2007 Conference of Southern Graduate SchoolsFebruary 25, 2007

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Master of Science in Professional Science(MS-PS)

Saeed D. Foroudastan, Ph.D.MS-PS Program Director

Associate Dean, College of Basic and Applied SciencesMiddle Tennessee State University

Master of Science in

Professional Science (MS-PS)

The Professional Science Master’s (PSM) Degree Program

Professional Science Masters (PSM) programs are well-connected with industry and enable graduates to transition easily into the workforce.

PSM degrees contribute to a highly skilled workforce for the state in which it is provided, as graduate students tend to remain in the local region upon graduation.

The PSM program has attracted more women than any other math and science graduate degrees due to its 2-year duration, high starting salaries, practicality, and flexibility.

MTSU's MS-PS Program: Introduction

MS-PS is the only Professional Science Masters (PSM) degree program currently offered in Tennessee

Being interdisciplinary, it combines science and business in a manner that meets the industrial needs of each within a single job description. Natural sciences and mathematics are integrated with a

core curriculum of accounting, law, management, leadership, and communication techniques

Biostatistics, Biotechnology, and Health Care Informatics are the concentrations of advanced scientific training offered by MTSU’s MS-PS degree program

MS-PS:“Who should apply, and why?”

MS-PS is designed for anyone interested in mathematics, science, health-care, or business with either of the following: Some related job experience, or An undergraduate education in that of the chosen concentration

Reports from the Department of Labor indicate an increasing demand for individuals with Master’s level training with a specialty in science (such as biostatistics, biotechnology, and health care informatics)

The MS-PS program will help to attract more technology companies to Tennessee due to its growing and highly trained workforce, which will in turn provide more job opportunities for MS-PS graduates

Liaison for Education and Industry MS-PS students receive a cutting-edge education which

enables them to serve two components (science and business) of one job Prepares graduates for entry into the modern scientific and

professional workforce Graduates are able to increase the efficiency of communication between

the realms of science and business in a single industry

This unique educational training will assist industries in meeting current and future employment needs In the future, new job opportunities may be developed to promote

MS-PS degrees for greater efficiencies in the workplace

Internship The MS-PS degree requires an industrial internship in place

of a thesis as the final step toward a student’s graduation. By having an internship in his/her area of interest, an MS-PS

student is able to gain real-world training early on through the hands-on application of classroom principles.

The students are required to report on their experience during a professional presentation given after the internship has ended.

Internships serve as a transition into the industry, provide students with the advantage of sharpening professional skills before entering the workforce, and introduce students to potential employers.

General Admission RequirementsAdmission to the MS-PS program has the same requirements as

existing graduate programs including:

1. Application for admission

2. Application fee

Only nine hours of course work may be taken before the following are received:

1. Official transcripts certifying coursework from each college or university attended

2. Three letters of reference

3. A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 900 is expected for consideration of unconditional admission

General Course Admission Requirement

Completion of a basic applied statistics course (MATH 1530, STAT 5130, or the equivalent) with a grade of C (2.0) or better

General Degree Requirements 36 graduate-level hours of the following:

15 hours of core (business) courses 21 hours of courses from the respective

concentration

MS-PS: Three Concentrations

Business Core

Biostatistics Biotechnology

Health Care Informatics

Biostatistics Concentration

Biostatistics: Introduction Provides training in statistical methods that can be

applied to the biomedical and health-related fields. Admission requirements for this concentration:

Completion of Multivariate Calculus (with a grade of C or better) Completion of Linear Algebra

(with a grade of C or better)

Biostatistics: Curriculum A mix of theory, application, and realistic

problem-solving in Biostatistics Biostatistics content focus:

Clinical trials, Sample survey analysis, Categorical data analysis, and Survival analysis Realistic problem-solving with a Biostatistics focus Probability and Statistics Theory Sequence

Application options: Regression, Experimental design, and Non-parametrics

Biostatistics: Career Opportunities Statistical methods training for biomedical

and health-related fields Health Care Agencies Pharmaceutical Industry Governmental Agencies

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP)

Biotechnology Concentration

Biotechnology: Introduction Biotechnology is a technology that is based

on biology with applications in the following: Agriculture, Food Science, and Medicine.

This industry is rapidly expanding With the growth of positions available in this

industry in Tennessee and nationwide, the demand for persons with training in both biotechnology and management is expected to grow significantly.

Biotechnology: Career Preparation

MS-PS students in the Biotechnology concentration are prepared for careers such as: Management positions at bioscience and

pharmaceutical firms and organizations. Academic, Governmental, and Industrial research

positions in laboratories which apply biotechnology to solve problems in such areas as medicine, industry and agriculture.

Biotechnology: Admission Requirements

Students must have one of the following: Bachelor’s degree in biology or chemistry: must

have taken genetics with a grade of C (2.0) or better Bachelor’s degree in another field: must have taken

organic chemistry plus 3 biotech-related courses (including genetics)

Biotechnology: Program and Course Issues

Wide variety of electives to suit an individual’s professional goals

Nearly all courses have a crucial lab research component

MTSU’s Biology department has a proven record with biotechnology internships (>50 in <4 years)

Health Care Informatics Concentration

…Medical Records Tomorrow

Medical Records Today…

Health Care Informatics: Introduction

Health Care Informatics plays an important role in all aspects of health care delivery and public/personal health promotion through the use and transfer of information within the health care sector, utilizing computer science, mathematics, and psychology.

Health Care Informatics: Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in health care or work experience in a health-related field

Applicants without this criteria may be admitted, but will be required to complete the appropriate prerequisite coursework

Health Care Informatics: Career Opportunities

Graduates of this concentration are expected to fill the growing need for health care administrators with training in the application of information technology for health care delivery.

The Success of MS-PS The first MS-PS internship was taken during Spring 2006 at

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee—the student automatically received a job in Biostatistics upon graduation.

Local industries strongly support MS-PS—for example, Blue Cross Blue Shield is partnering with us because they believe our degree program is an excellent area for the growth of their company.

After we visited Congressman Bart Gordon in Washington, D.C., we learned that he is very supportive of MTSU’s MS-PS degree program.

The Success of MS-PS Spring 2006—enrollment of 32 students Fall 2006—enrollment of 42 students Spring 2007 enrollment of 50 students 59% are female

54% are minority 90% are U.S. citizen

An established advisory committee, composed of local and regional employers, monitors the MS-PS curriculum to make sure that it fulfills the current workforce needs.

The Future of MS-PS Due to the rapid growth of industries such as

biotechnology, health care, and insurance businesses, companies across Middle Tennessee are beginning to look forward to the rewarding opportunities provided by the MS-PS degree.

Two new concentrations may be added soon! These include: 1) Forensic Science and 2) Actuarial Mathematics.

With student enrollment increasing every year, the MS-PS program and its graduates have a very bright future ahead!

MS-PS ContactsProgram Director: Dr. Saeed Foroudastan

sforouda@mtsu.edu (615) 494-7618

Biostatistics: Dr. Ginger Holmes Rowell rowell@mtsu.edu (615) 898-5540

Biotechnology: Dr. Rebecca Seipelt rseipelt@mtsu.edu (615) 904-8393

Health Care Informatics: Dr. Pat O’Leary poleary@mtsu.edu (615) 898-5621

Business Core: Dr. Linda McGrew lmcgrew@mtsu.edu (615) 898-5420

www.mtsu.edu/~mspswww.mtsu.edu/~msps