Two Proposed New Programs at Norfolk State University

Two new computer science related programs have been proposed for certification at NSU, which are the Information Assurance System Manager and the Information Assurance Secu [ more ]

UDC Starts Two PSMs

Congratulations to the PSM Team at the University of the District of Columbia on their recognition by the Council of Graduate Schools PSM Team for two PSM programs. The two [ more ]

UMES Receives NSF Award

UMES received an NSF award of $699,998 to fund its new Professional Science Masters Degree in [ more ]

Welcome to the HBCU Mid-Atlantic Professional Science Master’s (PSM) Alliance

We are a group of predominantly Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, which are partnering to develop and offer new Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree programs.

PSM degrees offer advanced coursework in science and/or mathematics with an appropriate combination of professional skills development activities to produce graduates who possess the necessary competencies to assume leadership roles. The professional skills development, or “plus” component, is developed in consultation with prospective employers and appropriate academic units outside of the sciences. PSM program graduates are generally suited to assume leadership roles in industry, business, government, and non-profit organizations.

As of February 10, 2011, there are 233 PSM Programs and 110 PSM-affiliated institutions, including one HBCU, the University of the District of Columbia. The PSM has burgeoned since it began in 1997. PSM graduates are now approaching 3000 with at last 500 more PSM graduates added each year.

The HBCU Professional Science Master’s Alliance of the eight Mid-Atlantic colleges/universities was formed on July 10, 2009, to identify and develop viable PSM degree programs at member HBCUs with the goal of increasing qualified, workforce-ready professionals who are prepared to fill the diverse needs of the current workforce.

Alliance Member PSM Program Plans and ‘Plus’ Expertise

Member Location Likely Specialties Plus Expertise
Bowie State University Bowie, MD Information Technology MBA, MPA
Delaware State University Dover, DE Applied Bioscience MBA
Morgan State University Baltimore, MD Applied Measurement Science MBA, MCRP, MPH
Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA Materials Science,Biotechnology Communication, Entrepreneurship
University of Maryland, Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MD Fisheries: (1) Quantitative Fisheries Science and (2) Socioeconomics Organizational Leadership
University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC Water Resources, Applied Statistics, Forensic Science MBA, MPA, Law
Virginia State University Petersburg, VA Actuarial Science Economics, Education Leadership
American University (Associate Member) Washington, DC Existing PSMs in Biotechnology, Environmental Science, and Assessment MBA, MPA, MSOD, MPP, Int'l. service, Public Policy, Law