Admission Requirements

Candidate's qualifications are assessed by review of their academic record, letters of recommendation, a personal statement, involvement in student affairs-related activities, and previous work experiences. Individuals who appear to be qualified on the basis of submitted written materials will be invited to campus for an Interview Day in the spring. Note the application deadline of December 15. All of the requested materials must be received by the CSA office by this date. Evaluation criteria include the following:

Potential for Success in Student Affairs

Through the interview process and based on previous experiences and application materials, candidates must demonstrate that they possess good interpersonal skills, good oral and written communication skills, the ability to handle stresses inherent to student affairs work, self-awareness, and sensitivity to individual difference, diversity, and social justice. To get a further sense of what CSA faculty deem as essential skills and competencies of a successful student affairs professional, please review the Learning Outcomes of this program.

Professional Goals

Candidates must demonstrate a basic understanding of the student affairs field obtained through undergraduate student activities, volunteer work, paraprofessional or professional work experience, or informational interviewing. Candidates should have identified areas of interests within the student affairs field and a clear idea of what they hope to gain from graduate study. Professional goals, while understandably tentative, should be appropriate for beginning professionals and congruent with those of the Penn State program. 

Academic Preparation and Ability

The individual's junior-senior grade-point average must be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 system. The individual's overall grade-point average must be at least 2.75 on a 4.0 system. Individuals who do not meet this requirement may request special consideration by submitting a letter indicating their rationale and evidence to support such consideration.

If a candidate has completed graduate coursework prior to application, his or her grade-point average for this coursework must be at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 system.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller's Analogies Test (MAT) is required. GRE applications are available by visiting the GRE website, www.gre.org. Typically, scores are received 6-8 weeks after the test is taken. Applicants are urged to plan ahead so that GRE scores are reported by the December 15 deadline for receipt of admissions materials. Applications that are not complete by the December 15 deadline will not be considered.  We acknowledge that the 2011-2012 academic year is the first administration of the new GRE.  Please contact us if you experience challenges in the formal reporting of your score.

International Applicants

Applicants for whom English is a second language should submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores as part of their application. Please visit the TOEFL website, www.toefl.org for information and an application. Facility of English, both in terms of understanding spoken and written English and in terms of communicating that understanding, is a necessary prerequisite for graduate work in the Program of Student Affairs. Because communication is integral to the student affairs profession, candidates must demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills. For a specific outline of the steps required in the application process visit How to Apply.

For a timeline of the application process visit Admission Timeline and Selection Process.

International applicants need to be aware that it can take up to four months for the paperwork to be completed for your visa documents. This timeline is for international applicants who are overseas as well as those already in the United States .

Should you have further questions about your visa documents or applying as an international student, please contact International Students and Scholars, Penn State, 410 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802; email (ISS-Adviser@ip.psu.edu) or visit the International Programs web site.