2007 Conference of Southern Graduate Schools February 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 Sciences Middle 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 Requirements Admission 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 Contacts Program Director: Dr. Saeed Foroudastan (615) Biostatistics: Dr. Ginger Holmes Rowell (615) Biotechnology: Dr. Rebecca Seipelt (615) Health Care Informatics: Dr. Pat O’Leary (615) Business Core: Dr. Linda McGrew (615)