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.
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.
Apply nowTechnical 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. |