Master of Science

in

Networking and System

Administration
For more information contact:
Rochester Institute of Technology

Information Sciences & Technologies Department

Golisano College of Computing & Information Sciences
152 Lomb Memorial Drive
Building 70/GOL 2100
Rochester, New York 14623-5603
(585) 475-2700 (voice)
(585) 475-6584 (fax)

~ Table of Contents ~
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 2
Program Goals and Objectives ......................................................................... 2
Program Design ................................................................................................ 2
Relevancy ......................................................................................................... 3
Distance Learning ................................................................................................. 6
Entrance Requirements ........................................................................................ 6
Application & Deadlines ........................................................................................ 7
Prerequisites ......................................................................................................... 8
The Bridge Program.............................................................................................. 8
The Curriculum ..................................................................................................... 9
The Upcoming Semester Curriculum .................................................................. 10
Co-operative Work Experience ........................................................................... 10
Program Cost ...................................................................................................... 10
Departmental Financial Aid ................................................................................. 10
RITs 7-Year Degree-Completion Rule ........................................................... 11
Academic Honesty .............................................................................................. 11
Contact Information............................................................................................. 11
Course Descriptions............................................................................................ 11
Academic Calendar............................................................................................. 12
Campus Map ...................................................................................................... 12
Appendix A ......................................................................................................... 13
MS Capstone Completion Procedure ............................................................. 13
Thesis Forms .................................................................................................. 14
Project Forms ................................................................................................. 14
Appendix B ......................................................................................................... 15
Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................... 15
MS/NSA Program Worksheet ............................................................................. 16

The network is the computer.

-- John Burdette Gage @ Sun Microsystems

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ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Master of Science
in

Networking and System Administration

Introduction
There are two potentially opposing trends currently at work in the field of networking and
systems administration. One trend is a reduction in staffing levels along with increased
calls for efficiency and management oversight in the provision of IT services. The
opposing trend is increasingly complex networking environments and a greater
recognition of the power of IT as a strategic enabler of corporate adaptation. These
trends can only co-exist through a reliance on a highly educated and technologically
proficient networking and system administration staff that understands both
communications technologies and the application of these technologies to business
issues and opportunities. This degree program is designed to provide students with the
educational background and the practical skills to compete successfully in this
environment.
The Master of Science in Networking and System Administration (MS/NSA) goes
beyond the issues associated with local area networking and system administration to
examine the organizational and technological issues involved in enterprise scale
networks. These issues include, but are not limited to: emerging network technologies,
network processing, high performance computing, and network programming.
Program Goals and Objectives
The overarching purpose of this masters program is to provide the knowledge necessary
for students to become key contributing members to the development of the computing
infrastructure of an enterprise. Specifically, the objectives of this program are to enable
graduates to develop a strong foundation in the management and deployment of
complex computing environments and to prepare graduates for leadership positions in
computing in both the private and public sectors or, alternately, to prepare students for
admission to other academic programs leading to an advanced degree. In addition,
successful graduates of the Masters in Networking and System Administration will be
able to interface and communicate effectively at all levels of an organization. And they
will be able to design and write effective computer and network policies that meet the
security goals of their organizations.
Program Design
This program of study is based upon a twenty-eight (28) credit core (seven 4-credit
courses) followed by a set of advanced electives for sixteen (16) credits (four 4-credit
courses) from a selected set of course options. The degree is completed with a 4-credit
capstone (project or thesis), for a total of 48 quarter-credit hours of graduate study.
Educational objectives of the courses in the program core are designed to ascertain the
students abilities in a set of foundational competencies. Courses from the RIT
Saunders College of Business are included in the core to address the need to
understand business processes and management issues. The courses in the electives
area are selected with guidance from the graduate coordinator and faculty, and are
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designed to build on the foundation provided by the core to develop a specialized area of
technical depth and expertise.
Relevancy
With the advent of the World Wide Web, the importance of networking and systems
administration has grown dramatically and continues to grow. The complexity of
overseeing an organizations infrastructure increases quickly with the size of the
organization. While departments within an organization may remain manageable by ad
hoc means, an entire enterprise will encompass a much larger domain of control.
Planning, evolving, and managing such an infrastructure involves tasks and requires
skills different from those used at a departmental level. A key objective of this program
of study is to prepare our students for careers in such enterprise environments.
Individuals with these higher level skills are vital to all types of organizations: public and
private; small, medium and large. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/), job opportunities in the areas
addressed by this program of study are strong and are expected to continue to be so in
the near future.
From the 2010-2011 Edition, on the Overview of the 2008-18 Projections page:
Two of the fastest growing detailed occupations are in the computer specialist
occupational group. Network systems and data communications analysts are
projected to be the second-fastest-growing occupation in the economy. Demand
for these workers will increase as organizations continue to upgrade their
information technology capacity and incorporate the newest technologies. The
growing reliance on wireless networks will result in a need for more network
systems and data communications analysts as well.
Per the BLS Computer Network, Systems, and Database Administrators 2010-11 page
(www.bls.gov/oco/ocos305.htm#outlook):
Computer networks are an integral part of business, and demand for these
workers will increase as firms continue to invest in new technologies. The
increasing adoption of mobile technologies means that more establishments will
use the Internet to conduct business online. This growth translates into a need
for systems administrators who can help organizations use technology to
communicate with employees, clients, and consumers. Growth will also be
driven by the increasing need for information security. As cyber attacks become
more sophisticated, demand will increase for workers with security skills.
In the 2012-13 Occupational Outlook Handbook occupation pages related to networks
and networked systems
support
(www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-informationtechnology/), job opportunities for network systems and data communications analysts,
computer systems analysts, computer network administrators, and systems
administrators are projected to increase by 28 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than
the average for all occupations.
Demand for these workers is high and should continue to grow as firms invest in
newer, faster technology and mobile networks.
-- BLS/OOH Network & Computer Systems Administrators page

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As a result, this degree program is positioned to provide an educational experience that

will place technical individuals with strong networking and system administration skills at
the forefront of the economy.
This MS program presumes that the student has fundamental knowledge in current
programming techniques, networking theory, and systems administration practices; and
it builds from this foundation with concepts appropriate to the larger scale of todays
enterprises. As such, the program includes courses that challenge the student to think
at the strategic level, courses that prepare the student to lead teams of professionals,
and courses that prepare the student to become a key, contributing members of large
enterprises.
Each RIT academic program is identified by an alphabetic code; the MS/NSA program
code, or student plan, is NETSYS-MS (previously VNSM).

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Figure 1: Course Plan for M.S. in Networking and System Administration

Bridge (prerequisites)
4002-716
4050-211
C++ for System Administration

C++ for System Admin.

4055-761
Principles of System
Administration

4055-746
Telecommunications Network
Protocols
4055-721
PERL for System Administration

Core
0102-740
Organizational Behavior and
Leadership

0106-744
Project Management

4055-726
Research Methods

4055-755
Secured Wireless and Wired
Networks

4055-817
Emerging Network Technologies

4055-850
Network Design & Performance

4055-882
Enterprise Security

Electives (choose 16 credits)

0101-703
Accounting for Decision Makers
4055-818
Network Management
4055-780
Computer System Security

4055-883
Enterprise Networking

4055-862
Advanced Routing Protocols

4055-760
Computer Viruses and Malicious
Software
4055-841
Advanced Computer Forensics
4055-884
Enterprise Service Provisioning

