What is MAS Degree? A Master of Applied Science (MAS) is a graduate-level degree with a curriculum that focuses on the practical applications of knowledge and research in a scientific field.
While the MAS designation is relatively rare in the US, American colleges and universities offer Master of Science, Master of Engineering, and other master’s degree programs that provide training and instruction in applied science. To get things clearer, let’s dive into what applied science is before we move on to MAS Degree.
What Is Applied Science?
Applied science refers to the practical use of existing scientific knowledge to solve real-world problems and create technological innovations in fields such as engineering, medicine, and information systems.
In contrast to pure research science, whose primary aim is to make discoveries that add to the existing body of knowledge, applied science prioritizes the functional utility of science in the everyday world.
For example, the scientists who mapped the human genome were engaged in pure scientific research. The scientists who have used the knowledge gained from that pure research to develop new medical treatments are practicing applied science.
Applied science occurs across a broad range of fields and multi-disciplinary areas, including engineering, manufacturing, sustainability, biotechnology, business management, medicine, communication, and information management.
It may be funded by government agencies, private companies, research universities, and partnerships between organizations in the public and private sectors. Formal training in applied science occurs at various levels of the higher education system, in associates, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs at colleges, universities, and technical schools, and through internships, fellowships, and other types of experiential learning programs.
MAS Degree Programs
Master of Applied Science, or MAS/MASc, is a formal designation for a master’s degree that focuses on using scientific knowledge in a particular field, such as patient safety, agronomy, natural resources management, nanotechnology, and materials engineering.
These programs are more common in Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth nations than in the US, where Master of Science (MS) in applied science and Master of Engineering (MEng) programs are far more prevalent.
However, several American schools offer MAS degrees in highly specialized areas, like population health management, spatial analysis for public health, agricultural economics, and food science.
These programs are typically designed to provide working professionals with advanced skills and training in evidence-based innovations, including the latest advances in scientific research and emerging technologies. MAS programs are also typically interdisciplinary in that they integrate theories and practices from several fields of scientific research.
Identifying MAS Degree Programs
Applied science master’s degree programs may or may not be formally designated as “applied science” master’s programs. MS degree programs exist across the pure, research-based science and applied science spectrum.
The key component of an applied science master’s program is coursework dedicated to practical applications of scientific research and theories. There are general applied science master’s programs in fields like biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics, and more specialized programs that focus on narrower applications of science and technology within a particular field or industry.
The list below offers an overview of some of the more common areas of focus for MS in applied science degree programs:
- Master of Science in Applied Analytics
- Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Analysis
- Master of Science in Applied Biological Sciences
- Master of Science in Applied Communication
- Master of Science in Applied Computing
- Master of Science in Applied Economics
- Master of Science in Applied Mathematics
- Master of Science in Applied Physics
- Master of Science in Applied Statistics
- Master of Science in Applied Urban Science and Informatics
- Master of Science in Data Science
- Master of Science in Information Technology
- Master of Science in Finance
- Master of Science in Geographical Information Systems
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Source: Online Education
