The Professional Science Masters (PSM) Degree
The Professional Science Masters (PSM) degree is emerging as an innovative graduate degree, a response by higher education to address the need for highly skilled scientists and mathematicians who also have developed skills in business, technology transfer, regulatory affairs, information technology and/or communications. In today’s work world, this type of cross-training across academic disciplines is highly marketable and desired by employers. Many PSM degrees train students in emerging and growing fields, such as bioinformatics, bioengineering, financial mathematics, and computational science.
 The PSM may be of interest to state legislators for a variety of reasons. Graduate students in all areas, including math and science, tend to stay where they graduate, rather than seek employment nationally as Ph.D. students do. Likewise, PSM degrees are designed to place graduates in regional business and industry. Prior to their establishment, a needs assessment is conducted among area businesses and industry for establishing employment opportunities for graduates, and leaders in area businesses and industry serve on advisory boards of PSM programs. Additionally, flexible and practical nature of the degree has the potential to attract more students to the study of math and science. In fact, the current group of PSM students is nearly 40% women.
Nearly 100 PSM programs have been established at 54 universities in 24 states. More than 1200 students are enrolled nationally, and more than 660 graduates are in the workforce.
NCSL staff is available to assist states as they learn about the PSM degree and consider this as a strategy to address workforce needs, economic development, and advancing science and math education. Please contact Heather Chikoore at 303.364.7700.
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