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"I searched for numerous programs that would accommodate my busy schedule and family including Internet courses, night programs, and summer programs. Penn State has a great reputation, a schedule that fits my life, and is fully accredited." —Suzanne Conquest, graduate student

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The cost to enroll in Penn State World Campus courses includes charges for tuition, and for noncredit courses a processing fee. Check the specific course listing in the catalog for the appropriate amounts. For credit courses with technology components, there is also an information technology fee payable each semester, based on the number of credits being taken that semester. Tuition varies depending on the level of the course. Different rates apply for lower-level credit courses numbered 000-299, upper-level credit courses numbered 300-499, and graduate-level courses. Tuition and fees for noncredit programs vary from program to program. Most courses require that you purchase textbooks and related instructional materials (such as study guides, CD-ROMs, videotapes). These items are not included in the tuition.

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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Can I get financial aid?

Financial aid eligibility for World Campus degree students is possible within stringent parameters. For more information, contact a World Campus adviser at 800-252-3592 (814-865-5403 for local and international calls) or visit the Office of Student Aid.

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I need a receipt for reimbursement. How can I get one?

Contact the staff at the World Campus, provide your Social Security number, and request that a receipt be sent to you.

Penn State World Campus
128 Outreach Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 800-252-3592 (814-865-5403 local and international)
Fax: 814-865-3290
E-mail: psuwd@psu.edu

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Are additional materials required for completing each course? If so, how can I obtain them?

Most courses require that you purchase textbooks and related instructional materials (such as study guides, CD-ROMs, videotapes). These items are not included in the tuition but must be purchased separately from MBS Direct, an online bookstore located in Columbia, Missouri. Textbooks may be available from other vendors as well, but if you purchase your materials from a source other than MBS Direct, please make sure prior to your purchase that you are obtaining the exact edition and ISBN number of the text required for successful course completion.

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What are the academic requirements for completing this program?

The Graduate School of the Pennsylvania State University requires a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 for work done at the University for graduation and to maintain good academic standing. Accordingly, in order to earn a graduate certificate or the MPM degree, students are required to have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 and have completed 12 or 30 credits, respectively.

How long will it take me to complete the degree?

The speed at which you complete the master's degree is dependent upon the number of courses you take each semester, but limited by the number of courses offered each semester. If you choose to study at an accelerated pace, you can complete the program in less than two years.

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Is there a time limit for completing this program?

All requirements for a master's degree (including acceptance of a professional paper or research project report) must be met within eight years of admission to degree status. Moreover, students are expected at all times to make satisfactory academic progress (i.e. maintaining an overall 3.0 GPA and passing grades in each course) towards meeting degree or certificate requirements.

Can I submit my assignments electronically?

Yes, in fact, for most cohort-based courses, this is the preferred method. The built-in discussion forums and e-mail systems in the courses allow you to attach electronic files. There may be exceptions to this rule for certain courses; they will be noted in the assignments themselves.

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Does this program require Internet access?

Yes, this program requires Internet access for activities, assignments, and communication tools. The course content in the program is available in PDF format on each course Web site as well, so you have the option of printing the content and taking it along if you travel.

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I may need help using the Internet to access my online course materials. How can I learn more?

The World Campus has provided you with 2 great resources—training in the form of the free course "World Campus 101" and technical support via the World Campus HelpDesk, a resource available by phone (800-252-3592, option 4, 814-865-0047 for local or international calls), e-mail, or real-time chat.

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What is accreditation, and why is it important?

Accreditation is a national system of monitoring the quality of credits you receive from an institution of higher education. Because Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, our courses are accepted for transfer by most other colleges and universities. If you are enrolled in a specific program at another institution and you are hoping to transfer one of our courses into it, you should check first with the other institution to make sure that the credits will transfer.

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Can I receive a waiver for a course if I've taken a similar course elsewhere?

Based on evidence of successful completion and earned credits at other academic institutions, certain course requirements may be waived. If a course is waived, an appropriate Penn State course will be substituted.

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Can I receive credit for life experience?

No, but we offer credit-by-examination for some courses. Students who have enrolled in and completed at least one Penn State course of 3 credits, or more, can earn additional credits, which are accepted to fulfill degree requirements, through successful completion (C or better) of a comprehensive examination. This examination is a substitute for completing the usual requirements of a course. Credit-by-examination may not be used to earn credit for courses previously completed with a quality letter grade (including courses that were failed). Credit-by-examination may not be attained on the satisfactory-unsatisfactory grading system. Grades of C or above are recorded on the student's transcript. No notation is made if a grade of D or F is earned (the fee is NOT refunded).

Interested students should obtain a credit-by-examination application form by contacting one of our academic advisers at 800-252-3592 (814-865-5403 for local and international calls). Further instructions and procedures will be given at that time.

Information on schools that grant credit for life experience can be found in Campus-Free College Degrees, (9th edition), published by Thorson Guides.

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How will learning at a distance be different from taking courses on campus?

While it is true that your distance education courses will take place in a different kind of environment than that of a typical face-to-face course, in many ways your courses will be similar to on-campus instruction, with an instructor, other students, and course materials. But the courses themselves allow more flexibility than face-to-face classes.

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How will I interact with my instructor and other students?

You will be part of a group (or cohort) of students in each course in this program, with all students starting and ending each course at the same time. At Penn State World Campus we use a variety of means to bring students and instructors together, including:

asynchronous electronic threaded discussions on the course Web site

synchronous sessions (chat, NetMeeting)

e-mail

face-to-face during the course plenary sessions

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How quickly should I expect responses from my instructor?

When you take a course in a traditional, face-to-face classroom, you can ask a question of your professor and receive an immediate response. Distance education makes this process a little trickier. Students can still ask questions of their instructors with ease through letters, e-mail, telephone, or other means—but often the responses are not immediate. Instructors are not sitting next to their telephones or computers, waiting for questions to come through. However, they are available on a regular basis and are able to respond to their students in a timely manner. As a distance education student, you simply need to become familiar with your instructor's schedule and availability so that you can know when to expect responses to your questions and feedback on your work.

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What if my assignments get lost?

When submitting your assignments—either electronically or via surface mail—you should always keep a copy. If you are preparing assignments on a computer, it is fairly easy to keep an electronic copy on either your hard drive or a floppy disk. If you are writing your assignments out by hand and submitting them via surface mail, we suggest that you photocopy them before submitting.

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Who may be a proctor for my exams?

Refer to "Taking Exams and Securing a Suitable Proctor." People such as principals, teachers, guidance counselors, and librarians are qualified to administer exams, though you will need to send some specific documentation to the World Campus office to get a proctor approved before your exam will be sent to that person. Mentors are not acceptable proctors for exams.

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Will I have access to library resources?

Many of Penn State's library resources can be used from a distance. As a registered University Libraries user, you can use the Web to:

access electronic databases, and even full-text articles, from the LIAS Fast Track

borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop

access materials that your instructor has put on electronic reserve

talk with reference librarians in real time using the Virtual Reference Service—and much more!

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Will these courses appear as correspondence courses on my transcript?

No distinction will be made on your official Penn State transcript that your courses were completed at a distance. The credits you receive are exactly the same as those awarded to on-campus students. Penn State values distance education as highly as it does resident instruction.

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Can I drop a course once I've begun?

Yes, it is possible to drop a course. Procedures vary slightly, depending on your student status and the course time frame. All partner-sponsored students must communicate their desire to drop a course to both their company contact and Penn State. For specific procedures regarding dropping a course, see the student policies page.

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