Transcript Slide 1

Professional Science
Master’s Degrees:
Overview and The National
Perspective
Council of Graduate Schools
Council of Graduate Schools
Professional Science Master’s
(PSM) - What is it?
A new kind of degree that:
 Prepares graduates for work—outside academia—
involved in active science.
 Combines technical competencies with workforce
skills, e.g. management, policy, communications, law
– “Science Plus!”
 Leads to a wider variety of career options than
provided by traditional graduate programs – jobs in
business, government, non-profit (“BGN”) sectors.
Council of Graduate Schools
What else is it? Technical
Leadership Development
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Technical depth and leadership skills are hard
to find in one person, but essential in many
employment areas (director/manager in
technical and financial fields).
PSMs produce technically knowledgeable
leaders.
Needs for such people increase with
complexity.
This is vital for US global competitiveness.
Council of Graduate Schools
Professional Science Master’s
Degree - Why?
Odd Gap in U.S. Science Graduate Education
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Strong: Bachelors, PhDs in science
But BA/BS insufficient for science career
PhD too long, with uncertain prospects
Attractiveness of PhD declining ~21% of majors continue graduate programs
Council of Graduate Schools
PSM – Why?
Employers Views:
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Many need PhDs, but not in large numbers
Do want advanced science skills,
PLUS…
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Interdisciplinary teamwork, flexibility
Project management
Computational skills
Communication ability
Basic business skills
Council of Graduate Schools
PSM – Why?
Science Students Ask:
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If I take time to obtain an advanced degree,
will I be able to enter my chosen profession?
Can I aspire to a level of compensation
roughly comparable to my peers in other
professions?
Is a career in science compatible with “having
a life”?
Council of Graduate Schools
PSM Programs Are For:
Students who want to work in:
 Non-academic sectors
 Interdisciplinary careers
 Team oriented environments
 Managerial or other professional level positions
 Emerging areas of science and scientific discovery
Students who are:
 Seeking career advancement in government, industry, and
technology,
 Looking to gain a competitive edge in the job market,
 Re-entering the workforce looking to refine professional and
technical skills,
 Seeking career growth
Council of Graduate Schools
How is the PSM Different?
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More science (or mathematics) than MBA.
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More informatics/computation than science degree.
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More professional skills (business, law,
communication) than PhD (and students often
interact across multiple programs).
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Connections with potential employers.
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Project or team experience vs. thesis: real world
experience.
Council of Graduate Schools
Why is the PSM Different?
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Curriculum developed in concert with
employers and designed to dovetail into
present and future vocational opportunities.
Based on analysis of demand for graduates,
including collection of information from
potential employers.
Council of Graduate Schools
Workforce Projections
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Many expect demand for graduate skills
Ramp-ups in competition: China, India
Globalizing, off-shoring, rapid change
Needed: more flexibility, nimbleness in
graduate science education
Council of Graduate Schools
How Do Employers Help?
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Advise PSM faculty
Mentor PSM students
Tuition for employees
Internships
Prospective employers
Champions re: regional economic
development
Council of Graduate Schools
How many? >100 PSMs,
>50 institutions, >20 states
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Math – Financial, Industrial, Computational Sciences,
Statistics for Entrepreneurship, or for Environmental
Decision Making
Physics – with Business Applications, Physics of
Modeling, Industrial Physics, for Entrepreneurship
Biological Sciences – Bioinformatics, Biotechnology,
Applied BioSciences
Computational Biology, Computational Chemistry
Forensics
Bioanalytical Chemistry, Biomolecular Chemistry
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Geographical Information Systems
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Council of Graduate Schools
Who Hires PSM Graduates?
Applied Biosciences
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Eli Lilly
3-Dimension Pharmaceuticals (J&J)
The Institute for Human Genome Therapy
Health Sciences, Inc.
Glaxo SmithKline
Purdue Pharma
Novartis
Blue Cross – Blue Shield
Johnson & Johnson
Council of Graduate Schools
Who Hires PSM Graduates?
Financial, Industrial Math & Statistics
 First Federal Bank
 Digital Credit Co.
 Putnam Investments
 Watson-Wyatt
 Chevron
 Lockheed-Martin
 G.E. Capital
 Department of Agriculture
 American Automobile Association
Council of Graduate Schools
Starting Salaries for PSM
Graduates
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Private Industry - $55,000 - $62,000
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Government - $45,000 - $55,000
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Boeing, Chevron, Novartis, Lockheed-Martin, G.E.
