Career Studies
Penn State Harrisburg
Career Studies
777 West Harrisburg Pike
331 W Olmsted Building
Middletown, PA 17057
777 West Harrisburg Pike
331 W Olmsted Building
Middletown, PA 17057
Program Contact | Linda Rhen or Sandy McBride |
Program Contact Email | lxr29@psu.edu |
Website | Program website |
link to program Facebook page |
The Career Studies Program, a U.S. Department of Education approved Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP), where individuals with intellectual disabilities can obtain a high-quality, individualized post-secondary education that leads to social and professional networks, careers, and a bright future. Career Studies is an inclusive two-year, four-semester program that includes academic and social enrichment, career exploration, and practical work experiences. Our program mission is to provide enriching and inclusive post-secondary education and career exploration experiences that lead to independence and competitive employment.
Program information submitted: January 29, 2024
General | |
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Public or private: | Public |
Type of school: | 4-year college or university |
Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? | No |
Number of students: | 15 |
Requirements | |
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Program serves students who have left high school? | Yes, all of our students have left high school |
Regular high school diploma required? | Yes, a regular high school diploma or GED is required |
Deadline to apply to this program: | March 1 |
Link to admissions process: | Admissions link |
Criteria for admission |
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Accepts out-of-state students? | Yes |
Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have: |
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Planned program length | 2 years |
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates | |
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Acceptance rate for the most recent fall term: | 83.00% |
Retention rate for first year students from the previous academic year to the current one: | 88.00% |
Cost | |
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Average student tuition and fees for the current school year: | $10212.00 |
Average out-of-state tuition, current year: | $13581.00 |
Room and board: | $11884.00 |
Program fees: | $3375.00 |
Additional costs: | The additional program fee of ($3375) is the Peer Mentor fee. Each student receives approximated 15 hours of peer mentor time a week. Students need to pay for books for their academic classes. If they want to buy food in the cafeteria, they will need to pay for that as well. |
Is this program able to provide federal financial aid as a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP)? | Yes |
Students pay for the program in the following ways: |
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Scholarships available: | Students can apply for a DREAM Partnership Scholarship which supports students attending a post secondary program. |
Links to scholarship information: | D.R.E.A.M. Partnership |
Academic | |
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Students enrolled in this program take the following types of inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): |
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More about course access: | Students in the Career Studies Program can take any class listed in the course catalog as long as it doesn't have any prerequisites. We encourage students to take classes that relate to their interests as well as classes that might help with their career interests. |
Students take courses that are only for students in this program: | Yes |
Information on special classes: | Students take a Personal Management class that includes job readiness, self-management and other topics to assist with the transition to a college atmosphere. They also take a Customer Relations class that includes curriculum from National Retail Fundamentals. If the students successfully pass the exam for the course, they earn an extra credential. |
Percentage of academic time spent in inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): | 75-99% |
Do all students in this program enroll in at least one inclusive college/university course for credit or audit each semester? | Yes |
Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: | NRF Foundation awards the Credential in Retail Industry Fundamentals if students pass the exam. |
Is the credential approved by the college/university? | Awarded by program, not officially recognized by the IHE |
Students in the program have access to the following campus-wide services: |
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Employment | |
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Percent of students in this program have paid work while attending the program: | 46% |
Other career development activities are: |
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Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: | 66% |
Additional information about career development and work experience: | During the first semester and half of the second semester, the students go on many job shadows to many different types of businesses. They learn about different types of environments and try to figure out what they like in a work environment. After each job shadow the students need to complete a reflection on where they were. The second half of the first semester the students do on campus practicums (practice work) in different departments. They are supported by a peer mentor who acts as a job coach. During the second year of the program, the students go to off-campus practicum jobs in small groups and are supported by the program coordinator who acts as a job coach. Their final semester we try to have them do a practicum in an area of work they are interested in. Again, the students are supported by a peer mentor, a grad student or program staff who acts as a job coach. |
Does this program have a working partnership with VR to provide funding, supports and/or services to students in the program? | Yes |
Housing | |
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Housing is provided to students: | Yes |
Housing options available: |
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Extracurricular | |
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Percentage of social time spent in inclusive activities (open to all students on campus): | 75-99% |
Students may participate in the following extra-curricular activities |
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Students participate in these campus-wide events: |
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