Mark W. Smith, Director
(585) 475-7102, mark.smith@rit.edu
Christine Fisher, Graduate Program Director
(585) 475-7971, mpdmail@rit.edu
Program overview
Product innovation is essential to business survival and growth. The creation and introduction of new products and services has reached an unprecedented level of complexity, requiring the coordination of diverse teams of professionals from research and development, marketing, finance, manufacturing, procurement, sales, and service. Companies, especially technology-based organizations, need leaders with an enterprise-wide perspective and knowledge base in both engineering and management. This includes individuals who possess a broad blend of technical and business skills, understand markets and the value-chain, and have the integrated systems perspective needed to commercialize increasingly complex products and systems. The master of science degree in product development provides the educational foundation that technical professionals need for high-impact roles in product and technology innovation.
The program is for engineers, scientists, and technical professionals who aspire to product development leadership positions throughout their organizations. Designed by academic and industry leaders, the curriculum integrates business and technical elements to develop leaders with the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and perspective to effectively deploy best-in-class product development methods, tools, and practices. The program integrates formal education, ongoing research, and industrial practice, and continuously refreshes the curriculum through active partnerships with other world-class universities, research centers, and companies.
Students acquire the foundation skills and strategic perspective necessary to become future leaders and senior managers responsible for driving business growth through product innovation. They develop receptiveness to change and continuous improvement, an understanding of the enablers to business success, and an enhanced ability to recognize barriers to success early in the commercialization cycle, when corrective actions are least costly.
Curriculum
The is a 60 quarter credit hour program consisting of business and engineering courses (10 required courses and three electives) plus a capstone project (8 credits).
Elective courses
Elective courses afford the opportunity for students to tailor the program to better meet personal and organizational needs. Three elective courses (12 credits) are required. At least one elective must be from business and one from engineering. Recommended electives may include such courses as Managing Research and Innovation, Product Development in the Extended Enterprise, New Venture Creation, Supply Chain Management, Sustainable Design, and Advanced Topics in Product Development, among others.
Capstone project
Students must successfully complete a capstone project (8 credits) during the final nine months of the program, based on a real-world problem often identified in the companies where they work. The corporate-oriented capstone project encompasses the broad integrative aspects of new product development. It synthesizes, increases, and demonstrates the student’s understanding and knowledge of previous program material and underscores the behaviors essential to product development leadership. The capstone project provides immediate benefits to sponsoring organizations and is an excellent opportunity for students to gain visibility and recognition. See the program website for descriptions of previous projects.
Semester conversion
Effective fall 2013, RIT will convert its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. Each program and its associated courses have been sent to the New York State Department of Education for approval of the semester plan. For reference, the following charts illustrate the typical course sequence for this program in both quarters and semesters. Students should consult their academic advisers with questions regarding planning and course selection.
Product development, MS degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 0303-780 | Excellence in Product Development | 4 |
| 0303-784 | Systems and Project Management | 4 |
| 0303-786 | Engineering of Systems I | 4 |
| 0303-788 | Engineering of Systems II | 4 |
| 0101-703 | Accounting for Decision Makers | 4 |
| 0102-740 | Organizational Behavior and Leadership | 4 |
| 0105-761 | Marketing Concepts | 4 |
| 0303-764 | Operations and Manufacturing Systems | 4 |
| 0303-785 | Decision and Risk Benefit Analysis | 4 |
| 0303-787 | Systems Optimization | 4 |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Capstone Project | 8 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 60 | |
Product development, MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| ISEE-781 | Excellence in New Product Development | 3 |
| ISEE-771 | Engineering of Systems I | 3 |
| ISEE-772 | Engineering of Systems II | 3 |
| ISEE-751 | Decision and Risk Benefit Analysis | 3 |
| ACCT-703 | Accounting for Decision Makers | 3 |
| ISEE-750 | Systems and Project Management | 3 |
| Second Year | ||
| MKTG-761 | Marketing Concepts and Commercialization | 3 |
| DECS-743 | Operations and Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| Engineering or Business Elective | 3 | |
| ISEE-797 | MPD Capstone I | 3 |
| Engineering Elective | 3 | |
| ISEE-798 | MPD Capstone II | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 36 | |
Admission requirements
To be considered for admission to the MS program in product development, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree in engineering, or a related scientific or technical field,
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0,
- Have at least five years of experience related to product development (exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis),
- Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work,
- Submit at least one letter of recommendation from a current or recent supervisor,
- Submit a current resume,
- Participate in a personal interview with the admissions team (after other application materials are received), and
- Complete a graduate application.
No graduate entrance exam is required, although candidates are welcome to support their application with results from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
All application materials are available from the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services or the program office.
Additional information
Sponsorship
Most students are sponsored by an employer who is committed to improving leadership capabilities in product development. Sponsorship includes permitting students to attend classes and also involves a commitment to work with the student to provide clear expectations and well-articulated career development plans that build upon the program. Candidates are welcome to sponsor themselves. Contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship for information.
Format
Students may start the program during any quarter and complete the course work at their own pace. Classes are available on campus (evenings) and online (video conference and asynchronous format) to accommodate the needs of local students as well as those who travel or who live outside the Rochester area.