2020-2021 Graduate/Doctorate Catalog w/ Sept Addendum 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate/Doctorate Catalog w/ Sept Addendum [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

The University



History

The University was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on December 12, 2001, making it the first science- and technology-focused, non-profit, comprehensive university to be established in Pennsylvania in more than 100 years. Originally founded to address the Capital Region’s need for increased educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers, Harrisburg University represented a major step to attract, educate, and retain Pennsylvania’s diverse 21st-century knowledge-based workforce. A grand concept that was championed by business leaders, government officials, and the regional news media, Harrisburg University was built from concept to reality in less than a decade. The Pennsylvania Department of Education granted the University its charter in 2005.

An independent institution, the University offers academic and research programs initially designed to meet the needs of the region’s youth, workforce, and businesses. The University continues to serve as a catalyst for creating, attracting, and expanding economic development and opportunities in Central Pennsylvania, and now, well beyond by aligning traditional undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate degrees with science and technology-based experiential learning.

Mission Statement

The Harrisburg University of Science and Technology offers innovative academic and research programs in science and technology that respond to local and global needs. The institution fosters a diverse community of learners, provides access and support to students who want to pursue a career in science and technology and supports business creation and economic development.

Approved by the Board of Trustees on September 17, 2015.

Vision

Originally founded to address the need of Pennsylvania’s Capital Region for increased educational opportunities in applied science and technology-related fields, the vision of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is to provide academic programs at undergraduate and graduate levels for a diversity of learners, using student-centered, technologically-advanced, and experiential learning designs that emphasize student success, with a sharp focus on specific interdisciplinary competencies and strong linkages to career development. The desired outcome is the emergence of well-qualified, technically expert graduates whose understanding of applied science and technology-related fields is honed by direct industry experience and rounded by a sound, cross-disciplinary liberal education.

Accreditation and Approvals

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology was re-accredited on March 3, 2016 by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (267) 284-5000. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Doctor’s Research Scholarship degree program, Ph.D. in Data Sciences, was granted by Middle States in January 2017, and the Ph.D. in Information Systems Engineering and Management in July 2018.

Program offerings are authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Higher and Career Education, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126.

Approved to participate in the federal Title IV, HEA student assistance programs by the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202.

Approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for veterans and eligible dependents to obtain education benefits through the Veteran’s Administration (VA).

Approved by the Veterans Administration to participate in the “Yellow Ribbon” program.

Authorized under federal law by the Department of Homeland Security - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS-USCIS-SEVIS) as an eligible institution for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to enroll non-immigrant students.

The Master of Science in Project Management program is accredited by the Global Accreditation Center from the Project Management Institute, 14 Campus Boulevard, Newtown Square, PA (855-746-4849). The M.S. program in Project Management is one of only 110 programs around the world to achieve this accreditation. The Global Accreditation Center (GAC) for Project Management Education Programs is an independent academic accreditation body with policies, procedures, and standards for project, program, portfolio management and related programs.

Student Responsibility Statement

A student has the responsibility to engage fully in assigned work, to be interactive in academic discussion,  and to develop professional competencies both in the classroom and at internship sites. The University is new in both thought and ideas. The student should be a partner in this endeavor, now and in the future. 

It is the student’s responsibility to be engaged in the University’s community of learners and to develop a strong professional and ethical foundation as a community member. Failure to uphold HU’s rules and policies, as well as federal, state, or local laws and/or regulations, may result in disciplinary action by HU pursuant to its Code of Student Conduct (Code).

Statement of Community Standards

Underlying the University’s mission are the following basic standards:

  • the importance of personal integrity, honesty, and ethical decision making; 
  • the right of every individual to be treated with respect and dignity as a member of a learning organization;
  • the freedom of intellectual inquiry in the pursuit of truth, even if it defies commonly understood theories;
  • the acceptance and appreciation of human diversity regarding race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, ability, ethnicity, and political views;
  • the freedom from violence or harassment that would interfere with or disrupt university activities; and
  • the recognition that civic engagement is a component of the intellectual development of a student and provides a path for knowledge and personal development in the service of the community.