With a focus on transformative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) for business applications, blockchain, cloud computing, and Industry 4.0/5.0, the Information Systems Engineering & Management (ISEM) program serves as a bridge between the present and the future by emphasizing technical system development and management considerations. This program prepares graduates to become well-rounded leaders as they address business problems and manage smart digital enterprises using intelligent systems and AI-driven decision-making.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Information Systems Engineering & Management program at Harrisburg University is a flexible, comprehensive, 12-course, 36-credit-hour interdisciplinary program that emphasizes the technical, engineering, and business management aspects of creating and deploying smart digital enterprises powered by artificial intelligence for business, data analytics, and automation.
ISEM is fully SEVP-compliant for international students.
Harrisburg University’s ISEM graduate studies are built on the following three pillars, which are interrelated aspects of successful system design and deployment:
- Information systems technologies: Develops skills and competencies in emerging technologies and their applications, including predictive and generative artificial intelligence, AI for business, machine learning (ML), deep learning, big data, on-premises and cloud computing, blockchain, business intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Industry 4.0 and 5.0 as they apply to modern digital enterprises.
- Systems design: Develops the ability to think broadly and holistically and gain a range of perspectives and skills, focusing on system-level thinking and emphasis on development of integrated systems rather than individual components. This includes development of enterprise architectures that optimize the use of people, processes, and technologies – including AI-enabled business systems.
- Management and management science: Develops the aptitude to focus on business strategies, entrepreneurship, planning, security, and governance for global and agile enterprises operating in AI-driven business environments.
PROGRAM GOALS
Our graduate program aims to educate qualified leaders capable of working with stakeholders, addressing business problems, and managing the next generation of smart digital enterprises through the strategic use of artificial intelligence for business transformation, architecture, design, integration, testing, deployment, and management. ISEM supports enterprise digital transformation and cultivates future industry leaders.
The program’s course structure is comprised of 12 courses in total, with five (5) core courses, five (5) elective courses, and two (2) capstone courses. All core courses must be taken in the first year of study; elective courses become available in the second year of study.
ISEM graduates acquire the ability to:
- Understand diverse stakeholders and their business problems in data-rich, AI-enabled organizations.
- Define requirements and the solutions that must be developed to address stakeholder problems using AI, analytics, and intelligent systems.
- Plan, design, develop, integrate, test, deploy, and manage systems and resources that lead to stakeholder satisfaction and measure business value through AI-driven insights.
- Bridge current and emerging technologies – including AI for business, automation, and advanced analytics – in the development of smart solutions in support of manufacturing, services and supply chains operations.
Program Concentrations
Upon admission to the ISEM program, each student selects one of five (5) available concentrations:
The ISEM Concentrations are:
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) FOR BUSINESS
This concentration educates students on AI principles and applications and the relationship between AI, machine learning, big data, and their roles in business intelligence and decision support systems – preparing graduates to lead artificial intelligence for business initiatives across industries. - CLOUD COMPUTING FOR BUSINESS
This concentration focuses on the application of cloud computing to modern enterprises. This concentration ties together emerging cloud computing applications, security, and the role of machine learning and AI for business in the implementation of cloud computing in modern enterprises. - INDIVIDUALIZED
This concentration is available to students who wish to select their own customized set of five electives upon completion of their core courses. The Individualized Concentration makes it possible for a student to select available graduate-level courses from across the University.
Industry Highlights
What separates the ISEM MS program from its peers?
The ISEM program recognizes that continuous digital transformation is occurring around the globe. This makes it essential for students to understand how current and future generations of digital enterprises will be successfully conceived, planned, designed, deployed, and managed with artificial intelligence embedded at the core of business operations.
To support this:
- ISEM is focused on the “big picture” view of system development and addresses the entire system development life cycle from concept to deployment, including maintenance, support and, ultimately, system retirement. Both technical and management aspects of this process are addressed with attention to AI-enabled systems and platforms.
- ISEM embraces current and emerging technologies and addresses the increased impact of software and data on systems. The current technology focus is on predictive and generative AI, artificial intelligence for business, on-premises and cloud computing, analytics, blockchain, semantic web, IoT, cybersecurity, DevOps, and enterprise resource planning.
- ISEM recognizes that virtually all variations of digital enterprises in the public and private sectors are being transformed through Ai-driven automation, analytics, and business decision support. This includes commercial businesses, advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0 and 5.0, cognitive cities and communities, digital health, energy, and advanced agriculture.
