PSM Overview

Professional Science Master's (PSM) programs involve a two-year graduate course of study that is created to meet industry needs by providing math, science and engineering graduates the skills essential to excel in today's high-growth technical industries and that results in a master of science degree.

California State University is the largest statewide higher education system in the nation to launch the prestigious Professional Science Master's Degree program on multiple campuses. An $891,000 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will support PSM program development on 12 of the university's 23 campuses.

Background

Professional Science Master's (PSM) programs are an innovative approach to earning a master of science degree that is designed to prepare students for science careers in business, government, or non-profit organizations.

Because of their ongoing relationships with employers, PSM programs are also unusually nimble in adjusting to changing workforce demands and technologies.

Since the first US Professional Science Master's program began in 1997, nearly 1,300 have graduated nationally. In academic year 2004-05 alone, there were more than 530 new graduates. Preliminary data from 2005-2006 indicate rising numbers of both enrolled students and graduates.

Surveys of recent PSM graduates show that they are working primarily in business and industry, with median starting salaries of $55,000-$62,000. PSM graduates employed in government and non-profit organizations report salaries of between $45,000 and $55,000.

The PSM has been recognized in several major pieces of proposed Congressional legislation:

• S.3936-National Competitiveness Investment Act
• H.4734-21st Century National Defense Education Act
• H.5358-Science and Math Education for Competitiveness Act

California's Initiative

The California State University (CSU) has initiated the largest systemwide PSM support program in the nation with a gramt of almost $900,000 from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Over the next four years, The CSU plans to establish 16 PSM programs on 12 CSU campuses. They will be rigorous two-year master's degree programs preparing professionals with the science and management skills needed by the state's science and technology industries.

Five CSU programs will be in biotechnology. Additional programs will be in bioinformatics, medical physics, clinical project management, biostatistics, computational science, environmental science, ecological economics, forensic science, and genetic counseling.

The CSU PSM initiative is expected to prepare nearly 1,150 PSM graduates for California's high growth sectors over the next five years, contributing to the state's economic competitiveness by significantly enhancing workforce preparation.

* We thank the Council of Graduate Schools for providing the national information contained on this page and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for its generous support of the CSU PSM initiative.