Go to:
PROGRAMS OF STUDY
- Aerospace Engineering (M.Eng., M.S., Ph.D.)
- Architectural Engineering (M.Eng., M.S., Ph.D.)
- Chemical Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
- Civil Engineering (M.Eng., M.S., Ph.D.)
- Computer Science and Engineering (M.Eng., M.S., Ph.D.)
- Electrical Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
- Engineering Mechanics (M.Eng., M.S.)
- Engineering Science (M.S.)
- Engineering Science and Mechanics (Ph.D.)
- Environmental Engineering (M.Eng., M.S., Ph.D.)
- Industrial Engineering (M.Eng., M.S., Ph.D.)
- Mechanical Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
- Nuclear Engineering (M.Eng., M.S., Ph.D.)
Graduate degrees are also available in the intercollege graduate program in Acoustics (M.Eng., M.S.,
Ph.D.), Bioengineering (M.S., Ph.D.), and Quality and Manufacturing Management (M.M.M). Other related programs
include Agricultural and Biological Engineering, housed in the College of Agricultural Sciences, various
programs in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, and the graduate minor in Science, Technology and
Society.
All masters programs require a minimum of 30 graduate credits. The M.S. degree requires the presentation
of an acceptable thesis or paper; the M.Eng. degree requires a significant culminating or "capstone" experience
as defined by the program of study. The Ph.D. degree is conferred in recognition of high attainment and
productive scholarship as evidenced by the completion of a program of advanced study that includes a minimum
residency requirement, the preparation and formal acceptance of a thesis involving independent research,
and the passing of the comprehensive and final oral examinations.
See Program Summaries for complete descriptions
of graduate programs offered in the College of Engineering
[Top of page]
RESEARCH FACILITIES
The College emphasizes the strategic research areas identified by overlaying national needs and College
research strengths: infrastructure, energy, environment, information/communication, materials, product
development/manufacturing, and human needs engineering. Engineering research expenditures exceed $89 million
annually. Research is supported by a network of laboratories and College and intercollege research centers, and
and Penn State's Innovation Park supports a tradition of successful technology transfer.
[Top of page]
FINANCIAL AID
Most graduate students are supported by a variety of governmental and industrial fellowships and traineeships
and by research and teaching assistantships. In 2007-08, stipends for fellows and trainees ranged from $5,000 to
$30,000. Stipends for half-time research and teaching assistantships range from $18,684 to $20,304 (including
summer). Grants-in-aid covering tuition accompany these stipends. For information on loands and scholarship, go to
Office of Student Loans &
Scholarships.
[Top of page]
COST OF STUDY
Tuition for the academic year 2007-08 is $7,369 per semester for Pennsylvania residents and $13,025 per semester
for nonresidents. Students enrolled in the College are assessed with information technology and activities fees
each semester based on the number of credits scheduled. Tuition rates and charges are updated each year in
mid-July. For more information, go to Penn
State Tuition.
[Top of page]
LIVING AND HOUSING COSTS
Graduate housing ranges from single dormitory rooms to two-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom townhouses.
Go to Housing at University Park
for information about on-campus housing. Off-campus housing is readily available in the Borough of State College
and the surrounding area.
[Top of page]
STUDENT GROUP
Fall 2007 statistics indicate that 85,600 students were enrolled
at Penn State, with 43,252 on the University Park campus. There
were 5,952 graduate students enrolled at University Park, with
1,406 in the College of Engineering.
[Top of page]
LOCATION
Penn State's main campus, University Park, is located near the geographic center of the state in the Borough of
State College. The Centre Region has a resident population of about 79,500 and is located in low, rolling
mountain country. The University and surrounding area offer a wide array of extracurricular, cultural, recreational,
and athletic events.
[Top of page]
THE UNVERSITY AND THE COLLEGE
Penn State is a land-grant university founded in 1855. Graduate work began in 1862 with two students. Today,
the Graduate School has approximately 3,000 faculty members and grants degrees in about 150 majors. In 2006-07,
262 masters and 119 Ph.D. candidates received degrees in the College of Engineering.
[Top of page]
HOW TO APPLY
Qualified students may be admitted for any semester (August or January) or summer session (May or June).
Admission is granted jointly by the Graduate School and the academic program. For information on how to apply to
the Graduate School, go to the Graduate School website. For information on how to apply to a specific academic
program, go to the desired program's admissions website in the list below:
[Top of page]