Transcripts:
Please submit transcripts to:
Erica A. Peiffer
School of Public Affairs
Homeland Security Degree Base Program and Certificate
777 West Harrisburg Pike
160W Olmsted Building
Middletown PA 17057
Phone: 717-948-6322
Fax: 717-948-6320
Email: eap16@psu.edu
Thank you for your interest in continuing your homeland security education through Penn State World Campus. New and prospective students must submit an application for admission when applying to either the master's or a certificate program, along with a nonrefundable application fee. If you have any questions throughout the admissions process, please contact an admissions counselor.
Application Deadline
Your degree application, including receipt of all application materials, must be received by the following deadlines to be considered complete. Acceptance of your application makes you eligible for preferred registration for your courses, which is why we encourage you to complete your application as soon as possible.
- July 1 for fall semester admission
- November 1 for spring semester admission
- March 1 for summer semester admission
Prerequisites
For admission to the Graduate School, U.S. applicants must have received, from a regionally accredited institution, a bachelor's degree (3.0 GPA preferred on a 4.0 scale) with requirements substantially equivalent to those at Penn State. (Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.) International applicants must have a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a 4-year bachelor's degree to apply for admission.
Application Materials:
A completed application (including a nonrefundable application fee) The application must be submitted electronically following the directions provided in the application.
Statement of purpose — While there is no specific format or content requirement, your statement of purpose should be a personal statement to the admissions committee and may include any of the following: your reasons for pursuing the degree, why you feel you are a good candidate for the program, and any information you would like the admissions committee to know about you personally and/or professionally.
Résumé
Names of three recommenders — Upon submission of your application, an email will be sent to each recommender requesting the completion of a reference form contained in the email. Please inform all recommenders they must submit the form in order for your application to be complete.
Two official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution that you attended regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. (Penn State even has a convenient transcript request form. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State.) Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation.
Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. You may request a GRE waiver if you meet one of the following criteria:
- 3.00 undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) either overall or of the last 60 credits
- 5+ years of professional work experience
- 3.00 GPA upon completion of graduate certificate
- successful completion of a graduate or professional degree
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, if applicable. TOEFL scores must be submitted by all international applicants unless otherwise specified. Please visit the Language Proficiency section of the International Students page of the website for undergraduate and graduate program requirements. Visit the TOEFL website or call 609-771-7100 for more information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
Homeland Security Degree Base Program
Fill out the graduate degree application.
On the "Campus, Major, Degree & Semester" page:
- Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus.
- Choose "HOMELAND SECURITY" as the major.
- Choose "M P S" as the degree.
- Choose "NONE" as the option.
