Data and Computer ScienceRuprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg

Students of Data and Computer Science focus on the planning, modelling, design and implementation of complex software and hardware systems and processes.

The Master’s degree programme in Data and Computer Science enables students to further their knowledge of the concepts, models and technologies which they will have come across in the Bachelor’s degree programme in Computer Science. As well as furthering their general subject knowledge and understanding of their specialisms, students also gain additional academic skills. The Master’s degree programme is characterised by its flexibility as students select a specialism, enabling them to further their knowledge in a specific area such as Information Systems Engineering or Computing Engineering. Specialisation is also possible in regards methods and processes for analysis, modelling, and simulations in the context of complex and distributed systems. The course of study is enriched by close collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (Interdisziplinären Zentrum für Wissenschaftliches Rechnen, IWR), which particularly enhanced students’ understanding of the optimisation and simulation of complex phenomena in the field of Earth Sciences.

Graduates of the programme will demonstrate the following:

• They will be able to independently plan, design and evaluate comprehensive computing systems and software projects in line with predefined technical and economic requirements.
• Graduates possess advanced knowledge in one or more areas of specialisation such as data analysis, requirements engineering, distributed systems, or information systems. They are able to apply this knowledge in practice during the design and development of computing systems.
• Graduates are able to break complex information systems down into abstract components (software and hardware) and propose, evaluate, plan and instigate implementation options in view of requirements.
• Graduates are able to work independently to master new technologies within the field of computer science and related fields. They can apply this knowledge in projects, communicate specialist information and develop specialist knowledge.

The Master’s degree programme in Data and Computer Science is divided into modules.

• Modules in computer science
• Application area
• Master’s thesis

The modules in computer science cover three subject areas. When choosing modules, students are also able to select predefined areas of specialism. A large proportion of the Master’s degree programme in Computer Science consists in elective modules. These modules might be taken in subject areas including image processing, computer graphics and visualisation, database systems, optimisation, parallel and distributed systems, software engineering, computer engineering, theoretical computing, and scientific computing.

There are a range of subjects which students may select as a so-called “application area”. These include but are not limited to Mathematics, Economics, Computational Linguistics, Physics, Medical Informatics, Earth Sciences, and Psychology.