5 tech-related master’s to supercharge your career for the digital future

It’s no secret that the tech industry is booming. Businesses across sectors need digital and tech experts to help them solve real-world challenges and drive growth and innovation. 

You don’t necessarily need to be an engineer to benefit from the tech job boom — there are many other tech-related careers and non-tech careers that are integrating aspects of technology into their roles, making it handy for professionals to develop some form of understanding in the field to help them stay competitive in the job market.

Tech professionals can benefit by equipping themselves with business acumen — and vice versa — and use their newfound knowledge and skills to advance their careers.

There are many programmes at your disposal, some of which intersect business with technology, depending on your interests.

Here are five fields worth considering:

Software development 

Software developers help to design computer applications or programs. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the employment of software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to grow 22% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. 

“These workers will be needed to respond to an increased demand for computer software,” it said.

To stand out from the competition, you can consider getting a qualification such as a MSc in software development. It’s worth noting that not all programmes have a computer science background as a prerequisite. 

Some universities offer programmes for students without a computer science background.

Business analytics

“Business analytics focuses on the larger business implications of data and the actions that should result from them, such as whether a company should develop a new product line or prioritise one project over another,” notes Talend.

It refers to a combination of skills, tools, and applications that allows businesses to measure and improve the effectiveness of core business functions such as marketing, customer service, sales or IT.

There are many business analytics-related degrees in the market. Saint Joseph’s University offers a STEM-designated programme — the Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Analytics, for instance, is designed for students who are interested in using data to advance their organisation’s strategic priorities.

IE School of Human Sciences and Technology offers a Master in Business Analytics and Big Data which moulds future data scientists ready to help their companies become data-driven businesses by extracting relevant insights from data and using advanced analytics to drive decision-making processes.

Cybersecurity 

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 31% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. 

“Demand for information security analysts is expected to be very high, as these analysts will be needed to create innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or causing problems for computer networks,” it said. 

Research by Varonis suggests that most companies have unprotected data and poor cybersecurity practices in place, making them vulnerable to data loss. 

With many companies shifting to remote work due to COVID-19, many have neglected to implement sound cybersecurity practices. All businesses are potential prey to cybercrimes, regardless of growth rate, structure and reputation. 

Companies need qualified cybersecurity experts, which means a qualification such as a master’s in cybersecurity could come in handy if you’re looking to carve yourself a career in the field. 

Software engineering 

If you want to play a role in developing mobile applications — or improving existing ones — for Android, iOS and other operating systems, a background in computer science or software engineering could be helpful. 

Mobile applications developers are needed for various industries, be it the government to the private sector. Software engineers or software developers can also work in various sectors, including banking and finance, to name a few.

Market research 

Market research analysts help businesses collect data on consumers, products or services, and analyse their findings, which can help leaders make strategic business decisions. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of market research analysts is projected to grow 18% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be driven by increased use of data and market research across many industries, it said.

Market research and market analysis can serve as one or separate job functions, depending on your project or the nature of your work. Generally speaking, market research entails collecting data from specific markets or customers, while market analysis involves understanding data and drawing insights from various sources.

A bachelor’s is usually enough to secure entry-level positions, but an advanced degree could help you secure more technical positions or help you climb up the career ladder. Having strong quantitative and analytical skills will also prove handy. 

You can find courses such as Master’s in Marketing Research by Michigan State University. Their programme consists of specialised marketing research classes, including consumer insights courses and customer analytics courses.

With the digital economy, there’s plenty of data on customers’ motivations online. The IE School of Human Sciences and Technology’s Master in Market Research and Consumer Behavior can help prepare students to analyse data and convert it into valuable insights and transform those insights into action with a real impact on the bottom line.