Rochester Institute of Technology

Degree Requirements and campus life

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 Table of contents

Introduction....page 3

Welcomepage 4

Why Rochester Institute of Technology?........................................page 4

At a Glance..page 5

Broad Requirementspage 6

The Nine Colleges.page 9

Financial Aid....page 14

Clubs and Organizations.page 16

Resources..page 17

Conclusions..page 18

Map of Campus...page 19

Index.....page 20-21

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Purpose
This manual is intended for use to new students to help navigate the

difficult transition that occurs during their first year away at college. Here at

Rochester Institute of Technology, we pride ourselves on inclusion, our

resources, and the performance of our students.

Responsibilities
RIT student, Bridgett A. Jackson, is responsible for the images and the

information presented. This manual is not intended for sale nor negative

and/or irresponsible use.

Scope
There are many opportunities and resources available here at

Rochester Institute of Technology. In this diverse and large community, it is

easy to get lost in the fold and overwhelmed by everything that there is. In

this manual you will get some introductory information in regard to what RIT

has to offer and a quick and simple description of the degrees each of the

nine colleges on campus give.

And due to the many degrees offered, RIT has a list of criteria that

students must complete in order to graduate, along with their specific

program requirements. And it is important that students have an

understanding of the financial and campus resources that are available to

them. All this information will be described, and included will be ways to get

to other detailed information.

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welcome to Rochester institute of technology
Welcome to RIT! As a tiger there are many opportunities for success

and growth. To fulfil the ability to succeed, RIT has made sure that there are

resources available for circumstances surrounding financial, social, and

academic reasons.

To make sure that there you are given as many options for students,

this manual will highlight important requirements for graduating. Although

there are standard requirements for everyone, all majors have specific

requirements that should be considered. Due to the many different degrees

available at RIT, the details for all will not be described here. Instead, we will

include information relevant to everyone and the nine colleges on campus.

What is special about Rochester institute of

technology?

RIT has a definite mission statement and several goes that it applies to

all students and how the university to presented to the public. Our mission is

simple: to prepare all students for success in whatever career they enter.

This mission is carried out through the individualistic degree plan(s) that

students and faculty create together.

Similar to our mission are our values; of which were created to be

applied for the success of RIT and its students.

Student Centeredness: The focus of our university, students are

the reason for our success and popularity. RIT makes sure that

all students are represented and given equal status and

opportunity.

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 Scholarship and Professional Development: Every student and

faculty should make decisions in which positively improve

academics and professional development; toward individuals and

teams.

Ethics and Integrity: Community is created and maintained

through communication based on respect, trust, and

connections.

Diversity, Respect, and Pluralism: Everyone is treated with

respect and given equal status and/or opportunity. Our

community thrives with the inclusion that RIT strives for and

continues to expand.

Flexibility and Innovation: Creative ideas and solutions are

continuously supported and promoted. Innovation is a large

factor in the academic life and social community of RIT and the

public.

Collaboration and Teamwork: Community and inclusion are highly

encouraged and recommended. The ability and strength of

leadership and group work add to the success of students and

RIT.

Rochester institute of technology at a glance

RIT is not only national, located in Henrietta, New York; but it also

spans the globe to China, Dubai, Croatia, and Kosovo. Fall 2017 brought

along with it over 18,000 students enrolled, and the freshmen class gave RIT

its most diverse class. The degrees offered range from associate programs,

to bachelors, masters, and doctoral.

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 RIT consists of nine colleges:

Applied Science and Technology

Saunders College of Business

B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information

Sciences

Kate Gleason College of Engineering

College of Health Sciences and Technology

College of Imaging Arts and Sciences

College of Liberal Arts

National Technical Institute for the Deaf

College of Science

Broad requirements for degree completion at rit

Rochester Institute of Technology has a criterion of requirements for

all students to graduate, but the specifics vary depending on the program

being taken. Students are required to complete the mandatory courses for

their program, which are typically listed in the RIT website, under their

college.

