MS NSA Handbook

8/10/2019 MS NSA Handbook

1/17

Master of Sciencein

Networking and SystemAdministration

For more information contact:

Rochester Institute of Technology

Information Sciences & Technologies Department

Golisano College of Computing & Information Sciences152 Lomb Memorial DriveBuilding 70/GOL2100

Rochester, New York 14623-5603(585) 475-2700 (voice)(585) 475-6584 (fax)


2/17

RIT/IST Department - 1 - Effective 9/2012

~ Table of Contents ~

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 2Program Goals and Objectives ......................................................................... 2Program Design ................................................................................................ 2Relevancy ......................................................................................................... 3

Distance Learning ................................................................................................. 6Entrance Requirements ........................................................................................ 6

Application & Deadlines ........................................................................................ 7Prerequisites ......................................................................................................... 8The Bridge Program .............................................................................................. 8The Curriculum ..................................................................................................... 9

The Upcoming Semester Curriculum .................................................................. 10Co-operative Work Experience ........................................................................... 10Program Cost ...................................................................................................... 10Departmental Financial Aid ................................................................................. 10

RITs 7-Year Degree-Completion Rule ........................................................... 11Academic Honesty .............................................................................................. 11Contact Information ............................................................................................. 11Course Descriptions ............................................................................................ 11

Academic Calendar ............................................................................................. 12Campus Map ...................................................................................................... 12

Appendix A ......................................................................................................... 13

MS Capstone Completion Procedure ............................................................. 13Thesis Forms .................................................................................................. 14Project Forms ................................................................................................. 14

Appendix B ......................................................................................................... 15Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................... 15

MS/NSA Program Worksheet ............................................................................. 16

The network is the computer.

-- John Burdette Gage @ Sun Microsystems


3/17


ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Master of Sciencein

Networking and System Administration

IntroductionThere are two potentially opposing trends currently at work in the field of networking andsystems administration. One trend is a reduction in staffing levels along with increasedcalls for efficiency and management oversight in the provision of IT services. Theopposing trend is increasingly complex networking environments and a greaterrecognition of the power of IT as a strategic enabler of corporate adaptation. Thesetrends can only co-exist through a reliance on a highly educated and technologicallyproficient networking and system administration staff that understands bothcommunications technologies and the application of these technologies to businessissues and opportunities. This degree program is designed to provide students with the

educational background and the practical skills to compete successfully in thisenvironment.

The Master of Science in Networking and System Administration (MS/NSA) goesbeyond the issues associated with local area networking and system administration toexamine the organizational and technological issues involved in enterprise scalenetworks. These issues include, but are not limited to: emerging network technologies,network processing, high performance computing, and network programming.

Program Goals and ObjectivesThe overarching purpose of this masters program is to provide the knowledge necessaryfor students to become key contributing members to the development of the computing

infrastructure of an enterprise. Specifically, the objectives of this program are to enablegraduates to develop a strong foundation in the management and deployment ofcomplex computing environments and to prepare graduates for leadership positions incomputing in both the private and public sectorsor, alternately, to prepare students foradmission to other academic programs leading to an advanced degree. In addition,successful graduates of the Masters in Networking and System Administration will beable to interface and communicate effectively at all levels of an organization. And theywill be able to design and write effective computer and network policies that meet thesecurity goals of their organizations.

Program DesignThis 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-creditcourses) from a selected set of course options. The degree is completed with a 4-creditcapstone (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 thestudents abilities in a set of foundational competencies. Courses from the RITSaunders College of Business are included in the core to address the need tounderstand business processes and management issues. The courses in the electivesarea are selected with guidance from the graduate coordinator and faculty, and are


4/17


designed to build on the foundation provided by the core to develop a specialized area oftechnical depth and expertise.

