CSUCI Leads Way For Recent $474,000 Grant For CSU

Camarillo, CA---The work and leadership of faculty and administration in creating Professional Science Master’s Programs at California State University Channel Islands was one of the main factors contributing to a second major grant recently awarded to the California State University. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded the California State University $474,000 to support the CSU’s Professional Science Master’s (PSM) programs.

The PSM programs at CSUCI are the most successful in the CSU system and are serving as models for other CSU campuses and at campuses throughout the nation.

“We are thrilled that our PSM programs have earned such a positive reputation among the CSU system and nationwide,” said Dr. Ching-Hua Wang, Professor and Chair of the Biology Program. “There is an ever-increasing amount of student interest in our MS in Biotechnology and MBA dual degree program.”

The CSUCI programs include Master of Science in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics and the dual degree of Master of Science in Biotechnology and Master of Business Administration. These programs were developed by biology faculty led by Dr. Wang and Dr. William P. Cordeiro, Senior Associate Dean and Director of the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics, and are offered through Extended Education.

The Sloan Foundation grant will support the development of new PSM programs within the CSU system. These programs, regarded as one of the most important innovations in higher education, prepare a scientifically trained, business oriented workforce for the biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and energy industries, as well as government. Dr. Wang assisted the CSU Chancellor’s Office in pursuing the Sloan Foundation grant.

The CSU plans to train some 1,050 science and technology professionals over the next five years with students receiving degrees in biotechnology, bioinformatics, environmental sciences, biostatistics, forensic science, computational science, biomedical science, medical product development management, and genetic counseling.  Initially, the Sloan Foundation helped to finance the CSU system-wide expansion of the PSM programs with a grant of $891,000 in December 2006 in an effort to increase the number of professionals in these areas.

Cal State’s PSM programs have built a strong reputation and are considered national models. They were featured as the most advanced in the nation at the National Governor’s Association Professional Science Master’s Academy held in June in Sacramento.

More information about the programs can be found at www.calstate.edu/psm.