How to Apply - Master of Professional Studies in Human Resources and Employment Relations
Deadlines and Important Dates
Online applications, including all supporting materials (transcripts, recommendations, statement of purpose, and résumé) must be submitted by the following dates to be considered for the corresponding semester.
- Fall Semester: June 1
- Spring Semester: November 1
- Summer Semester: March 1
Admissions Help
Admission to the MPS in HRER Program is competitive. A faculty admissions committee considers all of the materials submitted by each applicant, and makes admissions decisions based on the strength of the candidate's credentials. Applicants meeting the minimum prerequisites are not necessarily guaranteed admission to the program.
Prerequisites
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.
Students who do not have a GPA of 3.0 will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the quality of their overall application. Applicants who are still completing their baccalaureate requirements at the time of application may be admitted to the Graduate School conditional on the awarding of the baccalaureate degree. Students are also expected to have a minimum of two years of full-time work experience prior to admission.
Application Materials
Statement of purpose — a 2–3 page essay articulating career and educational goals that demonstrates your written communication skills.
Résumé
Three letters of recommendation that attest to your readiness for graduate study and document the requisite minimum of two years of work experience. Letters must be submitted through the online application. Within the online application you will be asked to enter the names and email addresses of three individuals who will be providing your recommendation. Those individuals will receive a note via email asking them to complete a brief form that will serve as your recommendation. Please inform all recommenders they must submit the form in order for your application to be complete.
GRE or GMAT scores are not required for admission to the human resources and employment relations program.
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.
Two official transcripts from each institution attended, to be mailed to:
Erin Hetzel
The Pennsylvania State University
003 Keller Building
University Park PA 16802
When all materials have been received and reviewed, we will notify you about your status and provide guidance about the next steps.
How to Apply
To apply to this program as a degree student, you must complete the graduate school application.
Applying to the Master's Degree
- Read the admissions requirements.
- Begin the graduate school application.
- On the "Admissions and Program Information Portal" page, choose "Apply Now."
- When you get to the "Campus, Major, Degree & Semester" page:
- Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus.
- Choose "HUMAN RESOURCES AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS" as the major.
- Choose "M P S" as the degree.
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this degree program.