Computer Science

Albania is an energetic developing country but Information and Computer technology are probably the two areas where the development will need to be carried at an even faster rate. While our country lacks a modern telecommunications infrastructure and is well behind our Balkan neighbours in computer and internet penetration, nevertheless recent developments are encouraging. In terms of rate of increase in internet penetration Albania recorded very good figures.

Government seems focused at tackling the computer illiteracy problem. Businesses are investing on Information Technology and Solutions. Still much more remains to be done and along with this the need for qualified IT professionals is exemplified even further. The M. Sc. in Computer Science is a postgraduate degree programme which intends to fill the void of the qualified IT and computer professionals. It is offered by University of New York Tirana in partnership with the University of Greenwich, continuing our vision to deliver American and European quality programmes to our students.

The programme intends to equip the student with advanced knowledge of core areas of computer science, as well as allowing for different elective specialization courses. After completing the taught component, the students are also asked to carry on an individual project and produce a dissertation.

Rationale and Aim of the Programme

The joint efforts of the leading academic institutions involved, from different cultural backgrounds, will amalgamate into a programme of study that meets the needs of contemporary educational practice and prepares individuals to meet the challenges of the present business environment from a global perspective. The aim of this M.Sc. programme is to equip students with advanced knowledge in specialized topics in Computer Science and Engineering.

In particular, the M.Sc. programme aims at:

• Producing knowledgeable IT specialists and researchers that will be future leaders in their respective departments in industry or academia.
• Exploring the current trends in which IT industry and Computer Science as a whole is developing and equipping the students with the necessary education to master and make use of these trends.
• Filling the current gaps in the IT industry in Albania for specialists in the most sought after areas, such as Networking, Software Engineering, Security and Database Management.
• Provide the students with the necessary tools, background and breadth for doctoral studies in Computer Science.
• Educate the students with the tools, concepts and methodology required for independent research. Guide them through the different stages of the process.
• Train the students so that they are able to analyse, design and maintain complex computer systems.
• Supply the students with hands-on, practical training oriented towards professional certificates that will be helpful for their future careers in industry.
• Provide the students with necessary information about the specifics of information society in Albania, current state of digitization of public documentation and Albania's long term objectives in the IT industry.

Delivery of the Programme

The duration of the taught part of the M.Sc. program is 12 months. Students will be required to submit their dissertation within six months after the completion of the courses. Modules are comprised of a total of 40 delivery hours spread over two alternate weekends a month, and two four-hour sessions on a weekday, usually Friday.

Core Modules

• Advanced Topics in Computer Architecture

This courses explores design principles for multiprocessor and RISC machines, comparison between RISC and CISC architectures, multiprocessor interconnection networks, memory organizations, parallel algorithms for sorting, image processing, FFT and various applications, data flow computers and VLST computations.

• Advanced Networking

This course focuses on computer networking concepts and technologies; architectures and protocols, LANS, Internet working, and applications.

• Advanced Topics in Databases

This course builds on basic database concepts. The topics covered in this module include physical database design, advanced SQL, data warehousing, data mining, XML data and schemas, database administration and data centre administration.

• Advanced Topics in Operating Systems

The class covers advanced topics in operating systems design and implementation such as parallel and distributed operating systems. Important topics include structuring, multithreading, naming, security, remote procedure call, networks, concurrency, transactions, parallel computing, shared memory, message passing, and scale.

• Advanced Topics in Software Engineering

This course presents modern software engineering techniques and examines the software life cycle, including software specification, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance. Object-oriented design methods and practices, their application to the development of computer-based systems, CAD systems.

• Information Society

This course focuses on the interaction that information technology has on society and vice-versa, specifically tailored towards the characteristics of this issue in Albania. Current state of IT practices; forthcoming projects and their impact on businesses; related legal practices will be explored.

• Strategy and Management

This course focuses on strategy and management issues with the obvious application to IT industry as a whole. Topics strategic aspects of information systems and technology, impact of IT on organizations, project management, team management.

• Research Methodology

This course introduces the student to the research methods used in Compute Science. Topics include techniques and conventions in research methods, pointers towards paper writing, evaluation and presentation of results.

Specialization Courses

• Database Management Concentration
• Database Tools

This course deals with the various commonly used database packages namely Oracle, SQL Server and MySQL. Apart from providing an overview to these tools, this course also explores the use of SQL and PL/SQL within database packages.

• Data Warehousing

This course examines the technical and management aspects of building a data warehouse. This course explores the architecture, infrastructure, processes, data quality, database design, and data analysis involved in building the data warehouse for business analysis. Management issues include business goals, tool selection, project management, personnel skills, training, and user requirements. Topics include dimensional data modeling, extraction/transformation/load processes, data quality problems, data marts, operational data stores (ODS), staging databases, and online analytic processing (OLAP).

• Data Mining

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to data mining, various data mining techniques, and some successful applications. This course will emphasize on modern approaches such as OLAP, decision tree learning, Bayesian learning, clustering, and association learning. This course will also examine real world applications with data mining algorithms and tools.

• Database Administration

This course is intended for those who are responsible for managing, maintaining and supporting Oracle database. This course covers concepts including creating and managing database users, implementing a security system to control activities, defining a backup strategy and performing recovery in the event of a system failure and tuning the database to optimize performance.

• Networking & Security Concentration
• Network Security & Cryptography

This course focuses on principles and practice of network security. Topics include authentication services, e-mail security, IP security, Web security, security systems and threats, wireless security, and security applications. Typical topics include encryption mechanisms, data compression algorithms, caching, online algorithms, number theoretical algorithms relevant in cryptology.

