Department of Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology / Packaging Science
Service Leadership & Innovation
Overview
Linda Underhill, Graduate Program Chair
(585) 475-7359, lmuism@rit.edu
Service leadership and innovation is a graduate program designed to provide students with the capability to transform their service organizations. Service is no longer a subset of manufacturing era thinking. Today, it is a thinking system that examines and produces change across the totality of organizational environments and the economy. The global environment imposes significant responsibility on leadership. Trends, drive the need for changes, include connectivity, information access, globalism, and more. In all, customers expect to receive value in all their service experiences. As such, the MS in service leadership and innovation fills an emerging need in the many service businesses and industries that focus on understanding various customer relationships.
The program is flexible and can be completed through either full- and part-time study. Courses are on-line and in the evenings. Full-time students may complete the program within three or four quarters, or one academic year.
Curriculum
The program includes five core courses (20 quarter credit hours), a capstone project or thesis, plus professional electives and concentrations that total 48 quarter credit hours.
Core Courses
| 0625-790 | Research Methods |
| 0626-755 | Graduate Writing |
| 0635-714 | Data Analysis |
| 0625-750 | Elements of Service Management: A Systems Approach |
| 0624-825 | Strategic Process of Service Firms |
| 0626-735 | Human Capital Strategies |
| 0625-849 | Service Performance Metrics |
| Thesis/Capstone Project/Comprehensive Exam |
Note: Students matriculated in the MBA program in the E. Philip Saunders College of Business may use service leadership and innovation courses as a concentration within their degree program with the approval of their academic adviser.
Concentrations
Human resource management
| 0626-701 | Business Acumen |
| 0626-781 | Human Performance Management Practices |
| 0626-730 | Strategic Employee Development |
Graduation Exit Strategies
All students must complete a thesis, capstone project or comprehensive exam as a culminating experience allowing for demonstration of competencies for theory and application material for the discipline. Students will be advised by the program advisor and/or program faculty as which exit strategy will be most appropriate for them. In the Hospitality-Tourism degree program the default is to take the comprehensive examination upon completion of required and elective course work unless a student seeks to complete a thesis or capstone project. This alternative strategy will be possible if the faculty advisor agrees with the student in their ability to complete this strategy.
Admission Requirements
Prior to being admitted to the MS program, applicants must illustrate that their previous training, ability, practical experience, and education indicate a reasonable chance of success. The complete list of admission requirements includes the following:
- Graduate application
- Baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited institution
- Official undergraduate transcript(s) (in English)
- Two professional recommendations
- A resume
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above, or evidence of relevant professional performance.
- Foundation course work with grades of 3.0 or higher (if required)
The Test of English as a Foreign Language is required for international students. Applicants must achieve a minimum score of at least 570 (paper-based), 230 (computer-based), or 88-89 (Internet-based) to be considered for admission. Scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam will be accepted in place of the TOEFL exam. The absolute minimum score for an unconditional acceptance is 6.5.
