Earn your professional science master’s (PSM) degree
Professionals working in marine science across industry, government, and nonprofit sectors are increasingly expected to apply science and technology to policy and planning decisions while also managing people, budgets, and complex projects. The Coastal and Ocean Administration, Science, and Technology (COAST) Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program at SMAST prepares graduates to navigate these technical, managerial, and policy challenges in today’s evolving marine and coastal workforce.
The COAST-PSM degree is designed for individuals who want to advance their careers, combining advanced marine science knowledge with professional skills that employers value in industry, government, and nonprofit sectors.
What is a professional science master’s (PSM) degree?
A professional science master’s (PSM) is an applied graduate degree that blends rigorous science coursework with training in leadership, communication, policy, and management, preparing you to succeed in science-focused careers beyond academia. Unlike a traditional research master’s degree, the PSM does not require a thesis; instead, it includes a professional internship that provides hands-on experience.
This unique combination of scientific knowledge and professional development makes the PSM especially valuable for students who plan careers in:
The COAST-PSM program at SMAST is an ideal next step for individuals with a BS degree in the STEM disciplines who wish to advance their careers in marine resource management, policy, or related fields.
Designed to accommodate working professionals, this 2-year program offers flexible course structure, including online courses, allowing you to study part-time while working full-time.
“Pursuing my PSM degree provides me with an opportunity for career advancement, improved quantitative skills, and confidence to design and carry out research projects from start to finish."
Employment sites of SMAST graduates
Federal University of Ceará – Brazil
Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration
Lynker Technologies
Maine Department of Marine Resources
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
National Center for Atmospheric Research
NOAA
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Office of Naval Research
Rutgers University
Southwest Fisheries Science Center
University of California Santa Cruz
US Virgin Islands Center for Marine and Environmental Studies
Research
Completion of 11 courses, plus an internship
Courses include 2 core courses from among the 4 science core courses in biological, chemical, geological, and physical oceanography
An additional, third core course in marine policy and/or management areas (including law and economics) is also required.
The remaining 8 elective courses include: 4 science electives–12 credits 2 elective “Plus” courses (includes such areas as communication, project management, and science leadership)–6 credits 2 courses selected from science AND/OR “Plus” electives, chosen to fit the student’s area of concentration-6 credits
Pay non-refundable $60 application fee (American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa) via the online portal. For Nursing applicants, the non-refundable application fee is $75.
Statement of Purpose, minimum 300 words. Unless otherwise indicated in the program requirement details, indicate your graduate study objectives, research interests and experience, and business or industry experience if applicable. If you are applying for a teaching or research assistantship, include any special skills or experience that would assist us in making assistantship decisions.
Resume
Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended (regardless of whether a credential is earned or not). Unofficial transcripts are accepted for admissions application review, once enrolled a final official transcript is required. International students applying with an transcript evaluation, please submit that document with your unofficial transcripts. International applicants for Data Science must submit semester-by-semester transcripts as well as consolidated transcripts.
Many programs have specific recommendations/requirements, please see the additional program-specific requirements for more information.
English Proficiency Requirement: If you are a Domestic student and English is not your native language or you are an International student, you must provide the university with verification of your proficiency in English. This is required of any applicant who did not earn a bachelor’s degree or higher degree from an accredited academic institution in the U.S. or accepted English-speaking country, see exemptions for more details.MOI does not meet our exemption requirements.The official TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Pearson PTE or Duolingo (if accepted by program) score meets this requirement. Unofficial scores are accepted for admissions application review, once enrolled official scores are required and must be sent by the testing agency (copies/scans not accepted). We require an overall/total minimum score of 72 on the TOEFL iBT or BAND 6.0 on the IELTS Academic or a 52 on the Pearsons PTE Academic for entrance to any program and a minimum score of 79 on the TOEFL iBT or BAND 6.5 on the IELTS Academic for consideration for a teaching assistantship. Some programs require higher minimum scores (see program-specific requirements). Most programs also accept the Duolingo with a minimum score of 95. The following programs do not accept the Duolingo: Art Education, Biology/Marine Biology, Nursing (MS, DNP, PhD), Psychology: Clinical and Public Policy.
All official documents are required for enrollment, please have documents (ie. test scores) sent prior to the expiration.
Program-specific requirements
Candidates must submit the required application materials, university requirements and program-specific requirements, for consideration.
Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree with a GPA of 3.00 or higher.
Completion of an undergraduate major in one of the basic scientific disciplines or engineering, or strong multidisciplinary training.
Completion of at least six semesters of coursework in the natural sciences, generally to include biology, chemistry, and/or physics.
Preparation in mathematics at least through integral calculus is strongly encouraged.
Requirements
GRE is optional.
3 letters of recommendation. Applicants will be required to provide the recommenders name and email address so we can contact the recommender for the letter of recommendation.
International (F-1) students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees may be eligible to apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion optional practical training (OPT). To learn about the eligibility criteria and detailed steps to apply, please review the International Student & Scholar Center (ISSC) OPT page and USCIS resources. F-1 students must consult with the ISSC to apply for STEM OPT.
Marine Science and Technology faculty
Students are taught by some of the most distinguished faculty in the fields of marine science. SMAST faculty pursue cutting-edge research in biogeochemical cycling, climate resiliency, coastal ecosystem dynamics and restoration marine computational modeling, fisheries science and management, marine renewable energy, ocean observing/remote sensing, and ocean physics, & offshore wind development.
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