Capstone
4055-896
Proposal Development

4055-897 MS Thesis or
4055-897 M.S. Thesis
4055-898 MS Project

Distance Learning
This program is intended for either full-time or part-time study, and is available oncampus or entirely online in distance-learning format although some course options
are only available on-campus. You can enroll in the program regardless of where you
live or work. Instead of going to a traditional college classroom, distance courses use a
variety of methods, including Web-based presentations, video and audio recordings,
audio and computer conferencing, and electronic blackboards. These tested educational
delivery methods give you time and place flexibility while maintaining RITs academic
standards and quality of instruction. Information about online learning at RIT is available
at http://online.rit.edu.
A wide variety of support services are available remotely, including advising, on-line
library catalogs and indexes (some with full text), inter-library loans, internet-based audio
conferences, computer conferencing and other software. There is no difference between
a program of study completed at a distance or on-campus at RIT. Courses offered in
distance learning format follow the same quarterly schedule and are charged the same
tuition rate as other RIT on-campus courses.
International students seeking an I-20 to reside in the United States while studying in this
program should note that they are required to be enrolled for at least eight (8) credits per
quarter in on-campus courses. Distance learning or online courses do not qualify for the
8-credit requirement. However, this programs courses are offered online courses in two
formats: a pure online format and a blended format. The blended format requires
students to participate online in exactly the same way as distance students, plus they
attend a weekly recitation with a faculty member. This required recitation allows blendedformat courses to count toward the 8-credit residency requirement.
To participate in this online program, you will need the following:
Access to a personal computer or workstation (running an up-to-date Web browser)
Access to the Internet via a network connection to your own Internet Service
Provider.
Entrance Requirements
Degree applicants should minimally have a baccalaureate or equivalent degree from an
accredited institution of higher education and a minimum cumulative grade-point
average equivalent to 3.0/4.0 (B average). International students must also have
equivalent of at least a 3.0/4.0 from an accredited university using the US system of
grading or at least a first class degree from an accredited university using the British
system of grading.
Additionally, applicants with degrees from foreign universities must submit Graduate
Record Examination (GRE) scores1. The GRE may also be required for those applicants
requesting consideration whose undergraduate grade-point average is less than 3.0/4.0.
Applicants whose native language is not English must take and submit the TOEFL
examination. A minimum score of 570 (paper-based exam), 230 (computer-based

RITs reporting number for ETSs GRE and TOEFL examinations is 2760.

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exam), or 88 (internet-based exam) is required. Other evidence of language proficiency,

such as writing samples and GRE scores, may also be evaluated to assess functional
English ability. Applicants with a lower TOEFL may be admitted conditionally. However,
they will be required to take a prescribed program in English along with a reduced
program course load until the required English level is achieved.
Information about the GRE and the TOEFL examinations is available at www.ets.org.
Application & Deadlines
The application process typically takes four to six weeks after the Office of Graduate
Enrollment Services (GES) has received a complete application. However, international
applications may take longer due to slower physical mail. The graduate coordinator and
faculty only evaluate applications after all of the information has been submitted and
verified by a GES counselor.
Students can be admitted at various times during the year. However, acceptance into
the program does not guarantee availability of prerequisite or program courses. As the
start of the quarter approaches, many classes become full. Students, who apply just
before the start of a quarter, may need to wait until the following quarter before starting
their course work.
The typical application deadline schedule is shown below:

Quarter

Typical
Starting Date
of Quarter

Fall
Winter
Spring

~ September 5
~ December 1
~ March 7

Summer

~ June 1

Domestic
Application
Deadline
(Part Time)
August 1
Not Permitted
Not Permitted
2012-13
Not Permitted

Domestic
Application
Deadline
(Full Time)
August 1
Not Permitted
Not Permitted
2012-13
Not Permitted

International
Application
Deadline
(Full Time only)
July 1
Not Permitted
Not Permitted
Not Permitted

All applicants are required to submit the following:

An electronic or paper application.
A well-written statement of purpose that discusses your background relevant to and
the personal goals for this degree program.
Application fee.
Official transcripts from all universities listed on the application.
Two (2) recommendations from educational or professional sources.
An electronic graduate application is available at the URL http://www.rit.edu/emcs/
ptgrad/grad_app.html. (Note: there is an underscore (_) between the d and the a in
grad_app.) Requests for information can be made from this page.
If you have employment experience in the field, we may be able to start you in
coursework while your application is being processed. Please feel free to contact the
graduate coordinator at InformaticsGrad@rit.edu about this option.

