Professional Science Master’s degree
Posted by: Career Staff / Category: Career Resource CenterLove the sciences, but also interested in other industries? Not sure if you want to go to school for another 4-6 years to get a PhD in the sciences, especially when you are thinking about an alternative career? The good news- you might not have to. A newer program that offers a Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree is available for those pursuing advanced degrees, and may represent the alternative to the PhD.
A Professional Science Master’s degree is an innovative two-year graduate degree designed to allow students to pursue advanced training and excel in science while simultaneously developing highly-valued business skills. PSM programs prepare students for science careers in business, government, or nonprofit organizations through training called “science-plus” programs.
The “science-plus” PSM program is based on the majority of coursework in science or mathematics. There is also additional business training, which is skill-based coursework in management, policy, or law. Interdisciplinary skills learned from this program may include communications, project or business management, computational skills, ethics, legal and regulatory issues, or intellectual property.
PSM programs emphasize writing and communciation skills, leadership, and team-building. Additionally, the programs require a “real-world” internship in a business or public sector enterprise. This is a great advantage to the students by providing the networking basis to potential employers.
The PSM began in 1997 and already there are 180 PSM degree programs available in 90 colleges and universities across the U.S., as shown by the stars in the map below. There are approximately 4,000 enrolled students and over 6,000 graduates of the program, with 25% growth expected by 2012.
Source: www.sciencemasters.com
PSM programs are offered in various fields, including Biotechnology, Forensic Science, Financial Mathematics, Nanoscience, Environmental Science, Biosecurity, Bioinformatics, Analytical Chemistry, Applied Systematics, Science Entrepreneurship, Genetic Counseling, and Bioenergy.
For more information about the Professional Science Master’s degree and what universities offer programs, visit ScienceMasters at http://www.sciencemasters.com/.
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Tags: degree program
September 20th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Just recently the number of approved PSM programs in the US surpassed 200 and over 100 institutions.
Cheers,
Daniel Chatham
Dean of Admissions, Keck Graduate Institute
Board of Directors, National Professional Science Masters Association