When will I be notified of an admission decision?
Application packets will not be reviewed before the December 15 deadline. Decisions are expected to be made by early to mid February.

How does IST differ from computer science and engineering?
The College of Information Science and Technology (IST) is housed in the same building (the IST Building) as the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department,  which is a part of the College of Engineering. Compared to CSE, the graduate program of IST addresses broader issues dealing with computing (especially those involving large volume of heterogenous information), beyond creating new algorithms.

Do you offer spring admissions?
No, we only admit students for the fall semester.

Can the application fee be waived?
No. University policy does not allow the waiver or deferment of the application fee. I...]]> Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/prospectivestudents/graduate/page2.cfm?intPageID=1153 Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/prospectivestudents/graduate/page2.cfm?intPageID=1154 Application for Visa

Please complete the Application for Visa document and upload with your electronic application form.

TOEFL/IELTS

All International applicants whose native language is not English will need to provide the results from a recent Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test.

Our University code is 2660 and our program TOEFL Code is 99.

A TOEFL minimum score of 550 on the paper test, 213 on the computer-based test, or a total score of 90 with a 19 on the speaking section for the Internet-based test (TOEFL® iBT). Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisional admission, which requires an institutional test of English proficiency upon first enrollment and, if necessary, remedial course work.

The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5.

TOEFL/IELTS Exemption

The language of instruction at Penn State is English. International applicants who have received a baccalaureate or masters degree from a college, university, or institution in any of the following countrie...]]> Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/prospectivestudents/graduate/page2.cfm?intPageID=1154 Office of Graduate Programs
The Pennsylvania State University
325B Information Sciences and Technology Building
University Park, PA 16802...]]> Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/prospectivestudents/graduate/page2.cfm?intPageID=1154 100 East Corson Street
Suite 200
Pasadena, CA 91103
www.ielts.org...]]> Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/prospectivestudents/graduate/page2.cfm?intPageID=1154 Box 6155
Princeton, NJ 08541-6155
www.toefl.org
Local administration at University Park campus of the TOEFL is handled by the IECP....]]> Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/prospectivestudents/graduate/page2.cfm?intPageID=1154 Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/prospectivestudents/graduate/page2.cfm?intPageID=1154 In addition to the requirements outlined on our main application page, international applicants also must supply the following as part of their application packet.

Through this program, students can gain the theoretical frameworks and skill sets necessary to compete and be productive in the information technology-intensive global context that defines the new "Information Age."

Specifically, the IST minor will enable students to:

To apply for the IST minor:

• Click on the campus location where the IST Minor will be completed.
• An entrance to minor form will open with the requirements and the IST contact person. All completed applications will be sent by the IST campus contact to Jeanie Peritz for entrance into the minor.
• Upon entrance into the minor, a one-time, non-refundable fee of $750 (USD) will be assessed.
• A grade of C or better is required for all courses in this minor.
  

• IST 110 Introduction to Information, People and Technology (3)
• Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/currentstudents/undergraduate/minors/page2.cfm?intPageID=1109 Entrance-to-Minor forms are available for many campus locations and you can click on the links below to access the forms on this Web page. The following locations offer the IST minor (watch for additional campus locations):
  
  • Penn State University Park
  • Penn State Abington
  • Penn State Berks
  • Penn State Beaver
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • Penn State Greater Allegheny
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • Penn State Hazleton
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley
  • Penn State New Kensington
  • Penn State Schuylkill
  • Penn State Worthington Scranton
  • Penn State York
  ...]]> Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/currentstudents/undergraduate/minors/page2.cfm?intPageID=1109 Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/currentstudents/undergraduate/bachelors/courses/index.cfm?intPageID=63 What are Support of Option courses?
  
  Support of Option selections (12 credits) are meant to help you acquire knowledge of an application domain (i.e., the environment in which you eventually hope to work) and to help you develop supplemental knowledge and competencies related to your option.
  
  Examples of application domains are art, business, geographic information systems, government, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, telecommunications, or anywhere else information technology is used.
  
  Am I permitted to use IST courses to satisfy my Support of Option requirement? Yes.
  
  What else should I know about Support of Option courses?
  
  • This list is not all inclusive. See your academic adviser for more information.
  • You may substitute courses not found on the Support of Option list with written permission from your adviser. 
  • Courses marked with an asterisk (*) have at least one prerequisite or concurrent requirement.
  • For information about prerequisite and concurrent requirements or for more information about courses on the Support of Option list, please check the online Undergraduate Degree Programs Bulletin.
  ...]]> Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/currentstudents/undergraduate/bachelors/courses/index.cfm?intPageID=63 Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/currentstudents/undergraduate/featuredcourses/page2.cfm?intPageID=1615 Section: 002                                 
  Schedule Number: 373375
  Meeting Days: T/R 11:15A - 12:30P
  Classroom: 205 IST 
  Instructor: David Saab
  Credits: 3
   
  Section: 001
  Schedule Number: 373372
  Meeting Days: M/W 1:00P - 02:15P
  Classroom: 205 IST
  Instructor:  Art Jones
  Credits: 3
   
  Course DescriptionIST 402: Emerging Technologies (3 credits per semester/maximum of 9 credits)Introduction to emerging issues, technology forecasting and analysis; overview of emerging issues and leading technologies in IST and how they impact information systems, users, the IT labor force and society.
  Prerequisites: IST 210, IST 220...]]> Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/currentstudents/undergraduate/featuredcourses/page2.cfm?intPageID=1615 Section: 001
  Schedule Number:390418
  Meeting Days: M/W 9:45A -11:00A
  Classroom: 208 IST
  Instructor: Irene Petrick
  
  Course Description:Students who complete this course will understand the technical, social, and business environments for IT-driven innovations. They will possess the basic skills needed to develop an idea and reduce it to application, including an assessment of the target market niche and the value proposition of their idea.
  
  Typical Readings:Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives; From Edison to the iPod: The Accidental Billionaires; The Google Story
  
  Target Audience:This course is intended to for a diverse set of majors who may want to leverage IT to create innovations in their own application field. An interdisciplinary approach will be taken to innovation, including health care, services, media, and products. Students should understand the fundamentals of the field and have some familiarity with information and communication technologies.
  
  Evaluation Methods:Evaluation is based on multiple criteria that are relevant to any successful IT-driven innovation project, including project outcomes, feasibility, quality, creativity, and the ability to express ideas in written and verbal form....]]> Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/currentstudents/undergraduate/featuredcourses/page2.cfm?intPageID=1615 Sun, 22 Nov 09 04:11:00 GMT http://ist.psu.edu/currentstudents/undergraduate/featuredcourses/page2.cfm?intPageID=1615 Section: 003
  Schedule Number: 373378
  Meeting Days: T/R  4:15P - 5:30P
  Classroom: 208 IST
  Instructor:Jim Jansen
  Credits: 3