Information Technology

Both a professional and research track are offered for the M.S. in IT degree.  

Students admitted to the M.S. in IT develop an approved Plan of Study. 

• Ten courses (a minimum of 30 credits)
• A minimum of six courses (18 credit hours or more) at the graduate level (6xxx-level courses)
• Five core courses; one from each of the five core areas.  For the research track, replace the “Management of Technology” core course requirement with one of the two-semester ITWS 6990 Master’s Thesis or ITWS 6980 Master’s Project
• A minimum of three courses (nine credit hours or more) in an approved Concentration
• One elective approved by the adviser to add further depth to the degree
• One of:  ITWS 6800 - Information Technology Master’s Capstone, ITWS 6990 - Master’s Thesis, or ITWS 6980 - Master’s Project

The Financial Engineering Concentration requires completion of an upper level finance course prior to enrollment.

The core and concentration courses are designed to accommodate a wide range of backgrounds. If students have previously completed the basic required Core course, they must then complete the next level required course to add depth in that core area. For example, if an equivalent course to Database Systems was completed in a prior degree, the Core area requirement could be satisfied by taking Database Mining. Students may request transfer credit only for the elective, subject to adviser approval. Additionally, no more than half of all credits used towards the M.S. in IT degree may be taken from courses offered by the Lally School of Management and Technology. These courses are coded MGMT. 

The M.S. in IT Master’s 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 master’s degree. The Team Project involves strategic and business planning, systems development, and technology implementation. Expertise in database systems, data analytics, networking, software design, decision sciences, management of technology, human computer interaction, and ethics are applied within a framework of global e-business strategy. 

Full-time students normally begin in the fall term and take four courses in the fall, four courses the following spring, participate in an internship/co-op over the summer and complete the final four courses in the fall. This option may allow a student to compelte two concentrations.  Students also have the option to take five courses in the fall and five in the spring to complete the program in two semesters with one concentration.  Part-time students typically complete the program in two and one-half years of continuous study.

Rensselaer currently offers numerous Ph.D. degrees with significant information technology and web science related research, e.g. computational chemistry and physics, science and technology studies, decision sciences, applied mathematics, and human-computer interaction, among many others. Students who are planning doctoral study may choose to apply simultaneously for admission to the Ph.D. in the relevant Rensselaer department and also for the M.S. in IT.

M.S. in IT Core Area

Database Systems

• CSCI 4380 - Database Systems Credit Hours: 4

Data Analytics

• ITWS 6350 - Data Science Credit Hours: 3

Software Design and Engineering

• CSCI 4440 - Software Design and Documentation Credit Hours: 4
• ITWS 6400 - X-Informatics Credit Hours: 3

Mangement of Technology

• ITWS 6300 - Business Issues for Engineers and Scientists Credit Hours: 4 (undergraduate); 3 (graduate)(Professional track only)
• ITWS 6990 - Master’s Thesis Credit Hours: 3 or ITWS 6980 - Master’s Project Credit Hours: 3 (Research track only)

Human Computer Interaction

• COMM 696X - Human Media Interaction Credit Hours: 3

• COMM 6420 - Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction Usability Credit Hours: 3

M.S. in IT Advanced Core

Students who have already completed the core courses listed above select one of the advanced courses noted below.

Database Systems

• ITWS 696X - Semantic e-Science Credit Hours:  3

• CSCI 6390 - Database Mining Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 6350 - Data Science Credit Hours: 3

Data Analytics

•  ITWS 696X - Data Analytics Credit Hours: 3

• CSCI 6390 - Database Mining Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 6400 - X-Informatics Credit Hours: 3

Sofware Design and Engineering

• ITWS 696X - Semantic e-Science Credit Hours:  3

• CSCI 6500 - Distributed Computing Over The Internet Credit Hours: 3
• ECSE 6780 - Software Engineering II Credit Hours: 3

Management of Technology

• MGMT 4960 - Networks, Innovation, and Value Creation Credit Hours: 4
• MGMT 6140 - Information Systems for Management Credit Hours: 3

Human Computer Interaction

• COMM 696X - Interative Media Design Credit Hours: 3

• COMM 6620 - Information Architecture Credit Hours: 3
• COMM 6770 - User-Centered Design Credit Hours: 3

