Admission Requirements

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• application form, completed and submitted online
• recommendation letters(2), submitted online--You initiate the recommendation process via the online application by entering names and e-mail addresses of the two individuals who will be providing your recommendations. Those individuals will receive a note via e-mail asking them to complete a brief form that will serve as your recommendation.
• listing of your professional experience, your work experience after the baccalaureate degree reported on your online application form.
• 2 official transcripts for each undergraduate institution attended (Applicants with a foreign degree need to send in official transcripts in the language of instruction--with English translation.) A bachelor's degree is required. Mailing address for transcripts is listed within the online application instructions.
• GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) score. Submit your official score report, using the iMBA code listed as: Pennsylvania State University, Penn State Online, ZZ8-JW-99, IMBA, University Park. 
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score, if required. Submit your official score, using the iMBA code: 2660.
  

Getting Started

To help you manage the application process, our online application management system will provide a list of requirements for your application portfolio and will track your progress. To begin the application process, visit the application home page.

Because you are a busy, working professional, we have support staff to help you take care of many of the details and procedures as you pursue your degree. We completely handle your course scheduling, registration, and purchase of materials. This allows you to concentrate on working with your team to complete the course work. World Campus HelpDesk personnel are also available for technical support.

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) measures general mathematical, verbal, and analytical writing skills. It is not intended to test specific subject areas, nor does it require that you have already taken business courses. The GMAT provides a common standard of performance for iMBA applicants who come from diverse educational and employment backgrounds. Requiring the GMAT ensures that you will have capable peers to network with, and assures us that we will have enrolled students who are able to succeed in the program.

If you have already taken the GMAT, your score should be less than 5 years old at the time of your application. Scores must be sent directly to the Penn State World Campus iMBA (code ZZ8-JW-99). You can find out more about the exam by visiting the GMAT Web site at http://www.mba.com/ or by calling 800-462-8669.

Applicants whose first language is not English or who have received a baccalaureate or master's degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), with exceptions noted in the next paragraph. The TOEFL test is offered in different formats depending on your location. A score of at least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 213 on the computer-based TOEFL must be attained. A total score of 80 and a score of 20 on the speaking portion are required for the Internet-based test (iBT). Scores must be sent directly to the Penn State World Campus iMBA (code 2660). You can find out more about the exam by visiting the TOEFL Web site or by calling 609-771-7100.

Applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement who have received a baccalaureate or a master's degree from a college/university/institution in any of the following: Australia, Belize, British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and Wales.

Prerequisites

Penn State's online MBA program is suitable for individuals of diverse academic and professional backgrounds and requires no prerequisite course work. However, previous course work in accounting, economics, math, and statistics, or knowledge of these subjects gained through work experience adds to the strength of your application portfolio.

Applicants should also possess a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and should have reliable access to a computer, the Internet, and a fax machine in order to successfully complete the Penn State online MBA. The iMBA program is Windows-based, so Macintosh users may have problems using the specialized software required in some courses. A laptop with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and wireless Internet connectivity is preferred during the residency experiences.