GCAC-304
Nondegree Admission
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Purpose
To define the category of nondegree admission.
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Academic Goal
To define the conditions under which The Graduate School will offer admission to students who do not intend to pursue a graduate degree thus allowing them to take graduate-level courses.
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Scope
All applicants to The Graduate School who do not wish to pursue a graduate degree.
Applicants who do not intend to pursue a graduate degree, but want to take graduate-level courses for personal enrichment, professional development, permanent certification, or to apply for degree status at a later date, may seek admission as a nondegree graduate student.
Policy Statement
- Applicants for nondegree admission must have received from a regionally accredited institution a baccalaureate degree earned under residence and credit conditions substantially equivalent to those required by Penn State.
- Admission as a nondegree graduate student neither guarantees nor implies subsequent admission to a degree program.
- Nondegree students are not eligible to receive fellowships or graduate assistantships.
- Preference for courses is given to degree students.
- Changing from graduate nondegree status to regular status requires a new admission application.
- A maximum of 15 graduate credits taken as a nondegree student prior to admission to a graduate degree program may be applied to a graduate program, with departmental approval. The credits must have been earned within five years preceding entry into the degree program. (See GCAC-309 Transfer Credit).
Forms
insert_drive_file Transfer of Penn State Nondegree Graduate Credits to Penn State Graduate Degree (PDF)
Revision History
- Adapted from Graduate Bulletin: June 2018
- Last Graduate Bulletin update: August 2016