Master of Science in Information Technology & Analytics
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Key Information
Campus location
Rochester, USA
Languages
English
Study format
Distance Learning, On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 41,424 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Aug 2024
* $41,424 - $54,974 | based on credits taken
Introduction
Technology has woven itself into the fabric of society, binding people, and information closer together than ever before. This new digital era brings with it exciting innovations. It also brings a host of new, unexplored problems that can be unlocked through data analytics. The MS in information sciences and technologies provides an opportunity for an in-depth, career-oriented study that explores how information is understood and leverages the most current data analytics techniques to address industry problems.
The internet has brought a new kind of democracy where all information is created equal. No longer the sole province of experts and the traditional media, it has become grassroots, viral, and global. The sheer volume and lightning speed of information transfer have changed how the world communicates, educates, learns, and ultimately solves problems. As the web and its related technologies evolve, users need help in managing these new tools.
Graduate study in a computing discipline that only focuses on traditional computing approaches is not flexible enough to meet the needs of the real world. New hardware and software tools are continually introduced into the market. IT professionals must have a specific area of expertise, as well as adaptability, to tackle the next new thing. Or, just as often, retrofit available technologies to help users adapt to the latest trends.
The MS in information sciences and technologies provides an opportunity for in-depth study to prepare for today’s high-demand computing careers. Companies are drowning in data—structured, semi-structured, and unstructured. Big data is not just high transaction volumes; it is also data in various formats, with the high-velocity change, and increasing complexity. Information is gleaned from unstructured sources—such as web traffic or social networks—as well as traditional ones, and information delivery must be immediate and on-demand.
As the users' advocate, IT professionals also need critical thinking skills to problem-solve in a wide variety of computing situations, combined with an understanding of the needs of their audience. Just knowing how technology works is no longer enough. Today, computing professionals need to know how to make it all work.
The information sciences and technologies program addresses the web systems and integration technologies, and the information management and database technology pillars, of the IT academic discipline, along with the additional option of discovery informatics.
The program can be completed on-campus or online. The on-campus program consists of 30 semester credit hours of graduate study and includes four core courses, four or five-track or domain electives (depending upon capstone option chosen), and either a thesis or project. The online option consists of 9 core courses and a capstone project.
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
RIT awards more than $37 million in merit scholarships and assistantships to graduate students each year. Scholarship awards range from 5% of tuition all the way up to full tuition. Awards are based on an applicant's academic excellence. Many things are considered when awarding scholarships - undergraduate grades, graduate placement test scores, and your research and work experience all factor in.
Graduate assistantships are offered to full-time matriculated graduate students to serve as teaching, research, or administrative assistants. Graduate Assistants receive wages (determined by the department making the appointment) in exchange for work performed. Many graduate assistants also receive tuition remission (i.e., tuition support) in addition to receiving wages for assistantship duties.
Graduate students can be awarded both scholarships and assistantships. These funding opportunities are the same for both US and international applicants.
RIT awards more than $30 million in merit scholarships and assistantships to graduate students each year. Scholarship awards range from 10% - 40% of tuition. Our median scholarship amount is around 30% of tuition or $13,000. Awards are based on an applicant's academic excellence. Many things are considered when awarding scholarships - undergraduate grades, graduate placement test scores, and your research and work experience all factor in.
Graduate assistantships are offered to full-time matriculated graduate students to serve as teaching, research, or administrative assistants. Graduate Assistants receive wages (determined by the department making the appointment) in exchange for work performed. Many graduate assistants also receive tuition remission (i.e., tuition support) in addition to receiving wages for assistantship duties.
Graduate students can be awarded both scholarships and assistantships. These funding opportunities are the same for both US and international applicants.
Optional Co-Op: cooperative education is paid work assignments with corporations and organizations around the U.S. and abroad. Co-op allows students to spend one or more semesters employed in a full-time, paid position related to their academic program before they graduate. Many students use co-op earnings to help finance their education.
Work-Study: graduate students studying full-time may apply to work part-time on campus. RIT has more than 9,000 jobs available each year, and students typically work 10 – 20 hours per week. International students studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa may work up to 20 hours per week on campus and 40 hours during break periods.
Curriculum
Information sciences and technologies (thesis and project options), MS degree, typical course sequence
First Year
- ISTE-605 Scholarship in Information Sciences and Technologies
- ISTE-610 Knowledge Representation Technologies
- ISTE-612 Knowledge Processing Technologies
- ISTE-600 Analytical Thinking
- Domain Electives
Second Year
Choose one of the following:
- ITSE-790 Thesis in Information Sciences and Technologies
or - ITSE-791 Project in Information Sciences and Technologies
- Domain Elective
Information sciences and technologies (online option), MS degree, typical course sequence
First Year
- ISTE-740 Geographic Information Science and Technology
- ISTE-600 Analytical Thinking
- ISTE-610 Knowledge Representation Technologies
- ISTE-612 Knowledge Processing Technologies
- ISTE-780 Data-driven Knowledge Discovery (summer)
Second Year
- ISTE-782 Visual Analytics
- ISTE-721 Information Assurance
- ISTE-605 Scholarship in IST
- ISTE-724 Data Warehousing
- ISTE-795 Capstone in IST (summer)
Domain electives
Chosen only by those enrolled in the on-campus option, domain electives are available in analytics, information management, and database technology, or web systems and integration technologies. With the permission of the graduate program director, students may select the special topics track to fulfill this requirement. See the graduate program director for more information.
Thesis/Capstone options
For the on-campus option of the program, students may choose a project or a thesis to build upon their domain of study. The project option is 3 credit hours and requires one additional 3 credit domain elective. The thesis option is 6 credit hours and does not require an additional elective. The online option consists of a capstone project.
Career Opportunities
Industries
- Computer Networking
- Internet and Software
- Electronic and Computer Hardware
Typical Job Titles
- WebMaster
- Network or Systems Administrator
- Database Developer
- Software Engineer
- Malware/Threat Researcher
- Senior Analytics Associate
- Full-Stack Developer
- Business Process and Technology Analyst
English Language Requirements
Certify your English proficiency with the Duolingo English Test! The DET is a convenient, fast, and affordable online English test accepted by over 4,000 universities (like this one) around the world.