Professional Science Master’s
Director: Dr. Kevin Sightler
Illinois Professional Science Master's (PSM)
Graduate College
204 Coble Hall, 801 South Wright Street
Champaign, Illinois 61820
(217) 265-5363
Email: PSMdegree@illinois.edu
Graduate Concentration: Professional Science Master’s
Graduate Degree Program
The concentration in Professional Science Master's (PSM) provides masters students with a unique learning experience by combining traditional science, technology, or mathematics disciplines with an integrated professional curriculum focusing on core business knowledge and skills. Traditional depth in the disciplinary field coupled with business-related workplace skills and internship experience prepares graduates for careers in business, government, and not-for-profits. Programs are full-time, non-thesis, cohort-based and are designed to be completed in 16 months.The Professional Science Master's concentration are available in:
M.S. in Agricultural Production
M.S. in Bioenergy
M.S. in Food Science and Human Nutrition
M.S. in Plant Biology
M.S. in Technical Systems Management
Admission
Candidates for admission to the concentration and associated Illinois M.S. degree must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution equivalent to those from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Minimum requirements include a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (A = 4.0) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and for any graduate study. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required of all applicants. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores vary by program. Admission to one of the eligible degree programs listed above is required, and their admission requirements vary by program and may be more rigorous than the minimums presented here. Transfer credit may not be applied to this program due to the cohort nature of this program.
Degree Requirements – Graduate Concentration
Specific requirements vary by major degree program, but all programs require a minimum total of 42 graduate hours of work in three areas: a scientific discipline (may include related interdisciplinary fields), business, and an internship.
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Credit within the disciplinary major, as indicated by the specific program | 32 |
| Business curriculum (see below; common across all Illinois PSM Programs) | 10 |
| Insdustry Seminar Series - PSM 501, 502 and 503 | 0 |
| Internship | 0 |
| Total Hours | 42 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Students are not eligible to transfer graduate credit into these programs. See individual program pages for specific details of disciplinary requirements. Full-time enrollment (12 credit hours or higher) is required in fall and spring semesters; summer enrollment is required for the internship. |
The business curriculum courses are:
- ACCY 500 - Accounting Measurement, Reporting & Control (1 hr)
- BADM 595 - Marketing for Professional Scientists (1hr)
- BADM 596 - Entrepreneurship for Professional Scientists (1hr)
- BADM 597 - Global Strategy (1hr)
- BADM 598 - Managing Technology & Innovation (1hr)
- FIN 500 - Introduction to Finance (1hr)
- LER 512 - People, Technology & Work (2 hrs)
- LER 524 - Human Resource Management for Scientists & Engineers (2 hrs)
- PSM 501 - PSM Industry Seminar I (0 hrs)
- PSM 502 - PSM Industry Seminar II (0 hrs)
- PSM 503 - PSM Industry Seminar III (0 hrs)
The Illinois PSM business curriculum is jointly delivered by the College of Business and the School of Labor and Employment Relations In the disciplinary fields, faculty teach and advise students in their respective PSM programs. The Illinois PSM, a unit of the Graduate College, advises PSM students on the business curriculum, industry seminar series, and internship
Financial Aid
Financial assistance in the form of full or partial waiver of tuition and fees – is rarely available to Illinois PSM students (except for statutory waivers). Departments providing assistance that includes waivers must pay Illinois PSM tuition and fees on students’ behalf. Illinois PSM students may be eligible for student loans.