Admissions

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Getting Started

The admissions process for the master of project management degree and graduate certificate program is detailed below.

Step 1: Check the prerequisites to determine whether you qualify for this program.
Step 2: Gather your application materials and apply online.
Step 3: Check the technical requirements for this program.

When all materials have been received, we will notify you about your status and give you guidance about the next steps in becoming a Penn State student.

Prerequisites

For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must have received, from an accredited institution, a baccalaureate degree with requirements substantially equivalent to those at Penn State. (Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.)

Application Materials

You will need to apply online using the application form.

The following is a list of the items you will need to submit to the program coordinator's office by or before the application deadline date for your application to be considered complete:

• Penn State's Graduate School online application and application fee ($45)
• Statement of purpose
• Three letters of recommendation
• Two official transcripts from each institution attended
• Official GMAT test score
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, if applicable

Application fee ($45)
Please use the online option to send payment directly when submitting the online application form, or send a check to the World Campus when you submit your other application materials. Make the check payable to The Pennsylvania State University.  

Statement of purpose
The typed statement of purpose, written in narrative format, is typically 1 to 2 pages in length. Please submit online in the application management system.

In paragraph format:

• Why have you chosen to participate in Penn State Erie's project management program?
• How will these studies help you attain your career goals?
• How will your participation contribute to the program?  

Three letters of recommendation
Each applicant who is not an employee of a sponsoring partner (Rolls Royce or AMEC) is required to provide 3 letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources via a Web-based form. When you apply online, you can register the 3 people who will write letters of recommendation for you. Your recommenders should then submit letters of recommendation online.

Two official transcripts from each institution attended
Official transcripts are required for each undergraduate and graduate institution that you attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Documents from non-U.S. institutions are required, by The Graduate School of Penn State, to be university-attested copies of marksheets for each semester or year of enrollment, with a certification of English translation if they were not originally in English. In addition, a university-attested copy of the diploma is required, indicating the degree that was completed and the date of conferral. These too must be attested by the university.

Contact the Registrar's Office at each institution to request transcripts. The preferred method is to have them sent directly from the institution to:

Ann Burbules
Graduate Admissions Counselor
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
4701 College Drive
Erie  PA  16563
Phone: 814-898-7255
E-mail: amb29@psu.edu

You can download a printable transcript request form.   

Official GMAT test score
Applicants come from a variety of educational and employment backgrounds. We have found that the GMAT provides a means to assess each applicant against a common standard, or level playing field. Requiring the GMAT ensures that all project management students have qualified for the program.

The GMAT total score range is from 200 to 800. To determine the minimum total score that you need, multiply your GPA by 200 and then subtract 1000. The remaining number, rounded to the next highest tenth, is what you are required to obtain to be admissable to the program.

Example: 2.5 GPA x 200 - 1000 = 500

The project management program requires a minimum total score of 400 for individuals whose GPA (undergraduate or a completed master's degree) is 3.0 or higher.

GPA conversions to a 4.0 scale will be made for those institutions whose grading systems are not based on a 4.0. Scanned documents can be e-mailed to Ann Burbules for conversions.

The analytical writing assessment score range is from 0 to 6. The writing requirement can be fulfilled by obtaining a 4.0 on the analytical writing assessment portion of the GMAT, or earning a grade of B or higher in an English composition course.

The average GMAT score for project management degree students is 553.8 and the average score on the analytical writing assessment of the GMAT is 4.5.

On the day of testing, you will need to do 2 things: 1. Select The Pennsylvania State University-ERIE as a score recipient. In 20 days, Penn State Erie can access the Official School Copy of the GMAT. 2. Print an unofficial GMAT score report and fax this to the Graduate Admissions Office, ATTN: Ann Burbules, at 814-898-6044. This unofficial report allows the admissions process to continue.

To request that a previous GMAT score be sent to Penn State Erie's Graduate Admissions Office, go to mba.com. Scores can be requested electronically or by phone or fax.

To find out more about the GMAT or to register to take the exam, visit the GMAT Web site. A number of GMAT preparation courses are available online. Sites may be found by typing "GMAT test preparation" into any search engine. Penn State neither endorses any specific site nor guarantees that following the site's advice will improve your score.

Here are frequently asked questions about the GMAT:

• Can the GMAT be waived?
  Yes, individuals with a Ph.D., J.D., or M.D. can ask for consideration of a GMAT waiver. These are reviewed on an individual basis by the program director. A previous but recent (taken within 5 years) GRE score may be considered an acceptable substitute and will be evaluated on an individual basis by the program director. Many students in this program have advanced degrees and extensive work experience. 
  
• Can I complete the 12-credit graduate certificate in project management without taking the GMAT?
  No, regardless of your intent to complete the graduate certificate or master's degree, a GMAT score is required as part of the application portfolio.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, if applicable
The TOEFL, Test of English as a Foreign Language, must be taken by applicants for whom English is not their first language. The TOEFL is not required of students who have a bachelor's or master's degree from an institution in an English-speaking country or a regionally accredited American 4-year institution.

On the date of testing, individuals should request that Penn State receive the Official Score Report by providing the following information:
          1. Penn State's Institution Code: 2660 (all Penn State locations)
          2. Department Code: 02
The Graduate School, located at Penn State University Park, receives score reports monthly.

Applicants must demonstrate a score of 80 (iBT exam), 550 (paper-based exam), or 213 (computer-based exam) on the TOEFL exam to be admissible to the program. A minimum of 23 is required on the new speaking skills section of the Internet-based exam.

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers the TOEFL exam. Arrangements for taking this test can be made directly with ETS. You may obtain information about the TOEFL by calling 609-771-7760 or visiting the toefl.org Web site.

Send all your materials (except TOEFL score) to:
Ann Burbules
Graduate Admissions Counselor
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
4701 College Drive
Erie  PA  16563
Phone: 814-898-7255
E-mail: amb29@psu.edu

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 via real-time chat. Please view the technical requirements for this program.

For the master's degree in project management, we recommend the following minimum platform: