---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1862o–13"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "1862o–13"
heading: "Professional science master’s degree programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1862o-13"
units:
  - "Chapter 16 — National Science Foundation"
---

# §1862o–13. Professional science master’s degree programs

- (a) **Clearinghouse—**
  - (1) **Development—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) shall establish a clearinghouse, in collaboration with 4-year institutions of higher education (including applicable graduate schools and academic departments), and industries and Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that employ science-trained personnel, to share program elements used in successful professional science master’s degree programs and other advanced degree programs related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
  - (2) **Availability—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) shall make the clearinghouse of program elements developed under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) available to institutions of higher education that are developing professional science master’s degree programs.
- (b) **Programs—**
  - (1) **Programs authorized—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) shall award grants to 4-year institutions of higher education to facilitate the institutions’ creation or improvement of professional science master’s degree programs that may include linkages between institutions of higher education and industries that employ science-trained personnel, with an emphasis on practical training and preparation for the workforce in high-need fields.
  - (2) **Application—** A 4-year [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7) desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) may require. The application shall include—
    - (A) a description of the professional science master’s degree program that the [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7) will implement;
    - (B) a description of how the professional science master’s degree program at the [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7) will produce individuals for the workforce in high-need fields;
    - (C) the amount of funding from non-Federal sources, including from private industries, that the [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7) shall use to support the professional science master’s degree program; and
    - (D) an assurance that the [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7) shall encourage students in the professional science master’s degree program to apply for all forms of Federal assistance available to such students, including applicable graduate fellowships and student financial assistance under titles IV and VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1070](/usc/20/1070.md) et seq., 1133 et seq.).
  - (3) **Preferences—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) shall give preference in making awards to 4-year institutions of higher education seeking Federal funding to create or improve professional science master’s degree programs, to those applicants—
    - (A) located in [States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) with low percentages of citizens with graduate or professional degrees, as determined by the Bureau of the Census, that demonstrate success in meeting the unique needs of the corporate, non-profit, and government communities in the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), as evidenced by providing internships for professional science master’s degree students or similar partnership arrangements; or
    - (B) that secure more than two-thirds of the funding for such professional science master’s degree programs from sources other than the Federal Government.
  - (4) **Number of grants; time period of grants—**
    - (A) **Number of grants—** Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) shall award grants under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) to a maximum of 200 4-year institutions of higher education.
    - (B) **Time period of grants—** Grants awarded under this section shall be for one 3-year term. Grants may be renewed only once for a maximum of 2 additional years.
  - (5) **Evaluation and reports—**
    - (A) **Development of performance benchmarks—** Prior to the start of the grant program, the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5), in collaboration with 4-year institutions of higher education (including applicable graduate schools and academic departments), and industries and Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that employ science-trained personnel, shall develop performance benchmarks to evaluate the pilot programs assisted by grants under this section.
    - (B) **Evaluation—** For each year of the grant period, the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5), in consultation with 4-year institutions of higher education (including applicable graduate schools and academic departments), and industries and Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that employ science-trained personnel, shall complete an evaluation of each program assisted by grants under this section. Any program that fails to satisfy the performance benchmarks developed under [subparagraph (A)](#b-5-A) shall not be eligible for further funding.
    - (C) **Report—** Not later than 180 days after the completion of an evaluation described in [subparagraph (B)](#b-5-B), the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) shall submit a report to Congress that includes—
      - (i) the results of the evaluation; and
      - (ii) recommendations for administrative and legislative action that could optimize the effectiveness of the pilot programs, as the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) determines to be appropriate.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–69, title VII, § 7034, Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 712.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(D), is Pub. L. 89–329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219. Titles IV and VII of the Act are classified generally to subchapters IV (§ 1070 et seq.) and VII (§ 1133 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 28 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1001 of Title 20 and Tables.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the America COMPETES Act, also known as the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act, and not as part of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definitions

For definitions of terms used in this section, see section 7001 of Pub. L. 110–69, set out as a note under section 1862o of this title.