RelevancyWith the advent of the World Wide Web, the importance of networking and systemsadministration has grown dramatically and continues to grow. The complexity of

overseeing an organizations infrastructure increases quickly with the size of theorganization. While departments within an organization may remain manageable by adhoc means, an entire enterprise will encompass a much larger domain of control.Planning, evolving, and managing such an infrastructure involves tasks and requiresskills different from those used at a departmental level. A key objective of this programof 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 andprivate; 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 inthe 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 Administrators2010-11 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 networksand networked systems support (www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-

technology/), job opportunities for network systems and data communications analysts,computer systems analysts, computer network administrators, and systemsadministrators are projected to increase by 28 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster thanthe averagefor 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
http://www.bls.gov/oohhttp://www.bls.gov/oohhttp://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos305.htm#outlookhttp://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos305.htm#outlookhttp://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos305.htm#outlookhttp://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computer-systems-administrators.htmhttp://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computer-systems-administrators.htmhttp://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computer-systems-administrators.htmhttp://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computer-systems-administrators.htmhttp://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computer-systems-administrators.htmhttp://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computer-systems-administrators.htmhttp://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos305.htm#outlookhttp://www.bls.gov/ooh


5/17


As a result, this degree program is positioned to provide an educational experience thatwill place technical individuals with strong networking and system administration skills atthe forefront of the economy.

This MS program presumes that the student has fundamental knowledge in currentprogramming techniques, networking theory, and systems administration practices; and

it builds from this foundation with concepts appropriate to the larger scale of todaysenterprises. As such, the program includes courses that challenge the student to thinkat 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 largeenterprises.

Each RIT academic program is identified by an alphabetic code; the MS/NSA programcode, or student plan, is NETSYS-MS (previously VNSM).


6/17

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

4002-716

C++forSystemAdministration

4055-721

PERLforSystemAdministration

4055-746

TelecommunicationsNetwork

Protocols

4055-761

PrinciplesofSystem

Administration

0102-740

OrganizationalBehaviorand

Leadership

0106-744

ProjectManagement

4055-726

ResearchMethods

4055-817

EmergingNetworkTechnologies

4055-755

SecuredWirelessandWired

Networks

4055-882

EnterpriseSecurity

0101-703

AccountingforDecisionMakers

4055-760

ComputerVirusesandMalicious

Software

4055-780

ComputerSystemSecurity

4055-818

NetworkManagement

4055-841

AdvancedComputerForensics

4055-862

AdvancedRoutingProtocols

4055-883

EnterpriseNetworking

4055-884

EnterpriseServiceProvisioning

Bridge prerequisites)

Core

Electives choose 16 credits)

4055-896

ProposalDevelopment4055-897M.S.Thesis

Capstone

4055-850

NetworkDesign&Performance

4050-211

C++ for System Admin.

4055-897 MS Thesis or

4055-898 MS Project


7/17


Distance LearningThis program is intended for either full-time or part-time study, and is available on-campus or entirely online in distance-learning format although some course optionsare only available on-campus. You can enroll in the program regardless of where youlive or work. Instead of going to a traditional college classroom, distance courses use avariety of methods, including Web-based presentations, video and audio recordings,

audio and computer conferencing, and electronic blackboards. These tested educationaldelivery methods give you time and place flexibility while maintaining RITs academicstandards and quality of instruction. Information about online learning at RIT is availableat http://online.rit.edu.

A wide variety of support services are available remotely, including advising, on-linelibrary catalogs and indexes (some with full text), inter-library loans, internet-based audioconferences, computer conferencing and other software. There is no difference betweena program of study completed at a distance or on-campus at RIT. Courses offered indistance learning format follow the same quarterly schedule and are charged the sametuition rate as other RIT on-campus courses.

International students seeking an I-20 to reside in the United States while studying in thisprogram should note that they are required to be enrolled for at least eight (8) credits perquarter in on-campus courses. Distance learning or online courses do not qualify for the8-credit requirement. However, this programs courses areoffered online courses in twoformats: a pure online format and a blended format. The blended format requiresstudents to participate online in exactly the same way as distance students, plus theyattend a weekly recitation with a faculty member. This required recitation allows blended-format 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 RequirementsDegree applicants should minimally have a baccalaureate or equivalent degree from anaccredited institution of higher education and a minimum cumulative grade-pointaverage equivalent to 3.0/4.0 (B average). International students must also haveequivalent of at least a 3.0/4.0 from an accredited university using the US system ofgrading or at least a first class degree from an accredited university using the Britishsystem of grading.

Additionally, applicants with degrees from foreign universities must submit GraduateRecord 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 TOEFLexamination. A minimum score of 570 (paper-based exam), 230 (computer-based

1RITs reporting number for ETSs GRE and TOEFL examinations is 2760.


8/17


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 functionalEnglish 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 reducedprogram course load until the required English level is achieved.

Information about the GRE and the TOEFL examinations is available at www.ets.org.