Information Systems Engineering and Management Advisory Board
Jason Hebbe was named the Chief Technology Officer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in June 2021.
Jason participates in the development and execution of the commonwealth’s information technology strategic plan. He has nearly three decades of information technology expertise across multiple industries, including banking, insurance, manufacturing, logistics and state government. During his career, Jason has held multiple IT leadership positions, focused efforts on IT architecture to design and implement solutions to meet business needs and brought a passion for using technology to bring value and efficiency to the customers and organizations served to all that he does.
Jason has completed studies in leadership, finance, project management and has held multiple technology certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, EMC and the Linux Professional Institute. He is also a graduate of the Government Technology Institute’s Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIOTM) Program and is ITIL Foundations Certified.
Outside of work, he is actively involved in his church and volunteering to serve others. He has a wife, two children and two stepchildren.
As VP of Integrated Experience Platform and Delivery at enGen, a wholly owned healthtech subsidiary of Highmark Health, Jennifer Magaro facilitates an integrated experience platform layer that supports and simplifies the health care experience for all.
Leading enGen’s digital operating model transformation and technology portfolio, Jennifer enables the organizations Living Health strategy to reinvent the health experience of a person and their clinician. Previously, she led the diversified business technology platforms of Highmark Health, focusing on the United Concordia Dental and HM Insurance Group platforms, servicing over nine million members nationwide.
With more than 25 years’ business and technology leadership experience, Jennifer demonstrates a thorough understanding in her field, showcasing a skillset that includes platform ownership, portfolio management, process improvement, delivery methodologies, and employee engagement.
An active supporter of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs throughout her local community, Jennifer is a champion for the Junior Achievement of South Central Pennsylvania STEM Summit program, as well as a board member of the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania.
Jennifer holds a master’s degree in management information systems from Shippensburg University, and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Pittsburgh. Jennifer resides in Central Pennsylvania and is married to her husband, Shawn, and has two children, Nick and Gabe.
Patty has been with Phoenix Contact for 17 years. During that time she has been worked closely with the business to establish apprenticeship programs geared to developing skill sets that are greatly needed in the manufacturing industry. Several of those programs have a focus on IT. She also co-chairs the NextGen Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in Southcentral PA. The employer group works to address the issues that restrain the growth of manufacturing in the region. Patty also sits on the Board of Directors for the South Central PA Manufacturing Association.
Prior to joining Phoenix Contact, Patty spend 7 years in healthcare and 10 year working for public utility. Her entire career has been focused on organization and people development. She is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania where is earned her undergraduate degree in Education, and Villanova University, where she earned her master degree in Human Resources.
Patrick McDonald is an IT Consultant with over 15 years’ experience delivering technology solutions for Federal, state and local government agencies. He specializes in IT delivery modernization through cloud and automation, helping organizations implement strategies aimed at accelerating the speed of IT service delivery that align to industry frameworks such as CMMI, ITIL, SAFe and Agile methodologies. In his current role he manages IT operations for local government agencies as part of Deloitte’s Government and Public Services Practice. He holds a M.S. in Information Science and Technology from Temple University.
Brad Milbrand serves as the Transition and Optimization manager for CAI’s Application Managed Services (AMS) account with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He is responsible for setting up and transitioning new projects to the AMS account and works across all AMS teams to identify process and procedure improvements to provide better client solutions.
Brad earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from Penn State University and started his career as an application developer for several fortune 500 companies. He earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from Eastern University and transitioned into team and account leadership. He is currently working on a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University with a concentration in private industry. He is currently working on his dissertation which focuses on team culture within information technology organizations.
Brad and his wife, Kendra, along with their two daughters, live in Enola and enjoy spending time running to soccer games, scouting activities, band competitions, and family events. When he gets some free time, he enjoys spending time in his woodshop.
I am a firm believer in the quote “Staying focused on human beings is one of the most important tenets of building a successful business”. I am a curious technologist, passionate about innovative products, service design and delivery. In my 20+ years consulting with various clients I have interacted with and learned from C-level execs, business line managers, and peers to have a keen focus on customer needs while empowering implementation teams to deliver business value.
Program Core Courses
This program requires a total of 36 semester hours: 15 semester hours from the “Core” courses, 6 semester hours of experiential (Capstone) courses, and 15 Elective semester hours of either Concentration (Elective) courses. Note that all courses are 3 semester hours.
Mandatory CORE courses (all students) (12 credit hours)
Core courses (All students) – “Pick 1” from list OF 5 COURSES (3 credit hours)
