According to the American Engineering Association, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) graduates earn 87 percent more than the average salary of a non-STEM graduate. The STEM fields harbor today and tomorrow’s most innovative, in-demand, and best-paying career positions. It offers a diverse, challenging, wide array of opportunities. There are many different areas of specialization within any STEM major. Harrisburg University provides students with tailor-made STEM degrees. The programs are developed in such a manner that they not only prepare them for the current workforce, but also give them the tools and skills necessary to evolve in their fields.
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is the first independent science and technology focused, nonprofit university established in Pennsylvania in more than 100 hundred years. Founded in 2001, it was created to address the capital region’s need for increased educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers, and it represents a major step to attract, educate, and retain Pennsylvania’s diverse 21st century knowledge-based workforce.
Programs Meeting the Market Needs
Harrisburg University’s science and technology degree programs are focused on meeting contemporary market needs. It prepares students for careers in the most in-demand science and technology fields. No matter what their background, students graduate with an incomparable hands-on STEM education and step into lucrative professions. Harrisburg University offers undergraduate, Bachelor, Graduate and Ph.D. programs. The undergraduate program is structured to enhance basic foundational knowledge. Students gain program-specific knowledge and have the independence to explore new, interesting topics. The program consists of five structural foundation courses, general education courses, program requirement courses, experiential courses, and elective courses.
Each student completes at least one internship in their chosen field, which delivers a hands-on education that gives students actual experience in their field before graduation. Every major at HU requires an internship, so each student is guaranteed to receive real-world experience that is valued by employers. The university is partnered with the foremost companies in the STEM fields such as Google and Deloitte. Students are able land good jobs after graduation, often with the same companies where they have interned while attending the university.
Marcus Black, a Management and Ebusiness major, completed an internship with the United States Senate under Senator Ben Cardin who is the ranking member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. While enrolled in his internship, Marcus shared, “My internship is going great so far. I have had the chance to network with many people in my field and work on various projects throughout my internship.”
Emily Niskala, a Geospatial Technology student spent her internship with the Monroe County Conservation District. Emily said, “I realize by having conversations with the other GIS intern that HU is the best choice I have made. I am way more prepared and knowledgeable of the field and of GIS in general. Professor Sarvis and Dr. (Christine) Proctor have truly taught me amazing skills and these skills have lead me to impress my superiors at my internship, and for that I am very thankful.”
Program Designed for Working Professionals
Harrisburg University offers Online Bachelor Degree Programs which are career focused and designed specifically for working professionals who find it difficult to attend traditional college classes. Online courses cater to career-driven, adult working professionals. Projects offer opportunities to work independently, collaborate with other adult students, and connect with working professionals. Online courses are practical and completed in seven weeks. HU’s online Bachelor Degree Programs are practical and focused on providing knowledge which students can immediately use to advance their careers. Online programs are offered in an accelerated format and make earning a bachelor’s degree a highly attainable goal for adults wanting to broaden their career possibilities and enhance their educational credentials.
Scholarship Based on Merit
According to students, a majority of graduates at Harrisburg University land good-paying jobs in their field or have been accepted to graduate school within six months of graduation. Harrisburg University also boasts an inclusive campus, with students hailing from 110 countries. Plus,44 percent of undergraduates are women. This compares to a national average of 18 percent in science and technology fields.. Each student receives a scholarship based on merit. The professors are not only well-respected educators, but also possess experience working in the field. HU is absolutely committed to providing a strong private college education at a reasonable cost. Every first-year undergraduate student is automatically considered for a university-funded merit scholarship of at least $12,000. Undergraduate transfer student scholarships start at $8,000. Harrisburg University was even recognized as the Best Private University for Awarding Scholarship Aid in the U.S. by StudentLoans.net.
Guiding the University toward Expansion
Dr. Eric Darr is the President of Harrisburg University. Under his leadership, the university has expanded to include a Philadelphia location and has successfully launched new graduate and undergraduate degree programs, and more. Furthermore, with his leadership skills, he has successfully secured grants and was able to provide scholarship support. He has also led the university to open new housing for its students and expanded the university’s classroom and laboratory space. His tenure as president includes the creation of eSports as a varsity sport on campus. The HU Storm is the university’s only varsity athletic team. The university is driving economic development in the region through the launch of multiple high-profile eSports tournaments, concerts, and conventions.
Dr. Darr also has played a major role in launching the construction of a new 10-story building at Third and Chestnut streets in Harrisburg. The new building, called the Health Science Education Center, will accommodate at least 1,000 new students and will house degree programs in nursing, pharmaceutical sciences and other allied health programs. It also will include classrooms and training space for the university’s Advanced Manufacturing and Interactive Media programs. The university has invested $100 million on this project.
A Program for the Future
Under this section, we have covered the unique program of the University which is not only futuristic but also meeting the current demands of the students.
The Center for Advanced Entertainment and Learning Technologies (CAELT) is one of the unique programs provided by Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. It is an applied research center that advances the use of various types of interactive media for entertainment and learning.
The Center connects the community with the individuals and resources associated with the University’s degree programs in Interactive Media and Learning Technologies. It creates experiential learning activities for students and connects our faculty and staff with industry thought leaders, practitioners, clients and partners through applied projects.
Key Areas of Focus
- Games, simulations, and virtual environments
- Mobile application development
- 3D modeling
- Innovative instructional design and development
- Data visualization
- Graphic communications
- Human-computer interface
- Video and web services
- Multimedia project management/leadership
- Interactive devices
- Social media
