Department of Public Policy
Department of
Public Policy
Public policy explores the intersection of policy, technology, society, and the natural world. Analysis of these intersections plays a critical role in being able to address the many environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges facing society today and in the future.
The programs and coursework in the Department of Public Policy allow you to combine your interests in science, technology, government, economics, and other social science fields and obtain the skills and knowledge needed to analyze and, ultimately, advocate for policy change in government or private organizations.
Academic Programs
Graduate Programs
Our innovative graduate program emphasizes analysis of engineering, science, and technology policy and draws on coursework from a variety of relevant disciplines. Building on RIT’s strength as a technological university, you’ll interact directly with faculty members and researchers who are working on scientific developments and technological innovations that drive new public policy considerations.
BS/MS, Accelerated MS, and Dual Degree Program Options
Learn more about BS/MS in Public Policy, Accelerated MS for science and engineering undergrads, and dual degree options with science, computing, engineering, and other programs within the College of Liberal Arts.
See BS/MS, accelerated MS, and dual degree program options for the Department of Public Policy
Latest News
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March 28, 2024
![a headshot of Divya Ramjee is shown next to her title.]()
RIT professor serves on prosecution team for landmark trial against operator of Bitcoin Fog
Divya Ramjee served as a member of the prosecution team for a criminal case against the operator of Bitcoin Fog. On March 12, a jury found the defendant, Roman Sterlingov, “guilty of operating among the longest-running and most prolific bitcoin money laundering services on the darknet.”
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March 18, 2024
![An aerial view of Byrd Ranch, a 50-megawatt grid battery installation in Texas]()
Finally, a way to tell how clean grid batteries actually are
Canary Media speaks to Eric Hittinger, associate professor in the Department of Public Policy, about carbon emissions from batteries.
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November 1, 2023
![a map of Monroe Country showing the density of the deaf population and the types of weather hazards in the area.]()
RIT researchers earn $1 million Civic Innovation Challenge grant to empower Deaf community
RIT and NTID researchers have identified a critical gap between emergency services and the needs of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Now with a $1 million grant, they are working to bridge that divide.
Featured Work
"If you have ever gotten a vaccine or received an intravenous drug and did not come down with a potentially life-threatening fever, you can thank a horseshoe crab."
Horseshoe crab blood is vital for testing intravenous drugs, but new synthetic alternatives could mean pharma won’t bleed this unique species dry.
New ways to identify "predicate creep" for improving the FDA’s 510K process for clearing medical devices
Sandra Rothenberg
Are there new ways to identify potential “predicate creep” —a cycle of technology change through repeated clearance of devices based on predicates with slightly different technological characteristics...
Featured Profiles
Eric Hittinger, Ph.D., Faculty Researcher
Eric Hittinger
Addressing long-term challenges in both the economic and environmental feasibility of clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, wind and solar power, and battery energy storage is a focus...
Alumni Outcomes
- Director, Social Research Center, Public Policy Consultant,
- American University Central Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Project Manager, Armenia Sustainable Energy Finance Project, International Finance Corporation
- Consultant to World Bank on Energy Issues
- Energy Sector Analyst, Dragon Capital, Ukraine
- Project Manager, Energy Solutions, Oakland, CA
- Ph.D. in Communications at the University at Buffalo
- Information Technology Risk and Audit Management Associate, Royal Bank of Scotland, Stamford, CT
- Fulbright Visiting Scientist – Mechanical Engineering, Energy Studies Institute – National University of Singapore
- Spacecraft Vehicle Engineer, The Boeing Company, Washington, DC
- Energy Efficiency Analyst, Integral Analytics, Cincinnati, OH
- Program Manager, ENERGY STAR Appliance Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Ph.D. University of California – Davis, Transportation Policy
- Ed.D. Executive Leadership, St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY
- Associate Staff Member, Dynamis, Washington, DC
- Program Analyst, Department of Veterans Affairs, Rochester, NY
- Dockets Analyst, Bloomberg, Skillman, NJ
- Assistant Director Research Relations, Rochester Institute of Technology
- Project Manager, Magna Powertrain, Troy, MI
- Training & Support for Deaf in Developing Countries, The Nippon Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
- Assistant Director, Public Safety Initiatives Center, City of Rochester & RIT Collaborative
- Ph.D. Candidate in Energy and Environmental Policy at University of Delaware
- Project HOPE Director, DEAF, Inc., Boston, MA
- Researcher, Data Analyst, GIS Specialist, Energy & Environmental Research Associates
- Senior Crime Research Specialist, Rochester Police Department
- International Program Manager, Center for Energy & Resource Development, American University at Kosovo, Rochester Institute of Technology
- Program Coordinator, Huther-Doyle Memorial Institute, Rochester, NY
- Ph.D., Water Resources Engineering, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry
- Energy Efficiency & Conservation Advisor, U. S. Department of State, Washington, DC
- Research Assistant, United States Senate, Washington, DC
Career, Application, and Thesis Resources for Students
Career and Networking Resources
- Science Policy Job X (formerly Twitter) feed
- Engaging Scientists and Engineers in Policy Coalition
- Daybook
- STPI’s Policy Fellowship Program
- STPI’s Summer Associate Program
- NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program
Forms and Policies