Entrance Requirements

An applicant must present a baccalaureate degree in Computer Science or a related field from an accredited institution. While a bachelor's degree in Computer Science is not required, admission without deficiency requires that an applicant has completed the following courses, or approved equivalents. If these courses are not taken before admission to the program, they may be taken at Penn State Harrisburg, but the student will receive at most 3 credits toward the M.S. degree for these courses.

• Analysis of Algorithms (CMPSC 463)
• Operating Systems (CMPSC 472)
• Database Design (CMPSC 430)
• Linear or matrix algebra (MATH 430)

In addition, the following courses are required for admission without deficiency. If these courses or approved equivalents are not taken before admission to the program, they may be taken at Penn State Harrisburg, but no credit from these courses will be applied toward the M.S. degree.

• Calculus (one year) — (MATH 140 and MATH 141)
• Discrete or finite mathematics (MATH 315)

Admission to the program is based on a review and evaluation of the following items from the applicant:

1. Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate education. A minimum GPA of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) is required for admission.
2. Three letters of reference, at least one of which is from an academic source.
3. A letter outlining significant work experience and academic and career objectives.
4. At the discretion of the program, students may be required to provide scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and/or the GRE subject test in computer science.
5. The language of instruction at Penn State is English. International applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the internet-based test. The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5.

   International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement who have received a baccalaureate or a masters degree from a college/university/institution in any of the following: Australia, Belize, British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the United States and Wales.

6. International students must submit their transcripts for evaluation by ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.). ECE is the only professional evaluation that will be accepted and used for the official admissions evaluation. Penn State Harrisburg requires the course-by-course evaluation. ECE will send the evaluation directly to Penn State Harrisburg. You can find out more information about ECE by visiting their web page at: www.ece.org.

Contact

NOTE: All students must apply on-line. For further information and the application form, see the Graduate School Admissions and Program Information portal.