Applied IT Architecture - Tallaght

MSc in Applied IT Architecture
This award winning part-time programme gives current and potential Software Architects the skills, theory and recognition they need to develop in their role.

Gain a full Masters of Science degree in this specialist area through a mixed learning process with an emphasis on practical application in the workplace.

This programme is offered in conjunction with Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet, the Ireland branch of Iasa Global and the Irish Computer Society.

Who Should Attend?
The aim of this programme is to produce graduates in the field of Applied Information Technology Architecture with a systematic knowledge of the key issues and technologies in the field.

Graduates of the programme will have knowledge, skills and attributes around human dynamics, business, technology and strategy, IT Architecture, IT Quality Attributes and environments which will support them in roles as IT Architects.

What is Covered by the Course?
The programme will equip graduates with the required skills to carry out applied research in topics at the cutting edge of the field.

The bulk of the delivery for this programme is online with typically two days attendance in TU Dublin – Tallaght campus required each semester. Students take two taught modules each of the first three semesters with the fourth semester devoted to Research Project. This is an intensive professional course with accreditation from Iasa which required significant effort to attain the high standards required.

The Programme aims to equip established and aspiring Architects with:
• An informed, common, industry-aligned understanding of their role
• A set of frameworks, approaches and tools for executing Architecture tasks
• A knowledge base of current best Architectural practice and experience
• Ability to Communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders
• The capacity to understand technology initiatives from a broad Business Perspective
• Be equipped to make strategic technical decisions
• Obtain internationally certified and validated academic recognition

Benefits
Most software architects grow or develop into their role without formal standards or certification. This unique course will certify your status internationally as a highly skilled, competent, high-performance architect with a level 9 formal degree.

Benefit from an industry-aligned understanding of the IT architect as a role, improving your creativity and performance when approaching stakeholders about software projects.

Enhance your future contribution to the industry with a broad knowledge of technology, the IT environment, architecture in practice and more.

Study the field through a combination of classroom sessions, online learning, boot camps and role plays to best illuminate software architecture best practice. Course dissertations are also completed in-company, adding a real-world, practical dimension to the course.

Flexible Delivery
The programme will start with a 3 day workshop which will involve all participants being physically present. This is seen as important to facilitate networking, experience sharing and group learning.

There is a strong awareness of the constraints on architects’ time, particularly time spent off-site. It is expected that lectures will be delivered one evening per week in term time and every 3-4 weeks there may be a requirement to hold lectures twice in that week. There will also be a requirement to attend one on-campus day at the end of each semester.

Lectures will be streamed live from ITT and will be available for download and offline viewing. The award structure will place greater emphasis on continuous assessment, practical and project work rather than on formal examinations. In fact there are only 2 modules that carry an actual exam.

The programme will have seven modules including a major research project as follows:
• Module 1 – IT Architecture Design
• Module 2 – IT Environment
• Module 3 – Business Technology Strategy
• Module 4 – Human Skills for the IT Architect
• Module 5 – IT Architecture Quality Attributes
• Module 6 – IT Architecture in Practice
• Module 7 – Research Methods
• Research Project / Dissertation

Prospective participants must either (a) be serving in the role of software architect, or (b) be aspiring to move into such a role.

All participants must have substantial experience of IT software and systems development and implementation in team and technical leading roles. They must also have current competence to interact with development teams at a deep technical (i.e. specification and coding) level.

Applicants should have a primary degree (Level 8) in Computer Science or a cognate/science discipline or a degree with a high level of mathematics.

Those who do not meet this requirement will be considered on their merits if they can show a particular interest or aptitude for this area of work or if they have industry experience and training which shows evidence that their education and work experience is sufficient to meet the education needs of the programme and recruitment policies of the College.

Participants will become registered students of ITT and be awarded free membership of ICS..

2 years
Mode of Study: Part Time
The programme will be delivered part-time over two years with lectures one night per week. Every 3/4 weeks it will be necessary to hold lectures twice in that week.

Commencement Date: January 2024

Previous attendees include:
Software developers, IT architects, systems developers, front-end developers, systems analysts etc.