One of:

• ITWS 6800 - Information Technology Master’s Capstone Credit Hours: 3 
• ITWS 6980 - Master’s Project Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 6990 - Master’s Thesis Credit Hours: 3

Concentration Requirements

The ITWS faculty designed the concentrations to provide an in-depth, leading-edge experience in the application of information technology. Students often select areas that complement their prior backgrounds (e.g., students with strong computer backgrounds may select MIS or Information Systems Engineering). Alternately, some students select a Concentration related to their prior backgrounds and then expand on that background through higher-level course work. The course taken to complete a Core requirement does not count toward the Concentration.

Rensselaer’s course offerings are dynamic and new courses are developed each term, making course listings subject to change. Some courses are offered in alternate years.  For current status, please visit itws.rpi.edu.

Data Science and Analytics

Select two or three of the following courses:

•  ITWS 696X - Data Analytics Credit Hours: 3

• ITWS 6350 - Data Science Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 6400 - X-Informatics Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 6180 - Knowledge Discovery with Data Mining Credit Hours: 3

If only two of the above were chosen, select one more of the following courses:

• ITWS 696X Semantic e-Science Credit Hours: 3 
• ITWS 696X Advanced Semantic Technologies Credit Hours: 3 
• MGMT 696X Technology Fundamentals for Business Analytics Credit Hours: 3 
• MGMT 696X Predictive Analytics Using Social Media Credit Hours: 3 

• COMM 6620 - Information Architecture Credit Hours: 3
• CSCI 4020 - Computer Algorithms Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 4150 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 4320 - Parallel Programming Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 6100 - Machine and Computational Learning Credit Hours: 3
• CSCI 6270 - Computational Vision Credit Hours: 3
• CSCI 6360 - Parallel Computing Credit Hours: 3
• CSCI 6390 - Database Mining Credit Hours: 3
• CSCI 4220 - Network Programming Credit Hours: 4
• ISYE 4220 - Optimization Algorithms and Applications Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 4810 - Computational Intelligence Credit Hours: 3

Information Dominance

Select two or three of the following courses:

•  CSCI 696X - Cryptography and Network Security I Credit Hours: 3

• CSCI 4220 - Network Programming Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 4650 - Networking Laboratory I Credit Hours: 4
• ECSE 4670 - Computer Communication Networks Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 4310 - Ethics of Modeling for Industrial and System Engineering Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 6180 - Knowledge Discovery with Data Mining Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 4370 - Information System Security Credit Hours: 4

If only two of the above were chosen, select one more of the following courses:

• CSCI 496X Computational Analysis of Social Processes Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 696X Cryptography and Network Security II Credit Hours: 3

• CSCI 6390 - Database Mining Credit Hours: 3
• CSCI 4660 - Networking Laboratory II Credit Hours: 4

Web Science

Select two of the following courses:

• ITWS 696X - Semantic e-Science Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 696X - Advanced Semantic Technology Credit Hours: 3 (Research Track Only)

• ITWS 6350 - Data Science Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 6400 - X-Informatics Credit Hours: 3

Select one more course:

• COMM-696X Interactive Media Design Credit Hours: 3

• COMM 4580 - Advertising and Culture Credit Hours: 4
• COMM 4690 - Interface Design: Hypermedia Theory and Application Credit Hours: 4
• COMM 6270 - Digital Rhetoric Credit Hours: 3
• COMM 6480 - Theory and Research in Technical Communication and Human-Computer Interaction Credit Hours: 3
• COMM 6510 - Communication Theory Credit Hours: 3
• COMM 6620 - Information Architecture Credit Hours: 3
• COMM 6770 - User-Centered Design Credit Hours: 3
• CSCI 4220 - Network Programming Credit Hours: 4
• MGMT 6720 - Internet Marketing Credit Hours: 3

Optional Data course, select only one:

•  ITWS 696X - Data Analytics Credit Hours: 3

• CSCI 6100 - Machine and Computational Learning Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 6350 - Data Science Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 6180 - Knowledge Discovery with Data Mining Credit Hours: 3

