Rensselaer

Graduate Studies

Information Technology and Web Science

itws.rpi.edu
Rensselaer nurtures a low walls research culture that facilitates strong interactions among faculty and students from all schools, departments, centers, and laboratories. Our community of scholars freely shares expertise and equipment, methods and media, and, most importantly, ideas. Rensselaer, among the first universities to offer advanced study in the highly creative, interdisciplinary field of Information Technology and Web Science, currently offers the M.S. degree in Information Technologypreparing innovative future leaders to creatively solve the complex problems of business and industry in the 21st century, an increasingly data- and information-intensive world.

Information Technology, M.S. Rensselaers Master of Science in Information Technology balances the study of management strategies and technology leadership with advanced course work in an IT concentration. Entrepreneurship and team skills are emphasized throughout the program. Students complete a suite of core and capstone courses, and also select three to five additional

courses to complete their concentrations. Ten concentrations are currently available. Both a professional and research track are offered for the M.S. in IT degree. Programs are individually tailored to accommodate students with a variety of entering backgrounds and career goals. The M.S. in IT is typically completed in three terms with an internship

between semester two and three. M.S. in IT students are typically in high demand for internships at major corporations and start-ups, and there are resources available on campus to assist with finding an internship or full-time job. An intensive two-term option is also available. Graduates of the program are heavily recruited by the top Fortune 500 companies with

many graduates receiving multiple job offers. The high starting salary to date is $110,000 and the average starting salary is $84,000. Breadth of Experience The IT Core Masters students take one required course from each of the five Core areas listed to gain a breadth of IT knowledge:

itws.rpi.edu

Information Technology and Web Science

Database Systems Design Data Analytics Software Design Strategic Management of Technology Human-Computer Interaction If students have previously completed basic course work in a core area, there is a set of advanced courses from which to choose. Depth of Experience The IT Concentrations Concentrations are designed to provide an in-depth experience in the application of information technology. Ten concentrations are currently available: Data Science and Analytics Web Science Financial Engineering Information Security Human-Computer Interaction Database and Intelligent Systems Networking Information Security Software Design and Engineering Management Information Systems In nine of the concentrations, students select a minimum of three concentration courses. Students also choose one elective, approved by the adviser, to add depth to the degree. The M.S. in IT degree with a Financial Engineering concentration includes four core courses in Database Systems Design, Software Design, Data Analytics, and HCI, five courses in the concentration itself, and the required capstone course. Students choosing the Financial Engineering concentration are expected to have prior course work in management, including an upper-level finance course. Capstone Course The M.S. in IT capstone course integrates the knowledge and professional practice of IT core and concentration courses. The capstone utilizes an Information Technology team project with a real organization to practice the major concepts of the IT masters degree. The team project involves strategic and business planning, systems development, and technology implementation. Expertise in database systems, data analytics, software design and engineering, decision sciences, management of technology, human-computer interaction, and ethics are applied within a framework of global IT strategy. Degree Requirements All students develop a plan of study with their IT adviser which includes a minimum of ten courses, a minimum of six courses at the 6000 graduate level, and no more than five courses from the Lally School of Management and Technology. Duration of Study Core courses are generally taken in the fall, and concentration courses in the spring. Full-time students who begin in the fall term complete the program in three semesters and have the option to select two concentrations for a total of 12 courses, four courses each semester. These students will generally complete a significant salaried internship over the summer. Students can also choose to complete the program in two semesters. They will select one concentration and need to complete a total of 10 classes, five classes per semester. Part-time students usually complete the program in two-and-one-half years of continuous study. Admission Requirements Students seeking admission to the M.S. in IT must submit scores from the GRE or GMAT, and have academic records that indicate their ability to excel in graduate study. The degree assumes prior completion of a three-semester sequence in computer science, including advanced topics in data structures and algorithm analysis. Ph.D. Study For prospective students interested in a Ph.D., Rensselaer offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Multidisciplinary Science with a research track in Information Technology. Students have also joined other Rensselaer departments for Ph.D.s in closely related IT research areas, e.g., Computer Science and Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering. Available on Two Campuses The M.S. in IT is available on the Troy, N.Y. campus and in Hartford, Connecticut.
Lessa Shear Graduate Program Administrator (518) 276-2660 shearl@rpi.edu itws.rpi.edu

0813 11626 SCER