Wellness Courses

All students must complete wellness courses, which are also listed in

the RIT website and have a large range of topics. These courses have no

credits, but are required. If it is a bachelor program, the student needs to

complete and pass two courses, while an associative program only needs

one course. Transfer students can have courses from their previous

university be accepted and count toward this requirement.

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 The only options for students not to take these courses depends on

their age (2 or older at the start of their program), participation in clubs

and/or sports (this participation can be accepted as wellness activity credit);

medical reasons, completion of a previous bachelor degree, etc.

Cooperative Education Experience (Co-op)

Depending on the program, students have a cooperative education

experience to complete: some must complete more than one, while others

are not required to complete any at all. These co-ops can be substituted or

weighted/seen equal to an internship. Some programs can last more than

three or four years, but none should last more than seven.

Perspectives

There are eight perspective courses that students also must take.

Perspectives include the ethical, artistic, global, social, natural scientific

inquiry, scientific principles, and mathematical.

Ethical is a course that emphasizes arguments and decisions-making

at different levels, like the individual and international. Artistic covers

analyzing artistic expressions in societies and cultures, and global has

students learn about life in a broader and more general sense.

Social has students learn about human behavior and analyze them,

while the natural science inquiry is about students learning to apply the

basic method and understanding of science (scientific method). Scientific

principles is similar to natural science inquiry, but it has students learn and

apply deeper understanding of science (scientific method). Two different

courses make up the mathematical perspective that gives students deeper

understanding and ability to apply mathematical theories and applications.

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Immersion

All students are required to also complete an immersion before they

can graduate. This immersion consists of three general education courses

that are related, and can lead to a student completing a minor if they want.

Writing Intensive

Students need to enroll in and complete three different writing

intensive courses during their time at RIT. Typically, the first intensive

writing course is First Year Writing; this course is suited to the needs of the

RIT students and is taken to prepare them for college level writing.

Grade-Point Average

In combination with the above requirements, students have to maintain

at least an average grade-point average of 2.0. While physician assistant

students must maintain a grade-point average of 2.8. And all students need

to complete three related courses that makes up an immersion.

Then there are general education courses that, again, are a required

element to degree completion. The number of course is usually about 12

courses, but they have the ability to be double-counted with other courses in

a students required program courses.

Financial Responsibility

And students must clear all financial responsibilities in relation to RIT.

This can include any fees acquired through damages, parking tickets, library

book damages, etc. Students will not be allowed to graduate until all fees are

dealt with.

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 RITs nIne maIn colleges
College of applied science and technology (CAST)

This college offers degrees in packaging science, international

hospitality, and service management; environmental sustainability, health,

and safety; and a large selection of engineering majors (such as civil,

product, and manufacturing). Bachelors and masters are the only degree

types, and engineering students will typically spend five years gaining their

bachelor of science degree.

Saunders college of business

The degrees offered by this college are in bachelors and masters

degrees. With these degrees there are seven options to choose from:

accounting, international business, finance, management, new media

marketing, management information systems, and marketing. Saunders has a

program that was created just for their freshmen, the Biz 1-2 Innovation. It is

to help students further understand the principles of business, apply them,

and to create deeper relations with their professors and fellow students.

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B. Thomas Golisano college of computing and
information sciences

There are all three-degree types, but only one doctorate major, and it is

for computing and information sciences. Due to the technological nature of

the degrees, there are thirty-four labs spanning the campus for student use;

and students must complete a cooperative education experience for all the

majors. The majors offered are through computer science, computing and

information technology, computing security; game design and development,

new media interactive development, software engineering, human-centered

computing (HCC), web and mobile computing, and computing exploration.

Kate Gleason college of engineering

Like the above college, Kate Gleason offers all three-degree types. The

doctorate programs are through engineering (focus on industry) and

microsystems engineering. All other degrees are in all types of engineering:

biomedical, chemical, electrical, mechanical, industrial, computer, and

microelectronic. There is an option for a five-year combined bachelor and

master degree program.

