Doctorate Admission Process and Requirements

Doctorate Program Admission Process 

Doctorate program applicants are encouraged to apply at least six months prior to the start of any semester. This application process allows ample time for acceptance and development of an academic schedule. The Admission Committee reviews all documents and will request an interview with the applicant prior to making an admission decision for a limited number of applicants to become resident or non-resident candidates for the degree.

Doctorate Admission Requirements by Program

Data Sciences, Ph.D.

A faculty admission committee will evaluate each applicant’s candidacy once all admissions materials have been received. The doctorate admission process requires the candidate to:

• Complete the application online at www.HarrisburgU.edu/Apply.
• Write an essay (in English) on how this degree supports the candidate’s academic and career aspirations.
• Submit final official transcript(s) from the college or university at which the highest degree earned was conferred.
• Submission of an official record of Graduate Record Examination scores (GRE) is recommended.
• Provide two letters of recommendation from academic or industry professionals.
• Submit a resume.
• Assemble all the above required documents into a zipfolder and email to PhD@HarrisburgU.edu.
• A faculty review committee may select the candidate for an interview.

Computational Sciences, Ph.D.

A faculty admission committee will evaluate each applicant’s candidacy once all admissions materials have been received. The doctorate admission process requires the candidate to:

• Complete the application online at www.HarrisburgU.edu/Apply.
• Write an essay (in English) on how this degree supports the candidate’s academic and career aspirations.
• Submit final official transcript(s) from the college or university at which the highest degree earned was conferred.
• Master’s degree in science or engineering disciplines with a strong background in applied mathematics, statistics, numerical analysis, simulation and modeling, and programming languages.
• Submission of an official record of Graduate Record Examination scores (GRE) is recommended.
• Provide two letters of recommendation from academic or industry professionals.
• Submit a resume.
• Assemble all the above required documents into a zipfolder and email to PhD@HarrisburgU.edu.
• A faculty review committee may select the candidate for an interview.

Information Systems Engineering and Management, Ph.D.

A faculty admission committee will evaluate each applicant’s candidacy once all admissions materials have been received. The doctorate admission process requires the candidate to:

• Complete the application online at www.HarrisburgU.edu/Apply.
• Write an essay (in English) on how this degree supports the candidate’s academic and career aspirations.
• Submit final official transcript(s) from the college or university at which the highest degree earned was conferred.
• Minimum GPA: 3.30
• Submission of an official record of Graduate Record Examination scores (GRE). GRE score in the 65th percentile or above in the Quantitative portion. (The GRE requirement could be waived for a candidate with a Master’s Degree from Harrisburg University or another Domestic US Institution, and a high GPA.)
• Evidence of research potential. Please submit the following as part of your application packet:
  • Any key published articles.
  • Students that are finishing their master’s thesis may submit a summary of their thesis indicating the key findings and areas they wish to further pursue in their PhD.
  • Students that have no published article, thesis or other research should have other means of showing research potential, such as graduate courses taken or any significant documented projects. They should also submit a short research proposal.
• Provide two letters of recommendation from academic or industry professionals.
• Submit a resume.
• Assemble all the above required documents into a zipfolder and email to PhD@HarrisburgU.edu.
• A faculty review committee may select the candidate for an interview.

Information Systems Engineering and Management, D.Eng.

A faculty admission committee will evaluate each applicant’s candidacy once all admissions materials have been received. The doctorate admission process requires the candidate to:

• Complete the application online at www.HarrisburgU.edu/Apply.
• Write an essay (in English) on how this degree supports the candidate’s academic and career aspirations.
• Submit final official transcript(s) from the college or university at which the highest degree earned was conferred.
• Minimum GPA: 3.30
• Submission of an official record of Graduate Record Examination scores (GRE). GRE score in the 65th percentile or above in the Quantitative portion. (The GRE requirement could be waived for a candidate with a Master’s Degree from Harrisburg University or another Domestic US Institution, and a high GPA.)
• Master’s degree in ISEM or related field.
• A research proposal for an applied problem in ISEM, outlining the key issues and possible solution approaches to be explored (see proposal requirements and outline ).
• Relevant professional experience: at least 2 years of full-time working experience beyond a Master’s degree is expected, but not mandatory.
• Provide two letters of recommendation from academic or industry professionals.
• A letter of support either from an employer or sponsoring organization is recommended and preferred.
• A co-advisor from the employer or sponsoring organization is recommended and preferred.
• Submit a resume.
• Assemble all the above required documents into a zipfolder and email to PhD@HarrisburgU.edu.
• A faculty review committee may select the candidate for an interview.

Doctor of Physical Therapy, DPT

• Complete the application online at www.HarrisburgU.edu/Apply.
• Write an essay (in English) on how this degree supports the candidate’s academic and career aspirations.
• Submit final official transcript(s) from the college or university at which the highest degree earned was conferred. Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required.
• Provide two letters of recommendation from academic or industry professionals.
• Submit a resume.
• The program prefers but does not require a basic exercise science background. It should be noted that most students in the program have completed undergraduate coursework in exercise science, physical therapist assistant, or athletic training program prior to entry into the DPT program.
• Video essay as part of the application process. (Video requirement found on application)
• Volunteer/observational work in the field is not required although it is highly recommended.
• For applicants whose native language is not English, the TOEFL is required with a minimum score of 79 on the iBT
• 3.0 GPA undergraduate cumulative average (on a 4.0 scale)
• Assemble all the above required documents into a zip folder and email to PhD@HarrisburgU.edu.
• A faculty review committee may select the candidate for an interview.
• Completion of all prerequisite coursework, including a minimum of six credit hours of each of the following courses: anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, physics.
  • 2.8 GPA and C or greater in all prerequisite courses (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Complete list of acceptable prerequisites are as follows: