Admissions Requirements

This is a general list of admission requirements at Penn State Great Valley. Admission to individual programs may vary and is subject to change. Most students enroll in a program when they apply for admission. However some programs let you take a limited number of courses before officially enrolling. Please contact a program representative to determine a suitable plan.

Graduate Admission

Degree/Certification Requirements

If you apply for admission to a master's degree or certification program, you need to

Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution whose credit and residence conditions are substantially equal to Penn State's.
Have a 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) junior/senior grade point average for admission to most programs. Some programs require higher GPA's.
Meet the specific requirements of the individual degree or certification program. Note: International applicants should apply at least four months prior to the semester of enrollment.

Nondegree Enrollment

If you have not formally enrolled in a program, you may take a limited number of courses prior to formal acceptance into most degree programs. A nondegree student may

plan to enter a degree program at a later date.
plan to transfer credits to another institution upon completion of a course.
pursue graduate courses for professional or personal development rather than as part of a program.

Nondegree students must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.

If you wish to pursue a degree at a later date, you must formally apply for degree admission to your academic program and submit all required supporting credentials. There is no assurance that nondegree students will be admitted as degree candidates.

Both degree and nondegree students must meet the Graduate School requirements and those of their chosen academic division. After admittance as a degree candidate, the division head will decide which credits earned as a nondegree student may be used to fulfill degree requirements. All credits must have been earned within 5 years preceding entry into the degree program.

The following number of credits may be taken on a nondegree basis and applied to a degree program.

Curriculum and Instruction - emphasis in Instructional Leadership, Literacy, Children's Literature, and Science Education - up to 9 credits
Instructional Systems - up to 9 credits
- Note: for admission updates to INSYS, click here
Information Science requires special authorization to take courses on a nondegree basis.
Principalship Certification (Education Leadership) - 9 credits - should confer with academic adviser for course advising
Software Engineering - requires special authorization to take courses on a nondegree basis
Special Education - up to 9 credits
Systems Engineering requires special authorization to take courses on a nondegree basis

Graduate Certificates in Business are offered on a non-degree basis, though nondegree application is required. Students wishing to pursue the MBA at a later date may apply up to 15 credits from the certificate to the degree if accepted. For details click here.

Graduate Certificates in Education are offered on a non-degree basis. Students wishing to pursue a degree program may apply up to 14 credits from the certificate to the degree if accepted, For details click here.