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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 Penn State students attending classes 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. Neither will indicate 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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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. Our courses are also accepted by most other colleges and universities in fulfillment of their requirements.
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How will I pay for my Penn State World Campus courses? Do you have a payment plan?
Once you schedule your course and receive your access account user ID and password, you can pay your tuition through eLion. An e-mail message will be sent to your official Penn State e-mail account announcing that the eBill is available.
The eBills will then be available for you to view and pay through eLion. Select Bills/Tuition Other from the menu on the left side.
For more information:
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Is financial aid available to Penn State World Campus students?
Yes. Detailed information about financial aid, scholarships, and other forms of aid can be found on our payment options page.
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How can I transfer credits from another university to Penn State?
First and foremost, the college from which you plan to transfer credits to Penn State must be accredited by one of the following accrediting agencies:
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Southern Association of Schools and Colleges
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Specific information for transfer students can be found by clicking here.
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How can I apply to a World Campus program?
Application instructions and admission requirements vary by program. Visit the Web page for your World Campus program of interest and click on the "Apply Now" button for specific instructions.
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How can I register for a World Campus course?
If you're interested in taking graduate-level World Campus courses as a nondegree student with the intent of eventually becoming a degree student, visit the Web page for your online degree or online certificate program of interest for information.
If you'd like to take a graduate-level online course for certification or professional development — or just for fun — and you don't intend to pursue a graduate degree, you will need to complete a Graduate Nondegree Application form (Adobe PDF; download the free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader software) before you can register for your World Campus course.
There are some World Campus online education programs with courses that are closed to graduate nondegree students. Contact us for more information.
Visit our getting started page for specific registration instructions.
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How can I get my textbooks and other course materials?
Software for World Campus courses can be purchased at academic prices through the education software vendor JourneyEd.com.
All textbooks for World Campus courses should be ordered through our contracted partner, MBS Direct. Should your World Campus course be cancelled, MBS Direct will refund the cost according to their return policy. If you purchase materials from a provider other than MBS Direct, you are responsible for verifying that the edition of the text is exactly the one required for your course; you are also responsible for knowing that vendor's return policy in the event your course is cancelled. World Campus is not responsible for refunding the cost of your course materials (purchased through MBS Direct or any other vendor) under any circumstances.
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How do I know if distance learning is right for me?
Learning via 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 many on-campus courses. You will need to establish and hold to a fixed study schedule in order to successfully complete your course work. If you, like most of our students, 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.
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What is the deadline for admissions to the IR Certificate Program?
Rolling admissions is ongoing; there is no deadline. Admissions actions normally take place at least once per month and once during the summer.
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Is it possible to take individual IR certificate courses without enrolling in the program?
Yes, we expect to have space for all who wish to enroll. If demand exceeds capacity, enrollment preference will be given to students admitted to the certificate program.
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How frequently will online IR courses be offered, and can I complete the certificate in one year?
Yes, the certificate can be completed in one year because we offer 2 online courses each semester and 2 during the summer months. Students with full-time jobs and families have found that one course at a time is a full load. We offer the high-demand and required courses at least once per year.
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How many credits can be transferred toward the Graduate IR Certificate Program?
Six graduate-level credits, received at another college or university, can be transferred toward the 18-credit Penn State IR certificate. Credits from AIR-sponsored summer institutes will be treated as transfer credit, unless the student registers for the course (and pays tuition) at Penn State. The appropriateness of particular courses is a judgment by the faculty adviser made in consultation with the student.
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Is it possible to transfer Penn State certificate credits toward another graduate degree to be completed either at Penn State or another university?
All of Penn State's IR certificate courses are graduate-level courses; therefore, we believe that the credits received at Penn State should be transferable toward a graduate degree here or elsewhere. However, individuals have to consider the curricular and credit transfer policies at the other university. Penn State's Graduate Council guidelines place a limit of 15 on the number of certificate credits that can be accepted toward a graduate degree at Penn State.
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What is the procedure for receiving credits from AIR Summer Institutes?
The Penn State certificate program will give graduate credits for AIR-sponsored summer institutes in one of two ways (1) as transfer credit, or (2) the student registers for the institute as an independent study course (and pays tuition) at Penn State. In either case, credits will be given after the student attends the full institute and submits a 10–15 page paper summarizing the learning material of the institute and discussing how they are planning to apply the material learned. [Currently 2 credits can be earned for the typical 4-day AIR institute, and 3 credits for the NSF/NCES summer data policy institute.]
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What financial aid is available for IR certificate students?
Certificate students are not eligible to receive fellowships or graduate assistantships at Penn State unless they are also pursuing a master's or doctoral degree full-time. Individuals who are eligible may apply for federal or state loans. AIR fellowships for professional development ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 annually for up to 3 years will be awarded to support full- or part-time graduate study in institutional research at accredited U.S. universities at the certificate, masters, or doctoral levels. Additional information and application materials are available on the AIR Web site. The annual deadline to submit a proposal for the competition is March 15.
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What are the tuition costs for auditing a course?
The cost for auditing an online World Campus course is the same as when taking the course for credit. Auditing students are expected to keep up with instructional assignments but they need not take exams.
Remember — we're here for you! With our amazing team of admission counselors, technical support experts, customer service representatives, and Penn State instructors, we'll help you get where you want to go — successfully — through distance education.
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