Marine Science and Technology PSM Program

Earn your Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree

Professionals in the marine science sectors of industry, government, and non-governmental organizations are expected to develop policy and planning options while managing both living and non-living marine resources based upon the best available science and technology. These individuals are also faced with managing personnel, funds, and businesses in increasingly challenging fiscal and policy environments.

Advance your career in business, government, or the nonprofit sector by earning your professional science master's degree. SMAST's Coastal and Ocean Administration, Science and Technology Professional Science Master’s (COAST PSM) degree will equip you with the required knowledge and skills to be competitive in today’s workforce.

Learn more

Application Deadlines

Fall: April 1
Spring: Jan. 17
Summer: Not applicable

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Download the fact sheet

Contact

Miles Sundermeyer

Professor
SMAST / Estuarine & Ocean Sciences

smast.gpd@umassd.edu

Why the PSM degree?

This PSM program provides you with access to the University of Massachusetts’ system-wide Intercampus Marine Science program, including access to faculty and resources on all 4 campuses.
You may take courses elsewhere in the UMass system at UMass Dartmouth's reduced tuition rates.
You'll benefit from faculty mentorship, collaborate with the coastal community, and gain hands-on experience.
Earning the PSM degree requires completion of 11 PSM courses, plus an internship.
This 2-year, master of professional science program is ideal if you wish to pursue a non-thesis degree that focuses on marine science and engineering management, policy, or law.
Flexible course structure, including online courses, allows you to study part-time while working full-time.
Ideal for individuals with a BS degree in the STEM disciplines.

Degree tracks and/or areas of study

Biochemical cycling
Climate resiliency
Coastal ecosystem dynamics and restoration
Computational modeling
Fisheries science
Marine renewable energy
Ocean physics
Offshore wind development

Cassie Canastra '20

"The PSM program provided me with the necessary science background to understand the various regulatory requirements.”

Student success

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

Salary range for 28% of PSM graduates:
$60,000 - $89,000

Council of Graduate Schools, 2011 outcomes survey.

Degree requirements

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

Assistantship opportunities

A limited number of assistantships are available on a competitive basis. This award is subject to the work needs of the position and department, your satisfactory performance of duties, your academic record, and availability of funds, and may be subject to change.

Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT)

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.

Graduate admissions requirements

University requirements for graduate admissions

Submit an application via the online portal. Be sure to provide your full legal name and to capitalize the first letter of all proper nouns.
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.
Many programs have specific recommendations/requirements, please see the additional program-specific requirements for more information.
International students: official TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson PTE or Duolingo (if accepted by program) score. 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). 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. The Duolingo test is not accepted for the following programs: Art Education, Biology/Marine Biology, Luso-Afro-Brazilian Studies & Theory, Marine Science and Technology (MS, PSM, PhD), Nursing (MS, DNP, PhD), Portuguese Studies, Professional Writing and Communication, Psychology (ABA, Clinical, Research), and Public Policy.

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.

Program deadlines

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.