CLOUD COMPUTING

Among the biggest disruptive phenomenon in the global IT industry, cloud computing has grabbed everyone’s attention – students, teachers, businesses (big and small) and governments. Almost every major or minor IT company has cloud-based offerings. Perhaps because of its widespread popularity, different people have different perceptions of what it stands for and what is its potential. The treatment of the subject also varies across universities; as a student, you benefit from wide variety of courses. In the US, most universities offer cloud computing largely as part of a Master of Science in Computing.

Newcastle University offers a Cloud Computing MSc, which “focuses on both theory and practice so that you can understand and implement cloud computing applications”. It covers “key subjects such as advanced object-oriented programming, data mining and big data analytics”. (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/degrees/cloud-computing-msc/#profile)

The National College of Ireland offers a one-year MSc in Cloud Computing targeting “computer science or engineering graduates, ICT industry practitioners, system administrators, and those with an interest in gaining practical experience in cloud computing”. (https://www.ncirl.ie/Courses/Course-Details/course/MSc-in-Cloud-Computing-MSCCLOUD5)

The Faculty of Engineering, University of Leeds offers an Advanced Computer Science (Cloud Computing) MSc which will furnish “a foundation in topics like systems programming and algorithms, as well as specialist modules in advanced distributed systems – especially cloud techniques, technologies and applications”. Students may also “choose from optional modules in topics across computer science. You could look at emerging approaches to human interaction with computational systems, data mining and functional programming among others”. (https://engineering.leeds.ac.uk/courses/PG/201718/G313/advanced-computer-science-(cloud-computing)-msc)

The University of Maryland College University offers a MS in Cloud computing architecture focusing on both design and implementation perspectives. NUI Galway offers an MSc in Cloud computing research through its College of Business, Public Policy & Law (https://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/research-postgraduate-programmes/phd-and-masters/cloud-computing-research.html).

There are variations too. The Charles Sturt University, for example, offers a Master of Cloud Computing and Virtualisation as a two-year full-time and a four-year part-time course (http://www.csu.edu.au/courses/master-of-cloud-computing-and-virtualisation). Middlesex University, London offers a Network Management and Cloud Computing MSc with a “marked emphasis on professional and applied skills”. (http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/computer-network-management)

Uppasala University offers a Masters in Applied Cloud Computing (http://www.uu.se/en/admissions/master/selma/Kurser/?kKod=1TD265&typ=1)