Great Lakes Center

Buffalo State’s Great Lakes Environmental Science (GLES) M.S. program is an affiliated PSM program. Below, you can learn more about what this means to our students and graduates.  

• PSM programs combine coursework in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines with courses emphasizing professional workplace skills, such as project management, communication strategies, leadership, and ethics. PSM programs typically culminate with an applied, hands-on internship or project experience.
  • Students in the GLES M.S. program take PSM courses in project management and communication strategies, followed by a capstone internship experience. 
  • Learn more about GLES M.S. student internships in these internship profiles (PDF, 795KB). 
• According to data from the PSM National Program Office, PSMs in the fields of biotechnology, other biological sciences, and environmental sciences are most common.
  • The GLES M.S. program is in interdisciplinary environmental science program that provide graduates with the opportunity to attain a broad understanding of the physical, chemical, biological, and social factors that comprise the Great Lakes ecosystems.
• To ensure a strong and distinctive PSM brand, programs can apply to the PSM National Office for affiliation status.
  • The GLES M.S. earned affiliation status in 2014 and our program continues to uphold the stringent professional standards of affiliated PSM programs.
• All affiliated PSMs must have an active and engaged advisory board of leaders from industry, business, government, and/or non‐profit organizations.
  • Current GLES PSM Advisory Board members (83KB, PDF)

• Students in PSM programs seek to acquire specific skills and knowledge, including a strong foundation in the scientific or technical areas of their programs.
• They also gain expertise in teamwork, research and development, leadership, and communication skills.
• Nationally, PSM graduates indicate that one of the primary reasons for enrolling in a PSMs is to increase opportunities for promotion, advancement, and/or pay increases.
• PSM students get jobs! Agencies are looking for scientists with professional skills.
  • Eighty percent of the GLES M.S. graduates are working in the environmental science field. This result is similar to other PSM programs, including results reported by the PSM National Office, which indicate an 82% job placement rate (PSM reports and statistics).
• In addition to earning your degree, you can receive a Certificate of Completion from the PSM National Program Office.  PSM alumni can request a certificate.

More information about PSMs, affiliation, and to search for programs, visit the PSM National Office website.