HBCU Mid-Atlantic Professional Science Master’s Alliance Employer Survey
 

 
The Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree is a relatively new type of Master’s degree. It integrates coursework in the sciences for work outside academia, typically in business, rather than for a PhD program. Over 120 PSM degree programs are now offered at about 60 colleges and universities across the nation. To serve employers, several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the national capital region are creating an Alliance that will attract a highly diverse student population to a suite of PSM degree programs with creative linkages among them. We are conducting this very brief survey to alert employers about the PSM degree, and gauge interest in, and opinions about PSM degrees. Please read the background information below before beginning. Your answers will remain anonymous and confidential. Thank you in advance for your help!
Whereas many Master’s degree programs in the sciences are designed to prepare students for further academic work, PSM programs are designed to prepare graduates for entry-level professional positions in business, government, and non-profit sectors engaged in the application of science and technology. PSM programs are created in science, mathematics and interdisciplinary science/math-based areas. PSM specialties are tailored to employers’ needs and generally consist of a core of advanced work in one discipline or an interdisciplinary area, augmented by work in information technology and other areas. They also include short courses or modules that expose students to subjects such as business basics, intellectual property law, teamwork, communication/presentation skills, strategic planning, and project management. PSM programs are designed to produce well-rounded and highly employable graduates prepared for positions as analysts, project leaders and mid-level managers in financial, biological, pharmaceutical, and software industries; government agencies, and in the non-profit sector, among others.
PSM Programs…

 Offer a degree designed to prepare the graduate to succeed as a manager, leader or team-member in organizations that have a scientific or technical foundation.

 Often include management courses in addition to the core scientific or technical area of specialization. Others add a second technical discipline to the primary one.

 Are often interdisciplinary (e.g. Bioinformatics, incorporating courses from Biology, Chemistry, and Computer Science). These programs contain courses that provide a background well suited to today’s interdisciplinary job market.

 Retain a rigorous scientific foundation.

 Incorporate an internship or final team project.
PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. What type of degree or skills are you looking for when you hire at the Master’s level?

2. How do people move up in your organization? Select the key method below.

3. What Professional Science Master’s degree specialties would fill your business needs? Please feel free to create your own or select from examples of existing PSMs. Please click here for a list. Return to the questionnaire by closing the new window.

4. How important is it for your staff working in the selected disciplines to have a background in business?

5. When interviewing for future employees what kind of professional (non-technical) skills should the candidate possess?

6. When interviewing candidates for employment, what has more weight?

7. Which, if any, Professional Science Master’s degree has a potential to address a particular need within your organization?

8. If you believe a Professional Science Master’s degree in the discipline(s) you selected would be potentially valuable to individual staff within your organization, how many individuals or staff do you believe would benefit from such a program?

9. What would influence your decision to encourage staff participation in a program like the Professional Science Master’s degree in the selected discipline(s)? Check as many as apply.

10. Would you offer educational benefits to your employees for such a degree?

11. Would you offer time release to your employees who pursue a PSM degree?

12. Would your organization consider providing internships to PSM students?

13. What are your format and delivery preferences?

14. Which category best describes your organization’s industry?

15. How long have you been in this industry?

16. How important is having a diverse workforce to your organization? Is it …

17. What percentage of your organization are racial/ethnic minorities?

18. How many employees are there in your organization?

19. Which category best describes your position in the Organization?

   
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