Master of Science in Applied Science & Technology course descriptions

The Master of Science in Applied Science and Technology degree program includes 18 credits of core courses, 12 credits of track-specific courses based on the area of concentration a student selects and a 6-credit Master's project.

Currently, students may select the Clinical Trials Management track or the Technical Studies track.

ORR-510: Organizational Research

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This course will equip students with the skills and knowledge to conduct research and information gathering projects that have become a significant part of most managers’ organizational life. Using pertinent literature and practice exercises, students are led through major steps of the research process: framing the problem or question; identifying suitable information sources and planning the information search; collecting, analyzing and manipulating information to yield appropriate results; and especially, assembling and presenting, the outcomes of the research. The course covers primary and secondary sources of information, including questionnaires, interviews, and manual and electronic library and index searches. Commonly used statistical tolls and techniques will be presented.

THC-625: Technology and the Human Community: Challenges and Responses

This course explores the role of technology as it relates to society, community and the individual, with particular emphasis on its impact on workplace issues. Students will explore humanity’s love-hate relationship with technology over the millennia, will debate ethical issues such as cloning and irradiated food, and will anticipate technology’s impact on cultures, communities and individual persons in the future.

APS-600: Productivity Measurement and Continuous Improvement (3 credits)

This course focuses on the essence of principles, and practices of productivity measurement and continuous improvement based on global perspectives. Also provide a functional understanding of productivity and how it can be measured properly and effectively for productivity improvement purposes. The content for the course will encompass total quality management (TQM); process improvement; business processes and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).

PJM-510: Project Management (3 credits)

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This course provides students with the essential concepts in project management and their applications in working environment. It examines the planning, organizing, leading, and controlling of projects. Topics include, but are not limited to, project life cycle, scheduling, and resource allocation. Team projects and tutorials include the use of project management software.

APS-601: Technological Innovation & Commercialization (3 credits)

This course examines the relationship between sustainable growth, innovation and the commercialization process. Particular emphasis will be placed on how to drive profitable innovation through a dynamic process of constantly creating new business models, improving customer experiences, opening new markets and commercializing or launching new products. Students will be immersed in the assessment skill set necessary to identify emerging trends and develop organizational to meet unmet market needs.

CRS-610: Corporate Social Responsibility (3 credits)

This course introduces students to concepts of corporate social responsibility, which involves an examination of whether organizations should expand their focus from serving stockholders to also considering the impact of the firm’s actives on diverse stakeholders. Practicing corporate social responsibility requires that a corporation meld business goals with societal experiences. To do so means addressing complex questions such as: What obligations do businesses have to the societies in which they operate? Can the interest of corporations and their outside stakeholders be aligned, or are they in inherent conflict?

CTM-510: Introduction to Clinical Trials Research and Drug Development (3 credits)

This course provides an introduction to the field of clinical research and an overview of the environment, FDA approval process and regulations and various elements involved in the development and conduct of clinical trials. Students identify the history and principles of drug development process and their application to the design and implementation of clinical research activities. Students identify the steps involved in drug discovery to market approval in the United States and abroad. In addition, students learn the role, responsibilities and interrelationships of regulatory agencies, sponsors, study personnel and other related agencies in clinical research process. The relevant ethical principles developed for the protection of human research subjects and the related elements of informed consent are covered.

CTM-520: Clinical Trials Research: Practice to Policy (3 credits)

This course provides students with an understanding of clinical research methods as well as current issues concerning drug and device development in the United States. Students learn how to formulate a scientific literature search to inform their research efforts and develop the skills that are necessary for critical evaluation of published studies. The design of clinical research is discussed in detail so that the student is prepared to recommend what type of study is best suited for answering particular research questions. Students learn about the various approaches to conducting a survey as a part of clinical research. Economic/cost measures, health-related quality-of-life measures and work productivity measures are also covered. Students develop an understanding of current issues related to clinical research.

CTM-530: Introduction to Clinical Trials Data Management (3 credits)

This course provides an overview of the clinical data management process in pharmaceutical research settings. Students gain an understanding of the regulations governing the data management process; identify the roles and responsibilities of personnel involved in the process; learn how and why data is collected; and understand database structure and design. The course covers the reporting of adverse drug events. Also covered are parameters for data review, coding, queries and validation. Students develop strategies to manage practical issues that may arise.

CTM-540: Ethical Issues and Regulatory Principles in Clinical Trials (3 credits)

This course provides a stepwise approach to understanding clinical research and how today’s regulations impact tomorrow’s drugs. Early ethical guidelines such as the Nuremberg Code and the Declaration of Helsinki will be covered. The course also explores essential aspects of running clinical trials, including regulatory documents, regulatory inspections and adverse event and safety monitoring. Regulatory guidelines outside the United States will be covered.

APS-700: Master Project in Applied Science and Technology (6 credits)

The Master Project in Applied Science and Technology is designed to provide a guided in-depth experience in defining, measuring, analyzing, improving and controlling a significant opportunity or challenge relevant to the learners applied science or technology workplace or profession. The learner will be expected to acquire knowledge, real life experience, and research to make recommendations that are based upon solid data and benchmarking.

APS-501: Human Performance Improvement (3 credits)

This course focuses on improving human performance through analysis. Human Performance Improvement focuses on improving operational performance through training & development, ergonomics, environmental health and safety operations analysis.

APS-502: Advanced Quality Analysis (3 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of quality process improvements for operational practices and productivity. The quality analysis assesses milestone targets, trends, and performance to evaluate organizational total quality in quantitative elements.

EUT-500: Renewable and Alternative Energy (3 credits)

The Renewable and Alternative Energy course provides and application knowledge of renewable and alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, bio-fuel, and energy storage. Other concepts include material efficiency issues, recycling, composting and the concept of lifecycle design, that provide conservation strategies, development of more ecologically, and economically sustainable.

CMP-500: Network Security (3 credits)

This course provides a practical survey of both the principles and practice of cryptography and network security. First, the basic issues to be addressed by a network security capability are explored through a tutorial and survey of cryptography and network security technology. Then, the practice of network security is explored via practical applications that have been implemented and are in use today.

APS-700: Master Project in Applied Science and Technology (6 credits)

The Master Project in Applied Science and Technology is designed to provide a guided in-depth experience in defining, measuring, analyzing, improving and controlling a significant opportunity or challenge relevant to the learners applied science or technology workplace or profession. The learner will be expected to acquire knowledge, real life experience, and research to make recommendations that are based upon solid data and benchmarking.