Program Overview:
The Master of Science in Information Technology is a degree program that presents students with an applied education in advanced topics associated with computer science, computer engineering, and information systems. Students can enroll in this program on either a full-time or a part-time basis.
The program is designed for students with some experience in computer technology and programming, who wish to advance their technical skills and knowledge. The goal of the program is to produce graduates who are technically proficient in their field and capable of working successfully in government and business.
All students must take eight required courses in areas that are central to computer information systems. These areas are advanced programming, data structures, computer architecture, database management systems, data communications, user interface design, systems administration, and software engineering. All students must also take two electives and complete their research requirement under the supervision of a department faculty member. Elective courses vary based on student and faculty interest, and currently include cryptography and cybersecurity, operating systems, artificial intelligence, programming languages, big data, Internet programming, advanced database, and parallel and high-performance computing.
Program Contacts:
John Avitabile
Computer Science Department Chair
Email: avitabij@strose.edu
Program Webpage:
Information Technology M.S.
Program Requirements:
All students must complete a total of 33 credits, which includes a three-credit Master’s project.
Core Requirements (24 Credits)
CSC 507 serves as a capstone experience and is typically taken as the last course requirement.
A student with sufficient experience that is equivalent to a required course may substitute (with departmental approval) an additional elective course or independent study.
CSC Elective (6 Credits)
CSC courses numbered 520, 593, 595, 596, or 597 cannot be used as electives. Independent studies (CSC 598) can be used with department approval.
Research Requirement (3 Credits)
Students must choose one of the options below to complete their research requirement.
Culminating Academic Experiences:
Research Requirement (3 Credits)
All students must complete a master’s project of significant scope closely related to one or more of their elective courses. The topic for the project will be decided by the student in consultation with the faculty advisor. Faculty advisors normally supervise projects related to the areas in which they teach elective courses.
Students should consult with faculty early in the semester before the project is to be completed to choose an appropriate project and to select the most appropriate advisor, as well as to determine which of the four options to satisfy the requirement will be pursued. Projects in all formats must go well beyond what is done in any course, and must include a formal written report and public presentation.
- A Master’s Research Seminar (CSC 593) will be arranged by a faculty member when it is determined that a sufficiently large group of students are interested in pursuing research in the faculty member’s area of expertise.
- A Project-Based Internship (CSC 595) is an internship that includes a sufficiently large project, as determined in consultation among the student, the faculty internship coordinator, and the internship supervisor at the organization where the internship will be completed.
- A Master’s Project (CSC 597) consists of a large-scale software development project, completed under direct supervision of a faculty member. This project must represent a full three-credit course worth of work, and must demonstrate an understanding of the topic well beyond that covered in any course.
- A Research Master’s Project (CSC 596) offers a student to pursue a more significant research project under faculty supervision. This option is open only to students who have earned a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. The project could focus on a topic beyond those covered in an elective course or could pursue a research interest outside of elective offerings. A Research Master’s Project culminates in a research paper suitable for submission for publication (though an actual submission or acceptance is not required) and a more substantial formal presentation. One or more additional faculty members will serve as readers for the research paper, and their approval, in addition to that of the faculty advisor, is required for successful completion. Students considering further graduate study at the Ph.D. level are especially encouraged to pursue the Research Master’s Project option.
At the end of the semester, all projects must be formally presented to department faculty and student colleagues.
Professional Accreditation:
The College of Saint Rose, sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, Albany Province, is chartered by the Board of Regents of New York State. All of its degrees and programs are registered and its professional programs are fully approved by the Board of Regents through the New York State Education Department.
The College of Saint Rose is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Admissions and Financial Aid Information:
General Admission Information
Eligibility for admission to The College of Saint Rose graduate programs is typically based upon the following minimum requirements:
- Submission of a completed application, a resume, and Statement of Purpose of approximately 300 words detailing the applicant’s goals for graduate study.
- Evidence of the possession of a U.S. baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited institution through submission of official transcripts from all post-secondary education.
- Academic and professional qualifications for graduate study, as indicated by two letters of recommendation. The Communication Sciences & Disorders and School Psychology programs requirethree letters of recommendation.
- A grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), overall and in the undergraduate major.
- Other admission criteria specified by academic programs such as submission writing samples, portfolios, test scores, and participation in interviews or admissions workshops.
Applicants to The College of Saint Rose are responsible for completing their applications by submitting all required components. Prospective students can access the online application and application instructions at www.strose.edu/gradapply.
See Graduate Admissions section for more information.
Financial Aid
The College of Saint Rose has long been committed to the premise that a quality education should be within the reach of qualified students. To this end, the College serves its student body through a comprehensive program of federal, state, and institutional financial aid. While the basic responsibility for financing education lies with the students and their families, scholarships, loans, and/or assistantships can supplement insufficient family resources. The amount of aid available through the College is limited and is awarded on the basis of academic merit. All financial assistance from the College is subject to adjustment if the recipients are later granted aid from other sources. Financial aid awards are contingent upon students’ maintaining good academic standing and satisfactory academic progress.
See Financial Aid section for more information.
Additional Information Technology Admission Information:
A student seeking admission to the program must fulfill all general requirements for admission to graduate study. In addition to meeting these criteria, all students must have either a grade point average of 3.0 or better in their undergraduate work or present a portfolio of professional work to be evaluated by the faculty of the Computer Science department.
All students are expected to complete the following prerequisite courses with a grade of B or better:
| CSC 202 | Introduction to Programming | 4 |
| | or | |
| CSC 522 | Object-Oriented Programming | 3 |
| CSC 321 | Database Management Systems | 4 |
| | or | |
| CSC 520 | Introduction to Database | 3 |
One or more of the above prerequisite courses may be waived for students who have completed equivalent coursework at an accredited institution and have earned a B or better. Prerequisite courses do not count towards the 33 credit total required for the degree.
All students must have at least nine credits in undergraduate mathematics courses.
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