Prerequisites and Getting Started
If you have questions about the admissions process, contact our admissions counselors.
For admission to Penn State's Graduate School, an applicant must have received, from an accredited institution, a bachelor's degree with requirements substantially equivalent to those at Penn State. (Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.) All applicants are expected to have earned a junior/senior grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
For your application to be considered complete, submit the following:
- Statement of purpose
- Three letters of recommendation
- Writing samples
- Two official transcripts from each institution attended
- Official GRE or MAT test scores
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score, if applicable. TOEFL scores must be submitted by all international applicants unless otherwise specified. Please see the Language Proficiency section of the International Students page of the Web site for undergraduate and graduate program requirements. Visit the TOEFL Web site or call 609-771-7100 for more information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
For questions regarding your application, contact:
Cathy Watson
Adult Education Program
The Pennsylvania State University
314 Keller Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-3781
E-mail: cgw2@psu.edu
When all materials have been received, we will notify you about your status and provide guidance about the next steps in becoming a Penn State student.
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.
Applying
Students interested in taking courses while applying for program admission are encouraged to start the program as a "nondegree" graduate. This allows you to begin taking courses, and gives you more time to gather the application materials that are required for program admission. You may take up to 15 credits in nondegree status before submitting your application portfolio.
After reading through the admissions requirements above, start the application process.
