To be considered for admission, applicants for the Master of Data Analytics (MDA) or the Master of Science in Data Analytics (MS) will need the following:
- A copy of your official transcript from all institutions attended. Penn State alumni do not need to provide transcripts. Applicants should hold either a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a tertiary (post-secondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.
- A grade point average of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) is recommended.
- A copy of the applicant's current resume.
- A one-page written statement of intent to highlight one’s academic background, work experience, skills, strengths, academic interests, and professional goals.
- Contact information for two references.
- Applicants to the Master of Science in Data Analytics (MS) must submit official GMAT/GRE test scores, but applicants to the Master of Data Analytics (MDA) are not required to take the GMAT or GRE.
How to ApplyInternational applicants, please review the International Applicant Guidelines for additional admission requirements and instructions.
Submitted complete applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Once a completed application is submitted, applicants can expect to receive a decision within three to four weeks.
Technical Requirements
Given the scale of data used in the programs, the following hardware and software is required to enroll.
| Operating System | Windows 10 or higher Note: Software used throughout this program may not be compatible with a Mac or Linux operating system; therefore, the data analytics programs do not support the use of these operating systems. |
| Memory | 16 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 500 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest Canvas-supported version of Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader Students should have the ability to install other web browser plug-ins as needed. |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office |
| Internet Connection | Wi-fi or broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Monitor (Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution) |
| Additional Hardware | Access to a document scanner that creates PDF files to submit handwritten homework and exams in mathematics-based courses. |