Prospective Students
Current Students
Graduate Students
Alumni and Friends
General Public

Faculty and Staff
Extension Programs
Department Research
Student Activities
Events Calendar
Contact Us

Penn State
College of Agricultural Sciences
College of Engineering
Privacy and Legal Disclaimer
Affirmative Action Statement
Copyright Information

Home

Application Deadline for Department:

Spring Semester, 2009 -- August 15, 2008
(to receive maximum consideration for financial assistance)

Fall Semester, 2009 -- January 15, 2009
(to receive maximum consideration for finanacial assistance)

Spring Semester, 2010 -- August 15, 2009
(to receive maximum consideration for financial assistance)

Contact: Dr. Herschel Elliott, Graduate Program Coordinator, 220 Ag. Eng. Bldg., University Park, PA 16802; (814) 863-2062 E-mail: hae1@psu.edu

Admission to the Graduate Program in Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) is granted jointly by the Graduate School and the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. The application has three parts: Note: If you are downloading documents, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded by clicking on the "get acrobat" icon.

Part 1. Apply to the Graduate School and pay the application fee.

First, complete the Electronic application

Then, pay the non-refundable $45.00 application fee (applications without accompanying fee cannot be processed)

DO NOT SEND CASH. The fee may be paid by:

Credit card or

Check or international money order payable to The Pennsylvania State University. Either must be drawn on a U.S. bank. Your cancelled check serves as your receipt. Attach Fee Form generated when you filed your application electronically and did not pay by credit card. Mail to:

Graduate Enrollment Services
The Pennsylvania State University
114 Kern Building
University Park, PA 16802

Part 2. Complete the Supplemental Graduate Application Form which includes information not on the Graduate School Application.

Part 3. ABE Department Application Materials

Send the following items directly to the ABE department: Dr. Herschel Elliott , Grad. Prog. Coordinator, Ag. and Biological Engineering Dept., 220 Ag. Eng. Bldg., Penn State, University Park, PA; 16802

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. An original report of scores is required. If you have completed a previous engineering degree from an accredited Engineering Program in the U.S., you are not required to provide GRE scores. However, GRE scores may be beneficial in competing for financial assistance. The school code for Penn State is 2660. The department code is 1602.

TOEFL Scores. Each international applicant whose first language is not English or who have not received a baccalaureate or masters degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is English must complete the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). An original report of your score is required. The school code for Penn State is 2660. The department code is 31.

Application for Visa. International students must complete and provide an "Application for Visa" document.

Two sets of transcripts from all institutions previously attended (both undergraduate and graduate transcripts, if applicable). Transcript Request Form. Submit official university records, with certified translations if the records are not in English. Notarized or attested copies are NOT sufficient.

Statement of Purpose (3 page maximum) for your proposed graduate study. Please submit a 2- to 3-page written essay describing your purpose in pursuing graduate study. You may want to include the following types of information in your statement: reasons for wanting to pursue a graduate degree in ABE, specific area of interest within agricultural and biological engineering that you plan to pursue, long term plans for professional career, experiences from previous graduate or professional work that have influenced your decision to pursue graduate study, previous experience in engineering design, research, and/or teaching and outreach, and other information that will help us to better understand your purpose for applying to join our graduate program. You may submit this via email to dxd2@psu.edu if you wish.

Resume (no more than 3 pages).You may submit this via email to dxd2@psu.edu if you wish.

Three letters of recommendation from teachers and/or professional colleagues who are knowledgeable about your character and qualifications as they relate to your potential to succeed in an advanced graduate degree program. These may be submitted via email to dxd2@psu.edu if you wish, but please mail to us original, signed recommendation letters also.

Note: Please do NOT submit Individual Education Plans (IEPs), medical records, statements from medical physicians or psychologists, legal documents or other documents that have not been requested. No documents will be returned!

After we receive these items, we will notify you about the status of your application. Should you have questions about the application process, please contact Dr. Herschel Elliott, hae1@psu.edu