Professional Degrees

A professional degree is designed to prepare you to work in a particular profession, often meeting the academic requirements for licensure or accreditation. Prerequisites and admissions requirements may differ from other graduate-level degrees.

Professional Doctoral Degrees

Professional doctorates at WSU are managed by their respective departments. To find out how to apply for these degrees, click on the link associated with each.


The MD program in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine trains you to be more than a physician. The College equips you with depth and breadth of experience that advances your understanding of the practice of medicine. Be prepared to care for individual patients and ready to take the lead in addressing community healthcare issues. Learn to recognize problems in healthcare delivery, create innovative solutions and mobilize change that improves the health of populations. Learn more.

The DNP is a practice doctorate and designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice, for instance, nurses who want to become advanced practice nurses or those seeking leadership position in a health care setting or organization. DNP-prepared nurses are well-equipped to fully implement the science developed by nursing and other health science researcher to improve health care delivery to maximize the DNP the health of patient populations. Learn more.

A PharmD from WSU’s Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences program is about more than becoming a pharmacist–it’s about leading pharmacy into the future. Our expert faculty work to inspire the next generation of health care providers. From researching the latest breakthroughs in medicine to real-world experiences in policy-making and hands-on practice in your first year, you can pursue the areas that most interest you. Learn more.

WSU has a more than 100-year history of being one of the best veterinary medical programs in the country. Students receive exceptional training with renowned faculty and facilities, an innovative education curriculum, and an unmatched network of academic support. Admission to the WSU veterinary medical education program is competitive and requires a broad undergraduate experience. Learn more.

Professionally Oriented Master’s Degrees

A professionally oriented master’s degree program is an academic graduate degree that prepares the student for a particular profession by emphasizing competency in a set of skills needed to practice in the profession. These programs rely heavily on curriculum and may include required internships, fieldwork or clinical hours, and/or a final capstone experience that applies the professional knowledge, skills and training to a problem within the profession. These graduate programs are managed by the Graduate School. Apply here.

The Master degree of Applied Economics (MAE) provides strong foundations in economic theory, quantitative methods, applications, and research analysis to prepare graduates for professional careers in business and consulting, government, and research organizations. This degree is designed so that well-prepared students can complete it in only 1 year. Job opportunities after the MAE degree include research analyst, economist, financial and marketing directors. Learn more.

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch) degree program at Washington State University’s School of Design and Construction prepares students for practice-based design innovation and leadership in the architecture profession. The M.Arch is a STEM designated degree and fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Learn more.

The MAT is a professional master’s degree program that prepares the student and provides eligibility to take the National Athletic Trainers Association certification exam to obtain an Athletic Trainer Credential. Students who graduate from the program will be well-prepared for the Board of Certification examination and a future in helping all individuals safely participate in physical activity. Learn more.

WSU’s top-ranked online MBA program delivers high-level management skills and strategies. Degree concentrations include marketing, finance, hospitality business management, international business, or general. Students graduate in as few as 22-29 months with the skills to become business leaders across cultures and borders. The MBA and Executive MBA programs are offered on our Tri-Cities campus or online. Learn more.

WSU’s Master of Engineering in civil engineering with specialization in environmental engineering is offered 100% online, combining advanced technical courses with professional management training to help students advance in their careers. The program uses modern technology to deliver lectures, so that students can attend from convenient locations. Students need not travel to the campus and arrangements can be made without compromising student experience or learning. The high quality of the traditional program is equal to that of the online degree program.  Learn more.

WSU’s Engineering and Technology Management (ETM) program prepares engineering and business professionals to make strategic and operational decisions and become leaders in the management of technology. Courses provide practicing engineers with the knowledge, tools, and skills to manage projects, operations, organizations, and people. The ETM program is specifically tailored for professionals who want to advance their careers while still working full time. Live, online classes are available from anywhere and are also recorded and available on-demand. Learn more.

The Master of Healthcare Administration and Leadership (MHAL) program at the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, in partnership with the WSU Carson College of Business, trains current and future health care leaders. Designed for individuals seeking to advance in their health care careers and professionals already in health care leadership positions, the stackable certificate program provides training in key leadership skills and business competencies necessary to thrive in the rapidly evolving field of health care. Learn more.

There are many ways to advance in the nursing profession – become a health care administrator, an educator, a nurse researcher or a nurse practitioner. The Washington State University College of Nursing has graduate programs to help you achieve any of these goals, and more. We also offer a range of scholarships and financial assistance programs to help you pay for your graduate studies. Learn more.

Our Master in Teaching (MIT) degree is a high quality, intensive, practitioner-oriented, teacher preparation program designed for those with non-education bachelor degrees. It is designed to prepare students to become effective elementary or secondary education teachers in just ONE calendar year. Learn more.

Faculty are leading biomedical research scientists in reproductive and developmental sciences, infectious diseases, functional genomics, and DNA repair and chromosome structure. Offering undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral training in biochemistry, genetics and cell biology, and microbiology. Learn more.