Admissions

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Requirements and Admission Criteria

Admission to the 18-credit certificate program assumes knowledge of basic statistics. Those without a basic graduate-level statistics course at the point of admission must plan on taking STAT 500 Applied Statistics. Other basic statistics courses may substitute for STAT 500. There are two required courses—HI ED 598I Foundations and Fundamentals of Institutional Research and HI ED 598D Designing Institutional Research Studies; however, credit may be given for appropriate academic and research experience. All other courses are elective, and 6 of the 18 credits may be transferred from other institutions.

For the certificate program, admissions preference will be given to those holding master's and doctoral degrees. Those holding a bachelor's degree and appropriate graduate course work may also apply.

For admission to the institutional research certificate program:

1. Complete the Penn State World Campus online application form.
2. Complete the Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research Application Form and submit with it the following:
   1. official transcript from the institution awarding your highest degree
   2. your résumé or employment history
   3. a personal statement (include career goals, background, etc.) limited to one page
   4. one letter of recommendation, preferably from an administrative supervisor, faculty adviser, or institutional research colleague
   5. a copy of TOEFL test results (required for applicants whose first language is not English or who have not received their degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is English)

Mail to: 

Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research
College of Education, Higher Education Program 
The Pennsylvania State University
400 Rackley Building
University Park  PA  16802

Phone: 814-863-2690

After You Apply

After the application forms and all the required documents are received, the IR Certificate Faculty Committee will review the applications, make decisions on admission, and send a letter to the applicant.

The IR Certificate Faculty Committee will assign the faculty adviser and will send the student an Advisement Form to complete. 

Technical Requirements

Our courses are designed to use technology in a way that enriches the learning experience and helps students communicate and collaborate with faculty and classmates in a productive and convenient way. Technology is an important cornerstone of this program; therefore, we provide "live" support from HelpDesk support staff through real-time chat. Please view the technical requirements for this program.