Institutional Research Certificate FAQs

For admission questions, please click here.

Yes, we expect to have space, but enrollment preference in each course will be given to students who are officially admitted to the Certificate program.

Three graduate-level credits received at other college or university can be transferred toward the 15-credit Penn State IR Certificate. The appropriateness of particular courses is a judgment by the Faculty Adviser made in consultation with the student.  Final decision is made by the Graduate School.

All of Penn State's IR Certificate courses are graduate level courses; therefore, they would be transferable toward a graduate degree here or elsewhere. However, individuals should consider the curricular and credit transfer policies at the institutions to which you wish to transfer credits.

Whether in residence at University Park or on line at a distance, students may complete the certificate in a year by taking at least two IR courses per semester and two in the summer.

Yes. See the schedule of upcoming courses on the Institutional Research homepage. You may also review a list of all courses on the Courses and Curriculum page.

The Certificate is awarded by submitting your program of study worksheet and notifying the Program Coordinator. The Program Completion Notification & Application for Certificate should be shared with your adviser. The adviser will then notify the staff assistant in Higher Education to complete and submit the form to the Registrar's Office. The certificate is mailed to the awardee at the address provided on their original application unless otherwise specified.