Academic Programs

Although our degree programs are divided into five distinct centers-Center for Allied Health, Center for Business and Professional Studies, Center for Clinical Laboratory Science, Center for Legal Studies and Center for Liberal Studies and Education--all programs at Harcum College share the same characteristics of excellence:

• All instruction is by professionals in their field.
• All students are given the opportunity to complete a career-related work experience either through required internships, clinical or practicum experiences, or service learning activities.
• All programs integrate liberal learning throughout their curriculum.
• All students graduate with both career-specific and life-enriching skills.

Allied Health

Allied Health programs prepare students for careers in the healthcare industry as well as for transfer to a 4-year college. Programs listed under Allied Health include with a concentration in Biotechnology or Holistic Therapies, Dental Assistant, Dental Hygiene, Expanded Functions Dental Assisting, Medical Laboratory Technician, Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant, Fitness Specialist, Radiologic Technology, Neurodiagnostic Technology, Animal Center Management, and Veterinary Technology.

Center for Business and Professional Studies

The Business programs provide excellence in business education by offering an appropriate blend of the fundamental principles and practices of business. The program emphasizes contemporary business theory and practices set in a diverse and ethical context. Students experience a liberal arts and science core that develops writing and communication skills as well as critical thinking skills. The Business Advisory Board, which is composed of executives from companies throughout the Delaware Valley, provides ongoing review of the Business curriculum to ensure its quality. They also furnish advice on preparing students for successful professional careers. Students can choose from the following three concentrations based on their area of interest: Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, or Healthcare Practice Management. Due to the evolving nature of this field of study, a student may be required to repeat courses taken over five years ago. This also applies to transfer courses.

Within our business degree, all students register for the business core and select a business concentration in any of the following areas: Business Administration Concentration, Computer Information Systems Concentration, Healthcare Practice Management, Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising, Interior Design.

Center for Clinical Laboratory Science

The exciting careers that can be found within the Clinical Laboratory Science Programs at Harcum College, include Medical Laboratory Technician (also known as Clinical Laboratory Technician), Histotechnician, and Phlebotomy.

These rewarding health careers offer unique opportunities to work with state of the art technology in a challenging environment to diagnose patient illness, treat disease, and follow-up on the success of treatment. Phlebotomists will use care and skill to obtain blood specimens from patients for analysis in the clinical laboratory. Medical Lab Technicians will analyze specimens  in the areas of hematology, microbiology, blood banking, immunology, and clinical chemistry. Histotechnicians will examine and prepare tissue specimens from surgical patients for review by the pathologist.

The continued growth of the clinical laboratory science profession is producing an increased demand for educated and motivated laboratory professionals. Unlimited opportunities exist for employment in hospitals, clinics, forensic laboratories, as well as in medical, biotechnology, and research laboratories.

Center for Legal Studies

The world since September 11, 2001 has become a very different place, where the emphasis on safety and criminal investigation has taken on new and enhanced importance. Therefore, Harcum College's Center for Legal Studies offers programs in Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, and Legal Studies.

Liberal Studies and Education

Students enrolled in the Liberal Studies degree prepare for transfer into a 4-year college. The may also select a concentration in Psychology or Business or a minor in Women Studies. Psychology can also be taken as an associate degree. The associate degree in Early Childhood Education prepares students to enter the field of early childhood education and/or transfer to an education program at a 4-year college. The Accelerated Liberal Arts Degree Program allows adult students to attend the college full-time (two evenings per week) while continuing to work and meet other obligations.

Certificate Programs

The College has credit-bearing certificate programs in Dental Assistant and Expanded Functions Dental Assistant. Two other certificates, Holistic Studies, and Phlebotomy, may be taken for credit or for non-credit. The Office of Continuing Education also offers non-credit certificate programs.

Special Programs

The College offers a unique set of special academic programs, including the PACT Program, TRIO Programs, Medley Music Programs, and International Initiatives.

TRIO

TRIO refers to a list of special programs funded through the U.S. Department of Education, Higher Education Act. The mission of each of the programs under TRIO is to provide access to education to those who may have not had the opportunity to receive an appropriate education. Through the college's A.I.M. Program, students receive comprehensive support services, enriched cultural activities, and opportunities for scholarships and special awards.

Another successful TRIO Program is the College's Upward Bound Program. The mission of Upward Bound is to provide academic and counseling assistance to motivate high school students to graduate from high school, matriculate into and successfully complete a program of post-secondary education.

Medley Music

Private music instruction is offered at Harcum through the College's Continuing Education program. Through the Medley Music Summer Camps, high school students may register for credit through Harcum College. Degree students at Harcum may elect to take music instruction through Medley Music and receive academic credit.

International Initiative

To provide students, faculty, and administrators with an international perspective on education, Harcum College established an agreement of educational exchange with Freiburg Teacher's College of Freiburg, Germany, in 2001.

In the past year, Harcum has supported an exchange of ideas, concepts, and teaching techniques between faculty of both institutions. This sharing of ideas has resulted in collaboration on an interdisciplinary and intercultural course, offered for the first time in Fall 2002.

The course in Intercultural Communication is a collaboratively designed and taught internet-based course, offering students an opportunity to engage in comparative field research, and in communication across cultural and geographic barriers.

In the future, Harcum is exploring follow-up to the course with international travel and life abroad for several weeks. Harcum is hoping to offer students the experience of living in a different culture, while participating in educational offerings by our partner institution.