Overview of the Masters Degree Program

Graduate Education focuses on individualized career advancement in areas of study within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. The University’s approach is based on an experiential model that allows the student to gain and apply knowledge and skills at an advanced level and to focus on an area of need or interest particular to the student. Faculty combine corporate and academic perspectives in the design, development, and delivery of graduate programs and courses. Programs are designed for working professionals focused on career advancement who can apply what is learned back to their workplace. Therefore, each course has multiple applied projects, work-related assignments, and each degree has a practicum requirement of all students.

Harrisburg University’s graduate programs are based on the following model:

• All M.S. degrees are granted for 36 semester hours (12 courses) of graduate work.
• Each MS program has 5 or 6 required courses that uniquely define the specific graduate program.
• There are a variety of graduate-level courses that the students in any M.S. program may take as electives. This pool of electives may consist of a wide range of courses from different graduate-level programs.
• There is a 6-credit capstone/applied project/practicum or thesis requirement for all graduate degrees at the University. This practicum synthesizes the key concepts of the program and extends/applies these concepts to real-life practical problems or research investigations. The capstone consists of two courses: a research methodology and writing course, and a Graduate Thesis or Applied Project or a Practicum required of specific programs. The courses leading up to this practicum experience combined with the practical work experience for students are required to complete the applied project. Students authorized by the University for CPT must take the applied project option within their specific degree program.