General
Costs
Courses/Registration/Time Commitment
Policies and Procedures
Applying for Admission
General
Is this the real Penn State?
Yes! Penn State World Campus is one of Penn State's 25 campus locations. Our students are Penn State students and are held to the same rigorous standards as Penn State students attending courses on campus. Your transcript will look the same as any other Penn State student's transcript, and your diploma will look the same as any other Penn State student's diploma. There will be no differentiation that you studied through distance education. You can learn more about our history or mission by visiting the about us section of our Web site.
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What types of courses are offered at Penn State World Campus?
There are currently two types of courses offered at Penn State World Campus.
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Costs
Will I be able to receive financial assistance as a student in the certificate program for disaster preparedness or bioterrorism preparedness?
Students enrolled in a degree program are eligible for federal financial aid. Students in a certificate program do not qualify for federal assistance. However, other types of loans and scholarships may be available to you. To learn more about your financial aid options, visit our financial aid page.
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My employer will pay for my tuition. What do I need to provide with my registration so that you can bill my employer?
We will honor an "authorization to bill" letter at the time of registration. This should come from your employer and be on letterhead. Please be sure that your employer includes the contact information of the person who will be authorizing the payment.
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Does the World Campus accept Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) credits?
Yes. Please let us know when you register of your intention to use TAP credits for your course. We will confirm the availability of those credits prior to officially enrolling you with the University.
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What type of financial aid or payment plans do you offer for the bioterrorism preparedness certificate program?
There are a few types payment options and financial aid available to World Campus students. Please see the financial aid section of the course information page for details.
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Courses/Registration/Time Commitment
How do I register for a course?
Visit the scheduling a course page for information about registering for a course.
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Do I need to have all my application materials gathered before I can register for a course?
No. Many students begin taking courses after they have submitted the application, but while they are still gathering their extra materials (e.g., statement of purpose, résumé, etc. — which can be uploaded after the application itself is submitted). To begin taking courses, you must follow the steps outlined in the admissions section of this site.
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How many courses can I take simultaneously?
Incoming students are generally encouraged to take only one course during the first semester of the program. However, if you are comfortable taking two courses, and your personal and professional schedule permits, then you may proceed to enroll in two courses. Most commonly, HLS 410 and GEOSC 402 are taken together.
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Can undergraduate students take any of the courses?
For HLS 410, PLSC 439, and GEOSC 402, undergraduate students in seventh semester standing are eligible to take these courses.
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How much time can I expect to devote to each course?
As a general rule, most students spend about 3 hours per week for each credit hour spent in the virtual classroom. Each course requires a commitment of approximately 10 to 15 hours per week.
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How can I complete my research projects from home?
You will be able to access Penn State's University Libraries system—one of North America's leading university research libraries. You can search the online catalog and review databases as if you were sitting at a terminal in any Penn State library.
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Where can I get the help I need to complete the bioterrorism preparedness certificate program?
As a distance education pioneer, Penn State has developed a nationally recognized support system for students who are geographically removed from campus.
Technical support: The HelpDesk is accessible by phone, e-mail, or real-time chat from 8:00 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends.
Library resources: You can search the online catalog and review databases as if you were sitting at a terminal in any Penn State library.
Advising: Support and help is available from your academic adviser.
Student services: This office will help you with registration, scheduling, academic records, and book purchases.
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Policies and Procedures
What are your graduation policies and can I participate?
Yes! World Campus students have the same opportunity as Penn State on-campus students to "walk" during graduation. Your academic adviser will explain the process as you near completion of your degree program. Information can also be found on the University Registrar Web site.
For more information about the graduation process, please see our graduation policies page.
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What is your policy on deferred grades?
If as a Penn State student you are prevented, for reasons beyond your control, from completing a course within the prescribed time frame, you have the option of requesting a deferred grade from your instructor.
You will need to work directly with your instructor to obtain an extension.
If your request is approved, you will be granted a 60-day extension to your course ending date.
When you complete your course, your instructor will assign your grade. If, however, you do not complete your course and the final grade is not assigned within the given time period, the office of the University Registrar will assign a grade of F to your academic record.
