Technology, DTECH

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The Doctor of Technology program offered at PNW is an applied-research based professional doctoral program in the technology field, offering students the opportunity to expand and apply knowledge and research to solve practice-based problems in a number of technology-related fields. The post-master’s program is 60 credits, for a total of 90 credits (including 30 credits of master’s level study applied toward the degree).

The Doctor of Technology is designed to encompass best practice techniques that can be implemented in business, industry, government and NGOs, as well as by entrepreneurs, to solve complex technology-related problems. The curriculum systematically develops enhanced skills and understandings that enable professionals, already holding a Master’s degree or equivalent, to apply their heightened technical and conceptual understandings of technology, research and development. The Doctor of Technology will accelerate and further the career of individuals as they contribute to enterprise performance, efficiencies and sustainability through contemporary applied research-based techniques. The DTECH is a post-master’s program, allowing up to 30 credits from a qualified master’s degree program to satisfy a portion of the 90 credit hours

Admission Requirements

Students are expected to have completed a certified Master of Science degree in Technology or a related field from an accredited institution. Cumulative GPA in master’s level work (or most recently completed graduate or professional degree) of at least 3.0/4.0 scale.

In addition, international students will need to provide proof of English proficiency.

Applicants are expected to provide transcripts of academic work from all institutions attended (baccalaureate and higher), 3 letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume.

Please see the admissions website for specific requirements of the application.

Graduation Requirements

Final graduate GPA of B or better on all courses on the approved plan of study. Successful completion of Dissertation.

Required Courses

Students will complete a minimum of 90 credit hours for the Doctor of Technology degree. Each student’s Plan of Study must first be approved by the student’s advisor and graduate committee and subsequently by the Purdue Graduate School. Students are expected to transfer 30 credit hours from a qualified master’s degree program.

The other 60 credit hours consist of 18 credit hours of core curriculum, 24 hours of electives offered by the College of Technology or from relevant courses offered by other Colleges or Schools at Purdue University Northwest, and 18 credit hours earned by successfully proposing and completing an applied dissertation.

Students are required to take:

IT 57100 - Project Management In Industry And Technology
OLS 58900 - Leadership And Ethics
MET 52700 - Technology From A Global Perspective
Qualitative Research Methods in Technology Studies
TECH 64600 - Analysis Of Research In Industry And Technology
And one of the following:
ITS 53100 - High Performance Computing And Big Data
Sustainability Engineering (for ET)
Note: Above could be substituted, with student’s major professor approval, if similar courses were part of student’s master’s degree plan of study or were available for student to take.
- 24 credit hours of specialization: following are potential coursework tracks that College of Technology departments could create for students in their programs.
Computer Information Technology (24 credit hours) Specialization

Courses related to IoT, Data Analytics, Bioinformatics, Cyber Infrastructure, Information Security, Cyber Learning and Computational Thinking with approval of major professor.

OR

Engineering Technology (24 credit hours) Specialization

Courses related to Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Industrial, and Construction Management Engineering Technologies.

Dissertation (18 credit hours)

TECH 64010 Research DTech Thesis

Total Credits Required: 60 (after 30 credits from qualified master’s degree)