Bill 0910-02 Advanced Graduate Certificate in Professional Science Management – GAC:
GAC Chair Laurence Kranich provided background on the proposal which comes from the
Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Computer Science, in conjunction
with the School of Business. The proposal is part of a national effort by the Council of Graduate
Schools and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, with grant support from the National Science
Foundation, intended for those individuals who wish to pursue nonresearch careers in science.
The model for the proposal is structured after the program at SUNY Buffalo. The certificate
will supplement existing master’s programs with 18 credits, six of which will be for graduate
level courses in science and/or technology; nine from PLUS courses in business,
communications, law, public administration or public policy; and three from an internship or
other appropriate project. While the current proposal involves three master’s programs in
Biology and Computer Science, it is designed to easily incorporate other programs in the STEM
(science, technology, engineering and math) fields.
Senate Secretary Richard Collier inquired whether there are specific plans for extending the
program to include other departments. Dean of Graduate Studies Marjorie Pryse responded that
about three years ago some other programs had expressed an interest, but to her knowledge no
other programs are planning to offer a PSM Certificate at present.
Professor Donald Orokos from Biology responded to a question concerning the valued added to
current MS programs. He indicated that there is an existing job market for this type of
concentration.
UPPC Chair John Delano referred to the section under Resources, in particular the efforts that
faculty would be encouraged to make for obtaining additional funding. He asked whether or not
the program would be jeopardized in case such funds could not be secured. Professor Orokos
replied that the program would not be jeopardized nor would the schools or departments become
responsible for resources due to protections provided by agreements that are in place.
Professor Orokos responded to an inquiry concerning how internships would differ from existing
MS internships and how the internship would bring the disciplines together. He stated that
Computer Science does not officially have an internship and this would be value added since
most of the experience would be industrial. Students in the program are not necessarily destined
to go into management or sales, but the internship would give them the ability to do so.
Chair Range asked for a motion for approval of the bill. A motion was made and seconded and
the bill passed.
