Professional Science Masters - PSM

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

36 credits

3.0 GPA required.

The WSU-Applied Research and Management PSM degree program consists of 36 graduate credits: 20 credits in the scientific core area, 10 credits in the professional skills area, and 6 credits in the capstone experience. Students will work with their graduate committee and industry liaison to develop an individualized curricular plan of courses and internship/research to match the career goals of the student with the employment needs of industry. The variety of courses available is flexible to shifting market conditions so that current and future industry needs are met. The WSU PSM will focus on the interdisciplinary and cooperative learning of all students, and all students within the program will be encouraged to obtain training and education in a variety of participating departments.

Scientific Core (20 credits)

Courses in the Scientific Core are selected based on the student’s selected field of specialization, with all students being required to take PSM 606 - Research Methods (3 credits) . The other courses will be taken as electives from one or more of the core areas. Core areas include:

Biology
Chemistry
Clinical Science
Composite and Materials Engineering
Exercise Science
Geoscience
Environmental Science
Molecular Biology
Neuroscience
Nutrition

Each student will be guided by a graduate committee to help select the appropriate discipline-specific courses. The graduate committee will be composed of a minimum of three members of the PSM graduate faculty. Additionally, a representative from industry may be included on the committee. At least one of the faculty members of the graduate committee will be from a discipline other than the emphasis area of the student.

Professional Skills & Management Core (10 credits)

Courses in the Professional Skills & Management Core are designed to give a broad overview of key business concepts as they pertain to a variety of scientific fields. All students, regardless of their specific Specialized Core path, are required to take the following courses:

PSM 602 - Scientific Ethics (1 credit)
STAT 600 - Problems in Statistics (1-4 credits)
LDRS 615 - Communication (3 credits)
PSM 604 - Project Management for Science and Engineers (3 credits)

Capstone Experience (6 credits)

The Capstone Experience is designed to provide hands-on proficiency related to the career goals of each graduate student, while providing industry relevant knowledge. The capstone may include an internship in industry: PSM 698 - Capstone Internship , research under the direction of a WSU PSM graduate faculty member: PSM 699 - Capstone Research , or both. A thesis is not required for the capstone experience, but a student may choose to pursue graduate research leading to a thesis under the advisement of a major advisor and their graduate committee.

Each student will be guided by a graduate committee to help develop and complete the capstone experience. The graduate committee will be composed of a minimum of three members of which two will be PSM graduate faculty. A representative from industry may be included on the committee. At least one of the faculty members of the graduate committee will be from a discipline other than the emphasis area of the student. The purpose of the graduate committee will be to ensure that each capstone plan is an appropriate hands-on experience that builds skills and knowledge that are applicable to the field of study. Students will begin developing a proposal during their first semester in PSM 606 - Research Methods and will complete it by subsequently taking PSM 697 - Capstone Proposal . Once the proposal is approved by the graduate committee, the student will be eligible to register for capstone credits in either PSM 698 - Capstone Internship or PSM 699 - Capstone Research. Each student will be required to take 5 credits of PSM 698 or PSM 699 in order to graduate.

As part of the capstone plan, students will be required to explicitly envision how the capstone experience will connect to the professional requirements, standards, and skills of their field. Along these lines, students are encouraged to pursue interdisciplinary capstone projects.

PSM 697 - Capstone Proposal (1 credit)

Capstone Course (5 credits)

Choose one:

PSM 698 - Capstone Internship (1-6 credits)
PSM 699 - Capstone Research (1-3 credits) (repeatable up to 5 credits)