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College of health sciences and technology

With this college there are only the bachelor and master degree types

through biomedical sciences, diagnostic medical sonography (ultrasound),

nutritional sciences, dietetics, and nutrition, and finally the physician

assistant (a five-year bachelor and master degree program). RIT has created

a partnership with Rochester Regional Health System to give students

clinical experience and further understanding of practices and hospital

workings.

College of imaging arts and sciences

The bachelor and master degrees in this college are further split into

six smaller schools within the college itself. The School of Art holds degrees

in fine arts studio, medical illustration, and illustration. The School of Design

gives design degrees in interior, new media, graphic, industrial, and 3D

digital. School for American Crafts teaches students the skills they need in

ceramics, metals and jewelry design, glass, and furniture design.

The School of Film and Animation only specializes in two degrees:

motion picture science, and film and animation, but students can do this with

a focus on animation or production. The School of Media Sciences is one of

the best of its type globally for its media arts and technology major. Lastly is

the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences. RITs is larger than most other

photography schools, but this gives students more variety and skill in

different areas. The degrees are in fine art photography, visual media,

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photojournalism, advertising photography; biomedical photographic

communication, and imaging and photographic technology.

College of liberal arts

Although very small, the advantage of being on a major technological

school allows students specialized skills in the field that they choose. If

students cannot decide on one specific degree, they can choose the option

of liberal arts exploration where they work with faculty to determine their

best option, while still fulfilling the needs of their requirements.

Between the bachelor and master degree types, there are twelve

majors for students to choose from. The majors are: advertising and public

relations, criminal justice, communication, journalism, museum studies;

economics, international and global studies, political science, psychology,

philosophy, public policy, and sociology and anthropology. There are multiple

opportunities for students to gain double-majors and/or decide on five-year

combination degrees of bachelor and masters.

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National technical institute for the deaf

This college offers associates, bachelor, and master degrees. There

are many combination options and support through this college. If students

wish to complete a degree higher than an associate degree through another

of the colleges on campus and dont not yet qualify, they can enroll and finish

off the prerequisites here. And then there is the option, like in Liberal Arts, to

first explore courses before settling on a degree. Being enrolled in this

college means that students are given reduced tuition, and students that are

deaf and/or hard-of-hearing are able to only pay about one-third of RITs full

tuition.

College of science

Within this college, there are degree option for bachelor, master, and

doctorates. The degrees range in the natural mathematics and sciences,

such as chemistry, physics, and astrophysical sciences, to imaging science,

statistics, and computational mathematics.

Research is important for all of RIT, but in the College of Science, it is

highly valued. The office of the dean helps in having an annual undergraduate

seminar, allowing all students to show their research and work on their

skills. Also, each year several students are given awards for their research,

and some get momentary grants. These students that win then participate in

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a ten-week program held at RIT in the summer, and at the end, present their

research at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.

There is a year-long path for the students, like in other colleges, that

dont fully know what degree they want; but they are not held to only

completing a degree in the College of Science. Students can also complete a

degree while working with faculty to successfully complete requirements if

they are interested in premedical studies. And if students are interested in

educational careers, they can participate in a collaboration program between

RIT and Nazareth College. The cooperative education experience in this

college involves hand on experience spanning several months.

Financial Aid and scholarships

Scholarships and aid can be granted on the bases of need and

academic excellence. For need based students, they must show there is a

financial demand for them and they must be registered as full-time students;

meaning that they are required to complete at least twelve credits per

semester. The financial need is calculated by the Free Application for

Federal Student Aid (FASFA). Students nationally and globally are accepted

and complete degrees at RIT in varying financial states.

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Types of Aid

Merit Scholarships: Not considering financial need, students that

demonstrated excellence in their academics and their extracurriculars.

These are awarded through student records, requirements of the program

they are accepted to, and the recommendations they provide. Freshmen can

obtain the Presidential Scholarship, and transfer students can obtain the

Trustees Scholarship.

RIT Achievement Scholarships: This is like the merit scholarships, but

students are also considered for their abilities in the areas of

entrepreneurship, community service, leadership, and/or artistic talent.

