Graduate Study
Color Science
Program Overview
The RIT MS color science program is the only graduate program in the country devoted to this discipline. Color science is broadly interdisciplinary, encompassing physics, statistics, chemistry, physiology, statistics, computer science, and psychology. The degree program in color science revolves around the activities of the Munsell Color Science Laboratory, the preeminent academic laboratory in the country devoted to color science.
Color science is broadly interdisciplinary, encompassing physics, chemistry, physiology, statistics, computer science, and psychology. The curriculum leading to a master of science degree in color science educates students using a broad interdisciplinary approach. This is the only graduate program in the country devoted to this discipline and it is designed for students whose undergraduate majors are in physics, chemistry, imaging science, computer science, electrical engineering, experimental psychology, physiology or any discipline pertaining to the quantitative description of color.
Career Outcomes
Job TitlesColor scientist, optical engineer, R&D engineer, imaging scientist
Functions
Electronic imaging, color instrumentation, colorant formulation and basic and applied research
Recent Employers
Eastman Kodak Co., GDE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Polaroid, Xerox
Admission Requirements
Prerequisites
The color science major is designed for the candidate with an undergraduate degree in a scientific or nonscientific discipline. Candidates with adequate undergraduate work in related sciences start the program as matriculated graduate students.
Candidates without adequate undergraduate work in related sciences must take foundation courses prior to matriculation into the graduate program. Such students may be required to take as many as 36 credits in these subjects. A written agreement between the candidate and the program coordinator will identify the required foundation courses.
Foundation courses must be completed with an overall B average before a student can matriculate into the graduate program. A maximum of nine graduate-level credit hours may be taken prior to matriculation into the graduate program.
The foundation courses listed below are representative of those often required.
Calculus I, II, III
College Physics I, II, III
College Physics Lab I, II, III
C Programming
Matrix Algebra
Elementary Statistics
Introduction to Psychology