• Incoming RPI Students (during the summer before your first term).
• Current First Year Students, and Rising Sophomores (have not started term 3 courses). 

Common DSIS Duals: DSIS is largely compatible with all majors at RPI, including; Business and Management, Industrial and Management Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering (ask your advisor about adding DSIS to your degree!)

Due to the courseload requirements of DSIS, students applying to add to the program often need to plan to stay for at least an extra semester.

For prospective RPI students interested in applying to DSIS, please visit Admissions!

• Fall 2024 Semester Deadline: December 15th
• Spring 2025 Semester Deadline: May 15th 

Please note: you will need to resubmit a transcript with your final semester grades at the end of the semester. This required step will likely occur on or past the deadline on the 15th (this is expected). 

• Within two weeks of the above-mentioned deadline.
• This is not a rolling application process. All submissions will be reviewed at the same time.
• This is an incredibly competitive program. We ask that you register for next semester’s courses as if you will not be accepted to DSIS. If you are accepted, our advisors will be available to support schedule changes (including overrides).

In 1 to 2 written pages, explain how this major will help you meet your professional goals! Describe your interest in the major, why you would like to enter the program, and what your goals are. List any relevant experience, including courses you've taken, programs you have participated in, and projects you have completed.

Also, be certain to note whether you’re looking to change your major or add DSIS as a dual.

This is a semester-by-semester plan that shows how long it will take for you to complete all graduation requirements. In your plan, you must draw attention to...

• Prerequisites for advanced courses: are your courses listed in the correct order?
• Courses that are Spring Only, Fall Only, or Summer Only: are you placing all courses in the correct semester based on when they are offered?
• Duals: Are you including all the requirements for your non-GSAS major?

Find and download a DSIS or Blank Plan of Study template for your Plan here!

If you need support developing a Dual plan, please meet with your current Academic Advisor.

The deadline may come before your final grades have been submitted. Please provide an unofficial transcript that shows all progress to date, and resubmit your transcript once all grades have been finalized. 

How to save an unofficial transcript:

1. Head to SIS and click "View Transcript."
2. On this page, print (ctrl+p). 
3. Using the 'Destination' drop-down menu, scroll until you see "Save as PDF."
4. Save your Transcript as a PDF in a safe space (save with your last name and the date saved).
5. Upload your new PDF document to your Box folder. 

Any other materials that would help your application to the major:

Portfolio 

• 3 to 5 examples of work. 
• Original works representative of the program. Make sure to identify work that aligns with the program. 

Portfolio Description Sheet | A list of items in the portfolio. 

For each item, list: 

• Medium (such as “original composition”, or “event”), 
• The year created, 
• For collaborative productions list your role in the group, and 
• any relevant details on the work. 

Notes for Specific Media Types Included in Portfolio: 

Video:  

• Recommended resolution: 640x480 or higher 
• Recommended formats for video files: AVI, Quicktime, WMV, Flash, or Ogg/Theora 
• Recommended compression: for AVI, Quicktime, and WMV: MPEG-4 or H.264 Audio: MP3 or Ogg/Vorbis 
   

Acceptable formats for portfolio items are DOCX, PDF, AIFF, WAV, MP3, QUICKTIME, JPEG, or PNG. Allowed media types and size limits are as follows:  

• Images (up to 5MB each) 
• Video (up to 250MB each) 
• Audio (up to 30MB each) 
• PDFs (up to 10MB each) 
• 3D Models 

You may also include Faculty references, recommendation letters, or other materials.