The Illinois Professional Science Master’s program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is an 18-month, non-thesis degree program that is designed for the changing needs of today’s job market. By combining core courses in an area of scientific expertise with a business curriculum, industry seminars, and a summer internship, the Illinois PSM prepares students for positions in business, industry and government, as well as entrepreneurship.

Programs have solid core graduate-level curricula, integrated with business courses such as business fundamentals and marketing, finance, and project management. 

The Illinois PSM is built around four integrated learning components:

• Science - the core of the program in a specific field of study
• Business - coverage of essential business knowledge and skills 
• Industry seminar series - interaction with business experts and examination of current and emerging business issues
• Internships - hands-on work experience to support students' personal and professional goals

Programs are currently available in:

Bioprocessing & Bioenergy – bridges science and business to help meet the demand for sustainable bio-based processing and energy with specializations in plants, soils, and feedstocks; production, processing and use; and more

Food Science and Human Nutrition – expertise in nutrition and food science for application in food, pharmaceutical, ingredient, and other settings with food chemistry, food microbiology, and other specializations

Geographic Information Science – connecting our world by capturing cutting-edge geospatial technologies to market and provide real-time information to consumers and businesses

Engineering Technology and Management for Agricultural Systems – a program focused on the application of physical and natural sciences to solve the world’s most pressing agricultural and biological technical systems problems

Most co-horts are 25-35 students. There are more than 300 alumni and current students from all over the globe.

The IL PSM program began in 2009 and industry support and feedback, via an Advisory Board, has been vital to its growth. Industry leaders review the program goals and curriculum and make suggestions to make sure students are well-prepared for today's workforce.