Grants: Focused on the financial needs of students, only. These are through

RIT and the state and federal governments. The government grants include

the Pell Grants and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

Student Loans: Federal government assistance through the Direct and

Perkins Loans. They are not required to be paid until after students have

graduated or ended their program. Students need to be enrolled full-time and

typically have a six-month grace period after they are no longer have full-

time status.

Employment Opportunities: There are many opportunities for student

employment both on campus and off. Student may go on the Student

Employment website, to the Student Employment Office, and also

departmental offices around campus if they need assistance and/or to apply

for jobs. RIT allows students a maximum of twenty hours per week to work in

an on-campus job.

ROTC Programs: Students enrolled in Reserve Officers Training Corps

programs have opportunities for scholarships. Student should contact the

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Student Financial Office and the ROTC program offices if there are any

questions or need of more information: Army ROTC, call 585-475-2881; Air

Force ROTC, call 585-475-5197; and Navy ROTC, call 585-275-4275.

Clubs and Organizations

Rochester Institute of Technology welcomes an inclusive and open

community for its students. For the students to feel welcomed and happy,

RIT offers over 300 clubs and organizations. For specific, detailed

information, students can go to https://campusgroups.rit.edu and login with

the student account. They can also go to the annual student resource fair

held during the orientation week of each new year, where they can meet and

sign up with organization. Students can sign up for these organizations on

the website listed above as well.

Campus Life Managed Organizations: 13

Competitive Sports Club Federation: 27

Special Interest House (SIH): 7

Student Government Recognized Club- Martial Arts: 6

Greek Governing Councils: 3

Service Student Organizations (SSO): 3

Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement Affiliated Groups: 5

Recreational Club Sports: 8

Social Fraternities and Sororities: 30

Student Affairs Department Program: 13

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Student Government Recognized Clubs: 194

Student Government: 1

Representative Student Organizations (RSO): 5

Social Greek Honorary Organizations: 2

Varsity Athletic Team: 23

Resources for students

All the below topics are the resources that RIT supplies for its

students. For a direct link and detailed description, student can go online to

www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/advising/student-resources.

Advising

Academic Support

Campus Life

Career Guidance and Major Choice

Conflict Resolution Resources

Co-Op (Cooperative Education)

Disability Support Services

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

Financial Aid/Billing Questions

Global Students and Study

Graduate Study

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Leave of Absence (LOA) Planning

LGBTQIA+ Support

Mental/Physical Wellness

Parents and Families Resources

Personal Development

Programs of Study

Registrar

RIT Policies

Enjoy Rochester institute of technology!

Again, welcome to Rochester Institute of Technology. You are now in a

diverse national and global community of students, faulty, alumni. RIT

welcomes students of all backgrounds and is proud to include you to this

continuously growing family.

Transitions can be hard, so it is important to reach out and learn about

all the resources, opportunities, and people that are here on campus and also

off. The Rochester community surrounding RITs Henrietta campus is also a

diverse and interesting people. This time will fly by quickly, so take action

and enjoy everything you can while you are here!

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 Index

Cover..page 1

Table of Contents...page 2

Purpose of Manual..page 3

Responsibilities of Author..page 3

Scope of Manual..page 3

Welcome to RIT!..page 4

What is Special about RIT?.....................................................................page 4-5

RIT at a Glance.page 5-6

Broad Requirements..page 6-8

Wellness Courses..page 6

Cooperative Education Experience....page 7

Perspectivespage 7

Immersion.page 8

Writing Intensive.. page 8

Grade-Point Average...page 8

Financial Responsibility....page 8

RITs Nine Colleges....page 9-14

College of Applied Science and Technology..page 9

Saunders College of Business.page 9

College of Computing and Information Sciences..page 10

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 College of Engineering.page 10

College of Health Sciences and Technologypage 11

College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.page 11-12

College of Liberal Arts....page 12

National Technical Institute for Deaf..page 13

College of Science..page 13-14

Financial Aid and Scholarshipspage 1416

Clubs and Organizationspage 16-17

Resources....page 17-18

Enjoy RIT!.................................................................................................page 18

Map of Campus....page 19

Index.page 20-21

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