Human Resources and Employment Relations MPS

MPS

In order to enter the MPS in HRER, applicants must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor\'s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates. Students who do not have a GPA of at least 3.0 will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the quality of their overall application. Applicants who are still completing their baccalaureate requirements at the time of application may be admitted to the Graduate School provisionally, based on the awarding of the baccalaureate degree. Students are also expected to have a minimum of two years of full-time work experience prior to admission.

Admissions decisions for the program are based on the quality of the applicant\'s credentials. The decisions are based on a review of the complete application portfolio. During the admission process, students who are better suited for another graduate level program will be encouraged to apply to the appropriate program. Applicants to the MPS HRER must submit the following materials:

• Penn State graduate degree application form and application fee;

• A 2-3 page essay articulating career and educational goals that demonstrates the applicant\'s written communication skills. Documentation of a minimum of two years of full-time work and a resume should be attached as a supplement;

• Three letters of recommendation that attest to the applicant\'s readiness for graduate study and document the requisite minimum of two years of work experience;

• Official transcript(s) of all institutions attended;

• 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). The minimum acceptable composite score for the IELTS is 6.5.

• International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement who have received a baccalaureate or a graduate 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.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required.

Master of Science

Applicants must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (post-secondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor\xc2\x92s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

Applicants to the MS HRER program:

• Must complete the Penn State Graduate degree application and submit the application fee

• Must submit a 2-3 page essay articulating career and educational goals that demonstrates the applicant\xc2\x92s written communication skills.

• Must submit scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

• Must submit Official transcript(s) of all institutions attended, Applicants with a 3.00 junior/senior grade-point average (on a 4.00 scale) will be considered for admission.

• The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All 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, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the internet-based test (iBT). The minimum acceptable composite score for the IELTS is 6.5.

• International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement who have received a baccalaureate or graduate 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.

• Must submit three letters of recommendation sent from people who can assess adequately their likelihood of completing the graduate program.

• Must have completed successfully an undergraduate statistics course plus a minimum of 12 undergraduate credits in the social sciences as part of their baccalaureate degree.