Admission decisions are based on the complete application portfolio. Admission to the MMM degree program is granted jointly by the Graduate School of Penn State University and Penn State Behrend's School of Engineering and the Black School of Business.

Applicants for Fall 2023 must submit a complete application by June 12, 2023.

All application materials, including references, are due by the deadline. Completed applications are processed on a rolling basis.

Please note: International students requiring an I-20 visa cannot enroll in our MMM program, since the program is delivered predominantly online. International students residing in the U.S. with a work visa may apply.

Academic Eligibility

For admission to the Graduate School at Penn State, you must hold either: 
a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or 
a postsecondary degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

MMM applicants should have an academic background in engineering, science, business administration, or interdisciplinary business with engineering studies. Applicants who expect to graduate with a bachelor's degree in engineering, science, business administration, or interdisciplinary business with engineering studies may apply for admission to the program in their senior year.

Pre-Enrollment Competencies

All applicants must have taken undergraduate coursework in mathematics, computer science, and statistics, or the equivalent. Applicants also are expected to have foundational knowledge in these subject areas:

  • Accounting
  • Calculus
  • Economics
  • Engineering Design and Computer-Aided Design
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Operations or Supply Chain Management
  • Statistics

Applicants who lack subject-area expertise can meet pre-enrollment competency by completing online modules offered by MBA iQ, Harvard Business School, and Coursera. You’ll take only the modules you need.

Modules are self-paced and can be started anytime but must be completed at least one week before the first semester begins. Students who commit ten hours per week to the modules can complete all three modules in two or three months. The completion time is much faster for students who have only one or two modules to complete. 

Prior to applying to the MMM, email a current resume and unofficial transcript to [email protected] to begin evaluation of your pre-enrollment competency. The program directors will determine which competencies you need to fulfill and recommend the best methods for doing so. It is best to start this process early in your application process; you can even send the materials before you begin your application.

MMM Application Requirements

Review these steps fully before beginning your application. For best results, apply using a Firefox or Chrome browser. Individuals with international credentials will have additional requirements for application.

1. Submit Penn State’s Graduate School Online Application.

Before you apply, be sure to have official transcripts from all institutions attended (see Step 4 below for details). In the application, skip any questions that don’t apply, such as junior/senior GPA, GMAT/GRE scores, etc.

2. Upload a Statement of Purpose. 

The statement should be one to one and a half pages in length. Once completed, upload your statement to your digital application portfolio. (Note: It is recommended that the statement be a .txt or .pdf file for ease of uploading.) The statement should address the following questions:

  • Why have you chosen to pursue a Master of Manufacturing Management degree at Penn State Behrend?
  • How will these studies help you achieve your personal and professional goals?
  • How will your participation contribute to the Penn State Behrend MMM program?
  • Indicate your current, or most recent, work and/or internship responsibilities.

3. Upload a current résumé that includes a comprehensive outline of employers and work experiences.

4. Upload a copy of an official transcript from each institution attended, except Penn State.  

Prior to applying, contact the registrar’s office at all institutions attended, except Penn State, to obtain an official transcript. An official transcript bears the university logo and includes the registrar’s signature. Do not upload advising or unofficial transcripts. Your application will not be processed without an official transcript. Do not mail any transcripts or other printed materials to Penn State Behrend or to the Graduate School.

If you are a Penn State alumnus, you do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State, but you must list Penn State as part of your academic history. Previously submitted transcripts for a Penn State undergraduate application cannot be used for a graduate level application.
 
You can return to your application in the Graduate School portal at any time. Click on “Check your application status.”

5. Submit contact information for two professional references.

The MMM program requires two references from academic or professional sources. 
References will receive an email directing them to complete a web-based form where they will rank you on 30 qualities. References can add narrative, if they choose, but are not required to submit anything further. 

References must complete the form before or by the application deadline, so be sure to allow them plenty of time to complete the process.

MMM Admission Notification

Once your application is complete, a recommendation for admission will be made by the program directors. This typically takes up to seven business days and you will be notified of your admission status by email. Admission is offered jointly with the Graduate School, so your credentials also require its formal approval.

Upon acceptance of your offer of admission, you will receive a request from the Graduate School to send sealed copies of your official transcripts (these are separate from the official transcripts that you unsealed to upload to your online application). Accepting your offer and completing this step in a timely manner keeps the admissions process moving, allowing you to register for classes sooner.

Once you accept your offer, you will receive a series of emails introducing you to the tools you’ll use in your graduate education, including LionPATH, which is Penn State’s student information system. LionPATH is where you register for courses, access your tuition bills, and more. You must complete all pre-registration activities in LionPATH prior to enrolling in courses.

You’ll also be notified about a mandatory MMM orientation session.

If you need to change your semester of enrollment, you can defer it for up to three semesters. Email your request, including the semester in which you would like to enroll, to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Transferring Credits

Penn State allows the transfer of up to 10 qualified external credits into a program. Credits must not have been used to satisfy the requirements of another degree at Penn State or elsewhere. 

Transfer credits must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be equivalent to a 400-, 500-, or 800-level course at Penn State;Must have been earned at a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an officially recognized degree-granting international institution;
  • Must be of "A" or "B" grade value ("B-" grades are not transferable, and pass-fail grades are not transferable unless the “Pass” can be substantiated by the former institution as having at least "B" quality);
  • Must appear on an official transcript of a regionally accredited U.S. institution or recognized degree-granting international institution;
  • Must be earned within five years prior to the date of registration in a graduate degree program at Penn State, and specific criteria apply.

Transfer of external credits must be approved by the academic program and by the Graduate School. Contact Dr. Dipo Onipede, program chair, for consideration of transfer credits.