Application & DeadlinesThe application process typically takes four to six weeks after the Office of GraduateEnrollment Services (GES) has received a complete application. However, internationalapplications may take longer due to slower physical mail. The graduate coordinator andfaculty only evaluate applications after all of the information has been submitted andverified by a GES counselor.

Students can be admitted at various times during the year. However, acceptance intothe program does not guarantee availability of prerequisite or program courses. As thestart 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 startingtheir course work.

The typical application deadline schedule is shown below:

Quarter

TypicalStarting Date

of Quarter

DomesticApplication

Deadline(Part Time)

DomesticApplication

Deadline(Full Time)

InternationalApplication

Deadline(Full Time only)

Fall ~ September 5 August 1 August 1 July 1

Winter ~ December 1 Not Permitted Not Permitted Not PermittedSpring ~ March 7 Not Permitted

2012-13

Not Permitted

2012-13

Not Permitted

Summer ~ June 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 andthe 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 ingrad_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 incoursework while your application is being processed. Please feel free to contact the

graduate coordinator [email protected] about this option.
http://www.rit.edu/emcs/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.rit.edu/emcs/


9/17


PrerequisitesApplicants wishing to enter this masters program are expected to have the equivalent ofan undergraduate degree in computer networking and/or systems administration. Otherdegree programs may also suffice (e.g., Information Technology, Computer Science,Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering) depending on the students coursework 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 constructionprinciples.

Knowledge of basic networking infrastructure services, including DHCP, DNS, andother discovery and name resolution protocols.

Knowledge of basic system services and system administration functions (includingscripting for UNIX), user administration, networked file systems, web services,networked information systems (such as NIS), and networked security andpermission issues.

Solid skills in object-oriented programming (OOP) in C++.

Students without this background, but with a strong background in computing (includingprogramming) may pursue completion of these prerequisites via a program of coursesoffered by RIT or another institution to bridge them into the M.S. degree program.

The Bridge ProgramAll students must have the required coursework or documented experience beforematriculating in this MS degree program. Students, whose undergraduate preparation orindustrial/work experience does not satisfy the above requirements can make up thisdeficiency through study, taking one or more courses as prescribed by the graduatecoordinator. This coursework may be completed at any accredited college or universitythat is convenient.

The courses offered by RIT that can be used to satisfy the above prerequisites are: 4050-211C++ 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 workdone as part of the bridge program. Bridge program courses are not part of the 48-quarter credit hours required for the masters degree. Bridge courses may not be appliedtowards degree requirements. If taken before matriculation, grades for bridge coursesare not included in a students graduate grade-point average. However, grades forbridge courses taken after matriculation are included in students graduate grade-pointaverage.

Students who have been admitted to the program before completing prerequisiterequirements must satisfactorily complete bridge coursework within the first two (2)quarters of matriculation to continue in the program. Prior approval of the graduatecoordinator is required before any other courses in the program may be taken.


10/17


To meet individual needs, a bridge program can be designed differently from thatdescribed above. Other courses can be substituted, or courses at other colleges can beapplied. For example applicants studying at a distance may take equivalent coursesfrom their local community colleges or universities. However, such programs must beapproved in advance. Contact the graduate coordinator (see contact information later inthis document) for approval prior to beginning bridge coursework.

The CurriculumThis Master of Science degree requires forty-eight (48) quarter-credit hours of study. Itincludes the core coursework, 28 credits or seven (7) courses; sixteen (16) credits ofupper-level electives from a prescribed set of courses; and the capstone experience, a4-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 routingand 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 ISTdepartment, the Computing Security department, or other RIT departments may beused 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)

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


11/17


The Upcoming Semester CurriculumIn fall 2013, RIT will convert from its current quarter-based academic calendar to atraditional 15-week semester calendar. The semester-version of this program willcontinue to address current enterprise-level networking issues as well as fundamentalsecurity concepts for networked environments. The following table compares the currentand semester versions of this program.

ProgramComponent

MS/NSAQuarter Program

MS/NSASemester Program

Program Core 7 courses/28 credits 2 courses/6 credits

Knowledge Domain - 3 courses/6 credits(professional, management, or research focus)

Electives 4 courses/16 credits 3-4*courses/9*-12*credits

Capstone Options Project (4 credits)Thesis (4 credits)

Project (3 credits*)Thesis (6 credits)

Total Credits 48 quarter 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 knowledgedomain studyarea. Domain study is intended to allow the student to personalize his orher graduate experience with coursework that addresses topics for networkingprofessionals, managers, or research. As exists now, there continues to be a set ofopen electives that can be focused on topics of individual interest.