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Prerequisites
Applicants wishing to enter this masters program are expected to have the equivalent of
an undergraduate degree in computer networking and/or systems administration. Other
degree programs may also suffice (e.g., Information Technology, Computer Science,
Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering) depending on the students course
work and/or work experience. The specific prerequisites are:

Knowledge of basic networking theories and practices, including: Ethernet, TCP/IP,

routing and switching, cable construction, and basic LAN design and construction
principles.
Knowledge of basic networking infrastructure services, including DHCP, DNS, and
other discovery and name resolution protocols.
Knowledge of basic system services and system administration functions (including
scripting for UNIX), user administration, networked file systems, web services,
networked information systems (such as NIS), and networked security and
permission issues.
Solid skills in object-oriented programming (OOP) in C++.

Students without this background, but with a strong background in computing (including
programming) may pursue completion of these prerequisites via a program of courses
offered by RIT or another institution to bridge them into the M.S. degree program.
The Bridge Program
All students must have the required coursework or documented experience before
matriculating in this MS degree program. Students, whose undergraduate preparation or
industrial/work experience does not satisfy the above requirements can make up this
deficiency through study, taking one or more courses as prescribed by the graduate
coordinator. This coursework may be completed at any accredited college or university
that is convenient.
The courses offered by RIT that can be used to satisfy the above prerequisites are:
4050-211 C++ for Networking and Systems Administration (undergraduate; requires
OOP experience)
4055-721 PERL for System Administration (graduate; requires OOP experience)
4055-746 Telecommunications Network Protocols (graduate)
4055-761 Principles of System Administration (graduate; requires 4055-746)
Students are expected to achieve a 3.0 (B grade) or better average in course work
done as part of the bridge program. Bridge program courses are not part of the 48quarter credit hours required for the masters degree. Bridge courses may not be applied
towards degree requirements. If taken before matriculation, grades for bridge courses
are not included in a students graduate grade-point average. However, grades for
bridge courses taken after matriculation are included in students graduate grade-point
average.
Students who have been admitted to the program before completing prerequisite
requirements must satisfactorily complete bridge coursework within the first two (2)
quarters of matriculation to continue in the program. Prior approval of the graduate
coordinator is required before any other courses in the program may be taken.

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To meet individual needs, a bridge program can be designed differently from that
described above. Other courses can be substituted, or courses at other colleges can be
applied. For example applicants studying at a distance may take equivalent courses
from their local community colleges or universities. However, such programs must be
approved in advance. Contact the graduate coordinator (see contact information later in
this document) for approval prior to beginning bridge coursework.
The Curriculum
This Master of Science degree requires forty-eight (48) quarter-credit hours of study. It
includes the core coursework, 28 credits or seven (7) courses; sixteen (16) credits of
upper-level electives from a prescribed set of courses; and the capstone experience, a
4-credit project or thesis. Required prerequisite knowledge is included in parenthesis.

The MS/NSA Core (28 credits):

0102-740 Organizational Behavior and Leadership (graduate standing)

0106-744 Project Management (graduate standing)
4055-726 Research Methods (graduate standing)
4055-755 Secured Wireless and Wired Networks (4055-746)
4055-817 Emerging Network Technologies (graduate standing in MS/NSA)
4055-850 Network Design and Performance (4055-746 and 4055-761)
4055-882 Enterprise Security (4055-746 and 4055-761; experience in routing
and switching is desirable)

Upper-Level Electives (16 credits) chosen from the following list:

0101-703 Accounting for Decision Makers (graduate standing)

4055-760 Computer Viruses and Malicious Software (4002-716)
4055-780 Computer System Security (4055-746 and 4055-761)
4055-818 Network Management (4055-817)
4055-841 Advanced Computer Forensics (4002-716 and 4055-761)
4055-862 Advanced Routing Protocols (4055-746)
4055-883 Enterprise Networking (4055-850)
4055-884 Enterprise Service Provisioning (4055-818; co-requisite 0101-703)

Other relevant graduate courses may be offered. Graduate courses from the IST
department, the Computing Security department, or other RIT departments may be
used as electives with the prior approval of the graduate coordinator.

The MS/NSA Capstone (4 credits):

4055-896 Proposal Development (1 credit; optional; permission of instructor; at

least 36 credits of coursework should be completed prior to taking)
4055-897 MS Thesis (4 credits2; permission of instructor) or
4055-898 MS Project (4 credits2; permission of instructor)

The capstone experience is 4 credits total; if 4055-896 is taken, the remaining capstone credits
can be reduced by 1, to 3 credits.