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How do I drop a course or add a course?
For complete instructions for dropping or adding a course in the homeland security program please see the dropping, adding or withdrawing from a course section of the course information page for more details.
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Applying for Admission
How competitive is the application process?
This program is competitive. There are many qualified applicants. A denial of admission does not necessarily mean that there were inherent weaknesses in your application. We are simply unable to accept everyone who applies. The admissions committee may occasionally decide to withhold a decision on a degree applicant, recommend acceptance to a certificate program, evaluate the student's academic progress and reconsider application for degree status.
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Can I earn both the certificate in disaster preparedness and the certificate in bioterrorism preparedness?
You can earn one of the certificates and then use your credits toward the master of homeland security in public health preparedness.
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Is this program for people who are already working in the field of disaster and bioterrorism preparedness, such as health care professionals and public health officials, or can someone performing an unrelated job enroll as a student?
The program is targeted towards non-science graduates with a 4-year degree, including federal, state, and local public health officials, public affairs administrators, emergency management professionals, health care professionals, first responders, criminal justice and law enforcement personnel, military staff, and members of corporate security.
The program is designed to produce leaders and educators in this new and developing professional discipline. Many who are already in the field can use what they have learned in the program to enhance their careers and/or improve upon procedures and protocols in their respective areas. Others are using the degree or certificate program to transition into the field.
There are even students who are not directly in the field and are taking courses because they simply want to "know more" about homeland security.
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Are your courses similar to the variety of continuing education programs that are sponsored by federal and state emergency management agencies?
No. Although such programs are very useful and challenging, the courses specifically designed for the degree and certificate programs in homeland security are academically rigorous, and subject to the same requirements and high standards for graduate study that are found throughout Penn State.
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Are faculty or students required to have practical or "real world experiences" in bioterrorism preparedness?
Our philosophy is that a quality graduate education in bioterrorism preparedness must involve educators, researchers, and administrators with an interest in the field, as well as those with significant hands-on experience. The topic of public health preparedness and the people who work in or are interested in the field are very diverse.
The curriculum is therefore meant to accommodate these divergent interests. For example, federal employees in the Departments of Education, Justice, and Transportation have critical roles in public health preparedness, but will invariably bring a different perspective to the table when compared to the U.S. Public Health Service. Similarly, individuals working at the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and Centers for Disease Control have different, but more scholarly, interests in the field—much of it involving research and development. Likewise, our lead faculty tend to be academicians, but are utilizing those with direct hands-on experiences to assist with curriculum development and to serve as guest lecturers.
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How does this degree make me more marketable than, say, a master of public health (MPH) or a master of public administration (MPA) degree with an emphasis in homeland security/emergency management?
We are attempting to produce leaders in the field who are willing to look critically at past and current models for public health preparedness, to "think out of the box," and to eventually develop and implement new paradigms in readiness for their communities and the nation. If your intent is to spend the majority of your time in the homeland security/public health preparedness area, then this program is probably more advantageous than an MPH/MPA with a concentration or minor in emergency management.
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What are the current educational accreditation bodies that are associated with the degree program?
The master's of homeland security in public health preparedness is an interdisciplinary program sponsored by the Penn State College of Medicine (COM). The COM is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Penn State is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The degree program is not currently accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
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Can I request a waiver of the GRE requirement?
GRE requirements may be waived in selected cases for those with advanced degrees who have demonstrated the ability to perform graduate-level work.
Additionally, you may request a 15-credit waiver as you are pursuing your certificate in bioterrorism preparedness or disaster preparedness. You will need your GRE to advance to the Master's in Public Health Preparedness.
On your application, you must indicate a 15-credit GRE waiver.
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I have taken the GRE. I was wondering if my GMAT score would be an acceptable replacement for the GRE?
Applicants are not allowed to submit their GMAT scores in place of the GRE, if you have already taken this exam.
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How do I obtain my GRE scores?
Please visit http://www.ets.org/ for information regarding the GRE General Test and Testing Sites.
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Is there a minimum requirement for GRE scores?
There is no minimum requirement for the GRE score. GRE scores are interpreted by the admissions committee in the context of a completed application.
