Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Administration and Leadership Studies - Sociology

Because of the success of the on-campus program, IUP was invited by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) to offer this same program in Harrisburg. The first Harrisburg cohort began classes in Fall 2001. This is an exciting program, drawing upon the knowledge and experience of students in the Harrisburg and south-central PA region who work in state agencies, the legislature, community colleges, as well as local government and nonprofit agencies.

IUP’s ALS Ph.D. Program at Harrisburg is offered at the Dixon University Center, http://www.DixonUniversityCenter.org, 2986 North Second Street, located in an easily accessible and very picturesque setting along the Susquehanna River between Front and North Second Streets. Free parking is available near the building where classes are offered, including an underground parking garage.

The ALS-Dixon program offices are in South Hall, Room 105 and include a Resource Room with a book collection and computers for student use. A full-time secretary, Sheri Askew-Fowler, is based at this office, providing students with assistance with program logistics including liaison with offices at IUP.

Once the home of the Harrisburg Academy the attractive brick buildings that comprise the Dixon Center were acquired by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) in 1988, demonstrating a commitment to bring educational programs and opportunities to the Harrisburg area. The Dixon University Center is an academic and governance center, providing area residents the advantages of a public university. Five undergraduate and nine graduate degree programs are offered on-site by a consortium of PASSHE universities and affiliate members.

Admission requirements for the Harrisburg program are the same as for the ALS program on the main campus. An “Information Night” is held every other year, about four months before the deadline for applications, Feb. 15. To receive an invitation to this event, please contact the ALS program secretary based at the Dixon Center, at als-phd@iup.edu.

For information about Graduate Record Exam (GRE). go to www.gre.org. For location of GRE test centers go to http://etsis4.ets.org/tcenter/ In Harrisburg, the test is offered at Prometric Testing Center, 6029 Allentown Blvd. Paxton Square, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17112; (717) 652-0143. Call 800-967-1100 to register to take the test.

Prior to starting regular classes in Fall 2007 newly admitted students will take a one-credit course called ProSeminar during the summer. This course will be offered at the Dixon University Center on Thursday evenings, 6-9 pm, on July 5, 12, 19, and Aug. 2 (skipping one week to give students time to write). Students will be oriented to expectations for scholarship including academic writing style, research and conference presentations, learn how to search the literature through IUP library’s online resources, and write a short paper related to their potential dissertation research interest.

Classes are primarily taught by IUP faculty who travel to the Dixon Center as well as faculty members from other universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Betsy Crane. Ph.D., the Harrisburg ALS Coordinator, is based in Indiana, but travels frequently to be available to advise students at her office at the Dixon Center. Dr. John Anderson, an IUP Sociology Department faculty member based at the Dixon Center, does training and research in the Harrisburg area.

Early in the program, Betsy Crane. Ph.D., the Harrisburg ALS Coordinator, serves as a faculty mentor to provide guidance and support. Later, students choose members of their dissertation committees, including a chair, who will becomes their advisor. The IUP policy is that the advisor/chair of the committee must be an IUP faculty member, however the other committee members may be faculty members who have taught in the program from other universities.

Given the additional cost of providing the program off-site, the tuition for the ALS Program in Harrisburg is 10% higher than whatever is the current graduate tuition at the main campus. For the 2006-07 academic year the tuition rate is $370 per credit hour (PA residents), $592.00 per credit (Non-residents); tuition rates may increase over the course of the program. Harrisburg students pay a Dixon Center Technology Fee of $31.00 (In State) $47.00 (Out-of-State), Registration Fee - $32.00, and Off-Campus Instructional Fee - $21.00.

When are courses offered? How many courses does a student take per semester?

Class schedules are designed to accommodate the schedules of working professionals. Each semester, Fall, Spring and Summer, students are expected to take two courses, to stay in sequence. Generally classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-9 pm; occasionally a course is offered on Friday evening and Saturday.

Most ALS students are on part-time status, doing the two courses per semester. However it is sometimes possible to take three courses, with the additional course accessed by videoconference courses offered from the main campus, occasional one-week classes, or independent study courses.

Selection of courses to be offered as electives in Harrisburg is made on the basis of student interest. Students in each cohort are surveyed regarding their interest in courses offered by the Departments of Sociology, Economics, and Political Science. Those five courses with the highest rankings will be offered in Harrisburg. Students can also transfer in up to six credits of graduate coursework, either from graduate courses taken within the past five years or graduate coursework from another area university, given approval by the program coordinator and by the Graduate School.

Students take Core and Research comprehensive examinations as they proceed through the program, generally in the second year. These exams are offered three times a year, at the Dixon Center. After coursework is complete, the final comprehensive exam is a Specialization Essay, a take-home exam in an area related to the student’s dissertation research topic. The question for the exam is co-developed with three faculty members of the student’s choice, and the essay developed is useful as groundwork for the dissertation proposal.

After successful completion of this essay, student is ABD (all but dissertation). Next the student prepares and defends a research proposal for the dissertation, carries out research, and writes and defends the dissertation. Generally completion of the Ph.D., including coursework and dissertation, takes between four and seven years. IUP’s policy is that doctoral students should complete their degree within seven years of the start of their program. Beginning the semester following completion of all comprehensive exams students register for the nine dissertation credits each Fall and Spring (not required during Summer).

Students are issued I-cards (IUP student identification cards) and have Internet access to the online resources of the IUP library as well as being able to obtain books via mail and interlibrary loan. They are also able to utilize all resources of the Keystone Library Network. A small book collection is available in the Resource Room at our office at the Dixon Center, with volumes focused on leadership, administration and research methods.

What is the relationship between the Harrisburg ALS program and the main campus?

Harrisburg students attend an orientation day at IUP and are invited to workshops for ALS students. We hold other workshops and seminars for all of the students from both sites that are variously held in Indiana and in Harrisburg. In addition, students at both sites have the option of taking courses at either site.

Having students enter the program at the same time and take most of their classes together creates a peer network that leads to greater sharing of information and support. This can be very important to busy mid-career professionals who are balancing graduate studies with work and family.

Who should I contact to discuss other questions I may have about this program?

Please call or sent an email to the coordinator for this program, John Anderson, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, at 717-720-4098 or jaa@iup.edu. For an application packet, contact the Secretary, Dixon ALS Program, at 717-720-4064.

Administrative and Leadership Studies
Dixon Program - Harrisburg
Proposed Course Schedule beginning Fall 2007

This schedule may be subject to change. Additional optional electives may be offered during semesters during which just two courses are normally taken, e.g. by videoconference from IUP.

Students may finish coursework earlier by either taking 3 courses during some semesters and/or by transferring up to 2 graduate courses taken within the past five years and relevant to the ALS program.