follow-up master's program (English) with specializations

• English
• doc. RNDr. Vlastislav Dohnal, Ph.D.

The study program develops a unique competency profile based on the integration of knowledge from multiple domains (a so-called T-shaped profile), which are essential for managing service development and are in high demand across the labor market. A distinctive feature of the program is its focus on both strategic and operational management related to the targeting, design, implementation, and operation of software systems and services within organizational contexts and diverse settings — potentially with an emphasis on secure operation or IT service delivery.
In addition to deepening the theoretical and technological foundations and the practical software development skills acquired at the bachelor’s level, the master’s program adds further dimensions such as team, project, and process management, communication, soft skills, and essential knowledge for operating in economic and business environments — including the basics of marketing, management, and more.
Within the Smart Service Design and Systems Thinking specialization, students acquire the knowledge needed to apply artificial intelligence and machine learning in service design. The focus is not on AI development itself, but rather on its practical application. A key aspect is the emphasis on systems thinking and, in particular, a holistic approach and its use in driving innovation in service-oriented domains. Experts with this profile are increasingly sought after not only in IT companies but across a broad range of organizations, including municipal and governmental institutions.
The second possible specialization is Cybersecurity Management, which provides a multidisciplinary education that extends core cybersecurity knowledge and skills with the ability to understand legal contexts and to implement organizational, legal, and procedural measures in a variety of organizations.

Graduates find employment in companies and organizations of various types and sizes, while also receiving motivation and basic preparation for launching their own innovation-driven entrepreneurial ventures. A significant competitive advantage of graduates from this specialization lies in their ability to address complex challenges related to the development and management of systems and services, drawing on the competencies acquired during their studies. Their profile naturally qualifies them for managerial roles such as Chief Information Officer (CIO), project manager, or risk manager, and increasingly also for positions such as Service Designer or, preferably, Service Architect – a role that requires an understanding of the interrelations among services and the ability to manage an entire portfolio of interconnected service offerings. Graduates can be employed across a broad spectrum of organizations, including municipalities and public institutions, as well as in their own entrepreneurial ventures. In the Cybersecurity Management specialization, anticipated career roles include Cybersecurity Manager, positions in system administration and the operation of cybersecurity monitoring centers (SOC), as well as roles focused on managing the security aspects of IT service design or contributing to cybersecurity education and training.

Requirements for successful graduation

• Obtain at least 120 credits overall and pass the final state exam.
• Obtain 20 credits from SDIPR course and successfully defend Master's Thesis. See more details.
• Pass all the compulsory and elective courses of the program and selected specialization with the highest possible graduation form (unless explicitly stated otherwise).
• Fulfil requirements of at least one specialization.

Compulsory courses of the program

Specialization: Smart Service Design and Systems Thinking

The Smart Service Design and Systems Thinking specialization (which can be loosely translated as Design of Smart Services and Systems Thinking) reflects the current significant shift from the traditional IT design paradigm towards IT-as-a-Service, and from a product-oriented economy to a service-oriented one. At the core of this specialization lies a multidisciplinary perspective: students not only acquire solid IT knowledge, but also develop the skills necessary to understand complex problems in context—spanning marketing, management, finance, or law—alongside essential communication competencies. Moreover, students gain the knowledge needed to apply artificial intelligence and machine learning in service design. The focus is not on developing AI technologies per se, but rather on acquiring skills for their practical application. A key aspect of the specialization is its emphasis on systems thinking and, in particular, a holistic approach and its use in managing innovation in the service domain. Experts with this profile will be increasingly in demand not only in IT companies, but across a broad range of organizations, including municipalities and public sector institutions.

Compulsory courses of the specialization

Recommended course of study

Specialization: Cybersecurity Management

The Cybersecurity Management specialization addresses the growing challenges of data processing extending beyond clearly defined system perimeters (e.g. affecting critical infrastructure), as reflected in the evolving field of cybersecurity. It enables a distinctive interdisciplinary overlap that encompasses not only technical, but also societal and legal aspects of cybersecurity.
The aim of this specialization is to prepare graduates for professional roles that require a deeper understanding of cybersecurity challenges and the ability to handle tasks involving technological, legal, and organizational dimensions. Typical career paths include roles such as Cybersecurity Manager, positions in system administration and security operations center management, as well as roles related to managing the security aspects of IT service design or cybersecurity education and training.

Compulsory courses of the specialization

Recommended course of study