Policies

Students must fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the transfer of credits as outlined below.

Advanced Standing (Transfer) Admission An applicant who has attended any regionally accredited college or institution on the college level and attempted 18 or more semester credits subsequent to high school graduation may be considered for admission with advanced standing. Attendance at any and all other institutions must be reported at the time of application. Failure to indicate, at the time of application, previous registration at another college or university can result in refusal or cancellation of admission. An applicant for admission with advanced standing must meet the minimum secondary school requirements for admission to degree candidacy prior to the time of matriculation. Advanced standing applicants are considered for admission on the basis of the applicant's requested academic program, space availability, and the academic quality of their work at the previously attended institution(s). A minimum cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00 (C) out of 4.00, as computed for Penn State students, is required, although certain areas of study may have additional requirements. In addition, an applicant must be in good academic and nonacademic standing. An applicant whose overall grade-point average is less than 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) but has a grade-point average of at least 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) at all institutions attended in the four years prior to the requested enrollment semester may apply for admission as an advanced standing student with forgiveness. An applicant who has not attempted any collegiate level course work four years prior to the requested enrollment semester may also apply for advanced standing with forgiveness. An applicant who does not meet the minimum requirement of a grade-point average of at least 2.00 and does not meet the criteria for advanced standing with forgiveness may enroll in credit courses as a non-degree student in accordance with applicable policies and procedures. Advanced standing credits may be awarded for college-level work taken at regionally accredited institutions provided Penn State offers a similar class and the course grade earned is equivalent to a grade of A, B, or C at this University. The credits also must be useful to the student's program of study. An academic adviser determines which of the transferable credits are applicable to the program of study at Penn State. Credits are transferred, but grades and grade-point average are not. Advanced standing students enter the University without an average and their average begins with the completion of their first semester of study at Penn State. Under certain circumstances, the University may need to restrict advanced standing admissions to a particular college or school because of space limitations. Entrance to a major is an additional step beyond admission to a college or school. It involves additional academic requirements and may be subject to additional restrictions because of space limitations.

​ Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward a master's degree in HRER, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a graduate degree in HRER must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

Some certificate courses may be used toward completion of the master's degrees in Public Administration and in Health Administration, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a graduate degree must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward a master's degree in Engineering Management, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a graduate degree must apply and be admitted to that degree program. Admission to the graduate degree program is a separate step and is not guaranteed.​ Effective Semester: Spring 2024 Expiration Semester: Spring 2029 Admission Requirements Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission . Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies . International applicants may be required to satisfy an English proficiency requirement; see GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information. Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward Master of Engineering Management degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards the Master of Engineering Management must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

With program approval, all four courses in the certificate may be applied to the online Master of Professional Accounting degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate program students who wish to have the certificate courses applied to the master's degree program must formally be admitted to the master's degree program. Upon admittance to the master's degree program, certificate courses completed with a grade of B or better may be transferred into the program.

Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward a master's degree in Data Analytics, but also could be offered as elective courses in the Master of Artificial Intelligence, Great Valley MBA, and Master of Software Engineering degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a master's degree must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward a graduate degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a graduate degree must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

Consistent with the Council for Social Work Education’s Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards, the Penn State World Campus MSW program does not grant course credit, transfer credit, or exemptions for prior life, volunteer, or employment experience. Advanced Standing Students who have received a social work degree (BSW) within the past five years and have a minimum 3.25 GPA from a Council for Social Work Education accredited undergraduate program are eligible for advanced standing. Students who are granted advanced standing during the admissions process can receive credit for the generalist courses offered during Year 1 of full-time study. In addition, students entering with advanced standing can receive six (6) field education credits.

Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward a master of science degree in Information Science, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a graduate degree must apply and be admitted to that degree program. Admission to the graduate degree program is a separate step and is not guaranteed.​ Effective Semester : Summer 2024 Expiration Semester: Summer 2029 Admission Requirements Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission . Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies . International applicants may be required to satisfy an English proficiency requirement; see GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information. Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward Master of Software Engineering degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards the Master of Software Engineering must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

