BOONE – A new degree program at Appalachian State University that merges industries’ needs for workers skilled in science and business will graduate its first students in commencement ceremonies May 9.

“The degree makes science master’s students more marketable to industry in ways commensurate with engineering students. We’ve noticed that small companies in North Carolina really benefit – they get a scientist, engineer, and manager in one resource, someone who can understand product development and can communicate science-based information and analysis to business leaders,” said Assistant Professor Chris Thaxton. He is director of Appalachian’s Professional Science Master’s degree in engineering physics, or PSM, which began in 2008. It is offered through the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Dr. Chris Thaxton, center, with graduating students Richard Norris, left, and Andy Cooper in Appalachian State University’s robotics lab. Norris and Cooper are the first two students to complete the university’s new Professional Science Master’s degree program in engineering physics.

Appalachian’s 36-credit hour PSM program is part of a growing national trend to meet present and future career needs related to science, math, technology and business through PSM degrees. There are now more than 120 PSM degree programs in the United States in various disciplines such as biology, chemistry, computer science and mathematics. Appalachian’s program is just one of nine programs in the country related to physics.

Appalachian’s PSM degree is perfect for graduating student Richard Norris of Etowah. He has a job lined up with Brite Engineering and Consultants in Pilot Mountain, where he will assist with the design and fabrication of plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Appalachian in 2007 and stayed to complete his PSM.

“The PSM does increase your marketability,” Norris said, who interned with Brite in December 2007 and again in the summer of 2008. “You get the skills to give effective presentations at board meetings and write a business plan, but you also know why a computer might not work and how to fix it. A lot of business people don’t understand what’s going on in the laboratory and scientists don’t know how to talk to them. PSM graduates can translate for both.”

Andy Cooper of Belmont is also completing the degree program this May. A graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne University, he came to Appalachian for a master’s degree to become more specialized. “Physics is a broad field and the PSM has helped me narrow down what I want, which is a career in micro processing,” he said.

For the program’s internship requirement, Cooper assisted Appalachian’s Dr. Jim Sherman with building instrumentation to measure aerosol content in the atmosphere. Their instrumentation is part of the AppalAir project funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which assesses atmospheric properties and their impact on ecosystems and climates in the Southern Appalachian mountains. AppalAir has research equipment stationed on campus and nearby Grandfather Mountain.

Engineering physics focuses on the design of instrumentation, such as automated control devices for manufacturing equipment or computer interfacing. The PSM program currently has six students and plans to expand to 10, keeping classes small for maximum faculty/student collaboration.

Appalachian planned and developed its PSM program in consultation with business and industry leaders. Its advisory board has representation from companies such as Bioptigen Inc., NanTechLabs Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Tivoli/IBM.

“Employers told us they want employees first with a good understanding of business and science ethics and who are team players. Scientific knowledge comes third on the list,” Thaxton said. “They know with Appalachian’s engineering physics program they’ll get good problem solvers, and the additional coursework in business and communications allows our scientists to more seamlessly integrate into industry.”

Appalachian partners with East Carolina University College of Business for some of its PSM coursework, including online business courses in accounting, management, marketing and government regulation of business.

Appalachian is exploring the potential for additional PSM degrees to meet North Carolina’s industry needs. Possible disciplines are nanotechnology, molecular and cell biology, environmental management, medical image processing, nutrition sciences, financial mathematics, and geographic information science.

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