Advising FAQs

The following information may be useful in planning your course selection.

What is SARI and how do I enroll in the SARI module?

All Penn State graduate students enrolling fall 2009 and later must complete Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) requirements that is relevant to their specific program.

Students enrolling at Penn State Great Valley prior to fall 2014 may have completed all their requirements embedded in specified courses, including MGMT 501, BUSAD 526, and LEAD 561.

Effective fall 2014, all incoming management division students must complete an online module that addresses issues such as plagiarism and intellectual property. Although successful completion of this module is a requirement for graduation, it is highly recommended that each student complete this training as early as possible, both to provide an important preparation for coursework and to avoid unnecessary delays to expected graduation.

SARI groups are offered in both the fall and spring semesters (but not in summer so please plan accordingly if you are expecting to graduate in summer). Click here for more SARI group information.

What certificate programs are available to Management Division students?

Students can also complete certificate programs in Human Resource Management, New Ventures and Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Management Practices as stand-alone programs or concurrently with degree programs. The Engineering Division also offers a certificate in Data Analytics, to which MBA courses can be applied.

For more information on any of these programs, visit Graduate Certificates, the Enrollment Management and Student Services Office, or the Division office.

Where can I find the most recent Plan of Study (check sheet) for my program?

For your convenience, Plans of Study for the MBA, MLD, MFIN, and MPACC programs are available on this website as well as prerequisites* for each course.

It is recommended that you download your plan of study and course prerequisite list, as well as a copy of your transcript from LionPATH, before meeting with your adviser.

*(Please note that prerequisites on the University Registrar page may be University Park's prerequisites. Always consult this website or your Plan of Study for the correct prerequisites.)

When will courses be offered in the future?
A number of advanced courses, particularly those in the specialized options, are available only once per year. You may want to consider this in planning the sequence of your courses. Refer to the Anticipated Course Offerings and Prerequisite List found on each program page to see the expected offering schedule for all Management Division courses. Note that this may be subject to change depending on availability of faculty.

What courses can be used as MBA Open Electives?
There may be courses offered on the schedule which are not reflected on your plan of study or list of electives. Most courses (other than foundation courses) can be used as open electives in the MBA program, including some offered in other divisions, assuming prerequisites are met. Please consult with your adviser or the Management Division if you have questions.

How do I find the name of my Faculty Adviser?
Faculty advisers are assigned at the time of your admission. Please refer to LionPATH for the name of your adviser. If you are unable to locate this information, your adviser is on sabbatical leave, or you cannot reach your adviser, please contact the Management Division at [email protected] or call 610-648-3229 for assistance.

How and when do I file my Intent to Graduate?
When you are nearing graduation, you must file your Intent to Graduate via LionPATH. During this period, you may verify or change your graduation status. Check the academic calendar for dates.

What is a Concurrent Degree and how do I apply?
A concurrent degree program allows students to complete two programs, with each program accepting up to 20% of its total required credits from the other. The concurrent degree program must be part of a well-balanced, unified and complete program of study related to the degree the student was admitted to and/or supports related career goals. Several conditions must be met to satisfy Graduate School policy:

  • The student must be admitted to concurrent degree program prior to completing 75% of credits in the initial master's degree, and prior to the final semester in the home degree.
  • A minimum GPA of 3.5 in courses taken as a graduate student at PSU is required.
  • At least 12 credits must be taken in the home program prior to applying for admission. (It is recommended that applicants complete at least 50% of home program credits to allow sufficient time given the concurrent degree time limit.)
  • Concurrent students must meet all requirements for the second degree program.
  • The concurrent degree is expected to be completed within three years from admission to the concurrent program.

Interested students should contact their Division for more information.

Who do I contact for general information about Management Division programs?
Please feel free to contact the Management Division at [email protected] or call 610-648-3229 if you have any questions regarding your program, course offerings, course content, or any concerns that you might have. We are constantly striving to improve our programs and welcome feedback from you.