A
Professional Science Master's (PSM) is an reasonably new (about a decade
old) graduate degree
designed to allow students to pursue advanced training in science or
mathematics, while simultaneously developing workplace skills highly
valued by employers. PSM 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 workplace skills, such as business, communications, and regulatory
affairs. The programs are developed in concert with employers and are
designed to dovetail into present and future professional career
opportunities. They are designed to allow students to pursue advanced
training and excel in science without a Ph.D., while simultaneously
developing highly-valued business skills without an MBA.
According to industry reports,
there are 356 PSM programs offered through 165 different PSM-affiliated
institutions -- and the number of programs is expanding. The
following links provide more details about institutions and programs
within STEM related fields covered on the Career Cornerstone Center website:
You may
also wish to browse a
list of current PSMs within Professional Science Masters
website.
 Interdisciplinary
Approach
Most PSM programs are interdisciplinary, and require a
Bachelor's degree for admission. For example, physics majors may
wish to study physics entrepreneurship, health physics, or nanoscale
physics, while microbiology students might choose a PSM in food safety,
microbial
systems analysis, or industrial microbiology. Examples of PSM program
fields include:
- Bioinformatics
- Computational
Chemistry
- Forensic Science
- Human-Computer
Interaction
- Industrial
Mathematics
- Industrial
Microbiology
- Microbial
Biotechnology
- Physics with
Business Applications
- Quantitative
Finance
Pathway
to Employment
PSM
students learn career search skills, and some interact from their first
day on campus with local business and public sector employers, who act
as advisors to their program. It is this close cooperation with local
employers that
guarantees that the skills and subject matter taught are cutting edge
and
relevant. Employers of recent PSM graduates in the biosciences range
from large, multinational pharmaceutical companies to newer
biotechnology companies. Graduates with an interest in intellectual
property and technology transfer are working with the federal government
or for university technology transfer operations, while financial
mathematics graduates are popular hires for banks, brokerage houses, and
the insurance industry. Forensic chemists are finding exciting
opportunities with state and local forensic laboratories. Regardless of
the employment sector, PSM graduates are finding exciting,
well-compensated careers.
Other
Resources
Council of
Graduate Schools (CGS) Professional Science Master's Initiative
The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is working to make the
Professional Science Master's (PSM) degree a regular feature of U.S.
graduate education by providing information, guidance, and “best
practices” on how to develop new programs, curricula, and internship
opportunities and by articulating the need for, and value of, the PSM to
its membership and the community at large.
National Professional Science Master's
Association
The National Professional Science Master's Association is a
collaborative of PSM degree program directors, faculty, administrators,
alumni, and students that supports PSM degree initiatives. It engages
businesses, industries, nonprofit organizations, government agencies,
and trade associations in the development of PSM degree programs and
with internship and job placement for PSM degree students and graduates.
Professional Science Masters
Professional Science Masters is an online resource with additional
information about PSMs along with resources for both students and
faculty.
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