How to Apply for PSM Affiliation

Guidelines for CGS Recognition as a
Professional Science Master’s Program

New and existing graduate programs may apply for Professional Science Master’s (PSM) affiliation. Programs affiliated with the PSM are listed on the sciencemasters.com website, may use the official PSM logo on their website and other marketing materials, and have access to the PSM promotional materials and activities provided by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS). These support activities are provided through a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Interested programs should refer to the “Guidelines for CGS Recognition as a Professional Science Master’s Program” developed by the PSM Advisory Board. These are intended to provide guidance to faculty and institutions planning new PSM programs, or to assist leaders of existing programs who feel they meet the criteria to be designated a PSM or who wish to modify their programs in order to be designated a PSM. The document lists characteristics that are deemed essential for a master’s program to qualify for PSM status.

To apply for PSM affiliation, please review the “Guidelines for CGS Recognition as a Professional Science Master’s Program" and provide the CGS PSM team with supporting materials specifying how the program meets the guidelines. These materials can be sent via email to profmasters@cgs.nche.edu or via U.S. Mail to:

Council of Graduate Schools
Attn: PSM Team - Affiliation
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 230
Washington, D.C. 20036-1173

CGS PSM staff will contact you within one month regarding the PSM affiliation decision.

In cases where there is some question as to whether a proposed PSM program meets the Guidelines, an independent PSM Affiliation Review Committee will conduct a secondary review of the program application and any supporting materials. The four member committee will be made up of at least one representative from each of the following categories: academic administrator, employer, PSM program director. All correspondence/communication with the proposer will be through the committee. The committee will then forward a recommendation in writing, to CGS. A positive recommendation will result in the program gaining PSM status. A negative recommendation, with supporting information, will be sent to the proposer who will then have the option of modifying the program to meet the specifications of the committee or to continue the program without the PSM designation.

If you have questions about whether your PSM program qualifies or about materials you should provide, please email profmasters@cgs.nche.edu to get an answer to your question or to make an appointment to talk with a CGS PSM staff member.

Thank you for your interest in the Professional Science Master’s!

Institutions outside of the US and Canada should refer to the "Guidelines for CGS Recognition of an International Program as a Professional Science Master’s Program."

The "Guidelines for CGS Recognition as a Professional Science Master’s Program" are listed below. They are also available as a PDF document (click link above).

Guidelines for CGS Recognition as a Professional Science Master’s Program

The Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree is a unique professional degree grounded in natural science and/or mathematics and designed to prepare students for a variety of career options in industry, business, government, or non-profit organizations. The degree combines advanced coursework in science and/or math with an appropriate array of professional skill-development activities to produce graduates highly valued by employers and fully prepared to progress toward leadership roles. The PSM is designed to be self-contained and prepares students for direct entry into the workforce; it is not a traditional master’s degree or a degree earned automatically en route to or from a PhD degree.

The following criteria are deemed important for a master’s program to qualify for PSM status and are intended to provide guidance to faculty and administrators planning new PSM programs, to assist leaders of existing professional science programs who feel their programs meet the criteria to be recognized as a PSM and to provide guidance to faculty and institutions that wish to modify their programs and be recognized as a PSM.

The total number of credits should be at least equivalent to a standard master’s degree (approximately 2 years, full-time equivalent, including projects and internships).
A natural science and/or mathematics core should constitute the majority of the course content and should come from fields in which knowledge is commonly advanced by an active research community engaged in peer-reviewed exploratory research. This core may be 'interdisciplinary,' i.e., may be based in several different disciplinary areas as traditionally defined or described by existing institutional organizational structures. An interdisciplinary curriculum is highly desirable.
The program should include a professional skills component (often called the “plus” component of a “science-plus degree”) that may consist of a variety of relevant courses and activities. This component should be developed in consultation with prospective employers. Examples of plus-components include business basics, legal and regulatory issues, finance and marketing, organizational behavior, ethics, communication and teamwork. They are often developed in collaboration with appropriate academic units outside the sciences or taught by adjunct faculty from the targeted employment sector. In addition to courses and workshops, professional skills are usually enhanced by internships and problem-based projects sponsored by employers. The professional component should result in a portfolio of experiences recognized by and involving the client employers.
Program quality assurance should be provided using the faculty-based mechanisms normally used by the institution for graduate programs in order to ensure institutional integration and sustainability. It is understood that the professional nature of the program may lead to substantial participation by non-academic practicing professionals, for example as adjunct faculty course instructors or student internship mentors.
A Professional Science Master’s Program requires an active and engaged employer advisory board. Examples of board and/or individual-member functions include providing advice on the program curriculum, assisting with internships and placement, assisting with project-identification, and/or interacting individually with students.
PSM status includes a commitment to report enrollment and degrees annually and attempt to track the employment history of every graduate in order to help assess program outcomes and success.
PSM programs agree to use the name “Professional Science Master’s” and the PSM logo on Websites and advertising brochures. In turn the program will be listed on CGS national PSM websites and data bases, and will be included in CGS PSM promotional activities.

PSM designation is intended to provide a mechanism for recognition of this new type of degree by offering assurance that the program conforms to nationally recognized standards. Ordinarily, master’s degree programs with existing accrediting bodies or those that have been traditionally offered as training toward professional licensure or certification (such as public health, most genetic counseling, some engineering degrees) are not appropriate for PSM designation. Programs aimed at training educators are not eligible for PSM designation.

In order to use the trade-marked title and logo “PSM,” institutions must apply to the Council of Graduate Schools for recognition as a Professional Science Master's program by addressing each of the above stated criteria and by submitting an application to profmasters@cgs.nche.edu. If you have any questions, please contact 202-223-3791 or profmasters@cgs.nche.edu.