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A concentration is a group of courses that focus on a specific computing topic within the academic discipline of information technology. The concentrations areas offered by the Information Sciences & Technologies department (IST), along with those areas pre-approved from other departments at RIT, are detailed below. Click on the the course number links to see course descriptions and prerequisites. Some additional information about a concentration is detailed after its list of courses. Complete details on concentrations and options are available in the program handbook.
Each student works with the Graduate Coordinator to develop an individual plan of study that achieves technical depth, in some aspect of information technology, reletive to his or her personal goals and interests. A typical plan is composed of 9 courses structured as either:
The plan must be approved prior to beginning study. All courses pre-suppose completion of the MS/IT program prerequisites. Students are also expected to either have completed, or be taking, the MS/IT core course when they begin concentration study.
The Department of Information Sciences & Technologies updates the courses included in each concentration area as appropriate to stay current with technology. If you started study under a previous set of concentration areas and you have questions about how to complete your plan of study, please contact the Graduate Coordinator.
Web Development (available on-campus only)
Details: 4004-745 is strongly recommended. Knowledge of relational theory and database development, equivalent to 4002-720, is required for 4004-751.
XML Data Management (available on-campus only)
Details: 4004-739 can be taken concurrently with 4002-770.
Multimedia Application Development (available on-campus only)
Human-Computer Interaction (available distance and on-campus; online only (*))
Details: This concentration requires solid background in web technology equivalent to 4004-741 and 4004-730, or equivalent pre-approved background/experience. The concentration courses are taken from our newly approved MS in Human-Computer Interaction. Contact Prof. Rozanski for questions about that degree.
Interface Architecture (available on-campus only)
(available on-campus only)
Details: This concentration focuses on designing usable and attractive games. Creative writing is necessary; for more information contact Prof. Jacobs. These courses are taken from the MS degree in Game Design and Development. Contact either the Graduate Coordinator or Prof. Andrew Phelps, the games program chair, for more information about this degree.
(on-campus; partially available in distance format (*))
Details: 4004-745 (*) is strongly encouraged as part of this concentration. This concentration includes courses from our MS in Software Development & Management.
(available in distance format only)
Details: These courses come from our MS in Software Development & Managment. It requires 2 or more years of full-time employment experience in the software development process plus solid object-oriented programming skills. The faculty recommend that 4002-820 be taken last. Other options for project management are available at RIT; talk with the Graduate Coordinator.
(partially available in distance format (*))
Details: 4002-821 (*), which requires 4002-710, may also be part of this concentration. An Advanced Certificate in Database Administration, which includes some of these courses, is also available.
(available in distance and on-campus formats)
Details: Contact Prof. Yacci for more information.
(available on-campus only)
Details: This concentration area is just becoming available. It requires background in discrete math (1016-265) and programming. Background in biology is helpful. Contact Prof. Anne Haake for more information.
MS/IT students may include up to 4 graduate courses from the department of Networking, Security, and System Administration in their programs of study. Three concentration areas are detailed below.
(partially available in distance format (*))
Details: Familiarity with networking theory and the UNIX/Linux operating system are necessary. Knowledge of shell scripting is desirable. A fourth course may be included with permission of the IT Graduate Coordinator.
(partially available in distance format (*))
Details: Familiarity with networking theory and the UNIX/Linux operating system are necessary. Knowledge of shell scripting is desirable. A fourth course may be included with permission of the IT Graduate Coordinator.
(partially available in distance format (*))
Details: Familiarity with networking theory and the UNIX/Linux operating system are necessary. Knowledge of shell scripting is desirable. A fourth course may be included with permission of the IT Graduate Coordinator.
Students can use this option to design 1 concentration from other courses offered by the IST department or from graduate-level coursework offered by other departments at RIT or other universities. Prior approval from the Graduate Coordinator is required. Applicable prerequisites must be completed.
Students are permitted to complete 1 concentration (up to a maximum of 12 graduate credits) from another department at RIT with the permission of the Graduate Program Coordinator. The following concentration areas are pre-approved:
Contact the Graduate Coordinator for more information.