Accounting Foundations Graduate Credit Certificate Program Accounting Graduate Credit Certificate Program Additive Manufacturing and Design Graduate Credit Certificate Program Adult Education in the Health and Medical Professions Graduate Credit Certificate Program Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Graduate Credit Certificate Program Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Graduate Credit Certificate Program Advanced Principal Graduate Credit Certificate Program Agricultural Biosecurity and Food Defense Graduate Credit Certificate Program AI Engineering Graduate Credit Certificate Program AI Strategy, Leadership, and Business Impact Graduate Credit Certificate Program Analytics for Managers Graduate Credit Certificate Program Ancient Languages Postbaccalaureate Credit Certificate Program Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Credit Certificate Program Applied Demography Graduate Credit Certificate Program Applied Statistics Graduate Credit Certificate Program Artificial Intelligence for Business and Innovation Graduate Certificate Program Artificial Intelligence for Digital Transformation Graduate Credit Certificate Program Audio Devices and Signal Processing Graduate Credit Certificate Program Business Analytics Graduate Credit Certificate Program Business Architecture Graduate Credit Certificate Program Business Management Foundations Graduate Credit Certificate Program Business Process Integration Graduate Credit Certificate Program Business Sustainability Strategy Graduate Credit Certificate Program Business-​to-​Business Marketing Graduate Credit Certificate Program Children's Literature Graduate Credit Certificate Program Clinical Research Graduate Credit Certificate Program Community and Economic Development Graduate Credit Certificate Program Computer Vision Graduate Credit Certificate Program Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Graduate Credit Certificate Program Counterterrorism Graduate Credit Certificate Program Criminal Justice Administration and Procedure Graduate Credit Certificate Program Criminological Theory and Research Graduate Credit Certificate Program Cyber Threat Analytics and Prevention Graduate Credit Certificate Program Data Analytics and Engineering Graduate Credit Certificate Program Data Analytics Graduate Credit Certificate Program Data Engineering for Analytics Graduate Credit Certificate Program Dietetic Internship Postbaccalaureate Credit Certificate Program Distance Education Postbaccalaureate Credit Certificate Program Diversity and Inclusion as Strategy Graduate Credit Certificate Progarm Diversity, Ethics, and Leadership Postbaccalaureate Credit Certificate Program e-​Learning Design Graduate Credit Certificate Program Educating Individuals with Autism Postbaccalaureate Credit Certificate Program Educational Technology Integration Postbaccalaureate Credit Certificate Program Electrical Engineering Post-​Baccalaureate Credit Certificate Program Energy Transition Strategies Graduate Credit Certificate Program Engineering Leadership and Innovation Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program English as a Second Language Program Specialist Postbaccalaureate Credit Certificate Program Enterprise Architecture Graduate Credit Certificate Program Enterprise Information and Security Technology Architecture Graduate Credit Certificate Program Entrepreneurship &​ New Ventures Graduate Credit Certificate Program Family/​Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Graduate Credit Certificate Program Financial Accounting Graduate Credit Certificate Program Financial Analysis Graduate Credit Certificate Program Financial Analytics Graduate Credit Certificate Program Financial Engineering Graduate Credit Certificate Program Folklore and Ethnography Graduate Credit Certificate Program Foundations of Artificial Intelligence Graduate Credit Certificate Program Foundations of Data Science Graduate Credit Certificate Program Fundamentals of Leadership Graduate Credit Certificate Program Geodesign Graduate Credit Certificate Program Geographic Information Systems Postbaccalaureate Credit Certificate Program Geospatial Intelligence Analytics Graduate Credit Certificate Program Geospatial Programming and Web Map Development Graduate Credit Certificate Program Global Health Graduate Credit Certificate Program Global Justice and Security Graduate Credit Certificate Program Global Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship Graduate Credit Certificate Program Healthcare Supply Chain and Operations Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program Heritage and Museum Practice Graduate Credit Certificate Program Homeland Security Graduate Credit Certificate Program Hospital and Health System Preparedness Graduate Credit Certificate Program Hospitality Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program Human Resource Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program Human Resources and Employment Relations Foundations Graduate Credit Certificate Program Impacts on Victims and Offenders Graduate Credit Certificate Program Information Systems Cybersecurity Graduate Credit Certificate Program Institutional Research Graduate Credit Certificate Program International Affairs Graduate Credit Certificate Program International Development Policy Graduate Credit Certificate Program International Human Resources and Employment Relations