ATTN: PSM Team Affiliation

University of (978) 934-2299

February 22, 2010

Council of Graduate Schools

ATTN: PSM Team – Affiliation

One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 230
Washington, D.C. 20036-1173

Dear CGS PSM Team:

On behalf of the UMass Professional Science Master’s Planning Committee I am submitting for PSM recognition two UMass intercampus programs, tenUMass Lowell campus programs and twoUMass Boston campus programs. Through campus-wide planning committee efforts we are working to build several components of the PSM program elements, including all campus access to PLUS course offerings through UMass Online and a sustainable internship componentfor all our PSM program offerings. Some of the programs are ready for Fall 2010 enrollment and others are still going through approval process with Spring 2011 enrollment expected.

UMass guidelines for PSM program development are based on the criteria put forth by the Council of Graduate Schools. Programs are 30-37 credits, 2 years in duration, approximately 2/3 core science with 1/3 business/communications curriculum and a required internship component (project for working professionals).

These programs are options to our existing master’s of science degrees and many are already interdisciplinary in nature. Programs already contain established courses developed in collaboration with industry and academic units outside the sciences. These courses supplement the core science curriculum as interdisciplinary specialization courses. We are actively working with our business faculty and industry partners to augment the range of courses available for PSM students and develop additional policy, regulatory, marketing, teamwork and leadership courses aligned with industry clusters.

The approval process on each campus varies; all programs are approved by their departments and a campus-wide Graduate Program Committee. Depending on the campus there are additional approval processes through other graduate committees, Faculty Senate approval and campus senior administration after which programs are approved by University Administration.

We are initially working with existing advisory boards and industry groups to develop internships and PLUS course curriculum for PSM programs. As programs evolve we anticipate advisory boards dedicated to industry focused cluster of programs. These advisory boards will provide guest lecturers; internship opportunities; student mentoring and career guidance; curriculum development, including classroom projects and case studies and program review.

Representatives of UMass Donahue Institute are working with our committee to establish an evaluation component for the overall UMass PSM initiative to maketracking and reporting of these programs integral, reproducible and sustainable. This will support our commitment to report enrollment and degrees annually and assist in tracking graduate employment history to assess program outcomes and success.

We look forward to gaining recognition for these programs and will use the PSM logo on our websites and promotional literature as we move forward in recruiting students and building partnerships through these programs.

Thank you for your consideration. Please contact me or any of the program faculty listed on the program info if you have any additional questions. Attachments provided are listed below.

Regards,

Susan Lawton

Professional Science Master’s Program Coordinator

University of Massachusetts

Attachments:

PSM Program List (next page)

Separate documents -

PSM GuidelinesUMass System

Current list on online business courses available

PSM Program Documentation

PSM Planning Committee Members:

Donald Pierson, Vice Provost Graduate Education and PSM Planning Committee Chair;

Anthony Carruthers, Dean Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UMass Worcester;

Alex Fowler, Associate Provost for Graduate Studies, UMass Dartmouth;

Lynn Greisemer, Assoc.VP EconomicDev. and Exec. Dir. UMass Donahue Institute;

Kate Harrington, Associate VP for Academic Affairs;

Joan Liem, Dean of Graduate Studies,UMass Boston

Barbara Macaulay, Associate VP and Chief Academic Officer for UMassOnline;

John Mullin, Dean of the Graduate School, UMass Amherst;

Patricia Stowell, Assistant Graduate Dean, UMass Amherst

UMass System Professional Science Master’s Program List for Council of Graduate School Recognition

Inter Campus Offerings:

1)MS Marine Sciences (Professional Science Master’s option - Coastal and Ocean Administration, Science and Technology)

For detailed graduate program information, please contact Robert Gamache, (978) 934-3904,

2)MS Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology (Professional Science Master’s option)

For detailed graduate program information, please contact Bryan Buchholz, 978-934-3241,

Lowell Campus Offerings:

1)MS Biology (Professional Science Master’s option - Applied Biotechnology)

2)MS Biology (Professional Science Master’s option –Biosafety)

3)MS Biology (Professional Science Master’s option - Environmental Biotechnology)

4)MS Biology (Professional Science Master’s option - Project Management in Life Sciences)

For detailed graduate program information, please contact Jerome Hojnacki, (978) 934-2370,

5)MS Clinical Lab Sciences (Professional Science Master’s option)

For detailed graduate program information, please contact Eugene Rogers, (978) 934-4478,

6)MS Physics (Professional Science Master’s options - Radiological Protection

For detailed graduate program information, please contact Clayton French, (978) 934-3286,

7)MS Work Environment (Professional Science Master’s option - Cleaner Production/Pollution Prevention)

8)MS Work Environment (Professional Science Master’s option- Environmental Epidemiology)

9)MS Work Environment (Professional Science Master’s option- Ergonomics and Safety)

10)MS Work Environment (Professional Science Master’s option- Occupational, Environmental Hygiene)

For detailed graduate program information, please contact David Kriebel, (978) 934-3270,

Boston Campus Offerings:

11)MS Environmental Sciences (Professional Science Master’s option)

For detailed graduate program information, please contact John Duff,

12)MS Physics (Professional Science Master’s option – Applied Physics)

For detailed graduate program information, please contact Bala Sundaram, (617) 287-6055,

13)MS Computer Science (Professional Science Master’s option)

For detailed graduate program information, please contact Dan Simovich,