Qualification goals of the course of studies M.Sc. International Software Systems Science

Through the Master's programme in International Software Systems Science, the following qualification goals in particular are achieved.

Scientific aptitude and ability to engage in qualified gainful employment:

Graduates

• acquire the ability to independently analyse problems in Software Systems Science, especially in the areas of theoretical foundations, system-oriented programming, mobile software systems, data engineering, privacy and security, software engineering, computer networks and distributed systems, using scientific methods and to make a professional contribution to the software-technical solution of complex informatics problems, which meets high demands on technical robustness and sustainability.
• are qualified for doctoral studies through the introduction to topics of current research and the guided processing of research-oriented projects, seminar papers and the Master's thesis and are able to independently further develop the scientific methods of Software Systems Science.
• acquire, within the framework of projects, the competence to recognise the need for information, to procure relevant information on the latest methodologies of Software Systems Science, to independently plan and conduct theoretical and experimental investigations and to critically and responsibly investigate and evaluate the application of new technologies according to scientific criteria.
• are able to confidently understand, reflect on and apply complex theories of Software Systems Science, especially in the areas of distributed and virtualised software systems, power- and sensor-based data processing, modern database technology, adaptive wireless networks, cloud-based software architectures, empirical and formal software design, by attending the subject-specific modules.
• are able to methodically classify and systematically combine knowledge from different areas of computer science and to deal with complexity by studying subject-specific modules from different thematic focus areas.
• have demonstrated, particularly in the context of their final thesis, that they can independently design an extensive research paper in software systems science within a given time frame, in which they have applied learned knowledge to a specially designed research question using independently selected and justified research methods, taking into account generally accepted principles of good scientific practice, and have assessed its usefulness.

Personal development:

Graduates

• can communicate the technical-scientific tasks and solution approaches of Software Systems Science fluently in English, can organise themselves confidently in international teams and show a reflected approach in an intercultural context.
• can take responsibility for themselves or their tasks in a team, integrate participants in a goal-oriented manner, taking into account the respective group situation, as they have shown in group work.
• have developed a professional self-image, questioned themselves with regard to alternative designs and can justify appropriate demarcation.
• are able to realistically assess their own abilities, have developed concrete ideas on how they would like to develop professionally and are able to independently acquire extensive specialised knowledge in a goal-oriented manner.
• reflect on the cultural and social significance of the increasing digital automation of society through complex, locally distributed and networked software systems and incorporate these findings into their actions.
• are familiar with approaches to ethical questions and challenges from the perspective of software systems science and can play a decisive role in shaping social processes critically, reflectively and with a sense of responsibility and democratic public spirit.