Computer Science for Business, Master of Science

Module 1: Executive Management

This course combines people management with business management. Students learn how to manage teams in different countries, considering cultural and organisational differences. They also learn how to measure and improve IT systems, find problems, spot opportunities and create better strategies. Additionally, the course introduces tools for planning and decision-making, with hands-on practice through an English-language simulation game.

Module 2: IT Architecture

The IT Architectures course teaches students to plan, organize and manage IT systems in a business context. Students will learn to design IT architectures, define evaluation criteria and make strategic decisions. They will design architectures, set evaluation criteria, make strategic decisions and conduct risk assessments. Topics include operating systems, virtualisation, networking, identity management, access control, cloud services and security. The course concludes with case studies on visualisation techniques, management tools and the impact of IT architectures on business operations.

Module 3: Information and Knowledge Management

In this module, you will learn how to manage and use information and knowledge effectively in businesses. You will discover how to improve and design processes, focusing on things like how information flows, where data is stored and using machine learning with big data sets. The course also teaches you how to gather and organise information, use collaboration tools and make sure your data is accurate. The emphasis is on hands-on skills, such as sharing, preserving or combining knowledge and managing information strategically to help create lasting business solutions.

Module 4: IT Platforms and Interfaces

The IT Platforms and Interfaces course focuses on managing and optimising IT systems and data flows in businesses. Students learn to analyse and implement IT platforms, design specifications and evaluate technologies for master data management and system integration. The course also covers practical skills in API management, enterprise architectures and different service models (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), concluding insights into industry-specific platforms. Modern interface technologies along with legacy integration provide an important foundation for management decisions.

Module 5: Specialisation I

AI & Data Science & ML

In this module, students learn how to analyse data and gain insights from it. Data governance is an important basis for this in order to be able to work with reliable data. They also discover how neural networks work, how they can be constructed and improved. The Python programming language plays a central role as the basic technology for Maschine Learning. Students also learn to recognise and assess the potential applications and advantages of such tools.

IT Management & IT Services

Students develop an IT strategy that fits the corporate strategy and derive IT services for implementation in the company. In IT risk management, they learn how to assess technical, organisational and strategic risk factors using case studies. They also acquire knowledge about concepts and control in IT service management. With the help of case studies, they recognise challenges and develop solutions for IT service management.

Module 6: Business Process management

The Business Process Management (BPM) module focuses on process-oriented approaches in companies. Students will learn BPM fundamentals, including defining, designing and improving processes. They will use modelling methods to enhance efficiency, quality and flexibility, thereby applying techniques such as simulation and risk analysis. The course covers BPM tools for modelling and automation, their integration with other management disciplines and the cost-effectiveness of BPM investments.

Module 7: Information Security Management 

This course teaches students how to safeguard IT systems and data. The course addresses the creating and implementing of Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). You will learn about security threats, data protection laws and privacy regulations. The course covers how to assess risks, create security measures and develop training programmes. You will also learn to design secure systems, implement monitoring and manage security incidents, while becoming familiar with key national and international security standards and frameworks.

Module 8: IT Project- and Development Management

The "IT Project and Development Management" course teaches students how to successfully manage IT projects and software development within companies. You will learn essential concepts and tools for designing and planning projects, thereby evaluating different methodologies and project approaches and implementing them effectively. Key areas include requirements engineering, agile methodologies as well as practical skills such as budgeting, quality assessment and documentation. By the end, you will be equipped to handle all stages of IT projects, from the initial design to the final rollout.

Module 9: Research Seminar

The seminar on writing scientific papers in IT equips students to produce high-quality research on recent technologies. Students will explore, analyse and present complex IT topics using various research methods, including source selection, literature reviews and data analysis. The course covers advanced topics like AI, machine learning and Web3 / Blockchain, and helps students develop skills in organising and presenting their research effectively.

Module 10: Specialisation II

AI

Students learn the professional use of artificial neural networks (ANN) and AI systems. They can develop and evaluate company-specific AI applications based on models, in particular Large Language Models (LLMs). LLMs are often an important component of interactive and generative AI. In ‘Prompt Engineering’, students learn to create context-related prompts and implement prompt-based automation.

IT Operations & IT Controlling

Students learn how basic concepts of company organisation are implemented in information processing. They will be able to harmonise cloud solutions and on-premise systems to create stable, secure and highly available IT structures. In IT controlling, for example, they gain insights into IT key figures, budgeting and cost accounting. They also learn how to create meaningful reports and evaluate their results.

Module 11: Project / Practice Module

Students can choose between writing a scientific paper, an eight-week internship with a research project or a semester abroad with a research component. They tackle topics from current or concluded research, as well as linking theory and practice in their reports. The module involves deepening existing knowledge, applying project management methods and working independently or in teams. For the semester abroad option, students write a paper at a partner institution, with the International Office assisting with course selection and credits.

Module 12: Master’s Thesis