. Students will develop a sense of self-awareness to include the values and habits of mind that drive one's practie as an innovative and creative leader, in a global and diverse workplace.

Prerequisites

Complete MGMT-525 or have equivalent knowledge or coursework.

The world is increasingly characterized by diversity and an integrated economy. Balancing the business opportunities and risks associated with dynamic and uncertain global changes is critical to effective leadership in this global economy. Leaders must learn how to integrate their understanding of culture, ethics, economic and policial issues into their decision making and strategy development.

During a firm's planning, operations, and control cycles, many choices and decisions must be made. We introduce you to financial information within an orgranization that supports decision making and performance measurement in addition to how to use this information to make a business case to various stakeholders. Students will also consider how weigh both qualitative and quantitative factors when making decisions.

Prerequisites

Complete MBA-524 or HCMT-527

Decision-making in any organization cannot be separated from financial considerations, and those involved with strategic planning and operations need to understand the impact their work has on the organization's financial performance. Managers must understand the organization's financial models in order to make a meaningful contribution to the overall success of the organization. Students will focus on using financial information rather than creating it and will use case studies and simulations to experience low-risk financial decision-making.

Prerequisites

Complete MBA-516 or take concurrently.

Students learn to create and use scripts to access, acquire, prepare, and transform data, including structured and semi-structured data, and to define and detect patterns in unstructured data to demonstrate how real world problems can be answered with data.

In this course students learn about deep learning, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, and compare supervised and unsupervised learning. Machine learning workflows and the challenges associated with machine learning, such as bias and heteroscedasticity, are considered. Students evaluate models, and examine uses for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Natural Language Processing is also addressed.

Prerequisites

Complete CMIT-510

In this course students learn about different types of data and methods of visualization so they can select appropriate visualization techniques, and prepare and visualize data for specific audience(s). The role of human perception and its impact on the design and communication of graphical representations of information is also examined.

In this course students learn about data types and how to perform pre-processing activities including cleaning, integration, reduction, and transformation. Use of appropriate techniques to analyze and model data, such as classification, decision trees, association rules, and clustering, and the causes and methods of detecting outliers are also covered. Students propose additional applications for data mining based on current trends/research.

Prerequisites

Complete CMIT-510

Students will be using FTK Imager, Magnet Encrypted Disk Detector, OS Forensics Volatility Workbench, Kali Linux, Reg Ripper, Network Miner, and Wireshark to develop a foundation framework for the practice of Digital investigations, including technical and managerial issues.

Hands-on labs and assignments using Kali Linux, Metasploitable, Nessus and Armitage build on previously acquired knowledge of threat and vulnerability classification in this course that allows students to use the knowledge of a vulnerability to perform threat analysis. Vulnerability and patch management processes are also addressed.

Prerequisites

Complete OPSC-501

Students will use tools such as The Sleuth Kit and Volatility to conduct forensic analysis of PC & server operating systems and software running on those systems, while gaining a knowledge set of forensic relevant information about operating systems, including those used in mobile devices. Finally, students will look at the challenges of virtualization, including those that come with the growth of Cloud systems.

Prerequisites

Complete DFS-501

In this class, students use tools like nfdump, Snort and Wireshark for network forensic analysis in the context of the role of an incident response team.

Prerequisites

DFS-520

In SDEV-530, students will use software modelling techniques and formal representation, including Unified Modelling Language (UML), to represent and design software systems.

Prerequisites

Complete SDEV-520

In this course students study the specificity of managing software development projects, covering all areas identified by the Project Management Institute in the PMBoK? Software Extension. The application of these concepts to alternative forms of project management are also covered in this course.

Prerequisites

Complete SDEV-520

In this course, students study Agile project management methodologies, in the context of software development, as a way of achieving Software Engineering quality goals. Students will learn what projects lend themselves to an agile approach, and how the agile approach relates to traditional project management, while learning the tools and techniques of Agile.

Prerequisites

Complete SDEV-520

In this course, students will learn how to plan and implement software testing using quality assurance frameworks.

Prerequisites

Complete SDEV-520

In addition to developing advanced analytical skills, and a strategic mindset, graduates of the MS in Information Technology online program will demonstrate a mastery of the following industry-specific competencies:

  • Develop classifications of systems and information to determine priorities based on importance or sensitivity
  • Relate market, organizational, and operational factors to innovation and the development of new technology
  • Plan, implement, and conclude a project with appropriate management of requirements and change, applying critical thinking and reasoned decision making to achieve project objectives.
  • Design a database and develop reports to meet stakeholder requirements, and use queries to manipulate data while acknowledging the need to maintain data integrity and security.
  • Use objective measures to determine the feasibility of software development projects, summarize objective ways of collecting functional and nonfunctional requirements, decide the most appropriate modeling language for a variety of software projects, and categorize software verification and validation techniques.
  • Develop practical, in context, programming/scripting skills.
  • Compare public and private sector, and criminal and civil digital investigations and processes for preparing digital evidence, within a moral, legal, and ethical framework.

In addition to the admission requirements for all graduate program applicants, our online MS in Information Technology program has specific requirements that must be met. 

Admission to this program is open to students from diverse backgrounds, including the several fields of information technology (IT) and career changers looking to combine their skills with IT. Students who demonstrate, through coursework and/or professional experience, sufficient IT knowledge and skills might not be required to complete CMIT-500,  those who similarly demonstrate sufficient digital forensics knowledge and skills might not be required to complete DFS-500.

 

 

Champlain College Online's computer science faculty, led by Department Chair Richard Pickering, are expert practitioners in the field. Their industry expertise ensures that our curriculum is aligned with the needs of employers, and reflects the skills today’s IT systems professionals need for success. Classes led by our seasoned experts will give you real-world insight into the world of information technology, and create a rich community of career-focused learning.

Increasing your career mobility is at the center of everything we do. As an online master's degree student, you get free access to the Fast Start Formula Career Bundle for getting noticed and getting hired, taught by Jen Morris, a leading executive career coach that partners with us to support our students in their job search journeys. 

Tuition & Costs

Graduate Tuition Fall '23 - Summer '25

$595 per credit
$1,785* per course
$450** PER CREDIT FOR ALUMNI WHO EARNED A DEGREE FROM CHAMPLAIN, ON-CAMPUS or online
$450 per credit military service members (family members see truED tuition)
$150 One-time graduation fee

*Based on a 3-credit course; cost will vary if course is a different number of credits

** Starting Summer 2024, not retroactive

See the graduate cost of attendance and fees here

 


 

What To Expect at Champlain Online

Expect Convenience

Go to school wherever and whenever is best for you, on the device of your choice.

Expect A Career Focus

Relevant and immediately applicable coursework gets you ready for your next career move

Expect Support

Your dedicated academic advisor provides the support you need to meet your academic goals

Expect Superior Faculty

Learn from practitioner faculty working in the field, with real-world experience and knowledge.

Why Champlain

Flexibility

"I chose Champlain because it gave me the flexibility I needed. The accelerated format offers a great way to reach your goals faster, and makes earning your degree or certificate a realistic achievement that truly is obtainable."

Shane Dalziel Bachelor Degree in Computer & Information Systems
Director of Operations, VIP Media Co.
Shane Dalziel, Bachelor's Degree in Computer & Information Systems

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Get Your MS Information Technology Guide

Learn more about what you can expect from our master of science in information technology, including the certificates you can you choose from.

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