RIT Expands Information Technology Area to Create New Degree Program

Information technology students at Rochester Institute of Technology can now specialize in managing the interconnectivity of networks and servers.

RIT’s Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences has introduced a BS degree in applied networking and system administration. The college recently received state approval for the new program.

Applied networking and system administration focuses on the design, construction and operation of computer networks using available components, along with managing the servers that keep users interconnected. Previously, these areas were handled as part of a broader curriculum within the Department of Information Technology.

"This program takes an opposite view, focusing more on depth than breadth," says Pete Lutz, program coordinator. "Applied networking and system administration is for IT students who already know this is what they want to pursue as a career."

Students will receive a solid foundation of coursework in networking and data communications, supported by programming, multimedia, and database systems.

Nearly 50 students are already enrolled in the program. That number is expected to grow as high as 600 students in the next five years. During that period, the IT department will explore the possibility of expanding the program to include a master’s degree.

For more information on applied networking and system administration, contact the Department of Information Technology at RIT’s Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences at (585) 475-6179.