General
Costs
Courses/Registration/Time Commitment
Policies and Procedures
Applying for Admission
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 online. 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
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—about 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 community and economic development program?
There are a few types of payment options and financial aid available to World Campus students.
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Courses/Registration/Time Commitment
How do I register for a course in the community and economic development program?
For information about scheduling a community and economic development course, please see the scheduling a course section for more details.
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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 toward their degree while they are completing the degree application process. This way, while students are gathering the necessary credentials for their applications, they can begin courses right away as nondegree students. To begin taking courses as a nondegree student, you must follow the steps outlined in the admissions section of this site.
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What kind of time commitment can I expect?
Time commitment may vary depending upon the type of course you are taking. Please see our time commitment page for more information. Expect to spend between 12 and 15 hours per week in 3-credit, graduate-level courses.
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How can I complete my research and class 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. You will have access to faculty instructors to guide course work, and a faculty adviser who will guide your research project.
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Where can I get the help I need to complete the community and economic development 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.
Academic 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.
You can contact your community and economic development graduate program coordinator, Diane K. McLaughlin, Ph.D., at dkk@psu.edu or 814-863-8626, with questions about the substantive content of the program and about identifying a faculty adviser to work with you on your final project, paper, or internship.
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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, and details on the calendar for deadlines for students completing the master's degree can be found on the Graduate School 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. Extensions will only be considered if the request is made prior to the end of the semester in which the course is taken.
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 community and economic development program, 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
Is this program for people who are already working in the field of community and economic development, or can someone performing an unrelated job enroll as a student?
The program is targeted toward individuals with bachelor's degrees that included a minimum of 6 credits of social science course work, preferably 3 in economics and 3 in sociology. This program is appropriate for those seeking new careers in the multifaceted and growing community and economic development field and for midlevel professionals already working in some aspect of community and economic development, who want to build on existing skills and knowledge.
The program is designed to produce leaders and educators in this 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 procedures and protocols in their respective areas. Others are using the degree or certificate program to transition into the field.
Some students who are not directly in the field take the courses because they simply want to "know more" about community and economic development.
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Are your courses similar to the continuing education programs that are available?
No. Although such programs are very useful and challenging, the courses specifically designed for the degree and certificate programs in community and economic development are designed as graduate-level course work, so they are academically rigorous, and subject to the same requirements and high standards for graduate study that are found throughout Penn State. The full set of required courses provides insight into community and economic development from multiple, but integrated perspectives.
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Are faculty and students required to have practical or "real-world experiences" in community and economic development?
Our philosophy is that a quality graduate education in community and economic development must involve educators, researchers, and practitioners with an interest in the field, as well as those with significant hands-on experience. The field of community and economic development and the interests, knowledge, perspectives, and skills of people who work in, or are interested in, the field are very diverse.
The curriculum accommodates these divergent interests, but the goal is to provide a solid and integrated foundation from which students consider the issues that face professionals working in community and economic development. The program welcomes students with practical experience as well as those who are new to the field of community and economic development and have no "real-world experience."
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What are the current educational accreditation bodies that are associated with the degree program?
The master of professional studies in community and economic development is an interdisciplinary program sponsored by the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS). Penn State is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
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Can I request a waiver of the GRE requirement?
GRE requirements may be waived for those with advanced degrees who have demonstrated the ability to perform graduate-level work, or have satisfactory scores on comparable standardized tests, such as the GMAT, MCAT, or LSAT. Students who do well (grades of B or higher in all courses) in the postbaccalaureate certificate in community and economic development also may request that the GRE requirement be waived.
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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?
See the GRE General Test and Testing Sites Web site for information about GRE scores.
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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. If your transcripts are from Penn State, we are able to incorporate those into your application materials, once the application form has been completed and the fee paid.
Transcripts can be sent to:
Robbie Swanger
CEDEV Graduate Program
107 Armsby Building
University Park PA 16802
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Whom should I contact regarding questions on my application status?
Call Robbie Swanger at 814-865-0486 or e-mail Robbie at rrs2@psu.edu 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 community and economic development program.
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Do you accept transfer credits toward the master's degree program?
The program allows a maximum of 10 credits of high-quality graduate work conducted at an accredited institution other than Penn State to be applied toward the requirements for the master of professional studies in community and economic development. If admitted to the degree program, approval to apply any transferred credits (from outside Penn State) toward the degree must be granted by the program chair and graduate committee, and the appropriate office in the Graduate School. Transferred academic work must be completed within 5 years of matriculation in the community and economic development program, and students must have earned at least a B in each course to be transferred. Transfer credit cannot be used if it is applied towards a previously earned degree. Students who have successfully completed our postbaccalaureate certificate in community and economic development can apply these 15 credits to the master of professional studies in community and economic development, once they are admitted to graduate-degree status.
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Is there any way to enroll in a course before I receive formal acceptance into the degree or certificate program?
If you wish to enroll in a single course or enroll while you complete the application process, you can do so by contacting Student Services at 800-252-3592. Students who have completed an application and have already been accepted to the program will be given preference for enrollment. All other students will be enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on availability.
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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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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 submitting a letter of reference may do this as an e-mail attachment or directly by mail to the following address:
Robbie Swanger
CEDEV Graduate Program
107 Armsby Building
University Park PA 16802
Or
rrs2@psu.edu
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Whom 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?
Contact Robbie Swanger at 814-865-0456 or e-mail rrs2@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?
You will need to submit the additional required information (official transcripts of your prior course work, GRE scores, letters of reference, and statement of goals and purpose) and pay the $45 application fee. When you have done so, notify program assistant Robbie Swanger at 814-865-0456 or e-mail rrs2@psu.edu, and request that your application be reviewed for degree admission.
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Can I use 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 three (3) letters of recommendation.
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Is the certificate program or the master's degree program eligible for reimbursement under the GI bill?
For tuition assistance questions, contact Student Services at 800-252-3592.
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