A master's degree in software development or an IT-related field is one of the best ways to advance your already-budding career. The skills you will acquire in a software or web development graduate program will increase your value as an employee and prepare you for more challenging roles.

What Does an IT Master's Degree Prepare You For?
A master's degree will help you learn to design and develop:

• Complex network systems to maximize performance.
• Hardware components or ways to improve existing networks.
• Software communication procedures for efficient data processing.
• Operating systems that can work effectively across large networks.

• Daily operation, maintenance, reliability, and security of large networks.
• Future networks. You will focus on network growth planning and your foresight will be required to ensure the network is able to meet future provisions.

• New network software that will reduce downtime and enhance reliability
• Real-time software systems and understand the complexities involved.

You can expect a substantial salary increase with an advanced IT, software or web development degree. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, in 2005, the starting salary for those with bachelor's degrees in computer engineering averaged around $52,000. By contrast, those with master's degrees in the field averaged around $60,000 in the same year. The starting salaries for software development engineers in 2005 averaged even higher; from between $63,000 to nearly $93,000.

As information assurance and IT security issues are on the rise, employers are looking for individuals with advanced skills in computer networks and software. Get a master's in software or web development and find yourself in high demand.

Sources
http://mint.ece.ualberta.edu/career-advancement.php http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos267.htm