Penn State Beaver, Penn State Behrend and Penn State Greater Allegheny have opened additional degree programs designed to meet growing workforce needs in health care, engineering and technical industries across Pennsylvania. Those interested may connect with campus representatives at the Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center on Feb. 18.
The additions include an Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology program at Beaver, Biobehavioral Health and a Second Degree in Nursing programs at Behrend, and two programs at Greater Allegheny: Biomedical Engineering Technology and Radiological Sciences. All programs provide hands-on training, industry-aligned curricula and pathways into high-demand careers.
Penn State Beaver
At Penn State Beaver, the Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology program focuses on the electrical, mechanical and automated systems that power modern manufacturing and industrial operations. Students gain experience with programmable logic controllers, instrumentation, robotics and industrial automation. The four-year degree prepares graduates for technician roles in manufacturing, energy and related technical fields.
Penn State Behrend
At Penn State Behrend, the Biobehavioral Health program — an interdisciplinary major offered by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Science — teaches the science behind health, including the behavioral, psychological, sociocultural and environmental factors that influence wellness. The program prepares students to work in clinical settings, pharmaceutical research, health advocacy and public health. This program may also be completed at Penn State Greater Allegheny.
A Second Degree Nursing program delivered by the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, which begins in the fall of 2026, will fast-track a career change for college graduates who want to work in nursing. The 16-month program credits students who have a bachelor’s degree in another discipline for any prerequisite work in anatomy, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition and statistics.
Behrend also has developed two new certificate programs that prepare students to work in artificial intelligence: a 15-credit certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Society and a 12-credit certificate in Building Artificial Intelligence.
Penn State Greater Allegheny
At Greater Allegheny, the Biomedical Engineering Technology program offers an associate degree through the College of Engineering that trains students to operate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair medical equipment used in hospitals and health care facilities. The two-year program includes coursework using devices such as defibrillators, pacemakers, electrosurgical units and anesthesia machines. Students also complete an internship at one of more than 50 approved health care sites in the region.
Greater Allegheny’s Radiological Sciences program prepares students to produce diagnostic images, operate imaging technology and provide patient-centered care in hospitals, outpatient clinics and physician offices. The 24-month program runs year-round and blends classroom learning with clinical rotations. Graduates are eligible to apply for certification through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and may pursue advanced study in MRI, CT and nuclear medicine.
'Penn State in the West: One Network, Many Paths,' Feb. 18
Students and families interested in learning more about these programs and how Penn State’s western campuses work together are invited to attend "Penn State in the West: One Network, Many Paths" on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State, 1435 Bedford Ave., Pittsburgh.
The event is open to those exploring their college options and does not require a prior Penn State application. Attendees will learn about the different ways to start and complete a Penn State degree in Western Pennsylvania at Penn State Beaver, Penn State Behrend and Penn State Greater Allegheny.
The program will include opportunities to speak with current students, faculty and staff, and to hear firsthand experiences about choosing a starting campus, changing campuses, selecting a major and shaping an individual Penn State path. Register today for "Penn State in the West."