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Students
Tuition Fee
Start Date
Medium of studying
On campus
Duration
Program Facts
Program Details
Degree
Masters
Major
Materials Science | Optics
Area of study
Natural Science
Education type
On campus
Timing
Full time
Course Language
English
About Program

Program Overview


Color Science Master of Science Degree

Overview

The Color Science Master of Science Degree is a unique program that decodes how humans perceive and interact with color, providing limitless real-world applications.


Why Study Color Science at RIT?

  • STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.
  • Unique Program: Explore the rich and dynamic field of color science at the only university in the nation offering this specialized program, encompassing both theoretical foundations and hands-on applications.
  • Interdisciplinary Approach: Tailored for students from diverse backgrounds including physics, biology, engineering, and more, the program offers a comprehensive understanding of color science, allowing for specialization aligned with individual interests and expertise.
  • Cutting-Edge Research Opportunities: Engage in innovative projects such as exploring color perception in augmented reality, applications of color in agriculture, and advancements in color imaging technologies, conducted within the world-renowned Munsell Color Science Laboratory.
  • In-Demand Career Pathways: Graduates of the program are in high demand across various industries including electronic imaging, color instrumentation, research, and development.

RIT’s Color Science Degree

The color science degree is designed for students from a wide range of undergraduate degrees. If you completed a program in physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, engineering, neuroscience, experimental psychology, imaging, or any applied discipline pertaining to the quantitative description of color, this program could be a good fit for you.


Color science is used everyday: In the design and control of most man-made colored materials including textiles, coatings, and polymers; to specify such diverse materials as soil and wine; and, in digital photography, desktop and projection display, and printing.


The Study of Color

The color science degree is a combination of required courses in color science, elective courses appropriate for the student's background, and either a research thesis or graduate project.


For full-time students, the program requires three to four semesters of study. Part-time students generally require two to four years of study.


Color Science Careers

Alumni of our programs are in high demand and uniquely qualified to address the full breadth of color science in multidisciplinary teams. Color science degree graduates have accepted positions in electronic imaging, color instrumentation, colorant formulation, and basic and applied research. A sample of companies that have hired our graduates include Apple, Dolby Laboratories, Google, Benjamin Moore, Canon Corp., Hallmark, Hewlett Packard Corp., Microsoft Corp., Pantone, Qualcomm Inc., Ricoh Innovations Inc., LG Electronics, and Samsung.


Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical Job Titles

  • Imaging Engineer
  • Color/Imaging Scientist

Cooperative Education

What makes an RIT science and math education exceptional? It’s the ability to complete science and math co-ops and gain real-world experience that sets you apart. Co-ops in the College of Science include cooperative education and internship experiences in industry and health care settings, as well as research in an academic, industry, or national lab.


National Labs Career Events and Recruiting

The Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education works with national labs, federally-funded research centers, and sponsoring agencies to offer a variety of options to connect with and recruit students in the color science MS degree.


Curriculum

Color Science, MS degree, typical course sequence

  • First Year
    • CLRS-601: Principles of Color Science
    • CLRS-602: Color Physics and Applications
    • CLRS-720: Computational Vision Science
    • CLRS-750: Historical Research Perspectives
    • CLRS-751: Research and Publication Methods
    • Graduate Electives
  • Second Year
    • CLRS-820: Modeling Visual Perception
    • CLRS-890: Research & Thesis
    • Elective

Total Semester Credit Hours

30


Admissions and Financial Aid

Application Details

To be considered for admission to the Color Science MS program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:


  • Complete an online graduate application.
  • Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
  • Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) is recommended.
  • Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
  • Submit a personal statement of educational objectives.
  • Submit two letters of recommendation.
  • Entrance exam requirements: None
  • Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required.

Cost and Financial Aid

An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method.


Faculty

  • Mark Fairchild
  • Susan Farnand
  • Michael Murdoch
  • Elena Fedorovskaya

Research

Research conducted in the color science master's degree program revolves around the activities of the Munsell Color Science Laboratory, which is the pre-eminent academic laboratory in the country devoted to color science.


Facilities

  • Munsell Color Science Laboratory

Events

  • Color Science PH.D. Defense: Ambient Environment Effect on Color Perception

Related News

  • Color science program’s reputation helps grad land job with Apple
  • The color science of leaves in a western New York park is focus of RIT Press book
  • Comics go to College

Program Outline

At the only university in the nation offering this program of study, you will be exposed to the rich, dynamic field of color science through theory and practical application.

Read More

Students are also interested in: Color Science Ph.D., Imaging Science MS, Imaging Science Ph.D.


Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical Job Titles

Imaging Engineer Color/Imaging Scientist

Salary and Career Information for Color Science MS

Cooperative Education

What makes an RIT science and math education exceptional? It’s the ability to complete science and math co-ops and gain real-world experience that sets you apart. Co-ops in the College of Science include cooperative education and internship experiences in industry and health care settings, as well as research in an academic, industry, or national lab. These are not only possible at RIT, but are passionately encouraged.

At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set you apart. Learn more about graduate co-op and how it provides you with the career experience employers look for in their next top hires.

National Labs Career Events and Recruiting

The Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education offers National Labs and federally-funded Research Centers from all research areas and sponsoring agencies a variety of options to connect with and recruit students. Students connect with employer partners to gather information on their laboratories and explore co-op, internship, research, and full-time opportunities.  These national labs focus on scientific discovery, clean energy development, national security, technology advancements, and more. Recruiting events include our university-wide Fall Career Fair, on-campus and virtual interviews, information sessions,  1:1 networking with lab representatives, and a National Labs Resume Book available to all labs.


Color Science, MS degree, typical course sequence

Course Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
CLRS-601 3
This course covers the principles of color science including theory, application, and hands-on experience incorporated into the lectures. Topics include color appearance (hue, lightness, brightness, chroma, saturation, colorfulness), colorimetry (spectral, XYZ, xyY, L*a*b*, L*C*abhab, ΔE*ab, ΔE00), the use of linear algebra in color science and color imaging, metamerism, chromatic adaptation, color inconstancy, color rendering, color appearance models (CIECAM02), and image appearance models (S-CIELAB, iCAM). (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in CLRS-MS, IMGS-MS, CLRS-PHD or IMGS-PHD.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
CLRS-602 3
This course explores the relationship between a material’s color and its constituent raw materials such as colorants, binding media, substrates, and overcoats. These can be determined using a variety of physical models based on absorption, scattering, luminescence, and interference phenomena. These models enable the production of paints, plastics, colored paper, printing, and others to have specific colors. Accompanying laboratories will implement and optimize these models using filters, artist opaque and translucent paints and varnishes including metallic and pearlescent colorants, and inkjet printing. Statistical techniques include principal component analysis and linear and nonlinear optimization. (Prerequisites: CLRS-601 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
CLRS-720 3
Computational Vision Science This course provides an introduction to modern computer-based methods for the measurement and modeling of human vision. Lectures will introduce the experimental techniques of visual psychophysics including threshold measurement, psychometric functions, signal detection theory, and indirect, direct, and multidimensional scaling. Lectures will also introduce the MATLAB technical computing environment and will teach how to use MATLAB to run computer-based psychophysical experiments and to analyze experimental data and visualize results. Laboratory exercises will provide practical experience in using computer-based tools to conduct psychophysical experiments and to develop computational models of the results. Prior experience in vision science and/or scientific computing will be helpful but is not required. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in CLRS-MS, IMGS-MS, CLRS-PHD or IMGS-PHD.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
CLRS-750 1
Historical Research Perspectives is a weekly forum in which students will learn about historical and classic topics in color science. The course focuses on journal club discussions of papers selected by the students and faculty. It also includes oral presentations from students, laboratory staff, and faculty as well as visiting speakers from within and external to RIT. Students will prepare their own oral presentations and written assignments based on the course readings and independent research. Students will develop professional skills required for formal scientific presentations and writing. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in CLRS-MS or CLRS-PHD.) Seminar 1 (Fall).
CLRS-751 2
Color Science Seminar II is a weekly forum in which students will learn about current research topics in color science. The course focuses on journal club discussions of papers selected by the students and faculty. It also includes oral presentations from students, laboratory staff, and faculty as well as visiting speakers from within and external to RIT. Students will prepare their own oral presentations and written assignments based on the course readings and independent research. Students will further develop professional skills required for formal scientific presentations and writing. A draft thesis or dissertation proposal will also be prepared. (Prerequisites: CLRS-750 or equivalent course.) Seminar 2 (Spring).
CLRS-820 3
This course presents the transition from the measurement of color matches and differences to the description and measurement of color appearance in complex visual stimuli. This seminar course is based mainly on review and student-led discussion of primary references. Topics include: appearance terminology, appearance phenomena, viewing conditions, chromatic adaptation, color appearance modeling, image appearance, image quality, and material appearance. (Prerequisites: CRLS-601 and CLRS-720 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
 
Graduate Electives
6
Second Year
CLRS-890 6
Masters-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor. (Enrollment in this course requires permission from the department offering the course.) Thesis (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 
Elective
3
Total Semester Credit Hours
30
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