PhD in Color Science

Doctor of Philosophy in Color Science

Color has been a topic of intense interest and inquiry for hundreds if not thousands of years. As a generalization, color science can be defined as the quantification of our perception of color. Its mastery requires an interdisciplinary educational approach encompassing physics, chemistry, physiology, statistics, computer science, and psychology. Color science is used in the design and control of most man-made colored materials including textiles, coatings, and polymers and to specify such diverse materials as soil and wine. It is used extensively in color reproduction including digital photography, desktop and projection display, and printing. As we begin the 21st century, color science is ubiquitous.

Color science research at RIT encompasses such diverse fields as medical data visualization, computer graphics and animation, art conservation, spectral and spatial measurements of materials, color printing, digital photography, motion picture and television, and modeling of our perceptions for use in defining color quality. RIT has a long history of scholarship in color science.

The program is designed for students whose undergraduate majors are in physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, engineering, experimental psychology, imaging, or any applied discipline pertaining to the quantitative description of color, for example, textiles, graphic arts, animation, material science, and polymer science. All students must earn 99 credits as a graduate student. For full-time students, the program requires three or more years of study at the graduate level for students entering the program with a baccalaureate degree. The curriculum is a combination of required courses in color science, elective courses appropriate for the candidate’s background and interests, a three quarter research project during the second year of study, and a research dissertation. Students must pass a qualifying examination during their second year of study and a candidacy examination at least one year before completing their dissertation. Candidates who wish to enter the program but lack adequate preparation might have to take as many as 36 credits of undergraduate foundation courses in mathematics, statistics, computer science, and general science before matriculating with graduate status.

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program in color science, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete an application for graduate study
• Hold an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited university
• Submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• 'Submit official undergraduate transcript(s) with GPA of 3.0 or higher, or a GPA of 3.0 or higher in foundation coursework
• Submit two professional recommendations
• Participate in an on-campus interview (when possible)
• For international applicants, whose native language is not English, scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language must be submitted. Minimum scores of 240 (computer-based), 587 (paper-based), or 94 (Internet-based) are required. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores will be accepted in place of the TOEFL exam. Minimum scores will vary; however, the absolute minimum score required for unconditional acceptance is 6.5.