Capital, Raytheon, Pfizer, Glaxo Smith-Kline
NASA, EPA, USDA, National Center for Food
Safety, Mich Council of Governments
Nonprofits - $45,000 - $55,000
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Mayo Clinic, Institute Human Genome Therapy, IIT
Research Institute, Institute for Pollution Control
Council of Graduate Schools
What Is Known from Previous
Data Collections
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Number of Institutions and programs with PSMs
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Enrollments and Degrees
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Currently over 100 programs in 20 states in about 50 institutions
About half in Biosciences; about 1/6th in Mathematics
Through Fall 2005 – about 3,400 Enrollees; 1,300 graduates
Over 50% are female
Over 80% are U.S. citizens
About 9% are underrepresented minorities
Selective Placement Information, primarily first job
placement
Council of Graduate Schools
Survey of PSM Program
Directors - ENROLLMENTS
Figure 1: Enrollment in PSM Programs
992
825
1000
621
800
600
400
200
0
Fall 2004
Fall 2005
Fall 2006
Source: 2006 Survey of PSM Directors, Preliminary
Council of Graduate Schools
Survey of PSM Program
Directors – Placement Data
332
350
300
250
195
200
150
100
42
40
42
13
50
0
Total
Found Jobs Either Job
Graduates
or Study
Unknown
Source: 2006 Survey of PSM Directors, Preliminary
Council of Graduate Schools
Already
Working
PhD Study
The CGS/Sloan PSM Initiative
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The CGS project consolidates multiple PSM
activities under the CGS umbrella.
Goal: “The institutionalization and promotion of the
PSM degree as a regular feature of graduate
education.”
We expect to achieve the following objectives:
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Continuation and improvement of existing PSM programs
Encourage and assist in the development of new PSM
programs
Council of Graduate Schools
The CGS/Sloan PSM Initiative
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Significant increase in the number of students
enrolled in all PSM programs
Expansion of funding by NSF and other
agencies to include PSM programs
Increase in the number and variety of
employment sector champions of the PSM
Support of states through work with NCSL
Council of Graduate Schools
The CGS PSM National
Advisory Board – 15 Members
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Five PSM Program Directors
Five Graduate Deans at PSM institutions
Five Industry/Policy Representatives
Council of Graduate Schools
Why Should You Consider
Establishing PSM Programs?
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The bulk of the new jobs being created are in
the non-academic sector; these programs
prepare students for employment in nonacademe.
Most universities have a commitment to
outreach. PSM programs fit perfectly as they
provide well-educated graduates who will
apply their skills to endeavors within the state.
Council of Graduate Schools
Why Should States Consider
Supporting PSM Programs?
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Because master’s graduates typically are a less
mobile group than PhD recipients.
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About two-thirds of S&E master’s degree graduates were
employed in the state in which they earned a degree.
About one-fourth of S&E doctorate recipients plan
employment in the state in which they earned their PhD
PSM programs are more popular with women than
traditional master’s programs in Natural Sciences.
Council of Graduate Schools
PSM – characteristics of a focused
professional science degree
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Identifiable scientific (or mathematical
/computational) niche that will generate
interest from students and faculty, with
strong support from a “BGN” sector.
Existing faculty interest, enthusiasm and
expertise in a specialty area representing at
least one science discipline.
Meets employer needs for relevant technical
and professional skills.
Council of Graduate Schools
PSM – characteristics cont.
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The focused area could be interdisciplinary
or be a non-traditional focus where there is
existing faculty expertise and interest. The
degree is named for the focus area, not for
the discipline(s) involved.
Degree program could be completed in two
years or less with no thesis, but usually a
capstone team project and usually a (paid)
summer internship.
Council of Graduate Schools
PSM – characteristics cont.
6.
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There should be a reasonable number of existing
courses which could be adopted or adapted for the
program.
Financing usually through tuition differential (like
executive MBA, e.g GA Tech charges 1.6x tuition for the
PSMs) or some mechanism for tuition return to
program.
Often a staff coordinator is hired to manage the “plus”
component, recruitment, internships, and employment,
as well as meetings of the employer Advisory Boards
for all programs.
Council of Graduate Schools
PSM Today – an innovative, emerging educational
movement.
Tomorrow – a quiet revolution in American commerce
and society.
Expectations will grow – PSMs will become gateway
credentials in many fields.
Council of Graduate Schools
Summary
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Win, Win, Win
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Win for the student – alternative way to remain in
science without getting a PhD
Win for the university - provide students with
another career option and help solve community
workforce needs
Win for the employers – local, regional, state –
have a technically trained cadre of workers
Council of Graduate Schools
For further information: Contact
the CGS Project Staff
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Carol B. Lynch, Senior Scholar in Residence and Project Director
([email protected])
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Eleanor Babco, Senior Consultant and Co-Project Director
([email protected])
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Emily Neubig, Associate, Best Practices and Research
([email protected])
Council of Graduate Schools www.cgsnet.org
and www.sciencemasters.com
Council of Graduate Schools