Penn State University Park (Penn State Outreach - World Campus) - Overview
A Long Tradition of Distance Education
World Campus, Penn State's online university, continues the school's long tradition of distance education, which began with its first correspondence study program in 1892. Some 9,600 students are currently enrolled in World Campus, representing 50 states and 62 countries.
Academic degrees and certificates earned through Penn State World Campus are equivalent to those earned on campus, and are taught by the same highly accomplished on campus faculty. World Campus credits can be combined with previously earned credits, and are transferable to other accredited institutions.
Career-Focused Liberal Arts Degrees
World Campus offers a variety of career-focused degrees through Penn State's College of the Liberal Arts.
Both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees are available in the area of labor and employment relations. These degrees can be applied toward careers in human resources, labor relations, training, recruitment, employment law, placement management, compensation and benefits, and occupational analysis. A certificate in the area of labor and employment relations is also available.
World Campus offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, which focuses on the social-services aspects of the field, while the Bachelor of Science in Psychology involves psychology-related aspects of business, such as human resources, management, leadership development, and marketing. World Campus also offers a more specialized Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership.
Law and Criminal Justice Majors
Two degrees relate to law and criminal justice: the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, and the Bachelor of Arts degree in law and society, which serves individuals with an interest in law enforcement, court services, or public service as well as those students interested in attending law school.
Cutting Edge Specialty Programs
World Campus offers several specialty majors, such as the Bachelor of Arts in Energy and Sustainability Policy, a degree-completion program designed for those who wish to build upon previously earned credits.
Also of special interest are Penn State's offerings in turfgrass science and management, approved by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. This program supports students pursuing careers in golf course maintenance, professional lawn care, grounds maintenance, sod production, sales and service, athletic field maintenance, and research. A Bachelor of Science, Associate in Science, and two certificates are offered in this field.
Specialized certificates are also available in digital arts; organizational communication; systems, applications, and products in data processing (SAP); weather forecasting; and information sciences and technology.
Health and Human Services and Nursing Options
Distance students interested in human services may pursue the Associate in Science in Human Development and Family Studies, which offers 2 areas of focus: adult development and aging services; and children, youth, and family services.
Options for nurses include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (R.N. to B.S.) and a Certificate in Nursing Management.
Business, Science and Multidisciplinary Majors
Other practical degrees include the Bachelor of Science in Business (a degree-completion program), the Associate in Science in Business Administration, and bachelor and associate degrees in science.
The World Campus at Penn State also offers a multidisciplinary, student-designed major, the Bachelor of Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences. This degree covers 4 interest areas: diversity, ethics, global perspectives, and leadership. An associate degree is also available in this major.
Convenient Course Formats
Online courses typically take 12 to 15 weeks, and are delivered in 2 formats: online group courses, which require students to work and interact with instructors and other students, and online individual one-semester courses, which only require one-on-one interaction between students and instructors.
A typical student spends approximately 2 to 4 hours of studying per credit on a weekly basis, translating to about 6 to 12 hours per week for a 3-credit undergraduate course.
Strong Support Services
World Campus students have access to a wide variety of support services, such as extended hours of tech support, online librarian assistance, and online informational modules for improving study skills.
Penn State's online professional academic advisers are experienced in working with adult learners, and assist distance students to evaluate their transfer credits, select the right courses to meet program requirements, and generally navigate online university resources.
Scholarship Opportunities for Distance Students
Several scholarship programs have been developed especially to meet the needs of distance students, including the World Campus Military Annual Fund, the Fischer Family Scholarship, and the Jane Ireland Student Fund.
Furthermore, Penn State World Campus students may be eligible for federal financial aid programs.
Online Career Development Services
World Campus provides a full suite of online career development services, including a 3-part career workshop, one-on-one sessions with a career counselor, access to Penn State Career Services' online job posting database, and networking opportunities through LinkedIn and Penn State's 513,000 alumni.
Graduates of World Campus programs have worked for companies such as Weyerhauser, JP Morgan Chase, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boeing, AT&T, and Dow Corning.