Master of Science

Professional Science

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Professional Science is a graduate degree that offers specialized training in several high-demand or emerging STEM fields. It is a 30-credit degree that includes foundation courses in the Department of Biology and the College of Business, as well as courses that are taken as one of four specialized tracks:

1. Microbiology and food science
2. Water science
3. Sustainable Energy
4. Individually planned track

The culminating experience will be a required professional internship at a partnering organization in the private sector.

Requirements for Graduation

• Thirty credits applicable to the graduate degree constitute the minimal requirement for all students. At least 15 credits being applied to the M.S. degree must be in graduate-only courses (700 numbers). The other 15 credits may be from courses that are dual level (combined undergraduate and graduate students and designated by 500 and 600 numbers). Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or above.
• All students must complete an internship at a private or public organization. In most cases, the internships will occur off-campus but in some cases on-campus internships will qualify.

Required Courses and Electives

All students need to take the following core classes:

Department of Biology Core Courses (9 Credits)

College of Business Courses (4 Credits)

Students will need to take additional courses depending on what track they have selected.

The required and elective courses for the tracks are indicated below. Alternatively, a student can work with program director to design an individualized program of study. The required core classes and required and elective courses in each track will need to equal at least 30 total credits.

Microbiology and Food Science Track (17 Credits)

Water Science Track (17 Credits)

Sustainable Energy Track (17 Credits)

Requirements for Admission

Admission requirements are a B.S. degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field or a B.S. or B.A. in a non-STEM field and accompanying course work in one or more STEM fields. An undergraduate grade point average (GPA ) of 3.0 or above is required for full-standing admission. Students who have an undergraduate GPA above 2.5 but below 3.0 may be admitted on probation. The GRE is not required.

Three positive letters of recommendation detailing the applicant’s abilities in the sciences and potential to succeed in graduate school.  At least two letters should be written by individuals in STEM fields, including supervisors and professors.

For international students, English proficiency needs to be demonstrated based on policy for graduate education at UW Oshkosh.

Application to the Program

All students must apply through the UW Oshkosh Office of Graduate Studies. Application materials will be sent to that office but will be reviewed by the Graduate Committee in the Department of Biology.

For more information, please contact Dr. Bob Stelzer (stelzer@uwosh.edu), Graduate Coordinator and Professor of Biology. Dr. Stelzer will gladly set up a meeting with you to talk about opportunities in our MS Program and to answer any questions you may have.