For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

All applicants are expected to have earned a junior/senior grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Application Materials

Statement of professional experience and goals — This 1–2 page original essay should include a description of your professional experience, as well as a clear statement of how your professional goals may be advanced through participation in the MEd in Earth Sciences program. The essay itself should demonstrate your communication skills.

Professional Sketch or Vita — Included in this document should be a statement about the current status of the applicant's state science teaching certification — if applicable.

Two letters of recommendation — These letters (from current and former employers, clients, or educators) should attest to your readiness for graduate study and reflect your secondary science teaching experience. Your recommenders should also describe their relationship to you.

Official GRE or MAT test score should be included with the application portfolio. Applicants can have scores submitted directly from the testing center using Penn State's Institution Code: 2660. *Note — Applicants who are at least 5 years removed from a baccalaureate degree may request a waiver of this requirement. Include with your application a brief statement explaining exactly why you are requesting the waiver and include information regarding how many years you have been removed from formal education, the number of years of teaching experience you have, any education you have received beyond the undergraduate level, and any other information you think would be applicable.

English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with some exceptions. Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School "How to Apply" page.

Official transcripts from each postsecondary institution attended to date, mailed to:

Janet Moyer, MEd
Earth Science Program
The Pennsylvania State University
2217 Earth-Engineering Sciences Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-1590
Fax: 814-863-1564
Email: jqf2@psu.edu

Apply Now

To apply to this program as a degree or nondegree student, you must complete the graduate school application.

Applying to the Master's Degree
 

1. Read the admissions requirements.
2. Begin the graduate school application.
   1. On the "Admissions and Program Information Portal" page, choose "Apply Now."
   2. When you get to the "Campus, Major, Degree & Semester" page:
      1. Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus.
      2. Choose "EARTH SCIENCES" as the major.
      3. Choose "M ED" as the degree.

Applying as a Nondegree Graduate Student
 

To begin taking courses right away, apply as a "nondegree" graduate student. You may take up to 15 credits in nondegree status before submitting your application portfolio.

Note: If you apply as a nondegree graduate student, you must re-apply to the master's degree to be considered for admission into the Master of Education in Earth Science degree program.

To apply as a nondegree graduate student:

1. Read the admissions requirements
2. Begin the application process