Harrisburg University Expands Graduate Specializations to Include Enterprise Architecture

Oct. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Graduate program offerings at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology are expanding to include a specialization in Enterprise Architecture (EA.)  Graduate-level students have an option to this specialization consisting of 4 courses.  The graduate specializations is for credit and credits earned applicable to the master of science program in Information Systems Engineering & Management offered by Harrisburg University

The EA specialization is designed for both degree seeking and non-degree students and working professionals (e.g., systems engineers in the government sector or private industry) who can take these courses for professional development. This specialization exposes the student to the technical as well as management aspects of enterprise architectures. The course options that make up the graduate specialization in EA provide the basic skills needed to architect, plan, integrate and manage modern enterprises.

The University notes that EA has become a critical discipline in a time when more holistic understanding of problems and associated requirements is needed for better decision making within a framework of budget constraints. EA provides "big picture" roadmaps and other visualization techniques linked to business transformation. It complements the work done by systems engineers and program managers on the most complex and high visibility initiatives.

The ISEM degree program at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is intended to educate information and communication technology leaders who can manage, as well as engineer or re-engineer, the current, and next, generation of digital enterprises.

The program’s director, Dr. Amjad Umar, notes that the degree program can play a crucial role in transforming the region’s economy.

“Central Pennsylvania needs to transform its current industrial base to a highly flexible IT enabled enterprise model and attract high tech companies to compete and succeed in this highly digital global economy,” says Dr. Umar. “This transformation requires enterprise engineers and managers who can plan, integrate, secure and administer these digital enterprises where nearly all significant business processes and relationships with customers, suppliers, and employees are digitally enabled and key corporate assets are managed through digital means.”

The ISEM program can help students acquire the skills to plan for and integrate technologies with processes and people that are key to the success of an organization in today's complex, digital world.  The 36-credit-hour degree program is the only one of its kind in the region, and it uniquely combines systems thinking, management expertise, and engineering with emphasis on digital enterprises.  

The EA specialization and ISEM program are under the leadership of Dr. Amjad Umar who serves as a senior advisor to the United Nations’ Initiative on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for the Developing Countries. He also is a Fulbright Senior Specialist on ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) with the US Council of International Exchange of Scholars.

The University offers more than 30 graduate specializations for credits that are applicable to one of the three master of science programs in Information Systems Engineering & Management, Project Management, and Learning Tech Founded in 2001 to address Central Pennsylvania’s need for increased opportunities for study leading to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, Harrisburg University is an innovative and ambitious private institution that produces graduates who provide increased competence and capacity in science and technology disciplines to Pennsylvania and the nation. Harrisburg University ensures institutional access for underrepresented students and links learning and research to practical outcomes. As a private University serving the public good, Harrisburg University remains the only STEM-focused comprehensive university located between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

For more information on the University's demand-driven undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs in applied science and technology fields, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu.nologies offered by Harrisburg University. Specializations may be delivered online, using a blend of online and in-class sessions, or on weekends.

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Founded in 2001 to address Central Pennsylvania’s need for increased opportunities for study leading to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, Harrisburg University is an innovative and ambitious private institution.