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The Upcoming Semester Curriculum

In fall 2013, RIT will convert from its current quarter-based academic calendar to a
traditional 15-week semester calendar. The semester-version of this program will
continue to address current enterprise-level networking issues as well as fundamental
security concepts for networked environments. The following table compares the current
and semester versions of this program.
Program
Component
Program Core

MS/NSA
Quarter Program
7 courses/28 credits

Knowledge Domain

Electives

4 courses/16 credits
Project (4 credits)
Thesis (4 credits)
48 quarter credits

Capstone Options
Total Credits

MS/NSA
Semester Program
2 courses/6 credits
3 courses/6 credits
(professional, management, or research focus)

3-4* courses/9*-12* credits

Project (3 credits*)
Thesis (6 credits)
30 semester credits

In the semester program, the design of the program core has been revised into two
separate areas: a required core of key foundation topics, and a flexible knowledge
domain study area. Domain study is intended to allow the student to personalize his or
her graduate experience with coursework that addresses topics for networking
professionals, managers, or research. As exists now, there continues to be a set of
open electives that can be focused on topics of individual interest.
Co-operative Work Experience
Up to two (2) terms of an optional cooperative education experience (co-op) is available
prior to capstone completion for those students who wish to enhance their resume with
employment experience. Students need to complete all bridge study (including English
Language Center study), have completed 2/3 of the MS coursework, and have a 3.0/4.0
or better program grade-point-average (GPA) before going on co-op.
Students need to the prior approval of the graduate coordinator or graduate advisor to
register for Graduate Co-op, the course 4055-999 (zero (0) credits; no cost). The Office
of Cooperative Education and Career Services (OCE&CS; http://www.rit.edu/emcs/oce/)
can assist students in finding a co-op position or students can find positions on their own
and have them approved by the graduate coordinator.
Program Cost
The cost details for graduate study at RIT are available on the RIT website at
http://finweb.rit.edu/sfs/billing/tuitionandfees/1213/. Cost information is available for both
full- and part-time study. Information about financial aid to support study with us is
available at http://www.rit.edu/emcs/financialaid/graduate.html.
Departmental Financial Aid
The IST department can offer a small Merit Scholarship to qualified students who are not
receiving significant financial support from other sources, such as from an employer, VA,
etc. This award is based upon demonstrated need, previous educational performance,
and employment background (if applicable).
If granted, the merit scholarship is initially awarded for one (1) academic year (excluding
summer) from the quarter in which the student is admitted. For the summer term and
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each year following the initial award, the student must request continuation of the
scholarship. The award will, in general, be extended if the student has made steady
progress towards the degree and has maintained at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA, which is the
minimum required to graduate with a MS degree at RIT. See the Graduate Student
Handbook for more details.
RITs 7-Year Degree-Completion Rule
Graduate students must successfully complete all of the requirements for their programs
within seven (7) years of the date of the first (oldest) course counted towards the degree.
This requirement includes courses transferred into the program from other RIT
departments or other universities, but excludes prerequisite courses. For example, if the
first course was completed in fall quarter 2012 (2121), then the program must be
completed prior to the fall quarter 2018 (2181; September 2018). Please contact the
graduate coordinator immediately if you find that you are coming close to your 7-year
deadline.
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is an expectation of all students at RIT. Any act of improperly
representing another persons work as ones own is an act of academic dishonesty. The
RIT code of academic conduct is documented in the universitys Policies and
Procedures manual:
http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/policiesmanual/sectionD/D8.html
http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/policiesmanual/sectionC/C0.html
The IST departments academic honesty policy is also posted on the departmental
website (http://www.ist.rit.edu/node/108). Additional details of the ramifications of
violating these policies are available in the Graduate Student Handbook.
Contact Information
Additional information about this program or other graduate programs offered by the IST
department at RIT may be obtained by contacting us at:
US Mail:

Graduate Program Director

Information Sciences & Technologies Department
Golisano College of Computing & Information Sciences
Rochester Institute of Technology
152 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, New York 14623-5603

E-mail:

InformaticsGrad@rit.edu

Telephone:

(585) 475-2700 (v/tty)

FAX:

(585) 475-6584

Course Descriptions
Course descriptions for graduate (4055-xxx) and undergraduate (4050-xxx) computer
networking and system administration courses offered by the IST networking faculty and
the network security courses offered by the Computing Security department are
available from the RIT website at https://register.rit.edu/courseSchedule/4050nnn or
https://register.rit.edu/courseSchedule/4055nnn, where nnn is the course number.

