Professional Science Master's Courses
Up to half of a PSM student's credits are be courses designed by the PSM program to meet the needs of STEM professionals. The remaining coursework comes from a wide variety of experts in other departments.
Professional Skills
12 Credits
Students progress through these courses with a cohort of peers from across the PSM degree tracks.
Professional Development for Scientists & Engineers
MST 6200 - 3 Credits - Fall
This course teaches scientists & engineers how to excel in their careers.
This course includes:
- Interactive lectures
- Practical exercises
- real-world case studies
- Self-assessments
Students will learn:
- To improve their professional abilities
- To be better communicators
- How to advance their careers
This is a cohort class for first-year PSM students.
Operations & Project Management for Scientists & Engineers
MST 6210 - 3 Credits - Spring
This course offers functional skills for & the improvement of organizational processes.
Students will learn:
- To manage value creation
- Effective and efficient process design
- Operational design and theory
- To plan and organize functions of management
- To carry out and oversee functions of management
Scientific Reasoning & Inquiry
MST 6500 - 3 Credits - Fall
This course teaches scientific reasoning, inquiry, and problem-solving skills.
Topics covered include:
- Simple and theoretical induction
- Bayesianism
- Statistical and causal hypotheses
- Using scientific information in decision making
- Inference to the best explanation
- Science and the individual
- Science and society
Required of all first-year PSM students.
Business Development for Scientist & Engineers
MST 6110 - 3 Credits - Summer
This course teaches business management & development skills.
Students will learn:
- Modern business practices
- How to create and use effective business plans
- To make business forecasts and scenarios
- To be effective managers
- Marketing and sales strategies
- Financial planning and analysis
Advanced Quantitative Skills
Applied Statistical Techniques
MST 6600 - 3 Credits - Fall
This course teaches exploratory data analysis (EDA) and the R coding language.
This course includes:
- Practical exercises
- Real-world examples
Students will learn:
- To apply graphical EDA to representative data sets using:
- Scatter plots
- Box plots
- Histograms
- Probability plots
- Residual plots
- Mean plots
- The RStudio platform
- Standard and quantitative data evaluation techniques
No prior knowledge of the R coding language needed and you should bring your laptop.
Professional Experience Project
3 Credits
This project is a critical component of any PSM program and required for graduation.
It is a hands-on project in a real work environment of business and science, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Professional Experience Project
MST 6975 - 3 Credits - Fall/Spring
This project must be completed with a sponsor. This is usually a local business, government agency, or non-profit. Students will be able to apply diverse skills gained from their studies such as:
- Problem-solving,
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Project management
- Collaboration
What students have to say about MST 6200: Professional Development
“Dealing with conflict in class presented a unique challenge, as I naturally avoid confrontations. Recognizing the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone highlighted the need for personal growth and readiness. Especially if aspiring to a managerial role.”
Ashlyn Tingey, CDS
“The newfound recognition of science communication in my role stands out as a pivotal revelation. It significantly influences my engagement with others. This experience has undeniably shaped my professional development. It has guided my career trajectory and broadened my outlook. I'm left well-prepared to navigate future challenges.”
Francine Mullen, ES
“I took it as a requirement for the program. I never thought it would be so impactful for my academic, professional, and even personal development.”
Alejandra Toscano, ES
“The 1-minute elevator pitch assignment really pushed me. I'm able to concisely explain my science and background in a clear and positive way. This was probably the most helpful assignment I have completed in graduate school. I have already used the elevator pitch in real life. I am so thankful that I was able to practice it in a low-stress setting.”
Keelah Barger, BT
