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Frequently Asked Questions

M.Ed.
Residential: Fall Admission - December 1; Spring Admission - October 1
Online: Fall Admission - June 15; Spring Admission - October 15; Summer Admission - February 15


D.Ed. and Ph.D.
Fall Admission - December 1

 

 

 

 

Students applying for admission to any of the Higher Education graduate programs at Penn State must electronically submit all application materials to the Graduate School at Penn State. The Graduate School confirms eligibility for admission of all applicants. The Higher Education Program will select and recommend applicants for offers of admission.

As part of The Graduate School application, you will be asked to upload/supply the following documents/information:

  1. A copy of official transcripts/documents from all post-secondary institutions of higher education attended.  International applicants must upload university records in the language of instruction (and copies of an official English translation if English is not the language of instruction).

  2. GRE/GMAT/LSAT test scores are not required for M.Ed. applicants.  **Please note** TOEFL test scores are required for international students**

  3. An essay that highlights your strengths, skills, and experiences and that examines the ways in which further education in the field of higher education will assist you in pursuing your professional goals.  (NOTE: If your interest is to complete the M.Ed. degree while serving in a graduate assistantship, please be sure to include that in your essay, including particular areas of service that may be of particular interest to you).

  4. Resume

  5. Three letters of recommendation, at least one of which must be an academic reference and at least one of which must be a professional reference.  You will be asked to submit the names and email addresses of your referents.  Then, each referent will be sent an email message directing them to the appropriate site to upload a letter of recommendation on your behalf.  You will be notified by email when each recommendation letter is submitted, but you will not be able to view the letter.  (NOTE: All recommendation letters must be submitted before the application deadline to be considered for admission).

  6. International Applicants Only: Official TOEFL score report, if applicable.  Applicants should contact the University Office of Global Programs to learn about requirements for VISAs, registration, etc.

Residential M.Ed. applicants interested in a graduate assistantship

The process for participating in the M.Ed. program at University Park and having a graduate assistantship involves these steps:

  1. Submit all of the required admissions materials detailed above

  2. Then, if/when an applicant is offered admission to the program, they are invited to attend an on-campus program called Preview Days. This two-day program typically occurs in late February or early March and is designed to introduce students to current students and faculty, and to provide additional information about the program and living in State College. Perhaps most importantly, Preview Days offers admitted students an opportunity to interview for graduate assistantships with several offices/programs, based on their availability any given year (typically somewhere between 12-15 graduate assistantships are available each year).

  3. Based on these interviews, graduate assistantship offers are made within approximately three weeks and prospective students who receive offers are given several weeks to decide, though we encourage them to do so quickly. Almost all graduate assistantships include full tuition and a monthly stipend during the traditional 9-month academic year.

SAVE THE DATE!  The Preview Days Program this year is scheduled for February 24-25, 2022.  All applicants that are granted admission to the M.Ed. program are automatically invited to this event to meet current students and faculty, learn more about the program, see the campus, and perhaps most importantly, interview for available graduate assistantship positions beginning in Fall 2022.