• System Administration

This course offers an in-depth exposition of the Client Server Technology, different types of Server based operating systems, technical and management aspects of the operating system Installation and configuration, Directory Services, User management, Group policies, DNS, DHCP, Exchange Server, the students are trained and better equipped for future need of IT industry or enabling them to kick start their career as a well groomed system administrators.

• Network Management

This course explores principles and practices of network management including architectures, protocols and tools. Communications systems and media (including people); bandwidth limitations; channel sharing and grouping; data formatting; error detection and correction; protocols; networks.

• Wireless Communication

This course explores principles and practices of wireless networks and mobile communications. Wireless transmission and media access technologies, study of a typical cellular system, satellite networks, wireless LANs, wireless ATM, mobile IP, mobility and TCP, and the wireless application protocol (WAP).

• Software Engineering Concentration
• Enterprise Applications

This course focuses on the design of scalable n-tier enterprise applications using Java EE technology. It provides detailed coverage of Web Tier (Servlets, JSP), Business Tier (Enterprise Java Beans, Web Services) and the interface with Information Tier.

• Enterprise Architectures

This course aims to build on Enterprise Applications course while focusing this time on the architectural issues of enterprise systems. The students will evaluate different technologies with the final purpose of identifying the best combination for their applications. Emphasis will be put on distributed systems and advanced concepts such as application servers, scalability, reliability, security, distributed transactions etc.

• Software Quality Management

This course introduces concepts, metrics, and models in software quality management. Since quality process creates quality products, software quality improvements derive from the design of software development processes. The course will cover methods and tools for achieving software quality assurance at various levels of a software system including at the module, subsystem, and system levels. It presents a framework for software quality assurance and discusses individual components in the framework such as planning, reviews, testing, and configuration management. It also discusses metrics and models for software quality as a product, in process, and in maintenance. Students will develop an understanding of software quality and approaches to assure software quality.

• .NET Technology

This graduate course aims to cover basics of the .NET frame work apart from providing an introduction to the three commonly used languages of the .NET family of languages namely VB.NET, C#.NET and ASP.NET. This course would also explore consuming and deploying of XML Web Services using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET.

Other Option Courses

• Artificial Intelligence

This course focuses on standard topics in Artificial Intelligence: general problem solving methods, search methods, production systems games and heuristics, knowledge representation, Artificial Intelligence languages. It also stresses the AI techniques for problems such as data mining and text mining.

• Theory of Computation

The course introduces the student to the concept of the computer as an abstract automaton to accept, generate or transduce languages. It also stresses context-free languages and pushdown automata follows, definition of Turing-machines and their treatment as theoretical model for computers, Church-Turing thesis and the notion of algorithms with respect to Turing machines, the course concludes with the treatment of decidability and NP-completeness.

Have you just completed your Bachelor's and you want to continue your studies further?

If you recently finished your first degree in Computer Science and are enthusiastic to advance your studies to a Master's level, this programme provides breadth in traditional areas of Computer Science as well as depth in terms of individual research and projects. Students who aspire to doctoral studies will find this programme a smooth introduction into the world of academic research.

Are you looking for a boost to your career?

If you are already a working professional in IT industry, this programme will provide you with an edge both in terms of professional skills and leadership and management qualities that are indispensable for a successful professional career.

Are you an international student?

We welcome students from all over the world, and our Master's programme takes into account international business practices, as it is taught by qualified faculty who are distinguished for their teaching and professional expertise in regional and international university. Also, we provide support from specialized personnel with extensive experience in international student matters.

Are you a student with a different type of qualification?

If you have a first degree in a discipline (Electronics, Mathematics etc) and you want to pursue advanced studies in Computer Science, the Master's programme provides a bridging programme that will smoothly equip the students with the required foundational concepts before proceeding to the actual programme content.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

In its conviction that financial constraints should not hinder excellent students from graduate studies, a total of two scholarships and another tow awards are offered annually on a merit bases:

Scholarship 1: The best-ranking UNYT graduate with a  Bachelor’s degree in Political Science / International Relations (or related disciplines), but no graduate studies, with a G.P.A of no less than 3.67 who applies for admission to this program. The scholarship enables the beneficiary to enrol with the program with fees reduced after a 40% discount.

Scholarship 2: The best-ranking graduate from other universities with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science / International Relations (or related disciplines), but no graduate studies, with a G.P.A of no less than 3.67 (i.e 9.5/10 or equivalent) who applies for admission to this program. The scholarship enables the beneficiary to enrol with the program with fees reduced after a 40% discount.

Award 1: The second best-ranking UNYT graduate with a  Bachelor’s degree in Political Science / International Relations (or related disciplines), but no graduate studies, with a G.P.A of no less than 3.50 who applies for admission to this program. The scholarship enables the beneficiary to enrol with the program with fees reduced after a 20% discount.

Award 2: The second best-ranking graduate from other universities with a  Bachelor’s degree in Political Science / International Relations (or related disciplines), but no graduate studies, with a G.P.A of no less than 3.50 (i.e 9.5/10 or equivalent) who applies for admission to this program. The scholarship enables the beneficiary to enrol with the program with fees reduced after a 20% discount.

B. FINANCIAL AID:

UNYT is offering partial scholarships in the form of discounts to students with a record of excellence in their undergraduate programmes pursuing studies in either programme alternative. The 10-scale grading system is counted as a basis thereof.