Our Program
I would like to introduce you to our Professional Physics Sub-Plan in Technical Management. This program is being developed at UHCL to meet the needs of the local community in the area of high-tech management. The degree will combine advanced scientific knowledge with business administration skills to train students to become better engineers and scientists - as well as managers.
This degree differs from the traditional Physics MS in various ways. Most notably, the degree bridges the de-facto gap that exists when either a technically formally trained engineer or scientist receives an MBA, and then uses that combination to try to manage highly technical staff. The advanced technical knowledge learned during the course of study, coupled with the elements of an MBA (found to be most useful for those who aspire to manage highly technical personnel), is something rarely found in either the technical areas alone or in classic MBA programs.
Physics is the most fundamental science. It is the basis for all the disciplines of engineering and the natural sciences. It teaches students problem-solving skills, and the knowledge gained will always be applicable to new technical challenges. Physics teaches students how to think and derive knowledge from basic principles. This knowledge in turn leads to a broad range of skills. Those skills run the gamut from such diverse areas as systems development, computer programming, troubleshooting, technical writing, and much more.
Working professionals can benefit from this Physics Sub-Plan through increased technical knowledge beyond the Bachelor’s-degree level. This knowledge is essential for good corporate decision-making. This combination of skills leads to an increased ability to communicate with both technical workers and upper management. Also, recipients of this degree will have better problem-solving skills for both technical and non-technical problems.
UHCL is the only University in the Clear Lake Area that offers face-to-face classes at times convenient to the full-time working student. UHCL has a tradition of teaching part-time, nontraditional students with evening courses. UHCL also has strong ties to the Johnson Space Center community and a long history of meeting the needs of our local constituents.
The program curriculum is a mixture of Physics, Systems Engineering, and Business Courses. Students may replace the traditional research project or thesis with an internship. Students involved in the program should be able to finish the degree in as little as three years while taking classes on a part-time basis. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at garrison@uhcl.edu or (281) 283-3796. Please pass this information along to anyone in your organization who may be interested. Regards,
David Garrison, PhD
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