Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee. You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:
Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State but must list Penn State as part of your academic history. If you are admitted, you will be asked to send an additional official transcript. You will receive instructions at that time.
GPA and Test Scores — All applicants are expected to have earned a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
Statement of Professional Goals — This statement should be concise and well-written. It should reflect your academic interests, research/praxis plan, and motivation, as well as how these further your career objectives. Please include the following sections in your statement:
Academic Interests (about half a page) — Discuss your academic interest in this D.Eng. program. In addition, propose a course work plan (i.e., review the program’s electives and discuss which courses would be most effective to help reach your praxis research and professional goals).
Praxis Research Interests and Rationale (about 1 page) — The praxis research should apply what you come to the program with and will learn in this program (methods/technology/theory) to research and solve a significant/complex problem from your work. The goal of this section is to describe to the admissions committee a problem you have identified and the research plan, goals, and deliverables, and how these will be supported. In other words, this section should reflect your ability to effectively communicate the maturity of your research aspirations.
This section should include:
- Problem motivation (i.e., background of the problem/how do you know this is a problem that should be addressed via the praxis?)
- Problem statement/hypothesis (i.e., one or two sentences stating what specific problem this praxis research is going to solve)
- Project purpose (i.e., describe how the praxis research will generally address the problem)
- Project plan goals (i.e., a bulleted list of what will be analyzed, designed/researched, and implemented)
- Project deliverables (i.e., what could ultimately be delivered as the solution to this problem, in addition to the required written praxis)
Career Objectives (about half a page) — This section should communicate a synergy between the education and praxis research accomplished in this program with your career/professional goals.
English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
References (3) — References should provide academic and professional perspectives. You will need to initiate the process through the online application by entering names, email addresses, and mailing addresses of three references. Upon submission of your application, an email will be sent to each reference requesting they complete a brief online recommendation regarding your commitment to success in an online program. Please inform all recommenders they must submit the form in order for your application to be complete.
At least one reference should be from your employer indicating they support the praxis topic and specifying what resources you will have access to in support of the topic, e.g., allocated time, lab support, data. This reference letter would ideally come from the immediate or area supervisor of the applicant.
Program-Specific Questions/Materials
Résumé or Vitae — Upload your résumé or vitae to the online application.
Writing Sample — Provide a published or unpublished paper, thesis, or another scholarly writing sample. This sample must be in English.
Interview — You will be asked to participate in an interview, either via internet-based video conferencing or in person.