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The MS/IT admission requirements include prior academic study and/or extensive work experience in fundamental information technology concepts. Specifically we require the following prior to admission:
In addition, before study in the MS program can be begun, we require pre-program prerequisite knowledge of the following:
Prerequisite knowledge can be obtained through undergraduate or graduate course work at RIT, equivalent course work at another university, or through documented training and significant work experience. Applicants are expected to have all prerequisite knowledge prior to admission. The Graduate Coordinator may consider applicants without the required prerequisites at his/her discretion. However, an unusually strong background in information technology is necessary and additional course work will be required to meet the outstanding deficiencies before study in the MS program can begin. All prerequisite work must be completed before study outside of the MS/IT core is begun.
The Graduate Coordinator verifies that prerequisites have been satisfactorily completed. Course work used to satisfy MS/IT prerequisites must have been successfully completed with the equivalent of a 'B' grade or better. If you have completed prerequisite work at another college or university, please have an official transcript sent to RIT. If you have equivalent work experience, please send details to the Graduate Coordinator describing the work and requesting a waiver of prerequisite(s). Be sure to provide sufficient detail so that the depth of experience and knowledge can be determined. Some form of verification, such as certified copies of training certificates or a letter from your employer on company letterhead, is also required.
Placement examinations are available periodically for some of the prerequisite courses. Information about these examinations is available on the IST web site.
The Information Sciences & Technologies department offers course work to complete the program prerequisites. Courses in the MS/IT Bridge Program are shown below. These courses may not be used to satisfy any part of the 48-quarter credit hours required for the MS degree. Please meet with the Graduate Coordinator to discuss your goals before beginning bridge study.
Programming:
Prospective students who do not have a background in computer programming can take one of the following course sequences at RIT to complete the programming prerequisite:
OR
Prospective students who have programming experience, but who need to learn object-oriented programming concepts, can take one (1) of the following:
OR
The Java language is currently the primary language of this graduate program due to its visual interface capabilities and the ability to develop web-based applications. However, the type of programming in the MS/IT concentration can vary, and some concentrations require a particular language or languages. Students are expected have sufficient experience in programming to be able to pick up a new language "on the fly."
Successful completion of this prerequisite is required before an application to the MS/IT program can be considered.
Hardware and Software Architecture:
Prospective students can take one (1) of the following courses at RIT to complete this prerequisite:
This course focuses on modern PC organization, including both physical configuration and operating system complexities; it is not a detailed hardware course as taken in a computer engineering program.
Successful completion of this prerequisite is required before an application to the MS/IT program can be considered.
Networking and Data Communications:
The student can take one (1) of the following courses at RIT to complete this prerequisite:
OR
Students may be accepted into the MS/IT program before completing this prerequisite, but must successfully complete it during their first quarter of study in the program.
Basic Web Design and Multimedia Concepts:
The student can take one (1) of the following courses at RIT to complete this prerequisite:
OR
These courses are not available in distance format.
Students may be accepted into the MS/IT program before completing this prerequisite, but must successfully complete it during their first quarter of study in the program.