Database and Intelligent Systems

Select three of the following courses:

• ITWS 696X - Data Analytics Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 696X - Semantic e-Science Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 696X - Advanced Semantic Technologies Credit Hours: 3 (Research Track Only)

• CSCI 4150 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 6100 - Machine and Computational Learning Credit Hours: 3
• CSCI 6390 - Database Mining Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 4810 - Computational Intelligence Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 6180 - Knowledge Discovery with Data Mining Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 6350 - Data Science Credit Hours: 3

Information Security

Select two or three of the following courses:

• CSCI 696X - Cryptography and Network Security I Credit Hours: 3 

• CSCI 4210 - Operating Systems Credit Hours: 4
• ITWS 4370 - Information System Security Credit Hours: 4

If only two of the above were chosen, select one more of the following courses:

•  CSCI 696X - Cryptography and Network Security II Credit Hours: 3

• CSCI 6390 - Database Mining Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 6180 - Knowledge Discovery with Data Mining Credit Hours: 3
• MATH 4020 - Introduction to Number Theory Credit Hours: 4

Information Systems Engineering

Select three of the following courses:

• CSCI 696X - Computational Finance Credit Hours: 3

• CSCI 6390 - Database Mining Credit Hours: 3
• ECSE 6780 - Software Engineering II Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 6180 - Knowledge Discovery with Data Mining Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 6610 - Systems Modeling in Decision Sciences Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 6620 - Discrete-Event Simulation Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 6870 - Introduction to Neural Networks Credit Hours: 3
• MGMT 6170 - Advanced Systems Analysis and Design Credit Hours: 3
• MGMT 6720 - Internet Marketing Credit Hours: 3

Networking

Select three of the following courses:

• CSCI 696X - Cryptography and Network Security I Credit Hours: 3

• CSCI 4220 - Network Programming Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 4320 - Parallel Programming Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 6360 - Parallel Computing Credit Hours: 3
• CSCI 4650 - Networking Laboratory I Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 4660 - Networking Laboratory II Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 6500 - Distributed Computing Over The Internet Credit Hours: 3
• ECSE 6600 - Internet Protocols Credit Hours: 3
• ECSE 6660 - Broadband and Optical Networking Credit Hours: 3
• ECSE 4670 - Computer Communication Networks Credit Hours: 3

Software Design and Engineering

Select three of the following courses:

• CSCI 696X - Open Source Software Credit Hours: 4
• ITWS 696X - Semantic e-Science Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 696X - Advanced Semantic Technologies Credit Hours: 3 (Research track only)
• ITWS 696X - Software Development Credit Hours: 3

• COMM 6810 - Studio Design in Human-Computer Interaction Credit Hours: 3
• CSCI 4020 - Computer Algorithms Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 4210 - Operating Systems Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 4220 - Network Programming Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 4320 - Parallel Programming Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 6360 - Parallel Computing Credit Hours: 3
• CSCI 4430 - Programming Languages Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 4440 - Software Design and Documentation Credit Hours: 4
• CSCI 6140 - Computer Operating Systems Credit Hours: 3
• CSCI 6500 - Distributed Computing Over The Internet Credit Hours: 3
• ECSE 6780 - Software Engineering II Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 4220 - Optimization Algorithms and Applications Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 4400 - X-Informatics Credit Hours: 3
• ITWS 4500 - Web Science Systems Development Credit Hours: 4
• MGMT 6170 - Advanced Systems Analysis and Design Credit Hours: 3

Management Information Systems

Select three of the following courses: 
(See footnote 1 below)

• MGMT 696X - Technology Fundamentals for Business Analytics Credit Hours: 3

• CSCI 6390 - Database Mining Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 6180 - Knowledge Discovery with Data Mining Credit Hours: 3
• MGMT 4130 - Enterprise IT Integration Credit Hours: 4
• MGMT 4150 - IT Project Management Credit Hours: 4
• MGMT 6060 - Business Implications of Emerging Technologies Credit Hours: 3
• MGMT 4960 - Networks, Innovation, and Value Creation Credit Hours: 4
• MGMT 6140 - Information Systems for Management Credit Hours: 3
• MGMT 6170 - Advanced Systems Analysis and Design Credit Hours: 3
• MGMT 6720 - Internet Marketing Credit Hours: 3

