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.
The study of color is a fundamental field of science that is dedicated to understanding the creation of colored stimuli, sources of illumination, and ultimately the human perception of color.
RIT's color science degree provides a graduate-level study in both scientific theory and practical application. The program provides you with a broad exposure to the field of color science and affords them the unique opportunity of specializing in an area appropriate for their background and interest. This objective is accomplished through the program's core courses, selection of electives, and completion of a thesis or graduate project.
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.
Where other programs may address just optics or just materials, just lighting or just perception; here you'll learn the full range of color science. This includes the fundamental concepts of color science and its applications, as well as how to do research in the field and present it successfully.
RIT Color Science students work on projects including:
- Color Perception in Assisted Reality/Virtual Reality
- Color in Agriculture
- Color Imaging (Cameras and Displays, e.g. smartphones)
- Individual Differences in Human Color Perception
- Limits of Human Color Vision
Study color at the world-renowned Munsell Color Science Laboratory, only offered here at RIT.
The Study of Color
The color science degree is a combination of required courses in color science, elective courses appropriate for the candidate'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.
The color science program is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in a scientific or another technical discipline. Those with adequate undergraduate work in related sciences start the program as matriculated graduate students.
Students without adequate undergraduate work in related sciences must take foundation courses prior to matriculation into the graduate program. A written agreement between the candidate and the program coordinator will identify the required foundation courses.
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.
Students are also interested in: Color Science Ph.D., Imaging Science MS, Imaging Science Ph.D.