Doctor of Technology

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Courses

The 100% online Doctor of Technology will deliver engaging and relevant instructor-led training, collaboration with your peers and real-world skills while in a comfortable, ready-to-learn atmosphere. The classrooms are strategically designed to ensure that you master core concepts with online instruction and interactions with instructors and networking with other students. The 100% online delivery method offers asynchronous courses which allow students to study at their own pace, accessing instructional materials, at any time.  Complete the 90 required credit hours in 3 - 7 years while balancing your professional and personal commitments. 

Core Courses Descriptions

  • TECH 62700 - Digital Leadership: This course looks at the Technology Innovation Process (but the tools could be applied to any type of new product or process development) and covers the research, development, management and commercialization of new technology. We will examine the development of technological innovations that have led to the current digital age. We will explore the innovative process by engaging in some “think wrong” activities designed to spur creativity and imagination.  And we will attempt to better understand the roles of sustaining and disruptive technologies and their impact on organizational performance and competitive edge. (3 credits)
  • TECH 62800 -Technology Research & Use of Data Analytics: Examines concepts, models and methods useful for applying data analytics in business environments. Focusing on Hypothesis generation, the capturing, storage and expression of data, analysis for research and visualization. As organizations of all sizes become more complex, the need for analytically minded individuals is growing exponentially. This course will focus on the principles of data analytics, equipping students with a foundation that can be applied to many areas within business and life. This course will utilize a combination of experiential learning, as well as research-based frameworks to build knowledge and offer up concepts for debate. (3 credits)
  • TECH 62900 - Global Supply Chain Management: Examines the flow of the total supply chain function from forecast to product delivery at the leadership level.   This includes an understanding of not only how each function works, but the interaction and reliance on other functions within the process.  Special emphasis is placed on efficient operational concepts in each step of the supply chain and the relationships between cost factors and various supply chain functions/deliverables.   Discussion will take place on the utilization of various Enterprise Resource Planning software. (3 credits)
  • TECH 63000 - Leadership of CyberSecurity & CyberForensics​​: This course prepares students to investigate, evaluate, and manage complex information networks in order to protect organizations and network information and data from threats and cyberattacks. We will discuss threats and types of attacks against computers and network systems, how to analyze security requirements, define security policies, and how deal with cyber-breaches when they occur. Students will be immersed in the cyber-security discipline through a combination of intense coursework, open-ended and real-world problems, and hands on experiments. (3 credits)
  • TECH 63100 - Global Perspectives on Emerging Technologies: Systematic analysis of technology and its international dimensions, including the competencies needed to work internationally both here and abroad. The focus will be on the resources and competencies needed by business, industrial and technological personnel operating in the international context. (3 credits)
  • TECH 63200 - Demographic Leadership: This course provides an overview of current and future demographic trends and how these changes will impact technology and organizational leaders. The world is becoming more ethnically and racially diverse with each passing year. Millennials have become the largest adult generation, surpassing even the Baby Boomers. Women and underrepresented minorities are changing the face of leadership, business, and politics. How can today’s leaders prepare for the unprecedented social and cultural shifts that are coming? (3 credits)
  • TECH 64600 - Analysis of Research: Analysis of research and evaluation of research reports. Emphasis on understanding the application of fundamental statistical methods in design and interpretation of research findings in industrial, technical and human resource development environments. Every graduate student is required to understand the basics of research and how to write a thesis proposal - whether their program requires it or not. This is a requirement of the college and the university. Tech 64600 will introduce students to research and part of the course requirements are to write the first three chapters (papers) of what would typically be a thesis proposal. This is a course requirement and it meets college and university requirements. To successfully complete this course, students must  pass the two CITI research quizzes and write three chapters (papers) that would normally go into a research proposal. This will demonstrate a student’s  understanding of what is involved in proposing and conducting research.  (3 credits)

Doctorate Elective Areas

 

As part of the doctoral program, students are encouraged to customize their Plan of Study (POS) to align with their academic interests and career goals. Purdue offers diverse elective areas to support interdisciplinary research and advanced specialization. Below is an overview of the elective regions available:

