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Career Studies

Career Studies
Penn State Harrisburg
Career Studies
777 West Harrisburg Pike
331 W Olmsted Building
Middletown, PA 17057
icon name
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Program Contact Linda Rhen or Sandy McBride
Program Contact Email lxr29@psu.edu
Website Program website
Facebook 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
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
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
Criteria for admission
  • Student must be 18 or older
Accepts out-of-state students? Yes
Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have:
  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism
  • Developmental Disabilities
Planned program length 2 years
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
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
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:
  • Private pay (student and family)
  • Tuition Waivers
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Funds
  • Scholarships
  • Adult intellectual/developmental disability state agency funds
  • Federal Financial Aid
Scholarships available: Students can apply for a DREAM Partnership Scholarship which supports students attending a post secondary program.
Academic
Students enrolled in this program take the following types of inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities):
  • Typical college courses for audit
  • Typical Continuing Education courses
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:
  • Career services
  • Disability/accessibility services
  • Academic tutoring services
  • Health services
  • Mental health/counseling services
  • Access to a transcript via the registrar
Employment
Percent of students in this program have paid work while attending the program: 46%
Other career development activities are:
  • Internships
  • Volunteer work
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
Housing is provided to students: Yes
Housing options available:
  • Inclusive on campus
  • Inclusive off campus
Extracurricular
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
  • Registered student organizations
  • Student government
  • Club sports
  • Campus events
  • Study abroad
  • Fraternities/sororities
Students participate in these campus-wide events:
  • College/University's Student orientation
  • College/University's Family orientation
  • College/University's Graduation