Financial Engineering

• MATH 4740 - Introduction to Financial Mathematics and Engineering Credit Hours: 4 Required
• MGMT 7760 - Risk Management Credit Hours: 3 Required

With adviser approval, choose three additional courses for a total of five courses:

•  CSCI 696X - Computational Finance Credit Hours: 3

• ECON 4120 - Mathematical Methods in Economics Credit Hours: 4
• ECON 6570 - Advanced Econometrics Credit Hours: 3
• ISYE 6100 - Time Series Analysis Credit Hours: 3
• MATH 4800 - Numerical Computing Credit Hours: 4
• MATH 4820 - Introduction to Numerical Methods for Differential Equations Credit Hours: 4
• MATH 6740 - Financial Mathematics and Simulation Credit Hours: 4
• MATP 4620 - Mathematical Statistics Credit Hours: 4
• MATP 4700 - Mathematical Models of Operations Research Credit Hours: 4
• MATP 4820 - Computational Optimization Credit Hours: 4
• MATP 6640 - Linear Programming Credit Hours: 4
• MGMT 6240 - Financial Trading and Investing Credit Hours: 3
• MGMT 6370 - Options, Futures, and Derivatives Markets Credit Hours: 3
• MGMT 6400 - Financial Econometrics Modeling Credit Hours: 3
• MGMT 6410 - Investments I Credit Hours: 3
• MGMT 6510 - Financial Computation Credit Hours: 3
• MGMT 6520 - Financial Modeling Credit Hours: 3

Human-Computer Interaction

Select three of the following courses:

• COMM 696X - HCI Prototype Production Credit Hours: 3
• COMM 696X - Human-Media Interaction Credit Hours: 3
• COMM 696X - Interactive Media Design Credit Hours: 3

• COMM 4690 - Interface Design: Hypermedia Theory and Application Credit Hours: 4
• COMM 6480 - Theory and Research in Technical Communication and Human-Computer Interaction Credit Hours: 3
• COMM 6620 - Information Architecture Credit Hours: 3
• COMM 6770 - User-Centered Design Credit Hours: 3
• COMM 6810 - Studio Design in Human-Computer Interaction Credit Hours: 3

Footnote

1. A maximum of five management courses (code: MGMT) may be taken towards the IT degree.

Requirements

1. Nonrefundable application processing fee of $75.
2. Statement of Background and Goals
3. Resume or curriculum vitae.
4. Two letters of recommendation.
5. Writing samples, if required by department.
6. IT Background Evaluation form (IT only).
7. Copies of official test scores (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE)
8. Copies of official transcripts and evidence of degrees earned, in English and in the native language, of all post-secondary education (including transcript keys)
9. Copy of your passport (international students only)
10. GRE general test or GMAT
11. IT Background Evaluation Form (available online)
12. TOEFL score of 230 CBT/88 iBT/570 PBT (IELTS 6.5 or PTE 60)

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Scholarships

Teaching Assistants

Students assist Rensselaer faculty in their classroom and laboratory activities, gaining valuable experience as researchers, scholars, and teachers. Departments provide stipends and full-tuition waivers. Master’s students may spend a maximum of one year with internal support; doctoral students may spend a maximum of two years with internal support. Continued support can then be provided by means of research assistantships.

Research Assistants

Students work with the faculty in research-related tasks that further the student’s own graduate career and development as a researcher, scholar, and professional. Research assistants are paid a stipend and are given a full waiver of tuition.

Graduate Fellowships

Outstanding students may be awarded a university-supported Rensselaer Graduate Fellowship Award, which carries a full-tuition and fees scholarship and a minimum stipend of $21,500 per academic year. Students are nominated by their departments for Rensselaer Graduate Fellowship consideration.

Graduate Education Program (Russia)

Selected GEP Scholarship students are eligible for a renewable scholarship in the amount of 1,38 mln. rubles per year. Students in science and engineering fields are eligible for GEP funding. For application details and deadlines, please visit http://educationglobal.ru/en/. Applicants must be admitted to Rensselaer prior to finalizing the application for the GEP program.