Rochester Institute of Technology

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Background

The Public Policy Program at RIT accepted its first students in the fall of 2001. This new, innovative program reflects the highly interdisciplinary nature of policy studies and draws upon the disciplinary strengths of RIT, especially in applied science and technology. The program can be designed to meet the student's interests and career goals, with opportunities to concentrate in areas such as environmental policy, information and communications policy, and science and technology policy, for example. Importantly, master’s students have an opportunity to work with faculty from several disciplines in the College of Liberal Arts, College of Science, College of Engineering, and College of Information Systems.

Unlike traditional public administration or political science programs, the Public Policy Program at RIT is focused on policy analysis and modeling. In addition to educating students about the policy making process, we also teach students how to: (1) evaluate the technical, economic, and political feasibility of alternative policies, (2) develop strategies for policy implementation, and (3) analyze the consequences of policy adoption. We also have a strong "systems thinking" component to the curriculum and students engage in many systems dynamics learning activities. The skills you will learn will prepare you for careers in government, industry, and the non-profit sectors.

Graduate Degrees Offered

M.S. -- Public Policy
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Admissions Requirements

• 3.0 grade point average (GPA) overall
• Calculus required
• Data Analysis recommended
• Two formal letters of reference
• A statement of interest
• A writing sample
• GRE exams are not required, but are encouraged
• Minimum TOEFL of 570 for students who do not speak English as their native language
  

Degree Requirements

Students must complete between 48 to 60 quarter hours of study (RIT operates on a quarter system; each quarter lasts for 10 weeks. A typical 10-week course is 4 quarter hours). This translates to 12-15 classes, depending on the student's background and transfer credits. Typically, students may finish the degree in 4-6 quarters of study, depending on their academic background. There is a core series of six courses and an additional seven elective courses. A thesis is required.

Faculty Information

We have dedicated, professionally trained faculty with years of experience as teachers, researchers, and practitioners in the public policy field. Our faculty is an interdisciplinary group from the fields of economics, political science, sociology, and the natural and applied sciences, among others. Many of our faculty members have experience in government and the private sector. Because of RIT’s unique strengths as a technological
university, you will be able to interact with faculty and researchers who are working on the scientific developments and technological innovations driving these new public policy considerations.

Positions for Graduates

The Public Policy Program prepares students for employment in the public and private sectors as policy analysts, researchers, or planners. Students will also be well-prepared to continue their education at the Ph.D. level.

Financial Information

Full-time graduate studies are approximately $22,000 per year, with tuition scholarships available. Research assistantships may also be available.