Co-operative Work ExperienceUp to two (2) terms of an optional cooperative education experience (co-op) is availableprior to capstone completion for those students who wish to enhance their resume withemployment experience. Students need to complete all bridge study (including EnglishLanguage Center study), have completed 2/3 of the MS coursework, and have a 3.0/4.0or better program grade-point-average (GPA) before going on co-op.

Students need to the prior approval of the graduate coordinator or graduate advisor toregister for Graduate Co-op, the course 4055-999 (zero (0) credits; no cost). The Officeof 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 ownand have them approved by the graduate coordinator.

Program CostThe cost details for graduate study at RIT are available on the RIT website athttp://finweb.rit.edu/sfs/billing/tuitionandfees/1213/ . Cost information is available for bothfull- and part-time study. Information about financial aid to support study with us isavailable at http://www.rit.edu/emcs/financialaid/graduate.html .

Departmental Financial AidThe IST department can offer a small Merit Scholarship to qualified students who are notreceiving 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 (excludingsummer) from the quarter in which the student is admitted. For the summer term and
http://www.rit.edu/emcs/oce/http://www.rit.edu/emcs/oce/http://www.rit.edu/emcs/oce/http://finweb.rit.edu/sfs/billing/tuitionandfees/1213/http://finweb.rit.edu/sfs/billing/tuitionandfees/1213/http://finweb.rit.edu/sfs/billing/tuitionandfees/1213/http://www.rit.edu/emcs/oce/


12/17


each year following the initial award, the student must request continuation of thescholarship. The award will, in general, be extended if the student has made steadyprogress towards the degree and has maintained at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA, which is theminimum required to graduate with a MS degree at RIT. See the Graduate StudentHandbook for more details.

RITs 7-Year Degree-Completion RuleGraduate students must successfully complete all of the requirements for their programswithin 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 RITdepartments or other universities, but excludes prerequisite courses. For example, if thefirst course was completed in fall quarter 2012 (2121), then the program must becompleted prior to the fall quarter 2018 (2181; September 2018). Please contact thegraduate coordinator immediately if you find that you are coming close to your 7-yeardeadline.

Academic HonestyAcademic 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. TheRIT code of academic conduct is documented in the universitys Policies andProcedures 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 departmentalwebsite (http://www.ist.rit.edu/node/108 ). Additional details of the ramifications ofviolating these policies are available in the Graduate Student Handbook.

Contact InformationAdditional information about this program or other graduate programs offered by the ISTdepartment at RIT may be obtained by contacting us at:

US Mail: Graduate Program DirectorInformation Sciences & Technologies DepartmentGolisano College of Computing & Information SciencesRochester Institute of Technology152 Lomb Memorial DriveRochester, New York 14623-5603

E-mail: [email protected]

Telephone: (585) 475-2700 (v/tty)

FAX: (585) 475-6584

Course DescriptionsCourse descriptions for graduate (4055-xxx) and undergraduate (4050-xxx) computernetworking and system administration courses offered by the IST networking faculty andthe network security courses offered by the Computing Security department areavailable from the RIT website at https://register.rit.edu/courseSchedule/4050 nnn orhttps://register.rit.edu/courseSchedule/4055 nnn, where nnnis the course number.


13/17


Upcoming semester courses are available athttps://sis.rit.edu/SemCon.Choose GCCIS,then NSSA.

Graduate course descriptions for the Saunders College of Business (01xx-7xx) areavailable on the RIT website at sis.rit.edu/, in the Public section.

Academic quartersat RIT are each 10 weeks long and identified by a 4-digit code: yyyn, whereyyy is the calendar year (i.e. 2012 becomes 212) at the beginning of the current academic year(i.e. 2012-13) and ndesignates the term (1 = fall, 2 = winter, 3 = spring, and 4 = summer). So fall2012 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 generallydesignated as 0sor 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 atwww.rit.edu/calendar/1213.html .

