Program Overview

Professional Science Masters

The Professional Science Masters (PSM) program combines business or public-sector courses with a science certificate. This program is a non-thesis graduate program that prepares students through coursework that develops professional leadership skills and discipline-specific expertise applicable in rapidly evolving scientific fields.

Overview

The courses that comprise this 30 to 33-credit degree help students develop practical interpersonal, leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills in order to apply them successfully in a specific area of study. Graduates are equipped with both technical expertise and practical skills, making them valuable assets in industries such as:

• Environmental management
• Pharmaceuticals
• Data analysis

Courses

The PSM requires the completion of a graduate certificate in a science field, four professional courses, at least one capstone/practicum, and an additional relevant graduate-level course(s) from the URI Online portfolio as elective with Program Director approval.

Professional Courses

• BUS502 – Leadership: The course introduces basic principles and theories of leadership, explores the concepts of emotional intelligence, communication, motivation, accountability, interprofessional team building, and leadership development.
• BUS506 – Operations and Project Management: The course is devoted to the factors that impact the design, improvement, and management of operations and project management.
• BUS509 – Law and Ethics: The course introduces basic legal and ethical principles that are relevant in industry.
• BUS515 – Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practicum: This course applies business concepts in an experiential setting.

Admissions

Admission to the program requires:

• Bachelor's degree
• College transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• Resume/CV
• Statement of purpose, including:
  • Interest in program
  • Relevant work experience
  • Reasons for applying to the online program at URI
  • Professional goals, as well as plans for achieving these goals

Areas of Focus

The program offers several areas of focus, including:

• Data Science: Build proficiency in large-scale datasets, data programming, data visualization, and data communication.
• Fisheries Science: Gain core competencies and enhance your skill set in sustainable fisheries science and management.
• GIS and Geospatial Technologies: Utilize geospatial technologies to address real-world location-based challenges across a variety of industries.
• Healthcare Management: Elevate your skillset to succeed in management and leadership roles across the healthcare sector.
• Medication Outcomes: Expand your career in health economics, managed care, policy, medication safety, and risk management.
• Ocean Science: Enhance your career in ocean-related businesses as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations.
• Quantum Computing: Gain grounding in quantum information science and a gateway into the quantum industry workforce.

Career Opportunities

URI Online's Professional Science Masters can open doors to diverse and rewarding career opportunities at the intersection of science and business. Whether pursuing roles in research, project management, consulting, or entrepreneurship, PSM graduates are well-prepared to excel in dynamic and rapidly evolving fields, including:

• Biotechnology Project Manager: Organizes research and development projects, ensuring timelines, budgets, and quality standards are met.
• Pharmaceutical Researcher: Conducts experiments, analyzes data, and contributes to the development of new drugs or therapies.
• Quality Assurance Manager: Establishes and maintains quality standards for products or processes, ensuring consistency and compliance with regulations.