Graduate Student Life

Graduate studies are all about balance. In addition to your coursework and research, perhaps you are teaching, raising a family, participating in leadership programs, presenting at conferences, or advising undergraduate students.

Whatever you are balancing, the IME Department can help by providing you with the information and resources you need to succeed — in your graduate studies and for years to come.

Here you will find some useful links to information about being a graduate student at Penn State.

Life in State College

State College, Pennsylvania, also known as Happy Valley, has a family friendly atmosphere, rich connection to education, and strong economy. The diverse population that the University fosters means that there are a variety of cultural events, food of all flavors, and places to worship in all traditions.

Whether you are a nature lover or a fan of the arts, Central Pennsylvania has a wide variety of activities and events. There are several outdoor festivals throughout the year, including Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, which brings over 125,000 people to the area each July. In addition, the area has many entertainment venues from intimate theaters to the large Bryce Jordan Center Arena. For the outdoor enthusiast, State College is surrounded by beautiful mountains and we have several state parks nearby. The sports enthusiast can indulge in college sporting events almost every weekend or attend a minor league baseball game.

State College is easy to get around. We have a robust city bus transportation system that services the University as well as many of the outlying townships. The downtown area is very walkable and the entire city is friendly to bike traffic, with a large network of bike paths.

Academic Advisers

The professor-in-charge of graduate programs, will initially act as the adviser for incoming students. Students are responsible for obtaining a permanent academic adviser and designing a program of graduate study with him or her by the end of their first semester enrolled in graduate study.

To choose an adviser, think about your area or areas of interest — what undergraduate courses were most appealing? Look at the various areas of research conducted in our department that link to your educational interests. Communicate directly with the faculty members who conduct research in those areas to find out what opportunities she or he may have available.

Graduate & Professional Student Association

The Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA) website has a wealth of information is helpful for students new to the area and to graduate studies. Here you will find information from babysitting services to paper editing services. In addition, the GPSA has a housing committee.

Professional Development

The College of Engineering and the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School offer many opportunities for professional development, from grant writing workshops to teaching certificates, to research exhibitions. Take advantage of these great resources to improve your work and gain valuable experience.

Health Services

University Health Services is a nationally-accredited health care service specializing in outpatient student health, helping Penn State students get healthy and stay healthy. Penn State requires medical insurance for all international students and their dependents, and provides medical insurance for all graduate assistants.