Master of Science in Software Development and Management
http://www.it.rit.edu/it/grad/sdm/index.maml
The master of science degree in software development and management enables the matriculated student to study, develop, and become proficient in the practices, methodologies, and techniques at all levels in the software development process. The program is designed for students whose undergraduate majors are in a computing discipline. Students must have a background in software development before entering the program.
The underlying principle of this curriculum is that software development is a manageable process—that the problems encountered now and in the future will be amenable to solutions based on sound managerial methodology and reasoned application of technology. This program is delivered online and is designed for part-time study.
Admission requirements
Applicants should have a baccalaureate or equivalent degree from an accredited institution and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B). Applicants must submit two professional recommendations.
Applicants from foreign universities must submit Graduate Record Examination scores. The GRE is also recommended for those applicants whose undergraduate grade point average is less than 3.0. Since this is a part-time program, visa forms cannot be issued by RIT.
Applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language examination. A minimum score of 570 (paper-based), 230 (computer-based), or 88 (Internet-based) is required.
Bridge program
Individuals wishing to enter the master’s program must have at least two years of full-time employment experience in the software development process and a solid background in object-oriented programming (Java). If a student does not have the necessary programming background, bridge courses are available to allow students to meet this prerequisite. Formal acceptance into the master’s program may be possible even though the applicant must complete bridge courses.
Students whose undergraduate preparation or industrial experience does not satisfy the Java prerequisite can make up this deficiency by completing one or more of the following RIT courses, as prescribed by the graduate program coordinator:
Java programming language
4002-217 Programming for Information Technology I*
4002-218 Programming for Information Technology II*
or
4002-414 Java for Programmers* (requires prior programming
experience)
or
4002-714 Java Programming (requires prior programming
experience)
* These courses are not available through online learning. Please contact the graduate program coordinator for an appropriate substitution.
Bridge program courses are not part of the 48 credits required for the master’s degree. Grades for bridge courses are not included in a student’s graduate grade point average if taken before matriculation; they are included if taken after matriculation.
A bridge program can be designed in a variety of ways. Other courses can be substituted or courses at other colleges can be applied. Contact the graduate program coordinator for approval.
The curriculum
The graduate program of study consists of 12 courses (48 quarter credit hours), which include a foundation course, a business elective, three-course concentrations, and the capstone experience. Two quarters of optional cooperative work experience are possible. Course numbers in parenthesis indicate required prerequisite(s).
| The core: | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 4002-752 Themes in Software Development and Management | 4 |
| The software development concentration consists of three courses: | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 4002-710 Object Technologies | 4 |
| 4002-720 Data Object Development | 4 |
| 4002-725 Component Development (4002-710) | 4 |
| The project management concentration consists of three courses: | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 4002-830 Project Management | 4 |
| 4002-831 Process Management | 4 |
| 4002-820 Economics of Software Development (4002-830 and 4002-831 recommended) | 4 |
| One business elective selected from: | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 0102-740 Organizational Behavior | 4 |
| 0102-763 Behavior Skill for Managers and Professionals | 4 |
Students with a business degree or prior academic study that included the required business elective may replace that course with another graduate-level course, with the approval of the graduate program coordinator. All requirements for the degree must be completed within the seven years of the date of the oldest course counted toward the degree. Bridge courses are excluded.
Upper-level concentration selected from the following options:
| Enterprise Architecture | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 4002-819 Integration Technologies (4002-725) | 4 |
| 4002-821 Data Architecture and Management (4002-710 & 4002-720) | 4 |
| 4002-825 System Architectures (4002-725; 4002-819 recommended) | 4 |
| Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 4004-745 Foundations of HCI | 4 |
| And two (2) of the following: | |
| 4004-755 Advanced Topics in HCI (4004-745) | 4 |
| 4004-781 Usability Economics (4004-745; 4004-748 or 4004-775 | 4 |
| 4002-892 CSCW and Groupware (4004-745) | 4 |
| Architecture Fundamentals | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 4002-821 Data Architecture and Management (4002-710) | 4 |
| 4004-745 Foundations of HCI | 4 |
| 4002-872 Inter-enterprise Computing | 4 |
Special Topics: Students take three courses on advanced topics related to software development, with prior approval of the software development and management faculty.
| The capstone | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 4002-895 Software Development and Management | 4 |