Is Penn State World Campus part of the real Penn State?
Yes! Penn State World Campus is one of Penn State's 25 campuses. Our students are Penn State students and are held to the same rigorous standards as resident Penn State students. 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 showing 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.
Is Penn State World Campus accredited?
Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and has an outstanding reputation as a research and teaching university. And our courses are accepted by most other colleges and universities in fulfillment of their requirements.
Is financial aid available to World Campus students?
Yes. Detailed information about financial aid, scholarships, and other forms of aid can be found on our paying for your education page.
I need a receipt for reimbursement. How can I get one?
Contact the staff at the World Campus, provide your Social Security number, and request that a receipt be sent to you.
Penn State World Campus
128 Outreach Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 800-252-3592
Fax: 814-865-3290
E-mail: psuwd@psu.edu
My employer will pay for my tuition and information technology fee. What do I need to provide so that the World Campus will send the invoice to my employer?
You will need to provide the World Campus with a tuition assistance form from your employer that includes the course name and/or course number, the amount your employer is authorizing the World Campus to bill (including the information technology fee, if applicable), a billing address, and a signature from an authorized employer representative. You need to provide a new tuition assistance form for each semester's registration. We will process your registration once we have your payment information.
Do I have to complete my course(s) in a certain amount of time?
Yes, GEOG courses have specific start and end dates. Assignments must be completed at certain times. See your course syllabus for specific dates.
What if I need help using the Internet to access my online course materials?
The World Campus HelpDesk is available to help you by phone (800-252-3592 or 814-865-0047, weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to midnight, EST; weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.), e-mail, or real-time chat.
How do I know whether distance learning is right for me?
Learning through distance education requires a significant amount of self-motivation and commitment. Having the flexibility to study at the time that is most convenient for you means you won't have a firm schedule as you would in most on-campus courses. You will need to establish and hold to a fixed study schedule in order to successfully complete your course work. If, like most of our students, you are juggling numerous life commitments at the same time you're taking courses, it's essential that you find a balance between your life responsibilities and course work to remain motivated.
Remember—we're here for you! With our amazing team of academic advisers, technical support experts, customer service representatives, and Penn State instructors, we'll help you get where you want to go—successfully—through distance education.
After I complete the Geospatial Intelligence certificate, I want to apply to the master of GIS degree. Will my certificate credits apply to the master of GIS degree?
Yes. Students who are accepted to the master of GIS degree must successfully complete either the Postbaccalaureate Certificate in GIS (11 credits) or the Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence (14 credits) to satisfy part of the program requirements. For more information, see the master of GIS curriculum page.