Campus MapMS/IT courses are generally be held in the Golisano College of Computing & InformationSciences (GOL or building 70). RITs various campus maps are available atfacilities.rit.edu/campus/maps/ .
https://sis.rit.edu/SemConhttps://sis.rit.edu/SemConhttps://sis.rit.edu/SemConhttp://www.rit.edu/calendar/1213.htmlhttp://www.rit.edu/calendar/1213.htmlhttp://www.rit.edu/calendar/1213.htmlhttp://facilities.rit.edu/campus/maps/http://facilities.rit.edu/campus/maps/http://facilities.rit.edu/campus/maps/http://www.rit.edu/calendar/1213.htmlhttps://sis.rit.edu/SemCon


14/17


Appendix A

MS Capstone Completion ProcedureThe MS/NSA capstone, a MS project or thesis, is the culmination of your studies. Assuch, it should demonstrate your ability as professional and as a creative andindependent thinker. It is also intended as an opportunity for you to demonstrate your

mental inquisitiveness and your ability to pursue academic inquiries. In short, itdemonstrates and proves your abilities as an academic scholar. The outcome of yourcapstone is a published document; theses are available to the public through the RITLibrary; projects are kept within your department.

The capstone begins with choosing a topic for exploration. The best topic is one in whichyou are interested in and which you have chosen for yourself. Your topic should derivedirectly from and be a synthesis of your studies; it should not be an entirely new area foryou. Guidance may be sought from any and all of the faculty in the program. As youdiscuss your ideas with faculty, you should be seeking a capstone advisor who will guideyou throughout the effort.

Once a topic is chosen (or at least roughly outlined), you write your proposal. Aproposal may be of any length, but is usually from 5 to 15 pages long. Shorter proposalsare possible, as are longer ones. The actual length and format will be decided upon inconcert with your capstone advisor and committee. As the proposal grows, yourcapstone advisor may help you recruit other committee members or you may identifythem 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, obtaintheir 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 throughyour research. So stay in touch with them. The primary deliverables are thedevelopment/investigational work and the written document. A typical thesis runs from75 to 125 pages in length; projects are typically 50 100 pages. The length isdetermined by the nature of your work and the expectations of your committee.

As your investigation/research progresses, write periodic drafts of your final documentand submit it to your committee (using the required introduction pages (see below)) forreview. 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 yourcommittee members up-to-date on your progress, at least bi-weekly.

Upon approval (or possibly preliminary approval) of your work, your capstone committeewill allow you to defend. Your committee chair will notify us that your defense isauthorized. 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 forit to be posted for at least one (1) week prior to the defense date.


15/17


When you have successfully defended your capstone and your work has met all of therequirements of your committee, your committee members will sign the official approvalform (see below). Bring the signed approval form to the Student Services office andmeet with the staff member for graduate studies. S/he will give you the requirements forbinding and, for a thesis, journal posting.

For a thesis, your document will be bound by the Wallace Memorial Library; and onecopy will be retained by the Library for its collection. You are responsible to bind acapstone project report. One copy of your capstone will be given to each of yourcommittee members. If you wish additional bound copies for yourself, that can bearranged.

Thesis FormsFollowing 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 CapstoneInformation link.

Project FormsFollowing 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 MSCapstone Information link.


16/17


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 toreceive 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 aslong 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 theRIT Graduate Scholarship Application form (see the Student Services office) at least onequarter 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 mayextend 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. Toapply, 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 Marchfor the nextacademic year (e.g. March of 20xx for September 20xx admission). Assistantships aregranted 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 priorto capstone completion. You must meet the requirements for co-op and ensure that your jobis appropriate before beginning work. See the graduate coordinator and our representativesfrom Career Services and Cooperative Education for assistance with this. However, it isimportant that working does not interfere with your completing your MS capstone andobtaining 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 afaculty member with whom you have a good relationship. You may also take the course4055-896, Proposal Development (1 credit). If you take this approach, you have paid for 1credit of the 4-credit capstone requirement, and you only need to pay for an additional 3credits.

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 aproblem in a degree designed for online students. To accommodate this need, we offer mostof our courses in two formats. The first is a totally online format which does not count towardthe 8 credits of on campus coursework.

The other format is a blendedformat. These courses require the same work as a totallyonline course, but bear an additional requirement of at least one on-campus meeting perweek with an instructor. These courses do count toward the 8 credits of on campuscoursework. 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? Possiblydepending upon the reason and your background. Any and all changes to yourplan of study must be pre-approved by the graduate coordinator or graduate advisor.


17/17


MS/NSA Program Worksheet

(not included)

MS NSA Handbook

Documents

Transcript of MS NSA Handbook