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
Students will learn essential strategies in leadership and effective communication for managers and other decision-makers while exploring and planning career paths.
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
Learn how effective and efficient process design and project management creates value in organizations. The course will cover operational design and theory in planning, organizing, implementing and monitoring operations, the fundamentals of traditional project management and agile 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 focuses on scientific reasoning, inquiry and critical thinking skills. Topics covered include the evolution of the scientific method, ethics, research integrity, policy, and application to society.
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
Business Development for Scientist & Engineers
MST 6110 - 3 Credits - Summer
An introduction to business development, with a focus on the roles of scientists and engineers. The course will cover strategy, marketing, the fundamentals of accounting and finance, and other skills essential for managers and decision-makers.
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
