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Application for Non-degree Status

To expedite your enrollment in our courses, we recommend that you first apply as a "non-degree" graduate student, which will enable you to begin taking courses immediately. Those who wish to apply to the ADTED degree program can do so later. Fifteen credits earned under "non-degree" status can be counted toward the ADTED degree.

To complete the Graduate School online application form as a non-degree student, please go to the World Campus Website and pay the graduate non-degree application fee.

Applying to the Master's Program

The process of applying for admission to graduate school at Penn State requires the following application materials, some of which are submitted as attachments to the Graduate School application.  There is no deadline for admissions into the master's program.  It is a rolling admissions process.  However, it is suggested that students should apply at least eight weeks prior to the start of the semester they wish to attend.

Applicants with a junior/senior grade point average of 2.70 (on a 4.00 scale) and a graduate GPA of 3.50 are highly considered applicants for the program.

Step 1: Graduate School Application

Complete the online Penn State Graduate School application form at http://www.gradschool.psu.edu/index.cfm/apply/. Make sure you pay the  application fee as outlined on the Graduate School application form.  You can check the status of your Graduate School application materials by visiting the Graduate Application Status Inquiry page.  Please note that once submitted, you will not be able to make changes to the Graduate School Application or the uploaded materials.

When completing the online Graduate School application, you will be asked to upload the following documents:

  • A statement of purpose describing your short and long range career objectives, and explaining how your proposed study of adult education relates to those objectives.  The statement of purpose is especially important for assessing applicants’ fit with the Lifelong Learning and Adult Education Program.

  • A sample of recent writing, such as a term paper, a report, or published paper of 3000 words or more.
  • Resume or curriculum vitae

  • Letters of recommendation from three people who are best qualified to evaluate your ability to succeed in graduate study.  The Graduate School application will ask you to submit the names of references along with their email addresses.  Your reference will receive an email directing them to the site to upload a reference letter.  You will be notified via email when they have submitted their letter, however you will not be able to view the letter.

 

Step 2: Lifelong Learning and Adult Education Program Materials

Prepare an application packet consisting of the following documents:

  • As part of the online application process, applicants are required to electronically upload a copy of transcripts/documents from all post-secondary institutions attended.  Upon online acceptance of a program recommendation for admission, applicants will be notified that official/original transcripts/documents must be sent from the originating institutions for review by the Graduate School, in order to finalize an admission decision.  Transcripts/documents must be in the official language of the institution(s) attended, but if that language is not English, an official English translation must also be sent.  The Graduate School will review all official documents to finalize the offer of admission.  An offer of admission will be revoked if official/original documents are not received by the Graduate School within specified deadlines, or if official/original documents differ from the copies uploaded by the applicant prior to the offer of admission.  For applicants whose degree conferral is in progress at the time of uploading copies, the deadline specified for receipt of official/original documents will allow for the passage of the reported date of degree conferral, and that conferral must be confirmed on the official/original documents received by the Graduate School, in order for the offer of admission to be finalized

  • The M.Ed. requires either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores.  Scores must not be more than 5 years old.  If applicants choose the GRE, we require the General GRE test.  The overall test score for the Verbal and Quantitative score should equal around 1100.  Applicants taking the MAT should receive a score of 398 or higher.  To find out more about the GRE or MAT visit the websites.

  • English Proficiency—The language of instruction at Penn State is English. International applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the Internet-based test (iBT). Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisional admission, which requires an institutional test of English proficiency upon first enrollment and, if necessary, remedial course work. The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. To find out more about the TOEFL Exam visit the TOEFL web site.  Information about the IELTS can be obtained by visiting its web site at www.ielts.org

Students taking the GRE, GMAT, IELTS and TOEFL should use school code 2660 to send scores to Penn State. 

Students wishing to send MAT scores should select “Penn State University” or use code 2609.

IELTS and MAT scores should be mailed to:

The Pennsylvania State University
Graduate Enrollment Services
114 Kern Building
University Park, PA  16802

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    International 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.

 

If you are ready to proceed to the application but have NOT read the Graduate School requirements, please visit this website.

If you have read the Graduate School and program requirements and are ready to apply, you may proceed to the application.