Professional Science Management Advanced Graduate Certificate
The Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Geography and Planning in the College of Arts & Sciences, in conjunction with the School of Business and the Department of Public Affairs & Policy in the Rockefeller College, have collaborated to offer an Advanced Graduate Certificate program in Professional Science Management. The Professional Science Management program builds upon University at Albany graduate programs: 1) M.S. in Forensic Biology; and 2) M.S. in Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy. The courses in the proposed Advanced Graduate Certificate are applicable to these programs, the M.B.A. program in the School of Business and/or the M.P.A. program in the Department of Public Administration & Policy of Rockefeller College.
Individuals who enter the Advanced Graduate Certificate program will be advised into courses specific to their track which best complement their science-based M.S. programs, with supplemental and cooperative advisement available from the School of Business in regard to potential business course selections. All students who enter the Certificate program will:
• engage in cross-disciplinary training in science, business, public policy, ethics, and/or other areas of study determined by each track to be of particular benefit to Advanced Graduate Certificate students;
• share an interest in preparing for a wider variety of career options than provided by current graduate programs in the sciences; and
• demonstrate through an internship their ability to put science and/or managerial preparation to work in business and industry.
Students at the University at Albany who complete both the M.S. in a science field and the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Professional Science Management will be considered “professional science master’s” graduates. However, the University at Albany is not offering a PSM degree; only an Advanced Graduate Certificate to enhance existing M.S. programs for master’s students interested in pursuing graduate education and a career in science within business, government, or non-governmental organizations, but do not want, exclusively, a research career.
Eligible Professional Science Management Advanced Graduate Certificate Candidates
Individuals who have matriculated into and/or graduated from the University at Albany master’s programs in the sciences in those programs that have established “professional science master’s” programs (M.S. + Advanced Graduate Certificate) are eligible to apply for the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Professional Science Management. In some cases, Advanced Graduate Certificate applications will be considered from master’s students or graduates from other institutions. Each Advanced Graduate Certificate track adds further definition to admissions criteria.
Master’s Degree Co-Requisite or Pre-Requisite Requirement
In order to qualify for award of the Advanced Graduate Certificate, students must present evidence of prior award of the master’s degree, or qualification for simultaneous award of the master’s degree, in the appropriate scientific program.
General Curriculum
The University at Albany’s proposed “professional science master’s” (PSM) program will add an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Professional Science Management to existing masters curricula in the designated STEM fields such that the PSM = M.S. + Advanced Graduate Certificate. Consistent with the models that have been developed nationally under the auspices of the Sloan Foundation and the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), the University at Albany’s Advanced Graduate Certificate will be comprised of the following:
(1) Current science requirement: graduate-level courses in science and/or technology as appropriate
(at least 6 credit hours).
(2) “PLUS” courses in various areas of business, public administration, and public policy as appropriate to the program (at least 9 credit hours);
(3) Internship/Portfolio (at least 3 credit hours);
Total minimum credits required for the Advanced Certificate: 18
Graduate-level courses in science and/or technology already required by a participating M.S. program may also be used to satisfy the current science credit requirements of the Advanced Graduate Certificate program. Prior master’s graduates may be required to update science course work in fulfillment of this requirement. In all cases, the Advanced Graduate Certificate will require at least 9 credits of “PLUS” courses that exceed the requirements of the existing M.S. program. If an internship is already required by the M.S. program, it may also be used to satisfy the internship/credit requirements of the Advanced Graduate Certificate program.
Students enrolled in the Certificate program will receive advisement and career placement assistance from their M.S. “professional science master’s” program director. In addition, the School of Business will offer specific advisement concerning appropriate business course selection choices. It is important that early in the advisement process each term PSM students additionally meet with the School of Business advisor to convey interest in specific courses in order to secure access to those desired courses.
Track Specific Admission and Curricular Requirements
Two University at Albany master’s programs have added the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Professional Science Management to their existing curricula in order to create “professional science master’s” (PSM) programs.
This program is not eligible for federal financial aid.
