Graduate Program Admission Requirements
Please read these specific admission requirements for the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering before formally applying to our programs.
- Students with a 3.00 junior/senior average and with appropriate course backgrounds will be considered for admission. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces that are available for new students. Exceptions to the minimum 3.00 grade-point average may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests.
- Admission to our graduate program is an ongoing process and applications are accepted at any time. Target dates of March 31 and October 31 are suggested for admission in the fall and spring semesters, respectively. For international students requiring entry visas to the United States, the earlier target dates of January 15 for the fall semester and August 31 for the spring semester, are suggested.
- Complete the Graduate School On-line Application (including remitting a fee of $65.00 U.S). (Applications without fees cannot be processed.)
- Scores from the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test (GRE) are required for admission. At the discretion of a graduate program, a student may be admitted provisionally for graduate study in a program without these scores. However, once admitted provisionally, you must take the exam within your first year at Penn State.
- All international applicants whose first language is not English or who have not received baccalaureate or master's degrees from an institution in which the language of instruction is English must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) examination. A TOEFL score of 550 on the paper test, a score of 213 on the computer based test, or a total score of 80 on the Internet test is required for admission. On the Internet version, a minimum score of 20 is required on the speaking portion.
- Two official transcripts from each institution attended. (Applications WILL NOT be reviewed without official transcripts. Photo copies of transcripts and uncertified transcripts are not accepted.)
- Statement of purpose.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- CV or Resume.