Master of Science in Science, Technology and Public Policy

Overview

The MS degree in Science, Technology, and Public Policy enables students to work at the intersection of engineering, science, technology, and public policy. The program builds on RIT’s strengths as a technological university, enabling students to interact with faculty and researchers who are working on scientific developments and technological innovations that drive new public policy considerations. The public policy master is interdisciplinary and draws significantly from disciplines and courses throughout RIT. It is geared toward producing graduates who will make significant contributions in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.

All students in the MS degree in science, technology, and public policy take a set of policy core courses that emphasize analysis, problem-solving, and interdisciplinary approaches. Students work with an adviser to choose electives that focus their policy studies in a particular area, such as environmental policy, climate change policy, health care policy, STEM education policy, telecommunications policy, or energy policy. Typical students include those with science or engineering backgrounds seeking to broaden their career opportunities in government or business settings, as well as those with undergraduate degrees in the liberal arts (e.g., economics) who are interested in science, technology, and policy issues. Full-time students can typically finish the program in one to two years. The program prides itself on working one-on-one with students to ensure that their educational needs and academic goals are attained.

Plan of study

The program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours and consists of five required core courses, three elective courses, and the completion of a thesis or comprehensive exam. The thesis option allows students to work with a faculty adviser on an independent research project in their area of interest.

Electives

Students choose three elective courses based on their interests and career goals. Courses may be offered in various colleges throughout the university, including the colleges of Business, Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Science. Course selection is completed jointly with a faculty adviser and typically aims to develop a specialized area of interest for the student (e.g., biotechnology policy, environmental policy, energy policy, communications policy, etc.).

Industries

• Management Consulting
• Higher Education
• Politics
• Non-Profit

Curriculum

Science, Technology and Public Policy, MS degree, typical course sequence

First Year

• PUBL-700 Readings in Public Policy
• PUBL-701 Graduate Policy Analysis
• STSO-710 Graduate Science and Technology Policy Seminar
• PUBL-702 Graduate Decision Analysis
• PUBL-703 Evaluation and Research Design
• Graduate Electives

Choose one of the following:

• PUBL-790 Public Policy Thesis
• PUBL-798 Comprehensive Exam plus 2 Graduate Electives

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the MS program in science, technology, and public policy, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete a graduate application.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) from an accredited university or college.
• Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work.
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent).
• Have completed course work in calculus and statistics. Students may be required to take a course in data analysis or statistics course and an introductory calculus course, if not taken previously.
• Submit scores from the GRE.
• Submit two writing samples, one of which should be a statement of interest.
• Submit two letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources.
• International applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. A minimum TOEFL score of 88 (internet-based) is required. A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 is required. The English language test score requirement is waived for native speakers of English or for those submitting transcripts from degrees earned at American institutions.