Professional Science Master’s programs combine advanced STEM coursework with essential business skills, creating tomorrow’s workforce in science, technology, and innovation. When you graduate, you earn a PSM-ESS, a degree with official accreditation through the national PSM organization. You can learn more at their website: https://professionalsciencemasters.org/

Learn more about general graduate school application requirements here: https://catalog.colostate.edu/general-catalog/graduate-bulletin/admissions-requirements-procedures/

1. A non-refundable application fee.
2. Unofficial transcripts of all collegiate work completed post-high school. Separate transcripts are required for study abroad if the courses, grades and credits are not recorded on the transcripts of the university that sponsored the study abroad. Note: departments may require official transcripts prior to an offer of admission.
3. Official transcripts before students can register for second semester coursework. If the transcript does not show the degree and date awarded, a diploma must also be submitted.
4. A resume or curriculum vitae.
5. A written statement of purpose.
6. Two letters of recommendation. Applicants cannot submit letters of recommendation. Recommenders will be notified and prompted to provide a recommendation letter through the online system. The letter of recommendation will be automatically processed and submitted to the student’s online file.
7. International students may need to submit English proficiency. More information can be found here.

U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, and International Students may submit English proficiency scores directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions at Colorado State University, 1062 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062. Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo or Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic should be submitted with institution code 4075. Photocopies will not be accepted.

• When the CSU graduate degree program is taught in the student’s native language, the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or the PTE Academic requirement will be waived.
• Students are exempted from the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE Academic requirement if the official language of their country is solely English, or if they have recently earned a degree at a university in the United States, or if they have recently earned a degree from a university in a country on the English Language Proficiency Exempt List maintained by the Graduate School as published below.

If you are an international student applying for the PSM, we recommend you visit the International Student FAQ: https://graduateschool.colostate.edu/admissions-resources/toefl-ielts-faqs/

The GRE is not required. The ESS department recommends a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

$60 non-refundable application fee for domestic applicants

$70 non-refundable application fee for international applicants

The university does offer an application fee waiver. Visit this fee waiver request site to see if you qualify: https://gradadmissions.colostate.edu/register/fee_waiver_request

For full consideration of potential financial support, please apply by February 1st.  The department may accept applicants after this date, but those applicants will likely not qualify for scholarships and grants. We recommend you get your application in well before February 1st.

The PSM program’s tuition and fee structures are based on the financial aid cost of attendance, which can be viewed at this website: https://financialaid.colostate.edu/cost-of-attendance/

PSM students pay a Graduate Differential Tuition fee of $1,250/semester which comes directly back to the department to provide students in the program with support.

More information on Diff Tuition:

https://financialaid.colostate.edu/media/sites/38/2023/04/Graduate_Differential_Tuition.pdf

The PSM is not a traditional research degree program. There is no tuition remission and no dedicated Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantships set aside for PSM students. Therefore, PSM students should expect to pay for the program through loans and scholarships. Very rarely do teaching assistantships become available to PSM students.

There are scholarships available, both CSU and external, that are geared towards students in natural resources. To see awards specific to CSU, WCNR, and ESS, check out the ESS Scholarships & Fellowships site.

The ESS Department maintains resources on scholarships relevant to ESS students that is periodically updated. This includes scholarships and fellowships for students at all levels, even graduates, with applications through CSUSA and external sites. Keep in mind that some external scholarships will have due dates and award amounts that vary from year to year. Check their websites to be sure you know what the current year information is.

Here is a list of important Financial Aid related dates:

October 1st – CSUSA application (in RamWeb) and FAFSA open for the following academic year. Starting the application before the spring can alleviate some stress when it is closer to being due!

March 1st – CSUSA and priority FAFSA deadline. CSUSA applications – both general and for specific scholarships – must be completed by March 1. Submit your FAFSA by this day to be considered for as much aid as possible and if you are applying for CSUSA scholarships that have a need-based component.

Mid-March – Financial aid awards may begin appearing in RamWeb for you to review and accept. Some aid or scholarships may take longer to appear in RamWeb, this is the earliest you can expect to be notified of awards.

Download the ESS Scholarship guide to see scholarships through CSUSA that ESS and WSS or PSM students may be eligible for.

 Some students do work part-time while earning their PSM.

We do not recommend working full-time while studying for the PSM. The program is meant to be an 18-month intensive and if you choose to pursue this timeline, your course load will be full. Most classes are only offered during the day, making full-time work a challenge.

There is no thesis required to complete this program – but there is a mandatory 400-hr (4 credit) internship that is often completed over the summer.

This internship is not guaranteed to be a paid internship, but many students do receive a paid internship.

Students in this program have access to our department specific internship coordinator, in addition to WCNR Career services and CSU Career services.

Faculty advisors and the internship coordinator will provide internship placement options and support.

PSM students are assigned a faculty advisor in their specialty. In addition, students have an ESS Academic Success Coordinator who can help guide you.

Students do not need to know how to code to enter the PSM-ESS.

The core curriculum includes a robust, 5-credit introduction to data science course (ESS 523a) exploring tools and best practices for working with large environmental datasets, primarily using the programming language R. This course is intended to provide all PSM students with basic data science skills and understanding.

In addition to this course, the department hosts a Coding Club and provides suggestions for data science professional development courses through LinkedIn Learning to help students gain skills and confidence.

A 400-hr, 4-credit professional internship is a required component of the PSM. Some internships involve outdoor field work – such as taking field samples or measurements – to support various types of research. However, PSM internships usually involve skill-building and application geared more toward data analysis and assessment.

The internship placement may be with an academic, governmental, business, or non-governmental agency. It can be completed during the academic year or during summer.

Through the internship, students:

• Apply their knowledge and skills
• Address real-world environmental and ecosystem challenges
• Develop additional professional expertise
• Grow their professional network

During the internship placement, students enroll in ESS 587 Internship for 4 credits. Students usually complete the internship in the summer, but may enroll in the internship credits during the spring semester. If a student completes their internship during summer, they often work 40 hours/week for 10 weeks.

The PSM faculty advisor and ESS internship coordinator mentors and coaches each student throughout the internship placement process. Students learn how to:

• Identify and apply for positions
• Network with prospective host organizations
• Develop a professional resume
• Develop a professional LinkedIn profile

PSM faculty and the internship coordinator help identify places to intern and assist you with making connections when applicable. However, each student is responsible for finding, applying to, and finalizing placement in their internship. The ESS 587 curriculum empowers PSM students with meaningful job-related skills in resume building, interviewing, and professional networking.

Our graduates have gone on to work in an array of private and public institutions such as:

• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
• Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
• Northern Water
• Brilliant Earth
• Dewberry
• American Carbon Registry
• Winrock
• The Nature Conservancy
• Ducks Unlimited
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Soil and Carbon Solutions Center

How does the GI Bill work for AMP/PSM students?

Student Veterans can contact this site for specific information on using the GI Bill:

https://registrar.colostate.edu/benefit-information/

You can also email [email protected] or call 970-491-6340.

The Veteran Education Benefit Office (VEBO) hosts office hours during the week in the Adult Learner Veteran Services (ALVS) during the week. Find them at LSC 381L.