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The ISEM doctoral program consists of two terminal degrees: a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and the Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng).

All doctoral programs at HU consists of two main phases. The first phase is a learning stage where students attend classes, participate in seminars, engage in research, and gain practical field experience to deepen their knowledge. In the second phase, students concentrate on conducting original research or developing innovative solutions to complex problems, culminating in a final dissertation defense. Upon fulfilling all milestones and program requirements, students are awarded their doctoral degree in their chosen field of study. 

Program Goals

The Information Systems Engineering and Management program will produce Ph.D. graduates who:

This program is appealing to those who wish to engage in applied research on the latest development and combined use of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Information Systems (including IoT, Block Chains, AR/VR), System Engineering and Operations Research/Management techniques to address specific issues in the following domains:

A Student’s Perspective on ISEM’s PhD

PH.D. IN ISEM, ADMISSIONS PROCESS

Candidates for the Ph.D degree should have a master’s degree in Information Systems/ Engineering/ Management or a closely related field of study with a strong background in the following areas:

  • Business strategy and management
  • Information systems planning
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Systems analysis and design
  • Enterprise architecture and systems integration

The following are requirements in addition to those that are part of the general doctoral admissions requirements:

  • A minimum master’s degree GPA of 3.30 (GPA 3.50+ preferred)
  • GRE score in the 65th percentile or above in the Quantitative portion

A faculty admission committee will evaluate each applicant’s candidacy once all admissions materials have been received.

Note: The GRE requirement could be waived for a candidate with a Master’s Degree from Harrisburg University or another recognized Domestic US Institution, and a high GPA

Related ISEM Degree: Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng)

The Information Systems Engineering and Management, Doctor of Engineering (Ph.D.) program focuses on theories and concepts in Information Systems Engineering and Management. If you’d like to explore a doctoral degree that focuses on contributing practice and application, please see our Information Systems Engineering and Management D.Eng.

Comparison of Doctoral programs in Information Systems Engineering and Management

Both degrees involve a rigorous scientific approach and in-depth investigation.

Ph.D. D.Eng.
Focus Advancing knowledge Practice and application
Usual career timing Early-career Mid-career
Employment Goal Academic career, research and technical leadership in industry or public sector Technical leadership in industry or the public sector
Final product from program Dissertation and publications Complex project solution

Program Lead

 Amar  Ramudhin, Ph.D.

Amar Ramudhin, Ph.D. Professor and Program Lead of Information Systems Engineering and Management

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Program Courses

The following comprises the requirements for the Ph.D. in Information Systems Engineering and Management. Requirements include a minimum of 36 semester hours and non-credit program requirements. When applicable, the semester hour value of each course appears in parentheses ( ).

Additional information regarding Doctorate programs can be found in the Doctorate Guidebook.

ISEM 500 – Strategic Pln for Digital Transform (3 credits)

This course introduces the basic principles (systems thinking and quantitative methods) of systems engineering and shows how these principles can be used to strategically plan, integrate, secure and administer the complex information systems that support and drive the current and future digital enterprises. Topics include: digital enterprises, aligning information technology strategy to business strategy, enterprise applications (customer relations management, procurement, supply chain management), ecommcerce, decision support, knowledge management, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, cost/benefit analysis and information technology infrastructure. These topics are explained through case studies and examples by using a strategic planning methodology.

ISEM 502 – User-Centered Design (3 credits)

A high level of end-user and client involvement is absolutely critical in creating usable and effective software and technology that attracts audiences and/or generates revenue. User-centered design (UCD) describes an approach to business analysis and technology development that demands user interaction and user feedback in all stages of the development lifecycle. The UCD process involves a collection of activities and techniques that can be used to create the more usable, intuitive, and effective technology possible. This course covers the full range of UCD methods and demonstrates the importance of these techniques in designing and building interactive technology, focusing mostly on software applications.

ISEM 503 – Artificial Intelligence Prin & Apps (3 credits)

Interdisciplinary presentation of artificial intelligence as a coherent body of knowledge to acquaint the student with the key concepts and applications in business, science and engineering. The course covers models of intelligent behavior, including problem solving, knowledge representation, reason, planning, decision making, learning, perception, pattern recognition, action, communication and interaction. Recent developments in knowledge management, expert systems, computer-aided consulting and integrated intelligent systems are covered through a wide range of case studies, examples, and hands-on experiments.

ISEM 530 – Systems Engineering Principles (3 credits)

This course prepares the student to analyze business information systems in the digital age and to build models and logical designs that can be later implemented. The emphasis will be on the business processes and business requirements needed to build conceptual models that help in analysis of business requirements. This course prepares the student to design complex systems and to build applied designs and architectures.

