Linda Underhill, Graduate Program Chair
(585) 475-7359, lmuism@rit.edu
http://www.rit.edu/cast/servicesystems/service-leadership-and-innovation.php
Program overview
Service leadership and innovation is a 48 quarter credit hour program designed to provide students with the capability to transform their service organizations. Service is no longer a subset of manufacturing era thinking. The program includes core courses, professional electives and concentrations, and a comprehensive exam. Students, with permission may complete a capstone capstone project or thesis in place fo the exam.
Curriculum
Semester conversion
Effective fall 2013, RIT will convert its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. Each program and its associated courses have been sent to the New York State Department of Education for approval of the semester plan. For reference, the following charts illustrate the typical course sequence for this program in both quarters and semesters. Students should consult their academic advisers with questions regarding planning and course selection.
Service leadership and innovation, MS degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 0625-708 | Library Research | 1 |
| 0624-770 | Service Leadership | 4 |
| 0625-750 | Elements of Service Management: A Systems Approach | 4 |
| 0624-790 | Research Methods | 4 |
| 0624-825 | Strategic Process of Service Firms | 4 |
| 0626-735 | Human Capital Strategies | 4 |
| 0625-849 | Service Performance Metrics | 4 |
| 0625-755 | Graduate Writing | 3 |
| Professional Electives | 12 | |
| 0625-895 | Comprehensive Exam* | 0 |
| 0625-794 | Integreated Problem Solving | 4 |
| 0625-844 | Breakthrough Thinking, Creativity and Innovation | 4 |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 48 | |
* Students typically choose to complete the Comprehensive Exam (0625-895), Intergrated Problemsolving (0625-794), and Breakthrough Thinking, Creativity and Innovation (0625-844). However, with department approval, students may request to complete a capstone project plus Breakthrough Thinking, Creativity and Innovation (0625-844) or a thesis (which requires no additional course work).
Service leadership and innovation, MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| SERQ-700 | Research Methods | 3 |
| SERQ-702 | Graduate Writing Strategies | 3 |
| SERQ-710 | Evolving Contexts in Service | 3 |
| SERQ-720 | Service Scenarios and Strategy Development | 3 |
| SERQ-722 | Customer Centricity | |
| SERQ-723 | Service Analytics | 3 |
| SERQ-770 | Breakthrough Thinking, Creativity and Innovation | 3 |
| Second Year | ||
| Concentration Courses | 9 | |
| SERQ-795 | Comprehensive Exam* | 0 |
| SERQ-711 | Service Design and Implementation | 3 |
| SERQ-794 | Integreated Problem Solving | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 36 | |
* Students typically choose to complete the Comprehensive Exam (SERQ-795), Intergrated Problemsolving (SERQ-711), and Breakthrough Thinking, Creativity and Innovation (SERQ-770). However, with department approval, students may request to complete a capstone project plus Breakthrough Thinking, Creativity and Innovation (SERQ-770) or a thesis (which requires no additional course work).
Electives
Electives may be chosen from human resource development, hospitality-tourism management, or technical electives. Electives must be approved in advance and students must meet all prerequisite requirements.
Concentrations (semesters)
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering services | ||
| SERQ-740 | Service Leadership Tools and Techniques | 3 |
| Choose two or three of the following: | ||
| ISEE-771 | Engineering of Systems I | 3 |
| ISEE-723 | Global Facilities Planning | 3 |
| CQAS-682 | Lean Six Sigma Fundamentals | 3 |
| Service systems | ||
| SERQ-730 | Managing Not-For-Profit, Public Sector Projects | 3 |
| SERQ-732 | Service Quality Process in the Not-For-Profit, Public Sector | 3 |
| SERQ-735 | Data Mining in Not-For-Profit, Public Sector | 3 |
Students may customize a concentration with the approval of the department. Please note: customized concentrations cannot include additional business related courses.
Admission requirements
To be considered for admission to the MS in service leadership and innovation, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution,
- Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undegraduate and graduate course work,
- Submit two professional recommendations,
- Submit a current resume,
- Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above, or evidence of relevant professional performance,
- Have completed foundation course work with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (if required), and
- Complete a graduate application.
- International applicants, whose native language is not English, must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum scores of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79 (Internet-based) are required. Scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are accepted in place of the TOEFL exam. Minimum acceptable scores will vary; however, the absolute minimum score for an unconditional acceptance is 6.5.
Additional information
Study options
The program is flexible and can be completed through either full- and part-time study. Courses are offered in the evenings, on weekends, or through a weeklong format. Many of the program's courses may be completed online. Full-time students may complete the program within three quarters, or one academic year.
The executive leader option may be completed in one academic year for candidates whose schedules can accommodate two courses per quarter. The program typically begins in the fall quarter, enabling a class of students to progress through the program together as a group.
Thesis/Capstone/Exam options
All students must complete a thesis, capstone project, or comprehensive exam as a culminating experience allowing for demonstration of competencies for theory and application material for the discipline. Students will be advised by the program adviser and/or program faculty as which option is most appropriate based on career goals and objectives. In the program the default is to complete the comprehensive examination upon completion of required and elective course work unless a student seeks to complete a thesis or capstone project. This alternative strategy is possible if the faculty adviser and department chair agrees with the student in their ability to complete this strategy.