Purdue University Northwest (PNW) today (12/3) gained approval from the Purdue University Board of Trustees to offer a Doctor of Technology degree.

PNW plans to welcome its first students in the program beginning in 2022-2023, pending approval by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The program will be the second doctoral degree offered by PNW, joining the Doctorate of Nursing Practice that has graduated nine students since 2015. All of the DNP graduates are employed as leaders in nursing, with some practicing in primary care or specialty care settings and others engaged in nursing education.

“As a premier metropolitan university, Purdue University Northwest is excited to offer a growing number of advanced degrees that contribute to economic and community development in Northwest Indiana and beyond,” said Kenneth C. Holford, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at Purdue Northwest. “There is a need for additional higher level degrees to meet workforce demand and increased interest in advanced technology positions in the areas served by PNW.”

The professional practice degree program will provide vital transformative science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The program will benefit individuals who are interested in expanding and applying knowledge and research to solve practice-based problems in technology and society.

Mohammad Zahraee, associate dean of Graduate Studies for the PNW College of Technology, noted that the Purdue Northwest program will be distinct among doctoral programs in this academic discipline.

“Although there are a number of online Doctor of Technology programs in the United States, this on-campus doctoral program in the technology field is the only one of its kind, fostering innovation through applied research,” Zahraee stated.

“This doctoral program is applied research-based and addresses one of the strategic goals of Purdue Northwest,” added Niaz Latif, dean of the College of Technology. “This program will provide the opportunity for traditional students, as well as industry professionals, to pursue an advanced degree that will provide innovative solutions in their field of interest.”

Purdue University Northwest

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a premier metropolitan university dedicated to empowering transformational change in our students and in our community. Located in Northwest Indiana, near Chicago, PNW values academic excellence, supports growth, and celebrates diversity. For more information about PNW, visit www.pnw.edu.