Professional Science Master’s
Degree Program in Quantitative Fisheries
and Resource Economics

The Graduate School at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is recruiting qualified students with strong quantitative backgrounds for admission into the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) Degree Program in Quantitative Fisheries and Resource Economics for fall 2010.  PSM degree programs provide an alternate professional career path for bachelor’s degree holders in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to meet staff needs of the private sector and the government. The PSM program is endorsed by the National Research Council.
 
Objectives: The PSM program will provide students with quantitative, communication and leadership skills and the knowledge required to obtain careers in natural resources, with a focus on fisheries management and conservation.

Program Requirements: Students must successfully complete 37/38 credit hours, including a non-thesis project of three credit hours for their internship. The internship can be completed at environmental consulting firms, or with federal or state agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.  Of the 37/38 credit hours, 3 credits each will be for Business Ethics course, and Personnel Development, Management and Evaluation course.  Both courses will be used to fulfill the business management and leadership training requirements of the program. The professional communications skills component of the program will be acquired through a 3 credit hour course in Scientific Communications.

Course Offerings: Courses will be taught by UMES faculty and scientists from NOAA and other universities affiliated with the Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center. 

Course Requirements
Core Courses
1) Non-thesis Research Project (as part of internship requirement)       
2) Fish Stock Assessment
3) Risk and Decision Analysis
4) Scientific Communications
5) Personnel Development, Management, and Evaluation
6) Business Ethics

TOTAL

-3 Credits                                                               
-4 Credits
-3 Credits
-3 Credits
-3 Credits
-3 Credits

-19 Credits

-3 Credits                                                               
-3 Credits
-3 Credits
-3 Credits
-3 Credits


-3 Credits

-19 Credits

Resource Economics Track
Required Courses:
1) Research Methods in Environmental & Natural Resources Economics
2) Economics of Renewable Resources
3) Econometrics
4) Marine Resources Policy
5) Advanced Microeconomic Theory
6) Bayesian Statistics or Institutional and Behavioral Economics or
Advanced Environmental and Resource Economics

TOTAL

-3 Credits
-3 Credits
-4 Credits
-3 Credits
-3 Credits

-3 Credits

19 Credits

Employment Opportunities: Graduates of the program will be competent to help meet the staffing needs of the government and private sector including international aid agencies, in order to effectively manage fisheries resources. 

Admission Requirements and Application Process: The general admission process and requirements of the PSM degree program will be similar to those of other master’s or doctoral  programs in the STEM disciplines at UMES. Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree in any of the STEM disciplines with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4 point scale. Application materials may be obtained on-line at the Graduate School’s website at www.umes.edu/grad or by calling 410-651-6507.  Applicants must complete:

a) Application forms
b) Certification of Finance form (for international applicants only)
c) Evaluation/Recommendation form
d) Maryland Residency Status form
e) Statement of Purpose form.

Completed forms including evaluation/recommendation forms, and a non-refundable application fee of $30 must be submitted to the Graduate School. Domestic students must have their official transcripts sent directly by the issuing institution to the Graduate School. International students must visit www.wes.org and request an evaluation of their official transcripts to be sent to the Graduate School. Deadline for fall 2010 admission applications is June 30.

Financial Support:  Yearly support for a limited number of students will be $25,500 to cover costs for tuition and fees and stipend.

Contact:  For additional information on the program, you may contact Dr. Paulinus Chigbu the PSM Program Director at 410-621-3034 or by email - pchigbu@umes.edu.   You may also contact the School of Graduate Studies at graduatestudies@umes.edu, or by telephone at 410-651-6507.