more often. From our perspective, this presents a clear and mutually beneficial scenario, especially when considering our ample capacity to accommodate additional students in all core CERM courses and the majority of departmental upper-level electives. Importantly, the creation of the CERM MAS degree relies on no additional resources or FTE to offer the required core or elective courses. 4. The proposed CERM MAS degree will allow us to better serve working professionals of Washington State and the Pacific Northwest region through greater opportunity for career advancement. (Strategic Plan Core Value 1: Engagement, Initiatives 1.1, 1.3, and 2.1) This degree was designed with considerable consultation with Tribal communities, professionals at state and federal agencies, and private and non-profit organizations. Well- trained professionals are desperately needed to fill a large number of current job openings in the field of resource management. Almost every day CERM faculty are bombarded with requests to pass along job advertisements to our students because more and more people are needed in the workforce, immediately. This is especially true given the recent federal investments in Central Washington from the Yakima Basin Integrated Water Management Plan and the 2021 Infrastructure Act, as well as state investment from the Wildfire and Forest Health Act. A 45-credit degree in which the culminating experience can be designed to more cohesively align with the students’ career goals, and one that will provide the applied skills desired by working professionals, will make this degree attractive to a wide range of applicants. With the creation of the CERM MAS degree, we believe we will be better able to serve the needs of those already in the resource management workforce in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest region, and those looking to join it, by offering a more practicable path forward in terms of their career advancement. In summary, students who complete the proposed CERM MAS degree will earn a highly valuable masters degree through hands-on, high-impact experiences, and will be able to advance their professional careers in a shorter, less expensive, and more concentrated and flexible manner.
Additional Information:
What is a Masters of Applied Science Degree?
A Masters of Applied Science degree is a graduate-level college degree that teaches students to apply scientific principles in the real world. While some institutions have dedicated Masters of Applied Science programs, many universities split their degrees into more specialized areas, like food science, biomedical engineering, resource management, or applied physics. MAS programs focus on preparing students for a career, rather than an academic research path. (Indeed Career Guide, 2023)
Master of Applied Science Definition
The proposed wording for the MAS degree type was designed and approved by members of CWU’s Graduate Council in spring quarter 2023. It is now with the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee, awaiting the arrival of the CERM MAS degree proposal. The creation of this definition is necessary because the CERM MAS degreed would be the first degree of this type at CWU. Master of Applied Science (M.A.S.). The Master of Applied Science is a graduate degree designed for programs with curriculum focused on applied knowledge and research in a scientific, technical, or professional field.
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