Color Science Master of Science Degree

The study of color is a fundamental field of science that is dedicated to understanding the creation of colored stimuli, sources of illumination, and ultimately the human perception of color.

RIT’s color science degree provides a graduate-level study in both scientific theory and practical application. The program provides you with a broad exposure to the field of color science and affords you the unique opportunity of specializing in an area appropriate for your background and interests. This objective is accomplished through the program’s core courses, selection of electives, and completion of a thesis or graduate project.

RIT’s Color Science Degree

The color science degree is designed for students from a wide range of undergraduate degrees. If you completed a program in physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, engineering, neuroscience, experimental psychology, imaging, or any applied discipline pertaining to the quantitative description of color, this program could be a good fit for you.

Color science is used everyday: In the design and control of most man-made colored materials including textiles, coatings, and polymers; to specify such diverse materials as soil and wine; and, in digital photography, desktop and projection display, and printing.

Where other programs may address specific fields of color science, such as optics or materials, lighting or perception; in RIT's color science degree, you’ll learn the full range of color science, including the fundamental concepts of color science and its applications, as well as conducting and presenting research in the field.

RIT color science students work on projects including:

• Color Perception in Assisted Reality/Virtual Reality
• Color in Agriculture
• Color Imaging (Cameras and Displays, e.g. smartphones)
• Individual Differences in Human Color Perception
• Limits of Human Color Vision

The Study of Color

The color science degree is a combination of required courses in color science, elective courses appropriate for the student's background, and either a research thesis or graduate project.

For full-time students, the program requires three to four semesters of study. Part-time students generally require two to four years of study.

The color science program is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in a scientific or another technical discipline. Those with adequate undergraduate work in related sciences start the program as matriculated graduate students.

Students without adequate undergraduate work in related sciences must take foundation courses prior to matriculation into the graduate program. A written agreement between the candidate and the program coordinator will identify the required foundation courses.

Color Science Careers

Alumni of our programs are in high demand and uniquely qualified to address the full breadth of color science in multidisciplinary teams. Color science degree graduates have accepted positions in electronic imaging, color instrumentation, colorant formulation, and basic and applied research. A sample of companies that have hired our graduates include Apple, Dolby Laboratories, Google, Benjamin Moore, Canon Corp., Hallmark, Hewlett Packard Corp., Microsoft Corp., Pantone, Qualcomm Inc., Ricoh Innovations Inc., LG Electronics, and Samsung.