Take your career to the next level.
This innovative graduate degree is designed to master advanced STEM training while simultaneously developing highly valued workplace skills.
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The Professional Science (M.S.) is a professional science master’s (PSM) degree that combines advanced training in STEM fields with project management, leadership and supervisory skills to produce in-demand, working graduates. It will prepare students for science careers in business, government, nonprofit organizations or university transfer operations where workforce needs are increasing.
The Professional Science program has been designed to gives students an opportunity to earn stackable credentials (each emphasis area is also a standalone graduate certificate) and allows students to select one area of emphasis – choices listed below – to combine with professional management coursework for the STEM workplace and to align with career goals.
Courses are delivered through online and face-to-face instruction. This is a professional master’s degree program. Financial assistance in the form of a graduate teaching assistantship (GTA) or graduate research assistantship (GRA) is generally not available to students in this program.
Professional Management Core
A 12-credit certificate that provides foundational economics, management, and financial skills to aid in advanced business decisions. The certificate will provide training in key areas of management applicable to any profession, and will benefit those entering or already in the workforce. Learn more about the Professional Management Graduate Certificate.
Emphasis Areas:
A 12-credit certificate that provides knowledge and practical experience to have an advanced experience with health physics, nuclear physics, or condensed matter physics. Be well prepared to advance in your career path in applied areas of physics, including laboratory management. Learn more about the Applied Physics Graduate Certificate.
A 12-credit certificate that provides a solid foundation in the application of biological, biochemical and genetical processes in the development of agricultural, environmental, clinical and industrial high-value products, including the commercial exploitation of microorganisms, plants and animals for biotechnological applications. Learn more about the Biotechnology Graduate Certificate.
A 12-credit certificate that provides knowledge and practical experience for you to have an advanced experience with environmental economics, environmental laws, and environmental risks and management. Learn more about the Environmental Policy Graduate Certificate.
A 12-credit certificate that provides knowledge and practical experience to have an advanced experience with food technology methods, food components, and product development. Be well prepared to advance in your career path in the food industry or to start your own food technology-based initiatives. Learn more about the Food Technology Graduate Certificate.
A 12-credit certificate that will help prepare you to utilize your knowledge of geographic applications and various geospatial technologies to meet the challenges of today’s society. The program offers you the ability to develop your knowledge and technical skills in satellite & drone imagery and real-time mapping. Learn more about the Geographic Information Sciences Graduate Certificate.
A 12-credit certificate that provides knowledge and practical experience for students to have an advanced experience with precision farming and its protocols. Individuals that complete this certificate will be well prepared to advance in their career paths in the modern agricultural industry that utilizes advanced precision technology. Learn more about the Precision Agriculture Graduate Certificate.
Program Overview:
Curriculum will consist of:
- 12-credit professional management core
- The professional management core will be completed by all students and provide consistent professional competencies in management.
- 12-credit emphasis area
- The combination of management and STEM coursework is a hallmark of professional science master’s programs, as students will be prepared for careers in industry or placement into a doctoral program.
- 6-credits of elective STEM graduate coursework
- Each student through conversations with advisors select six credits of complementary STEM electives.
Students may initially complete one or more graduate certificates to stack into the Professional Science (M.S.). The stack-ability of the graduate certificates allows flexible options for students while being cost-efficient for SDSU due to a single shared core and use of existing courses. The overall M.S. provides STEM based skills that transcend disciplines and are widely applicable.
- GRE: Not required
- TOEFL: 71 Internet-based or TOEFL Essentials: 7.5 or IELTS: 6.0 or Duolingo: 100
- Applicants must submit a personal statement (500-750 words) identifying:
- the emphasis area to be included on their plan of study.
- identify the specific emphasis area they plan to pursue,
- their interests, including how their skills and career goals align with the graduate program.
Nicole Lounsbery
Graduate School Director
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