Professional Science Master’s Degrees

August 20, 2010 by Paul Richlovsky

They’re known as P.S.M. degrees … no, that’s not a dyslexic attempt at biological humor.

P.S.M. degrees are practical, career-focused master’s in science degrees that start with a foundation of intensive science or mathematics courses for hot career fields. To this foundation they add general career skills (e.g. project management or ethics) according to specific advice from employers of science professionals. Finally, a (usually summer) paid internship and an employer-spearheaded capstone project are also added.

These degrees are the subject of a commentary this week in The Chronicle of Higher Education by Michael S. Teitelbaum and Carol B. Lynch, who argue for increased support of them. I agree with their arguments, as I have gone on record in favor of producing more technically trained leaders who play integral roles in a knowledge-based economy, which is exactly what P.S.M. degrees aim to do.  What’s more, these technically trained leaders are in high demand despite the down economy, which is great for both national employment prospects and America’s global competitiveness. Certainly today’s economy can stand to have more master’s degree holders that are valued in a time when the unemployment rate for college graduates is 4.9%, the highest ever recorded (excluding the Great Depression, for which data is unavailable).

Update (Aug. 30)

Some numbers: There are currently 180 P.S.M. degree programs; they are expected to grow 25% by 2012 (PDF).

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Related reading: This blog has also looked at the power of M.B.A.’s for entrepreneurs, exploding healthcare jobs and their affiliated degrees,  Michigan’s 50 hottest jobs, unpaid internships, and the worst-paying college degrees.  There is also a popular post about partnerships between nuclear institutes and community colleges as well as an entire category devoted to career-related topics.

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Photo courtesy of Brittany G via Flickr.