Online Study
Networking and Systems Administration
Program Overview
The master of science degree in networking and systems administration enables the matriculated student to study, develop, and become proficient in the practices, methodologies, and techniques in the management of a modern and secure IT infrastructure. The focus is on enterprise-level problems and solutions including enterprise security, networking forensics, auditing, network security, network cryptography, network design and implementation, and network administration.
The underlying principle of this program is that effective technical leadership in modern enterprises relies on a combination of technical knowledge with an understanding of basic business concepts. This program is designed for part-time study at a distance (online learning), as well as full-time on campus education.
What is the future of system administration? Download a free lecture at https://connect.rit.edu/p52809325 to experience a sampling of our online learning technology in the framework of the program curriculum.
Curriculum Review
The graduate program of study consists of 12 courses (48 quarter credit hours), which include eight courses (32 quarter credit hours) of required core courses, plus another four courses (16 quarter credit hours) as electives from an approved set. Two quarters of optional cooperative work experience are possible.
The NSSA core:
0102-740 Organizational Behavior and Leadership
0106-744 Project Management
4055-726 Research Methods
4055-817 Emerging Network Technologies
4055-850 Network Design and Performance
4055-863 Protocol Design and Implementation
4055-882 Enterprise Security
4055-897 MS Thesis
Electives must be chosen from the following set of courses:
0101-703 Accounting for Decision Makers
4055-755 Secured Wireless and Wired Networks
4055-760 Computer Viruses and Malicious Software
4055-780 Computer System Security
4055-818 Network Management
4055-841 Advanced Computer Forensics
4055-862 Advanced Routing Protocols
4055-883 Enterprise Networking
4055-884 Enterprise Service Provisioning
The program curriculum is currently being modified to include courses in the following two critical key areas:
Prerequisites
Students wishing to enter the master’s program must have a solid educational or employment record in networking, security and systems administration. If a student does not have the necessary background, bridge courses are provided to allow students to meet these prerequisites. Formal acceptance into the master’s program may be possible even though the applicant must complete bridge program courses.
The bridge program
Students whose undergraduate preparation or industrial experience does not satisfy the technical prerequisites of this degree can make up this deficiency through study, taking one or more of the following RIT courses, as prescribed by the graduate program coordinator.
Technical prerequisites
4055-716 C++ for System Administration
4055-721 PERL for System Administration
4055-761 Principles of System Administration
4055-746 Telecommunications Network Protocols
The bridge program courses are not part of the 48 quarter credits required for the master’s degree. Grades for bridge courses are not included in a student’s graduate GPA if the courses are taken before matriculation; courses are included if that are competed 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.
Admission Requirements
Applicants should have a baccalaureate or equivalent degree from an accredited institution and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (a "B" average). Applicants must submit two professional recommendations.
Applicants from foreign universities must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. The GRE score is also recommended for those whose undergraduate grade point average is less than 3.0. Visa forms cannot be issued by RIT for part-time or distance education.
Applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL examination; a minimum score of 570 (paper-based) or 230 (computer-based) is required. Applicants with a lower TOEFL score may be admitted conditionally and will be required to complete a prescribed program in English, along with a reduced program course load.
Prerequisites
Students wishing to enter the master’s program must have a solid educational or employment record in networking, security and systems administration. If a student does not have the necessary background, bridge courses are provided to allow students to meet these prerequisites. Formal acceptance into the master’s program may be possible even though the applicant must complete bridge program courses.
The bridge program
Students whose undergraduate preparation or industrial experience does not satisfy the technical prerequisites of this degree can make up this deficiency through study, taking one or more of the following RIT courses, as prescribed by the graduate program coordinator.
Technical prerequisites
4055-716 C++ for System Administration
4055-721 PERL for System Administration
4055-761 Principles of System Administration
4055-746 Telecommunications Network Protocols
The bridge program courses are not part of the 48 quarter credits required for the master’s degree. Grades for bridge courses are not included in a student’s graduate GPA if the courses are taken before matriculation; courses are included if that are competed 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.