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Is there a minimum GPA requirement for application to the program?
There is no minimum GPA requirement. Your GPA is interpreted by the admissions committee in the context of a completed application.
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Do I need to send all original transcripts?
Yes, the admissions committee requires all original transcripts even if your transcripts are from Penn State.
Transcripts can be sent to:
Rachel Reager
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Penn State College of Medicine
500 University Dr., MC H075
Hershey PA 17033
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Who should I contact regarding questions on my application status?
Please call Rachel Reager at 717-531-6066 for application status.
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Can I audit any of the courses?
Currently, we are not accepting audits of the courses in the homeland security program.
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Do you accept transfer credits towards the master's degree program?
A maximum of 10 credits of high-quality graduate work done at an accredited institution may be applied toward the requirements for the master's degree. However, credits earned to complete a previous master's degree, whether at Penn State or elsewhere, may not be applied to a second master's degree program at Penn State.
Approval to apply any transferred credits toward a degree program must be granted by the student's academic adviser, the program head or graduate officer, and the Graduate School. Transferred academic work must have been completed within five years prior to the date of first degree registration at the Graduate School of Penn State, must be of at least B quality (grades of B- are not transferable), and must appear on an official graduate transcript of an accredited university.
Pass-fail grades are not transferable to an advanced degree program unless the "Pass" can be substantiated by the former institution as having at least B quality."
The student should submit their written request for transfer credit to the program chair, along with supporting documents for each course to be considered, including the name of the course instructor and institution, and a syllabus that outlines the course goals and objectives, required assignments, and grading policy.
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How many courses can I take before my completed application is reviewed and a decision is made about admission into the program?
Students who have not completed an application, and have not been accepted to either the degree or certificate programs, will only be eligible to take up to 9 credits (3 courses). If you reach the 9 credit limit you will be unable to enroll in any additional courses until your application has been submitted and reviewed.
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Who is eligible to take Public Health Preparedness courses?
Public Health Preparedness courses are generally restricted to students enrolled in or accepted for enrollment in the Master's in Homeland Security in Public Health Preparedness degree program, or 1 of our certificate programs.
Students who have not applied to the degree or certificate programs may be eligible to take up to 9 credits of Public Health Prepardness courses. Courses are open first to students who have been accepted into the degree or Bioterrorism Preparedness/Disaster Preparedness certificate programs. Unfilled seats are available to qualified students 1 week prior to the start of courses.
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What are my options if I am not initially admitted into the certificate program?
Applicants who have been rejected for admission to one of our Public Health Preparedness certificate programs are not eligible to re-apply or take courses in the program, unless the Admissions Committee recommends that the applicant take 6 credits with the intent to re-evaluate the student relative to their academic performance in those courses.
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Is there a specific style or form required for the letters of recommendation?
There is no specific style or form requirement for the letters of recommendation. A person choosing to submit a letter of reference may do this through the online application process and either select our pre-formatted template or upload his/her own letter. We also accept letters sent directly by mail to the following address:
Rachel Reager
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Penn State College of Medicine
500 University Dr., MC H075
Hershey PA 17033
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Who should I ask to write letters of recommendation?
The individuals writing letters should be familiar with you and comfortable discussing your professional and/or academic strengths and accomplishments. The admissions committee prefers that all letters be written within the last 6 months and reference the applicant’s current career goals and/or ability to perform graduate level study.
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How do I know if all of my required materials have been received?
Please contact Rachel Reager at 717-531-6066 or e-mail PHP_Programs@hmc.psu.edu to inquire about your application status or to check if the appropriate materials have been received.
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I enrolled as a nondegree student and now wish to enroll as a degree student. How do I proceed?
Please contact Rachel Reager at 717-531-6066 or e-mail PHP_Programs@hmc.psu.edu to inquire about this process.
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Can I utilize my Military Fitness Reports as letters of recommendation or résumé?
You can submit these as additional information for your application. However, the admissions committee will still require (3) letters of recommendation and a résumé.
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Are either of the certificate programs or the degree program eligible for reimbursement under the GI bill?
For tuition assistance questions, please contact student services at 800-252-3592.
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