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Upcoming semester courses are available at https://sis.rit.edu/SemCon. Choose GCCIS,

then NSSA.
Graduate course descriptions for the Saunders College of Business (01xx-7xx) are
available on the RIT website at sis.rit.edu/, in the Public section.
Academic quarters at RIT are each 10 weeks long and identified by a 4-digit code: yyyn, where
yyy is the calendar year (i.e. 2012 becomes 212) at the beginning of the current academic year
(i.e. 2012-13) and n designates the term (1 = fall, 2 = winter, 3 = spring, and 4 = summer). So fall
2012 is 2121, winter 2012-13 is 2122, spring 2013 is 2123, and summer 2013 is 2124.
RIT quarter courses are identified by a 9-digit numeric code which specifies department (d),
course number (n) and section (s) number: dddd-nnn-ss. On-campus sections are generally
designated as 0s or 1s, etc. Online sections are typically designated with TBA.
RIT semester courses will be identified by a 14-character alphanumeric code that defines,
college (c), department (d), course number (n) and section (s): ccccc-dddd-nnn-ss.

Academic Calendar
The 2012-13 RIT academic calendar is available at www.rit.edu/calendar/1213.html.

Campus Map
MS/IT courses are generally be held in the Golisano College of Computing & Information
Sciences (GOL or building 70). RITs various campus maps are available at
facilities.rit.edu/campus/maps/.

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Appendix A
MS Capstone Completion Procedure
The MS/NSA capstone, a MS project or thesis, is the culmination of your studies. As
such, it should demonstrate your ability as professional and as a creative and
independent thinker. It is also intended as an opportunity for you to demonstrate your
mental inquisitiveness and your ability to pursue academic inquiries. In short, it
demonstrates and proves your abilities as an academic scholar. The outcome of your
capstone is a published document; theses are available to the public through the RIT
Library; projects are kept within your department.
The capstone begins with choosing a topic for exploration. The best topic is one in which
you are interested in and which you have chosen for yourself. Your topic should derive
directly from and be a synthesis of your studies; it should not be an entirely new area for
you. Guidance may be sought from any and all of the faculty in the program. As you
discuss your ideas with faculty, you should be seeking a capstone advisor who will guide
you throughout the effort.
Once a topic is chosen (or at least roughly outlined), you write your proposal. A
proposal may be of any length, but is usually from 5 to 15 pages long. Shorter proposals
are possible, as are longer ones. The actual length and format will be decided upon in
concert with your capstone advisor and committee. As the proposal grows, your
capstone advisor may help you recruit other committee members or you may identify
them for yourself. Two (2) faculty members are required for a project committee; three
(3) are required for a thesis.
When your committee is defined and the members have approved your proposal, obtain
their signatures on the approval form (see below), attach it to the front of a printed copy,
and submit both printed and digital copies to the staff member for graduate studies.
Your proposal will be reviewed for final approval by the graduate coordinator; when
approved, you will be allowed to register for the capstone credits.
Your capstone advisor and committee members are your support as you work through
your research. So stay in touch with them. The primary deliverables are the
development/investigational work and the written document. A typical thesis runs from
75 to 125 pages in length; projects are typically 50 100 pages. The length is
determined by the nature of your work and the expectations of your committee.
As your investigation/research progresses, write periodic drafts of your final document
and submit it to your committee (using the required introduction pages (see below)) for
review. They will often suggest changes, ranging from simple grammatical corrections,
to additional sections, to total rewrites, to additional foci for investigation/research. Their
requirements must be met for you to complete your capstone. So its best to keep your
committee members up-to-date on your progress, at least bi-weekly.
Upon approval (or possibly preliminary approval) of your work, your capstone committee
will allow you to defend. Your committee chair will notify us that your defense is
authorized. You must submit an abstract of your work for the defense (1-2 paragraphs;
see below) to staff member for graduate studies in the Student Services office in time for
it to be posted for at least one (1) week prior to the defense date.
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When you have successfully defended your capstone and your work has met all of the
requirements of your committee, your committee members will sign the official approval
form (see below). Bring the signed approval form to the Student Services office and
meet with the staff member for graduate studies. S/he will give you the requirements for
binding and, for a thesis, journal posting.
For a thesis, your document will be bound by the Wallace Memorial Library; and one
copy will be retained by the Library for its collection. You are responsible to bind a
capstone project report. One copy of your capstone will be given to each of your
committee members. If you wish additional bound copies for yourself, that can be
arranged.
Thesis Forms
Following are various forms used in completing a MS/NSA thesis capstone:

