What You Need to Apply

This page provides information on program requirements and a listing of the items that a future graduate student must complete to apply to the entomology department.

To qualify for admission an applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale for the last two undergraduate years. Prospective students must apply online through our departmental Web site (see below for details). The student should have a strong background in biological sciences. Courses in statistics, physics, chemistry through organic chemistry, mathematics through calculus, and computer applications are recommended. For applicants whose native language is not English, verbal communication with a faculty member is required so that the faculty member can assess verbal skills.

Provisional admission is possible, with deficiencies to be completed prior to final acceptance into the program. Courses considered as deficiencies will not count toward meeting the requirements for a graduate degree. Deficiencies will be determined by a departmental committee consisting of the Graduate Program Council (GPC), the department head, and a temporary adviser to be assigned at the time of admission. It is recommended that students not receive all undergraduate and graduate degrees from Penn State.

The process of applying for admission to graduate school at Penn State requires the following application materials:

(All should be submitted online to The Graduate School.)

  1. An official GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION. To request an application fee waiver, please contact the program at entomology@psu.edu.
  2. Official transcripts. An official transcript from each institution attended. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale for the last two undergraduate years.
  3. TOEFL/IELTS scores (International Students only). International applicants who have received a baccalaureate or a graduate degree in one of the following countries are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman islands, Dominica, England, Ghana, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Puerto Rico, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Trinidad, and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Wales. 

    GCAC-305 Admissions Requirements for International Students

    Countries in which standard English is the predominant language may be added to this list by The Graduate School. The CIA Factbook is used as a primary source of information, supplemented when appropriate with other reliable resources. Important considerations taken into account when making the decision include (but are not limited to):
    • The prevalence of English speakers in the country;
    • If English is an official language of the country, and how many other official languages there are;
    • Whether formal primary and secondary school instruction is primarily conducted in English in the country.


    TOEFL
    • Internet Based test score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section
    • Paper-based test (taken July 2017 or later) - a combined total of the 3 sections evaluated must be 60 or greater
    IELTS
    • The minimum acceptable composite score for the IELTS Academic Test is 6.5.
  4. Three letters of recommendation. These should be from people who are best qualified to evaluate your ability to succeed in graduate study. This may include your academic advisor, instructors who are familiar with your work from their classes, supervisors from research projects, a supervisor from your place of employment, or anyone else who is able to evaluate your academic ability and motivation. The references listed on your application will be contacted directly and asked to submit separately. They will be uploaded on your application.
  5. Statement of purpose. This is a one- to two-page essay describing your reasons for considering graduate study, your goals after completion of your degree, and the specific areas of interest. This document can be uploaded and sent with your online application.

Complete application materials should be submitted
before the following dates:
December 20 for Fall admission

The GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION must be submitted in electronic format.