Dilbert Could Use This

A graduate engineer/science degree designed to make employees upwardly mobile.

If you do any kind of R&D, construction, manufacturing, or provide consulting services to these sectors, nothing is more valuable to your company than engineers and scientists – unless it is engineers and scientists who actually understand business. Employees who can combine science and engineering with business savvy and know-how are more productive, promotable, and versatile. They add to any company's bottom line.

The problem, long recognized but until recently not addressed, is that the academic curricula for scientists and engineers are highly focused and devoid of business basics. The ideal situation would be to have a graduate science, technical, engineering, or math programs cover not only the usual coursework, but incorporate a solid business component and an internship in the business world.

The need for such programs is what spawned the Processional Science Master's degree (PSM).

PSM programs provide graduate-level education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, plus training in project management, business innovation, research ethics, communication, and other employer-relevant skills. Students complete an internship in lieu of thesis research, giving them practical experience in the workplace.

The PSM program has spread across the county but is especially strong in Oregon. AOI sits on the PSM advisory boards for both Oregon State University and the Oregon University System. You can learn more at http://oregonpsm.org/

If your company is looking for newly graduated employees with a good grasp and interest in business, or considering providing more education for your star workers, or even looking at a change of career for yourself, you should give them a look.

Oregon State University

• Applied Biotechnology
• Applied Physics
• Environmental Sciences
• Applied Systematics in Botany
• Graduate Certificate in Management
  For Science Professionals*
• Fisheries and Wildlife Administration*
  (Expected fall 2011)
• Renewable Energy
  (Expected fall 2012)

Portland State University

• Environmental Science and Management
  (Expected fall 2011)
• Renewable Energy
  (Expected fall 2012)

Southern Oregon University

• Applied Computer Science
• Applied Mathematics
  (Expected fall 2011)

Oregon Institute of Technology

• Renewable Energy
  (Expected fall 2013)

Oregon Health Sciences University

• Biomedical Informatics
  (Expected fall 2012)

If Dilbert had a PSM, he'd have his boss's job by now.