Master of Science in Applied Computing

British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)

This degree focuses on Applied Computing, which is fundamentally related to applying computing technology and computational methods to derive solutions to complex practical problems. Course work will emphasize current issues in industry, case studies, and applied research projects.This program offers you a chance to work with an interdisciplinary and diverse team of academic supervisors that may include faculty from Computing, faculty from an application domain, as well as industry practitioners. You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake directed studies with a supervisor in a different department to explore a specific application area.Applied research is fundamental to the program. Two paths are offered, diverging in second year:Thesis Path – Path 1: complete a thesis project and defend it in your second year. You’ll need to demonstrate originality in the application of your knowledge, either through new publishable research, or a novel solution to an existing practical problem. This is the best path if you’re interested in possibly pursuing a future Ph.D.Project & Internship Path – Path 2: a one-semester research project with a one-semester internship, which may be paid or unpaid. The internship will involve an external company or a BCIT lab where you can learn how advanced computing techniques are applied to solve interdisciplinary problems. The research project may be done in collaboration with the sponsor from the internship, providing added value in terms of practical utility. Students will also complete a 3-credit special topics course, covering emerging areas in Applied Computing, such as Quantum Computing, Generative AI, or Deep Learning.