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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts is hosting a virtual admissions event for students interested in learning about professional graduate programs in the School of Public Policy and the School of Labor and Employment Relations at noon on Thursday, July 9.

The virtual admissions event will focus on the value of a professional graduate degree; program options, curriculum, career outcomes and earning potential for graduates; the application process; options for Penn State undergraduates; life at Penn State, and more. The webinar will include a panel featuring a current student in the Master of Public Policy program; Catherine Baumgardner, director of professional development and student engagement with the School of Public Policy; Elaine Farndale, associate director and graduate program director with the School of Labor and Employment Relations; and Trisha Everhart, assistant director of online programs with the School of Labor and Employment Relations. A question-and-answer session will follow the panel discussion.

Professional graduate degree programs in the College of the Liberal Arts focus on real-world application with internships and projects to help students gain extensive job training so that they will secure positions upon graduation. The master of public policy degree prepares future leaders, policymakers, lobbyists, and analysts to make important decisions in the public, private and non-governmental sectors on a variety of social issues. The School of Labor and Employment Relations trains students to excel in a variety of human resource management and employment relations roles while highlighting the growing importance of diversity in the workforce and the globalization of public and private organizations.

“A professional graduate degree like the master of public policy builds on the foundation of the liberal arts education of critical thinking and effective communication by providing students with hard and soft skills, as well as project-based job training so that they are prepared for their chosen career path,” Baumgardner said. “The integration of an internship and capstone experience puts theory into practice, and leaves graduates ready to make an immediate impact.”

“Events such as these give us the opportunity not only to answer questions about the programs, but also to provide guidance and insight about the opportunities for graduates. Having our current students and faculty available to offer their perspective gives prospective students the chance to connect with individuals that they could be working with in the future,” Baumgardner said.

Online registration is required; the streaming link will be provided upon registration. To learn more about professional graduate programs in the College of the Liberal Arts, visit publicpolicy.psu.edu or ler.la.psu.edu.

July 1, 2020

Watch the recorded webinar here!