ISEM 534 – Database Design and Management (3 credits)

This course emphasizes the practical aspects of the design and administration of modern Database Management Systems (DBMSs) that host enterprise data. Specific topics include the role of data in modern enterprises and the data life cycle that spans conceptual database design, database query languages such as SQL, database integrity rules, database administration, and data warehouses. This course utilizes commercially available relational DBMSs for hands-on experiments and explore how to create an entity-relationship data model, translate that model into relational schema, build and use a relational database that implements the schema, create SQL queries to retrieve and manipulate needed data, provide access to remote databases from web browsers, and experiment with DBA (Database Administration) capabilities. The student also investigates recent developments in database technologies (e.g. NoSQL). This course prepares the student for database design and administration positions and will also provide the necessary background for more specialized courses in database systems.

ISEM 540 – Enterprise Architecture & Integr (3 credits)

Modern digital enterprises are characterized by increased automation, mobile services, extended B2B operations with global business partners, and on-demand business services. The main issue in such enterprises is to architect and integrate a very wide range of services quickly and effectively. This course presents a ‘systems’ perspective based on service oriented architecture (SOA) that combines processes, people and technologies, and highlights the role of information and communication technologies, enterprise models, and emerging SOA standards in developing flexible and integrated business architectures.

ISEM 551 – Web-based Software Engineering (3 credits)

This course is an introduction to web-based software engineering environments, design patterns, frameworks and key architectural aspects of robust enterprise applications. Topics for software development technologies include development languages and frameworks (e.g., .Net, Java, opensource), various tools used during the development lifecycle, and key components of an application in terms of the data, process and presentation layers. Architectural topics include prevalent design patterns such as model-view-controller (MVC), Web Services, and service-oriented architecture (SOA). The student uses computer-aided software engineering (CASE) environments and develops software architectures of real life enterprise applications.

ISEM 570 – IT Quality Assurance (3 credits)

The information technology product is central to most business systems. Quality of the product is represented by accuracy, reliability, repeatability and specific customer requirement standards. Various techniques to understand the quality control processes and quality assurance measures as demonstrated in industry standards and protocols are covered.

ISEM 700 – Smart Enterprises and Strategic (3 credits)

Smart Enterprises are the next generation of digital enterprises that heavily rely on artificial intelligence (AI) to deal with customers, suppliers/partners, government agencies and employees. This course highlights advances in research, technologies, systems, and applications as related to intelligent digital enterprises such as smart cities, smart towns, smart healthcare, smart islands, industry4.0, and automated planning environments. The emphasis is on “strategic intelligence” (SI) that refers to the intersection of Business Intelligence, Knowledge Management, and Competitive Intelligence for improving the strategic decision making in Smart Enterprises. Instead of intelligence on one sector, SI concentrates on intelligence that cuts across multiple sectors. The course will use case-based and project-based approaches for discussion and assignments but the focus is on research directions in this broad area of work. Students will be expected to produce a research paper as the final output of this course.

ISEM 706 – Research Methods in ISEM (3 credits)

This course will build on the introduction to research methods provided in GRAD 509 to examine and practice advanced methods of research and study design. Topics covered will include research theorizing and model development, instrument development and validation, structural equation modeling, multivariate techniques, grounded theory, action research, multi-methods, and significant study of design science research.

ISEM 730 – Advanced Systems Engineering (3 credits)

This course will introduce students to the discipline of “Large Scale Systems Engineering”. Also referred to as “Requirements Driven Development” as well as “Systems Engineering”, it represents a disciplined technical and management process by which abstract complex problem descriptions are successfully transformed into fully developed, tested and deployed systems. We will discuss the “art” and “science” of the Large-Scale Systems Engineering discipline. Evolution of Systems Engineering and Advances in Systems Science are discussed. Specialized concepts involved in developing human-engineered complex systems are reinforced primarily through student research and writings. This is a research-focused course that demands extensive student research and academic writing as well as advanced mathematical techniques such as optimization and stochastic processes.

OTHER RELATED ISEM DEGREES

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INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT

This masters program aims to educate qualified leaders capable of working with stakeholders, addressing business problems, and managing the next generation of smart digital enterprises

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INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

This bachelor program combines traditional computer science topics with cutting-edge ISIT practices and applications, preparing students with hands-on practical knowledge of the most important building blocks of today’s information systems and their underlying technologies.

woman on ipad

CERTIFIED INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY PROFESSIONAL (CISSP)

This 10-session Exam Prep Course will equip participants with the resources and knowledge required to pass the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®) certification exam.

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