Graduate Credit Certificate Program International Public Policy Graduate Credit Certificate Program International Security Studies Graduate Credit Certificate Program IT Analytics Graduate Credit Certificate Program Labor and Collective Bargaining Postbaccalaureate Credit Certificate Program Labor and Employment Law Graduate Credit Certificate Program Law, Policy and Engineering Graduate Credit Certificate Program Leading in Diversity, Equity &​ Inclusion Graduate Credit Certificate Program Life-​Cycle System Design Graduate Credit Certificate Programs Long-​Term Care Administration and Policy Graduate Credit Certificate Program Management Accounting Graduate Credit Certificate Program Management Consulting Graduate Credit Certificate Program Management Essentials Graduate Credit Certificate Program Marketing Analytics Graduate Credit Certificate Program Natural Language Processing Graduate Credit Certificate Program Negotiation and Influence Graduate Credit Certificate Program Noise Control and Building Acoustics Graduate Credit Certificate Program Nonprofit Administration Graduate Credit Certificate Program Nurse Administrator Graduate Credit Certificate Program Nurse Educator Graduate Credit Certificate Program Organization Development and Change: Analytics Graduate Credit Certificate Program Organization Development and Change: Consulting Skills Graduate Credit Certificate Program Organization Development and Change: Essentials Graduate Credit Certificate Program Organization Development and Change: Occupational Safety and Health Graduate Credit Certificate Program Organization Development and Change: Operational Excellence Graduate Credit Certificate Program Organizational Leadership Graduate Credit Certificate Program People Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Graduate Credit Certificate Program Physical Acoustics Graduate Credit Certificate Program Primary Palliative Care Graduate Credit Certificate Program Principalship Graduate Credit Certificate Program Project Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program Project Quality Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Graduate Credit Certificate Psychology of Ethical Leadership Graduate Credit Certificate Program Psychology of Leadership Foundations Graduate Certificate Psychology of Team Leadership Graduate Credit Certificate Program Public Budgeting and Financial Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program Public Health Graduate Credit Certificate Program Public Health Preparedness Graduate Credit Certificate Program Public Humanities Graduate Credit Certificate Program Public Sector Human Resources Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program Quality Management Across Product Lifecycle Graduate Credit Certificate Program Quantitative Business Essentials Graduate Credit Certificate Program Quantitative Decision Making for Engineering Managers Graduate Credit Certificate Program Real Estate Law and Valuation Graduate Credit Certificate Program Remote Sensing and Earth Observation Graduate Credit Certificate Program Semiconductor Technology Post-​Baccalaureate Credit Certificate Program Sensory and Consumer Science Graduate Credit Certificate Program Software Architecture and Design Graduate Credit Certificate Program Solar Energy Graduate Credit Certificate Program Spatial Data Science Graduate Credit Certificate Program STEM Education Graduate Credit Certificate Program Strategic Human Resources and Workplace Ethics Graduate Credit Certificate Strategic Leadership Graduate Credit Certificate Program Superintendency Graduate Credit Certificate Program Supply Chain Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program Supply Chain Risk Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program Sustainability &​ Social Impact Graduate Credit Certificate Program Sustainability Management and Policy Graduate Credit Certificate Program Sustainable Development in Africa Graduate Credit Certificate Program Sustainable Energy Development Graduate Credit Certificate Program System Modeling and Analysis Graduate Credit Certificate Program System Quality &​ Risk Evaluation Graduate Credit Certificate Program Systems Data Analytics Graduate Credit Certificate Programs Talent Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program Taxation Graduate Credit Certificate Program Teacher Leadership Graduate Credit Certificate Program Technical Management and Leadership Essentials Graduate Credit Certificate Programm Technical Management Graduate Credit Certificate Program Translational Science Graduate Credit Certificate Program Trauma-​Informed Psychotherapy Graduate Credit Certificate Program Print Options The title of the table Person-in-Charge Julianna Simon Program Code ADSP_GCT Campus(es) University Park World Campus The Graduate Program in Acoustics Audio Devices and Signal Processing Certificate provides working professionals as well as residents students specific audio device and signal processing knowledge that can support career goals or needs.Specifically, students will be required to take courses in signal analysis for acoustics and vibration and electroacoustic transducers. degree programs subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a degree in Acoustics must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a graduate degree in Geographic Information Systems must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

