Science Core. The Science Core includes courses in graduate level physics, mathematics, or biosciences depending on the degree, and electives and research in any related specialty. The beauty of the program is that students can major in physics, math, or biosciences, but can specialize in any subject area. For example, a student can take elective courses in optical sciences, engineering, pharmacology, or medical imaging, to name just a few areas. The students' programs of study are individually tailored to fit their professional goals. In fact, one of the major themes of the Professional Master's Degree Program is its flexibility - students can take coursework or pursue research in any related subject, taking advantage of departments, research groups and facilities, and other academic units across the extensive University of Arizona main campus and the Arizona Health Sciences Center.
Business Sequence. The Business Sequence currently consists of two courses, both of which were created specifically for this program and are taught by faculty in the UA Eller College of Business and Public Administration. The first course, Business Fundamentals for Scientists (B AD 510), is an overview of basic business principles, including economics, accounting, organization design and management, marketing, intellectual property, communication, and business ethics. The second course, Project Management (MIS 578), focuses on the processes and applications of project management, particularly in the scientific and industrial arena.
Another business course is currently in the works. In addition, there are several other business and law courses available for students in the Program, as well as special seminars offered periodically on the development of various professional skills, such as communications and team-building (see Options).
Topics in Entrepreneurship for Scientists. Topics in Entrepreneurship for Scientists is an interactive seminar course that takes place once a week. Every week at the Industrial Colloquium Series, industry representatives discuss with the students what it is like in their industry. They describe what they do, how they do it, how they got where they are today, what challenges they have overcome, and what students can do to succeed in that particular field, discipline, organization, company, or industry.
Speakers have included scientists from Motorola, Raytheon, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, a managing partner in a patent law firm, a marketing manager at Honeywell, several CEOs from local and national industry including Robert Breault, Chairman of the Board of Breault Research Organization, and Evan Unger, CEO of ImaRx Therapeutics, two vice presidents of Celera Diagnostics, the co-founder of Modular Mining Systems, Inc, and several venture capitalists. The colloquia give the students exposure to different careers in a variety of industries, and allow the students the opportunity to network with leaders in their fields.
As part of the Industrial Colloquium Series, we offer students the option of dining with the colloquium speaker after the presentation in an effort to foster more informal interaction and networking amongst the students and scientific leader. At these dinners, students get to know the speakers, and more importantly, the speakers get to know the students. This connection allows the student to build their network of contacts to benefit their educational experience and ultimately their internship and job search.
For current and previous schedules of Industrial Colloquium Series speakers and some highlighted talks, visit the Industrial Colloquium page.
Internship. The flagship of the program is the internship. Students are required to do an internship in the industry of their choice. In certain circumstances, an intensive research assistantship at the UA can be substituted for the internship in industry. With the internships, students again have the freedom and flexibility to choose and internship that works best for their disciplinary and career goals.
One of the perks of being in the Professional Master's Degree Program is getting personal assistance in landing an internship. Students work with program coordinators to find an internship that works best for the student. Students benefit from the vast array of contacts that program coordinators have amassed on behalf of the program to build their own network, as well as instruction on proper internship search techniques and tactics, and they can take advantage of help offered from members of the Industry Advisory Board, a special group of committed science and business leaders who often serve as the first step to getting an internship either in member companies, or in companies that members have associations with. For more information on the Industry Advisory Board, please visit the Jobs and Industry page.
Internships are also acquired through UA Career Services, local industrial clusters, career fairs, Industrial Colloquium Series speakers, special recruitment events, formal internship programs at the corporate or organization level, and networking.
Credit or paid? The way you fulfill the requirement of your internship is worked out between you and your advisor. Students can get paid for their internship, or they can get academic credit (either Internship 593, 693, 793 or Independent Study 599, 699, 799), or in some cases they can get both.
Special Note for part-time students who already work full-time: The Professional Master's Degree Program is a viable option for working professionals. You can get more information about this below under options (the Professional Master's Degree Program for Working Professionals). For individuals who are already employed in science or technology-driven industries, we recognize that it would be inappropriate to require you to complete a traditional internship (especially if the internship was at another company!). Therefore, we allow working professionals to substitute the work they do in their full-time job for the internship. This is of course something that you would work out with your advisor, but it can be done in many circumstances. And if you work in a security-sensitive field or company, we can work with you and your supervisor to protect the company and ultimately get you the internship credit you deserve from working on your science- or business-based project.
For a list of internships students have had, resources for finding one, and more information about internships, please visit the Jobs and Industry page.
Final Project. The culmination of each student's academic program in science and industry is the final project. Students complete either a formal Master's thesis based on their research or a project report based on their internship. This again is very flexible and can consist of a formal research project, research report, business analysis of a particular technology, or even a business plan. The intention of the Final Project is the bring together in the most viable way the science side and the professional side of your educational experience to produce a project worthy of a portfolio piece to present when looking for a job.
Click here to learn about some recent Final Projects.
