This page contains comments and a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) related to the PSM in Nanoscience at Arizona State University. I am the Program Director of this new degree program, which started in the Fall Semester 2008. We have an exciting new cohort of students who started in Fall 2009; it is also a good time to let us know if you are interested in starting in Spring or Fall 2010. If you haven't yet seen an overview of the degree program, application instructions, etc. and/or contact details, please return to my PSM index now. Click on the logo to reach the National PSM homepage.

• Who is this degree program really for?

  This program is specifically tailored for working professionals who wish to retrain in nanoscience and nanotechnology as well as for students with traditional bachelor's and master's degrees. In both cases the nanoscience program is a fast-track program toward a career in nanoscience, nanotechnology and related areas.

• Do you currently have any students?

  Yes, we do: the first two students started in the 2008-09 Academic Year. Now we have a further twelve students in Fall 09, so we have a cohort of fourteen, with several others taking some courses with a view to joining the program formally soon. Several of our students are working professionals, a few years out of college, who are employed in the greater Phoenix area (The Valley of the Sun), and are studying part-time to achieve the PSM degree within two years.

• Do you accept foreign students, or is this degree just for US Nationals?

  Yes, we do accept students from abroad, and foreign nationals working in the USA, there is no limit; currently we have, by chance, several students from India, and undoubtedly other nationalities will be represented in future semesters. However, this is an intensive course. We feel that it is unlikely that most foreign students, if they are unfamiliar with the USA, the English language and/or the subject matter, will be able to complete the degree in the minimum time of one calendar year. It would be better, in most cases, to plan for a two-year part-time degree, where you spend the extra time either in relevant part-time employment, or on courses that get you familiar with the broad range of topics covered.

• How broad is this degree program? Will it be too difficult?

  No-one, literally no-one, can be expert in all the subjects studied. So that needs to be understood from the outset. But typically, each of the students will have a different background and you can learn from your fellow students as well as the course professors, visiting lecturers in seminar series, and from members of our Advisory board. One of the main aims is to add breadth to the depth of your previous speciality.

• Yes, but will I be judged adversely against brilliant PhD students?

  Well, you will be studying courses alongside PhD and MS (Thesis) students in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering. But the fact that we have a separate Nanoscience (NAN) degree designation means that we can take these different backgrounds into account, and provide backup as needed. In particular, the NAN 591: Professional Seminar is there to provide this backup, and to share ideas and expertise between all parties involved. We need to remember that this is an integrative degree, where networking and the big picture are important skills; you are not being measured on your research contribution to new knowledge, but are being asked to think about the uses of (and later to apply) new knowledge, in the context of innovation and social change.

• Can I get a scholarship to study the PSM in Nanoscience?

  Yes, in some cases you can. We already have two foreign student applications which indicate that their government may pay for their stay in the USA. We are actively approaching industrial partners with a view to supporting or sponsoring students for the degree. But we are at a very early stage in such discussions, so many if not most of the initial students may end up being self-funded. Many PSM programs across the USA charge a additional degree fee that can be substantial. So the good news is that you will not be charged a degree fee if you join now, and you should be qualified in two years (maximum).

• Does this mean that the future of the funding is uncertain?

  Well, all new ventures are uncertain, but students who join this year will be on a no-degree-fee basis for the duration of their degree (two years maximum). We should however watch this space, since recent developments on the (US) national scene, notably the America Competes Act, have made the PSM a "hot topic". For example, there is a recent report "Science Professionals: Master's Education for a Competitive World", that highlights PSM degrees and the usefulness of PSM graduates. These discussions can be accessed via the Sciencemasters homepage and the National Professional Science Master's Association.

• What about TA or RA support?

  There is nothing in principle against this, but in practice TA and RA support is aimed primarily at students studying for the traditional PhD and sometimes MS(Thesis) degrees. You are free to approach individual faculty members and other potential employers about such support, but the PSM degree is not currently based on there being such support available.

• Do I have to wait until my application is complete before I express an interest?

  No, we would much prefer to know that you are interested in the PSM before your application is complete. That way, we can establish email contact, and answer your questions, in parallel with you completing your application. For that reason, we do not have an early cut-off date for applications as the traditional MS and PhD degrees do. Once we recieve your full application materials, then we can review the papers formally, and either accept or reject your application. However, we may have been able to assess whether your background is suitable on an informal basis sometime before this stage. So prepare your application and let us know that you have submitted it; then we will get into a dialog with you as soon as practicable after that.

The above short list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) is a "work in progress", which may help you decide if the PSM in Nanoscience at ASU is the course for you. For further questions or assistance, contact us at nanoscience@asu.edu. You will likely be answered by either our graduate coordinator or by myself as program director, depending on the nature of your query.