Professional Science Management Advanced Graduate Certificate
The Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences and the Department of Computer Science in the College of Computing & Information, 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; 2) M.S. in Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy; and 3) M.S. in Computer Science. The courses in the proposed Advanced 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 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, communication, public policy, law, geographic information systems, information management, ethics, and/or other areas of study determined by each track to be of particular benefit to Advanced 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 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 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 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 Certificate) are eligible to apply for the Advanced Certificate in Professional Science Management. In some cases, Advanced Certificate applications will be considered from master’s students or graduates from other institutions. Each Advanced 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 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 Certificate in Professional Science Management to existing masters curricula in the designated STEM fields such that the PSM = M.S. + Advanced 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 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, communications, law, public administration, public
policy and planning 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 Certificate program. Prior master’s graduates may be required to update science course work in fulfillment of this requirement. In all cases, the Advanced 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 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
Three University at Albany master’s programs have added the Advanced Certificate in Professional Science Management to their existing curricula in order to create “professional science master’s” (PSM) programs.
Forensic Biology
The PSM program initiative is a golden opportunity for the criminal justice community to once again partner with the University at Albany to reap the benefits of an Advanced Certificate that adds business and leadership coursework to the 40 credit M.S. program in Forensic Biology. This initiative would enhance law enforcement by providing managerial coursework tailored for current or future forensic supervisors, directors, technical leaders and administrators. Most of today’s forensic administrators, supervisors and directors rely on managerial education and training either through their own on-the-job experiences or by attending a 30-credit MBA program.
1. Forensic Biology Track Advanced Certificate Admission Requirements
Suitable Advanced Certificate candidates will present academic backgrounds as Forensic Biology students or graduates from the University at Albany and possibly other Forensic Biology programs from other colleges both in-state and out-of-state. Current master’s students seeking entry into the Advanced 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 Biology Admissions Committee on the quality of their statements, graduate academic records and supporting letters.
2. Forensic Biology Track Advanced Certificate Curriculum
a. “Plus” Courses – A minimum of nine earned credits. At least six credits from the Business Group, or at least six credits from the Policy/Management Group, plus additional credits, if necessary, from any group:
BUSINESS GROUP
BACC 518 Accounting for Managers (3)
BBUS 523 Presentation Skills (1)
BMGT 513 Organizational Behavior and Managerial Skills (3)
BMGT 514 Human Resources Management (3)
POLICY/MANAGEMENT GROUP
RPAD 501 Public and Nonprofit Financial Management
RPAD 503 (RPUB 503) Principles of Public Economics (4)
RPAD 506 Foundations of Public Management (4)
RPAD 618 Public Personnel Administration (4)
OTHERS
RPAD 622 Methods of Public Policy Analysis (4)
RPAD 626 Evaluation of Public Sector Programs (4)
b. Internship/Portfolio
A 6-credit internship, ABIO698, 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 Certificate program.
Biodiversity Conservation and Policy
PSM students who add the Advanced 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 Certificate Admission Requirements
Current University at Albany Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy students may apply for admission to the Advanced 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 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 Certificate program, its courses and the ability to accommodate such demand.
2. Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy Track Advanced 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
BACC 518 Accounting for Managers (3)
BBUS 523 Presentation Skills (1)
BMGT 513 Organizational Behavior and Managerial Skills (3)
BMGT 514 Human Resources Management (3)
POLICY/MANAGEMENT GROUP
RPAD 501 Public and Nonprofit Financial Management
RPAD 503 (RPUB 503) Principles of Public Economics (4)
RPAD 506 Foundations of Public Management (4)
The specific courses selected will reflect the varied interests of the student body. Thus, students interested in the NGO sector might be advised into RPAD 501, Public and Nonprofit Financial Management, while those intending to pursue careers in the public sector (e.g., natural resource management agencies) might be advised into RPAD 503, Principles of Public Economics or RPAD 506 Foundations of Public Management. These courses would be taken in addition to those taken to provide fundamental training in policy and public administration as currently required for the M.S. degree in Biodiversity Conservation and Policy.
b. Internship/Portfolio
The internship/portfolio requirement of the Advanced Certificate program will link the required internship experience for the Advanced Certificate to the thesis requirement, ABIO699, 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.
Computer Science
The M.S. program in Computer Science develops a solid foundation that can lead the student to continue on to doctoral studies or to take a position in industry. Computer Science PSM-seeking students will be advised into a 32 credit PSM sequence within the M.S. program with greater emphasis on specific topics and on applications rather than theory, including an Internship, ICSI 698, leading to a substantial written report. These students will additionally need to complete and earn, for the Advanced Certificate, at least 9 additional graduate credits in “plus” courses that will provide exposure to business, ethics, policy, and other issues outside the traditional scientific realm. The “PSM” track—the M.S. in Computer Science plus the Advanced Certificate in Professional Science Management, will serve master’s students whose careers progress into management, marketing, sales, or into other areas not primarily scientific.
1. Computer Science Track Advanced Certificate Admission Requirements
Candidates from computer science for the Professional Science Master’s Advanced Certificate will be taken only from active students in the Computer Science Master’s program. Initially, recent graduates and graduates from other master’s programs will not be accepted; this policy may be revisited in the future. To be eligible, an applicant must i) have removed all undergraduate deficiencies; ii) have completed the core courses with a grade point average of 3.0 or better; iii) have passed the Discrete Mathematics Examination. Eligible applicants must submit a written request incorporating an updated Statement of (PSM) Objectives to the Computer Science Graduate Admissions Committee via the Office of Graduate Admissions for admission consideration to the Advanced Certificate PSM. These applicants will have already submitted (successfully) a standard University at Albany Graduate M.S. Application and such will be available to faculty considering the Advance Certificate PSM application.
2. Computer Science Track Advanced Certificate Curriculum
a. “Plus” Courses – A minimum of nine earned credits. At least six credits from the Business Group, or at least six credits from the Policy/Management Group, plus additional credits, if necessary, from any group:
BUSINESS GROUP
BACC 518 Accounting for Managers (3)
BBUS 523 Presentation Skills (1)
BMGT 513 Organizational Behavior and Managerial Skills (3)
BMGT 514 Human Resources Management (3)
POLICY/MANAGEMENT GROUP
RPAD 501 Public and Nonprofit Financial Management (4)
RPAD 503 (RPUB 503) Principles of Public Economics (4)
RPAD 506 Foundations of Public Management (4)
RPAD 618 Public Personnel Administration (4)
OTHERS
RPAD 622 Methods of Public Policy Analysis (4)
RPAD 626 Evaluation of Public Sector Programs (4)
b. Internship/Portfolio
The internship/portfolio requirement may be fulfilled within the M.S. program under enrollment for an Internship, ICSI 698, leading to a substantial written report.