Grading System Distinction and Honors Examinations Prior Learning Assessment, Opportunities for Earning Penn State Credit Re-​Enrollment Withdrawal Transcripts Print Options For the typical student, a total of forty-five (45) hours of work is required to earn one credit.

Courses taken at other Penn State campuses may not be counted toward this 24 credit minimum.

Credits earned at other institutions but not used to earn a degree may be applied toward the requirements for a graduate degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Degree Requirements

Examinations Prior Learning Assessment, Opportunities for Earning Penn State Credit Re-​Enrollment Withdrawal Transcripts Print Options Distinction at graduation is awarded to baccalaureate degree candidates who are in the top 12 percent of their college's graduating class, have achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.50, and have earned at least 60 credits at the University.

An advanced standing degree candidate may be admitted to a college or school of the University.

Applicable transfer credits may be applied to general education or elective credits.

No substitutions or transfer credits are permitted.

A maximum of 9 transfer credits of high-quality graduate work may be applied toward the requirements for the degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . At least 18 credits must be courses at the 500 or 800 level, with at least 6 credits at the 500 level.

degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . For the M.P.S.

in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations requires a minimum of 30 credits at the 400, 500, 600, or 800 level, with at least 18 credits in the 500 or 600 series combined; 27 of the 30 credits must be earned at Penn State (refer to GCAC-309 Transfer Credit ). Students will be able to complete the proposed Master’s program in one calendar year (including summer) or two academic years.

To be eligible for admission consideration to the University as a degree candidate, either as a beginning student or as a student with advanced standing, an applicant must meet the following minimum requirements: Graduation from an accredited secondary school. A secondary school diploma issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or appropriate authority in another state, may be accepted as equivalent to graduation from an accredited secondary school and as equivalent to the minimum secondary school units required for admission, as indicated under the Minimum Carnegie Units heading, with the exception of math and world language.

Social work students who earn a BSW degree from accredited Council on Social Work Education programs may be eligible for advanced standing in MSW degree programs. With advanced standing, graduate social work students can earn an MSW degree in less than one year in select programs.

This option requires: Course List Code Title Credits COMP 594 Master's Studies 3 9 credits from approved 500-level electives in computer science, mathematics, engineering, and information systems courses 9 6 credits from approved 400- and 500-level electives in computer science, mathematics, engineering, and information systems courses 6 Total Credits 18 A maximum of 9 transfer credits will be allowed for course work completed as a graduate student at another institution, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit .

External transfer credit requests should follow the Transfer Credit procedure at Penn State Admissions, which may involve evaluation of the external course by faculty for approval.

An applicant who has attempted 18 or more semester credits at another regionally accredited college or university subsequent to high school graduation will be evaluated as an advanced standing applicant.

Qualified sophomores, either in attendance or planning to commence studies at University Park Campus during their junior year, may compete for the special Two-Year College Program Advanced Standing or Two-Year Scholarship Programs.

Transfer credits for language courses taken prior to enrollment at Penn State may not be used.

In the case of advanced standing admission, performance is measured either through success in non-degree programs and courses of the University or by success at some other institution of higher education. Admissions Group II - Penn State Advanced Standing Admissions: Applicants who (1) request baccalaureate degree re-enrollment, presenting 18 or more semester credits; (2) request a change from Penn State associate degree to baccalaureate degree status, presenting 18 or more applicable semester credits; (3) request a change from Penn State provisional degree to baccalaureate degree status, presenting 18 or more applicable semester credits; or (4) request a change from Penn State non-degree to baccalaureate degree status, presenting 18 or more applicable semester credits. In all advanced standing admissions at Penn State, the student must have a grade-point average of at least 2.00 and must meet the minimum entrance and advanced standing requirements of the college or school. Admissions Group III - Other Advanced Standing Admissions: Applicants who have not been students at Penn State and request baccalaureate degree status at Penn State, presenting 18 or more applicable semester credits from a regionally accredited institution. In all advanced standing admissions, it is understood that the applicant must have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 as computed at Penn State and meet the minimum entrance and advanced standing requirements of the college or school.

Transfer of Credits Transfer credits are limited to 9 equivalent graduate Communications credits with a grade of B or better taken within the last 5 years from an accredited institution, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . It must be the opinion of the reviewing faculty that these courses are equivalent in quality to those offered at Penn State Harrisburg. Credit will not be given for any course used to complete a previous degree. Minor A graduate minor is available in any approved graduate major or dual-title program. The default requirements for a graduate minor are stated in Graduate Council policy GCAC-218