Proposal Approval form

Defense Announcement
Final Thesis Approval form
Thesis Title page

These forms are available on this programs graduate website under the MS Capstone
Information link.
Project Forms
Following are various forms used in completing a MS/NSA project capstone:

Proposal Approval form

Defense Announcement
Final Project Approval form
Project Title page

These forms are available on the departments graduate website under the MS
Capstone Information link.

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Appendix B
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there a scholarship available?
All full-time and some part-time students who do not have significant outside sources of
funding and who have strong academic and/or employment backgrounds are eligible to
receive a scholarship. Once assigned, this scholarship is for three quarters of support.
2. What about my scholarship if my studies exceed three quarters?
While economic contingencies cannot be foreseen, scholarships are generally renewed as
long as the student is making steady progress on the degree and remains in good standing
(attains a GPA of 3.0 or better). Requests for extension must be made, in writing, using the
RIT Graduate Scholarship Application form (see the Student Services office) at least one
quarter before the extension is desired.
3. Does scholarship cover courses taken in summer terms?
Normally not. However, upon request, the graduate coordinator or graduate advisor may
extend a scholarship to cover summer term courses.
4. Are there graduate assistantships available?
The department offers a small number of graduate assistantships (GA) positions yearly. To
apply, you must fill out and submit an application (available at: http://nssa.rit.edu/?q=node/32)
to the graduate coordinator no later than the end of the second week of March for the next
academic year (e.g. March of 20xx for September 20xx admission). Assistantships are
granted for a maximum of three (3) quarters: fall, winter, and spring terms.
5. May I work (co-op) as part of my studies?
Graduate co-op is available. It is optional and you may do at most two (2) co-op quarters prior
to capstone completion. You must meet the requirements for co-op and ensure that your job
is appropriate before beginning work. See the graduate coordinator and our representatives
from Career Services and Cooperative Education for assistance with this. However, it is
important that working does not interfere with your completing your MS capstone and
obtaining the degree.
6. How do I get ideas for my capstone and help getting started?
You will likely have ideas from 4055-726 or 4055-817, and you can always seek the help of a
faculty member with whom you have a good relationship. You may also take the course
4055-896, Proposal Development (1 credit). If you take this approach, you have paid for 1
credit of the 4-credit capstone requirement, and you only need to pay for an additional 3
credits.
7. I am an international student. Are there special study rules I should know about?
Yes. International students must take at least 8 credits per term on campus. This can be a
problem in a degree designed for online students. To accommodate this need, we offer most
of our courses in two formats. The first is a totally online format which does not count toward
the 8 credits of on campus coursework.
The other format is a blended format. These courses require the same work as a totally
online course, but bear an additional requirement of at least one on-campus meeting per
week with an instructor. These courses do count toward the 8 credits of on campus
coursework. These courses are designated with a section location identifier of TBA.
8. May I take other courses in place of those indicated on the program worksheet?
Possibly depending upon the reason and your background. Any and all changes to your
plan of study must be pre-approved by the graduate coordinator or graduate advisor.

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MS/NSA Program Worksheet

(not included)

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Effective 9/2012