Please note: This program requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. If you have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of your intended academic program.
Forensic Science Investigation and Management
1. Forensic Science Investigation and Management Track Advanced Certificate Admission Requirements
Suitable Advanced Graduate Certificate candidates will present academic backgrounds as Forensic Science students or graduates from the University at Albany and possibly other Forensic Science programs from other colleges both in-state and out-of-state. Current master’s students seeking entry into the Advanced Graduate Certificate program shall have passed the written comprehensive examination with a grade of a 3.0 or better, or present comparable credentials from other programs/institutions. Each applicant must formally submit a University at Albany standard application including a statement of objectives, 3 letters of recommendation, and graduate transcripts (if not already on file). Applicants will be ranked by the Forensic Science Admissions Committee on the quality of their statements, graduate academic records and supporting letters
2. Forensic Science Investigation and Management Track Advanced Graduate Certificate Curriculum
a. “Plus” Courses – A minimum of nine earned credits from the following courses below. Permission from Director of Forensic Science Investigation and Management Program is required if the student is taking a graduate-level course in Business/Policy/Management not included in the list below.
- Acc 518 Accounting for Managers (3)
- Mgt 523 Presentation Skills (1)
- Pad 501 Public and Nonprofit Financial Management (3)
- Pad 503 Principles of Public Economics (3)
- Pad 506 Foundations of Public Management (3)
- Pad 626 Evaluation of Public Sector Programs (3)
A 6-credit internship, Bio 698, is already required in the 40-credit M.S. in Forensic Biology program, with internship results forming the basis for a substantial written report. This will be used to satisfy the internship/portfolio requirement of the Advanced Graduate Certificate program.
Biodiversity Conservation and Policy
PSM students who add the Advanced Graduate Certificate to the M.S. in Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy will fill a need related to the existing M.S. program for a non-research track addressing the business, finance and management aspects of conservation. The majority of graduates of the Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy program find employment in conservation-oriented non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and in resource management agencies. The work of NGOs and resource management agencies is influenced by markets and dependent on the development of policies, practices and techniques embedded in business and economics. Employment opportunities exist and will continue to exist for professionals trained not only to link conservation science to public policy but to understand the business, management and economic implications of the decisions that create those linkages.
1. Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy Track Advanced Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements
Current University at Albany Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy students may apply for admission to the Advanced Graduate Certificate after completing a minimum of 12 credits toward the M.S. degree and passing the Program’s Core Examination. University at Albany Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy M.S. graduates may also apply for admission to the Advanced Graduate Certificate program within five years of graduation. Each applicant must submit a University at Albany standard application including a statement of interests and objectives. Applications will be reviewed by Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy faculty with admission decisions to be based on the quality of the statements and graduate academic records, in consideration of overall demand for the Advanced Graduate Certificate program, its courses and the ability to accommodate such demand.
2. Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy Track Advanced Graduate Certificate Curriculum
a. “Plus” Courses – A minimum of nine earned credits from the following courses, as determined by collaboration between student and advisor:
BUSINESS GROUP
- Acc 518 Accounting for Managers (3)
- Mgt 523 Presentation Skills (1)
- Mgt 513 Organizational Behavior and Managerial Skills (3)
- Mgt 514 Human Resources Management (3)
- Pad 501 Public and Nonprofit Financial Management (3)
- Pad 503 Principles of Public Economics (3)
- Pad 506 Foundations of Public Management (3)
b. Internship/Portfolio
The internship/portfolio requirement of the Advanced Graduate Certificate program will link the required internship experience for the Advanced Graduate Certificate to the thesis requirement, Gog/Pln 699, for the M.S. degree. The BCP program may use funds from its endowments to help to underwrite internships. Internship opportunities already exist or are anticipated with The Nature Conservancy; the Mohawk-Hudson Land Conservancy; the Land-Trust Alliance; the Sierra Club; the American Farmland Trust; the Coastal Resources Division of the NY Department of State; and the Hudson River Estuary Program of the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation.