Elective Options

  • TECH 60300-Graduate Seminar Planning: This one-credit course is designed to guide students in creating individual development plans tailored to their academic and professional aspirations. Students will learn to assess their skills, interests, and values, aligning them with potential research and academic paths. The course will cover setting realistic goals, identifying resources, and developing strategies for personal and academic growth. Students will engage in workshops and activities that foster self-reflection and practical planning skills. By the end of the course, students will have a personalized roadmap that outlines the steps necessary to achieve their graduate school objectives. (1 credit). While not currently a core requirement, students are strongly encouraged to take this course during their first semester.
  • TECH 63300-Strategic Management of Technology Innovation: This course looks at how organizations manage the technology innovation process and the function of new product development teams. We discuss idea generation, new product research and development, management of the innovation process, strategies for successful deployment and marketing of technology innovation, applicable laws,and regulations and return on investment. We will take a broad look at industry though three lenses: 1 -large public companies, 2 - mid-sized family and privately controlled enterprises, and 3 - entrepreneurially led startups.
  • TECH 63400-Global, Legal, Ethical Issues for Tech Leaders: In this course, the nature of contemporary ethical, legal, and technological issues facing organizational leaders are examined. Effective organizational leadership strategies will be explored through a series of readings, discussions, case studies, and reflective practice, and organizational effectiveness will be discussed in terms of topics such as ethical decision-making, corporate social responsibility, codes of ethics, public policies/government regulations, the global environment, technological innovation, risk management, and specific areas of law covering health and safety, contracts, warranties and liabilities, intellectual property, technology, and international laws and regulations. Strategies for effective leadership within the framework of managerial decision-making in an ethical context will be examined. Graduate student standing or senior status with consent of instructor.
  • TECH 63800-Leading and Managing Tech Organizations: This course will provide an overview of many leadership issues, including topics such as but not limited to Leadership framework, strategies, and an overview of critical business processes. Leading organizations and the teams within are elements of this course that will be addressed and demonstrated throughout the books and exercises in this course. We will focus on what is needed to be a great leader in various situations, and paths to improving leadership trust and leader thinking skills.
  • TECH 58300 - Smart Manufacturing Applied Technologies: This course addresses new content focusing on the 9 core capabilities and technologies that are at the forefront of digital transformation in the manufacturing industry. It also discusses the three core principles driving this transformation particularly with the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) to create digital, smart, and connected systems using data to optimize key business drivers and objectives in manufacturing. The goal is to enable faster, flexible, and more efficient processes to produce higher-quality goods, reduce manufacturing costs, increase productivity, and foster industrial growth. The course includes a series of industry executive guest speakers who bring real world insights into digital transformation.
  • TECH 58400-Financial Analysis for Smart Manufacturing: The course will provide manufacturing professionals with foundational tools needed to conduct financial analysis for planning, implementing, and assessing Industry 4.0 projects focused on the application of technology for the integration of the smart manufacturing enterprise.  The course begins with basic financial topics, including financial statements, financial ratio analysis, and the strategic profit model, and then moves into concepts needed to address typical investment projects for Industry 4.0.  Particular attention will be paid to asset lifecycle management models and the priorities that are important in the application of Industry 4.0 technologies to achieve performance improvements.  Focus areas will include digital cost reduction efforts such as cost, level of effort, and impact needed to drive capital efficiencies and lower organizational costs. Project budgeting, savings and return on investment models, and project scalability and repeatability will all be discussed. A final corporate financial investment project is required.

Aviation Technology

  • Focus: Advanced aviation systems, airport management, aerospace safety, and aviation innovation.
  • Key Courses:

    • Economic Decision Making
    • Resource Analysis
    • Transportation Safety and Security
    • Quality and Productivity
    • Aviation Financial Management
  • Research Opportunities: Engage in cutting-edge research in aerospace systems, aviation safety, and emerging technologies in the aviation industry.

Computer and Information Technology

  • Focus: Advanced IT systems, cybersecurity, data analytics, and software engineering.
  • Key Courses:

    • Big data and data analytics
    • IT Project Management
    • Business Analysis
    • Artificial Intelligence
  • Research Opportunities: Explore areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics.

Construction Management

  • Focus: Project management, sustainable construction, building information modeling (BIM), and construction safety.
  • Key Courses:

    • Advanced Project Management
    • Sustainable Construction Practices
    • BIM and Virtual Design
  • Research Opportunities: Investigate topics in construction technology, project delivery methods, and sustainability practices in the construction industry.
  • *Concentration option also available in Construction Management Technology

Organizational Leadership

  • Focus: Leadership theory, organizational behavior, change management, and strategic decision-making.
  • Key Courses:

    • Strategic Leadership and Decision-Making
    • Organizational Change and Development
    • Leadership in Technical Organizations
  • Research Opportunities: Conduct research on leadership dynamics, organizational effectiveness, and the impact of leadership on technology-driven environments.

Engineering Technology

  • Focus: Advanced manufacturing, systems engineering, automation, and applied engineering principles.
  • Key Courses:

    • Advanced Manufacturing Systems
    • Automation and Control Systems
    • Applied Systems Engineering
  • Research Opportunities: Engage in research in areas such as smart manufacturing, industrial automation, and innovative engineering solutions to complex problems.

Each of these elective areas allows doctoral students to deepen their expertise while benefiting from Purdue’s robust research infrastructure and collaborative environment. Students are encouraged to work with their advisors to select courses and research areas that best support their academic and professional objectives.