The Professional Science Master's (PSM) is designed to allow students to pursue advanced training and excel in science without a Ph.D., while simultaneously developing highly-valued business skills without an MBA. The following courses are intended to teach students skills directly applicable to leadership positions in science-based businesses, government, or nonprofit organizations.
GRAD710 Professional Communication: Writing (1.5 credit hours)
This writing-intensive, seminar-style course focuses on crafting effective email messages, short reports, and executive summaries in professional settings. Key topics include content selection, organization, accessibility, plain language, clarity and conciseness, tone, and graphic displays of information.
GRAD711 Professional Communication: Presenting (1.5 credit hours)
This speaking-intensive, seminar-style course focuses on presenting complex topics using plain language in professional settings. Key topics include selecting and organizing content, developing audience-centered visual aids, incorporating storytelling, projecting a professional image, and managing Q & A.
GRAD712 Leadership in the Workplace (Online) (1.5 credit hours)
Leadership is a fundamental skill necessary for success in your career. The Leadership for the Workplace course will help students understand both the need for leadership in their chosen field and their capacity to meet that need. Effective leadership begins with understanding your capacity to influence others positively. This course examines your current leadership style and addresses the relationship of that style to leadership development opportunities including influencing team dynamics, building productive relationships and managing change as a professional and a leader.
GRAD713 Applied Project Management; Frameworks, Principles and Techniques (1.5 credit hours)
This course focuses on practical project management principles and techniques, demonstrating their effectiveness in the workplace. Key topics include frameworks and methodologies, planning and monitoring projects, risk management, stakeholder management, managing your team and time and cost management. This course will include group work.
GRAD714 Introduction to Financial Accounting (1.5 credit hours)
This course will teach the basics of Financial Accounting, including the Balance Sheet, the Income Statement, the Statement of Cash Flows and Budgeting. The final presentation will incorporate financial skills and knowledge that can be used to support a future project proposal to business managers in an organization.
GRAD725 Build your professional brand: Develop the job search materials and skills to make employers notice you (f2f) (1.0 credit hours)
The seminar series provides a forum for students to (1) understand their job values, (2) develop and refine their online professional presence and job search materials (e.g. LinkedIn, resume/CV, cover letter), (3) gain an appreciation of, and comfort with, networking and informational interviewing, and (4) develop an individual development plan and corresponding action plan through one-on-one coaching. The sessions will include workshops led by invited industry representatives who can speak directly about their career challenges and rewards, as well as individuals with expertise in teaching professional skills.