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Information Sciences and Technologies (formerly Information Technology) MS
Program overview
The master of science degree in information sciences and technologies addresses the need for IT computing professionals who can integrate theory and technology to tackle evolving trends in business, scientific, and social computing--all while understanding and advocating for the needs of the users within a specific organizational or societal context. The program's core courses investigate current directions and opportunities within the IT computing discipline, the issues and challenges surrounding the management of today's massive data volumes, and the opportunities afforded by data analytics. Students can personalize their studies by selecting a set of technical domain electives.
Curriculum
The program consists of 30 semester credit hours of graduate study, and includes four core courses, four or five technical domain electives (depending upon capstone option chosen), and a capstone experience.
Technical domain electives
Technical domain electives are offered in the following areas: Web design and development, integration technologies, interactive media and mobile apps, database technologies, data management and security, discovery informatics, information management, and data analytics and visualization. Additional course work is available in related topics such as XML data management, geographic information science and technology, and project management. Alternately, students can create a customized set of domain electives with courses selected from the IST department and other areas at RIT.
Capstone
Students may choose between a course-based capstone, a thesis, or a project that builds upon their domain study. The course-based capstone option is 3 semester credit hours. Students who choose this option will complete one additional technical domain elective. The thesis and project capstone options are both 6 semester credit hours.
Information sciences and technologies (course capstone option), MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| ISTE-605 | Scholarship in Information Sciences and Technologies | 3 |
| ISTE-610 | Knowledge Representation Technologies | 3 |
| ISTE-612 | Knowledge Processing Technologies | 3 |
| ITSE-600 | Analytical Thinking | 3 |
| Technical Domain Elective 1, 2, 3, 4 | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Technical Domain Elective 5 | 3 | |
| ISTE-795 | Capstone in Information Sciences and Technologies | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 | |
Information sciences and technologies (thesis capstone option), MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| ISTE-605 | Scholarship in Information Sciences and Technologies | 3 |
| ISTE-610 | Knowledge Representation Technologies | 3 |
| ISTE-612 | Knowledge Processing Technologies | 3 |
| ISTE-600 | Analytical Thinking | 3 |
| Technical Domain Elective 1, 2, 3 | 9 | |
| ISTE-790 | Thesis in Information Sciences and Technologies | 3 |
| Second Year | ||
| Technical Domain Elective 4 | 3 | |
| ITSE-790 | Thesis in Information Sciences and Technologies | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 | |
Information sciences and technologies (project capstone option), MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| ISTE-605 | Scholarship in Information Sciences and Technologies | 3 |
| ISTE-610 | Knowledge Representation Technologies | 3 |
| ISTE-612 | Knowledge Processing Technologies | 3 |
| ISTE-600 | Analytical Thinking | 3 |
| Technical Domain Elective 1, 2, 3 | 9 | |
| ISTE-791 | Project in Information Sciences and Technologies | 3 |
| Second Year | ||
| Technical Domain Elective 4 | 3 | |
| ISTE-791 | Project in Information Sciences and Technologies | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 | |
Admission requirements
To be considered for admission to the MS program in information sciences and technologies, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution,
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0,
- Submit official transcripts (in English) for all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work,
- Submit a resume,
- Submit two letters of recommendation, and
- Complete a graduate application.
- International applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Minimum scores of 570 (paper-based) or 88 (Internet-based) are required. Applicants with a lower TOEFL score may be admitted conditionally and will be required to complete a prescribed program in English, along with a reduced program course load.
Applicants from foreign universities must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Scores from the GRE are strongly recommended for applicants whose undergraduate grade point average is less than 3.0.
Additional information
Prerequisites
It is expected that prospective students will have a background in fundamental information technology concepts including object-oriented programming, website development, database theory and practice, and statistics. Students without the necessary background should complete the prerequisites before applying to the program. However, bridge courses are available to satisfy the prerequisites.
Bridge program
Students whose undergraduate preparation or employment experience does not satisfy the prerequisites can make up these deficiencies by completing prerequisite bridge courses as prescribed by the graduate program director. The bridge courses are not part of the 30 semester credit hours required for the master’s degree. Grades for bridge courses are not included in a student’s GPA if the courses are taken before matriculation; they are included if completed after matriculation. Since bridge programs can be designed in a variety of ways, the graduate program director will assist students in planning and course selection.
Maximum time limit
University policy requires that graduate programs be completed within seven years of the student's initial registration for courses in the program. Bridge courses are excluded.
Career Outcomes
Job TitlesInformation specialist, information analyst, network administrator, system administrator, facilities coordinator, web designer, webmaster, database developer, web content developer
FunctionsIT consulting, system design, web content development, multimedia development, computer game development, database administration, network administration and security.
Recent EmployersAdobe, Texas Instruments, Harris Corporation, Eastman Kodak Company, Cabletron, McNeil Consumer Products, Global Crossing, Cisco Systems