The Professional Science Master's is an innovative, new graduate degree designed to allow students to pursue advanced training in chemistry, while simultaneously developing workplace skills highly valued by employers. This non-thesis degree prepares students for career opportunities in businesses utilizing advanced chemistry courses coupled with internship and selected business courses. Professional Master’s programs consist of two years of academic training in an emerging or interdisciplinary area, along with a professional component that may include internships and cross-training in business and communications. All have been developed in concert with industry and are designed to dovetail into present and future professional career opportunities.

The Professional track option is designed for candidates possessing a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry who choose not to pursue a doctorate, but need/want additional training and skills both in science and business to compete in today’s global market. The PSM (Professional Science Master) is designed as a terminal degree preparing candidates for entry directly into the workforce by preparing them through professional coursework in business and a 3 credit hour internship in a related setting.

The following skills/knowledge sets were found to be essential for chemistry majors to possess in order to be competitive in the global market of today’s world.   These skills/knowledge sets were determined through consultation with the faculty from both the School of Business and the Chemistry Department, consultations with a Program Advisor Board whose membership is composed of potential local employers, and review of the standards of the Guidelines for Formal Council of Graduate School (CGS) Recognition as a Professional Science Master’s program.

• Communication skills: Communication skills will be learned through: a) literature seminar, b) team based case study/project assignments which will require our students to communicate with non-science majors during all the business courses, c) presentations to non-science majors within business courses, d) communicating with science and non-science majors during internship, and e) presentation and writing a report about the internship within the Department of Chemistry.

• Basic understanding of national and international business: This knowledge and skill set will be developed through the completion of nine credit hours of business courses to include (See p. 3 Side-by-Side Comparison of Current and Proposed Track):
  MBA-517: Organization and Management: A Global Perspective
  and two of the following electives:
  • MBA-501 Accounting
  • MBA-502 Principles of Economics
  • MBA-503 Principles of Management
  • MBA-505 Operations Management
  • MBA-506 Legal Environment of Business
  • MBA-515 Management Science 1
  • MBA-516 International Business

These courses are being proposed after consultation with the faculty and Dean of the School of Business. For candidates in this program, prerequisites for the listed business courses will be waived because the necessary prerequisite information is covered in the chemistry program.

Business courses will provide professional skill sets which will help the student to excel in the work environment providing future opportunities for management positions. Internships will allow students to engage in “real-world’ work involving technical problems, opportunities to work within teams, as well as utilize their communication skills. Internships will prepare the student for a non-academic work environment.



• Writing skills: Writing skills will be learned by keeping a journal during the internship and writing a report after the internship.

What Is PSM (Professional Science Master):

• The Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree is an innovative graduate degree designed to prepare students for science careers in business, government or non-profit organizations.
• The PSM combines rigorous study in science or mathematics with skills-based coursework in business, management, policy, law or other fields.
• It emphasizes the written and verbal communication skills, leadership, and team-building required in professional settings.
• PSM programs are interdisciplinary in nature, preparing students for fields such as Forensic Science, Computational Chemistry, Financial Mathematics and Bioinformatics.
• The degree can be completed in two years of full-time study, including a “real world” internship.
• PSM programs are unusually nimble in adjusting to shifting workforce demands and to rapidly changing research strategies and technologies; most have established advisory committees of local employers to ensure their curriculum is responsive to regional workforce needs.

• Science News, 2009
  
• Science Magazine, 2009
• C&E News, 2008
• Mastering the Job Market, 2008

PSM Program Facts:

• There are nearly 125 PSM programs at over 60 institutions in 25 states and the District of Columbia.
• In the last two years alone, the number of PSM programs grew 20%; the first program was started about a decade ago.
• Fall 2008 enrollment in PSM programs is more than 2,300.
• PSM graduates by fall 2008 are more than 5,100.
• About half of PSM graduates are women.
• About three-quarters of PSM graduates in 2006 found relevant employment in targeted sectors, with starting salaries averaging $45,000 to $64,000.

For more information: www.sciencemasters.com