Imaging Science Master of Science Degree

Students choose two courses from a variety of tracks such as: digital image processing, computer vision, electro-optical imaging systems, remote sensing, color imaging, optics, hard copy materials and processes, and nanoimaging. Tracks may be created for students interested in pursuing additional fields of study. The degree can be completed on-campus or online, and on a full or part-time basis.

An Imaging Science Curriculum Packed with High-Demand Skills

The imaging science curriculum emphasizes a systems approach to the study of imaging science. With a background in science or engineering, this degree will prepare you for positions in research, product development, and management in the imaging industry. The curriculum was developed in collaboration with industry partners to emphasize skills needed by their scientists, engineers, and managers. You may concentrate on one of several system tracks, or you may customize your own track. You may choose to complete either a research thesis or a project and a paper in the non-thesis option. You may also perform your thesis research at your place of employment.

• Research: Graduates apply their knowledge to research in areas of astronomy and space science, cultural artifact and document imaging, nanoimaging and materials, optics, remote sensing, and vision.
• Careers: Graduates work in various research and applied roles like imaging scientist, imaging systems scientist, imaging systems engineer, and systems engineer.
• Systems: Employers appreciate the ability of our graduates to apply the imaging chain towards a full systems perspective.
• Biomedical: Graduates are well prepared to contribute to both research and applied work in biomedical systems.

Research Thesis Option: The research thesis is based on experimental evidence obtained by the student in an appropriate field, as arranged between the student and their adviser. The minimum number of thesis credits required is four and may be fulfilled by experiments in the university’s laboratories. In some cases, the requirement may be fulfilled by work done in other laboratories or the student's place of employment, under the following conditions:

1. The results must be fully publishable.
2. The student’s advisor must be approved by the graduate program coordinator.
3. The thesis must be based on independent, original work, as it would be if the work were done in the university’s laboratories.

Faculty within the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science supervise thesis research in areas of the physical properties of radiation-sensitive materials and processes, digital image processing, remote sensing, nanoimaging, electro-optical instrumentation, vision, computer vision, color imaging systems, and astronomical imaging. Interdisciplinary efforts are possible with the Kate Gleason College of Engineering and the College of Science.

Graduate Paper/Project Option: Students with demonstrated practical or research experience, approved by the graduate program coordinator, may choose the graduate project option. This option takes the form of a systems project course. The graduate paper is normally performed during the final semester of study. Both part- and full-time students may choose this option, with the approval of the graduate program coordinator.

Imaging Science Careers

Our imaging science graduates are in high demand across many government and industrial sectors including the mobile phone industry, consumer electronics, aerospace, precision agriculture and remote sensing, national defense, and a wide array of other application areas. Many of our students work in industry on internships during their graduate career at RIT, further expanding their education. Recent students have been hired as either interns or in permanent positions by companies such as Apple, Google, Motorola, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Corning, Los Alamos National Laboratory, MITRE Corporation, and many others.