Application deadlines
You may apply to begin Organizational Dynamics Programs studies during the fall, spring, or summer terms. Note that Penn LPS does not offer an admission deferral option; please be sure to apply to the term for which you plan to begin your studies.
Your application portfolio, including all transcripts, must be received by the following deadlines:
Domestic and international student deadlines:
| Program |
Term of Entry |
Deadline |
|---|---|---|
|
Spring 2026 | October 15, 2025 |
| Summer 2026 | March 1, 2026 | |
Fall 2026 |
May 15, 2026 |
Application requirements
Since all required supporting documents are submitted through the online application system, hardcopy material other than official transcripts or letters of recommendation will not be accepted.* Please urge your recommenders to submit their letters through the online system. All application materials become the property of the University of Pennsylvania and will not be returned. Remember to retain a personal copy of your application.
*Unsolicited material will not be reviewed.
MSOD and MPhil application checklist:
Complete and submit the online application. There is a $75 non-refundable application fee. You may submit your application fee online by credit/debit card.
Submit your current resume, which should highlight your professional, academic, and service experiences and interests. We encourage applications to include all positions held (including recent internships), degree and non-degree coursework completed (including certificates and MOOCs), as well as volunteer or community activities.
Your application requires two essays (and one optional essay) addressing the following topics. Number your essays clearly and begin each essay on a separate page. Each response should be approximately 500 words.
- Organizational Dynamics Programs focus on people-centered challenges in the workplace. Based on your career experiences, explain what you hope to learn in the Organizational Dynamics Programs and how you expect to apply that knowledge in the future.
- Each Organizational Dynamics Programs student will complete a capstone project, which is an opportunity to research an organizational issue of their choice. What research question might you explore through the capstone? To review topics that past students have considered, visit Penn’s Scholarly Commons.
- (Optional) If you believe your undergraduate or graduate transcripts present an inaccurate picture of your anticipated academic performance in Organizational Dynamics Programs, please write an additional essay explaining why.
Unofficial transcripts from each post-secondary school you have attended need to be uploaded through the online application system.
Note: If you don’t yet have your transcripts and wish to work on other parts of the application while you wait, you can temporarily bypass the transcript section. To do so, upload something in each transcript slot such as a simple Word document that briefly indicates why the transcript isn’t there (such as “official transcripts have been sent to Penn” or “waiting for unofficial transcripts to arrive”).
Each applicant will submit three letters of recommendation. Letters should come from individuals in a position to evaluate your professional and/or academic work, such as a supervisor or professor, and who know of your desire to enter the Organizational Dynamics Programs. Recommendations may be submitted online (preferred) or by mail. For online recommendations, please follow the instructions in the Recommendations section of the online application.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We require letters to be on letterhead with an original or digital signature. Letters received without this information will not be accepted and could delay your admissions process.
Dynamics Learning Exchange application checklist:
Complete and submit the online application. There is a $75 non-refundable application fee. You may submit your application fee online by credit/debit card.
Submit your current resume, which should highlight your professional, academic, and service experiences and interests. We encourage applications to include all positions held (including recent internships), degree and non-degree coursework completed (including certificates and MOOCs), as well as volunteer or community activities.
Your application will include essays addressing the following topics. Please compile all essays together in one document. Number your essays clearly and begin each essay on a separate page. Responses may be as long or as short as you feel necessary. The equivalent of approximately one to three pages (250-750 words) is a general range. Each essay should demonstrate your writing skills, critical thinking, initiative and motivation, planning and organizational skills, creativity, and flexibility.
- Organizational Dynamics Programs focus on people-centered challenges in the workplace. Based on your career experiences, explain what you hope to learn in the Organizational Dynamics Programs and how you expect to apply that knowledge in the future.
- (Optional) If you believe your undergraduate or graduate transcripts submitted do not present an accurate picture of your anticipated performance in Organizational Dynamics Programs, please write an additional essay explaining why.
Unofficial transcripts from each post-secondary school you have attended need to be uploaded through the online application system.
Note: If you don’t yet have your transcripts and wish to work on other parts of the application while you wait, you can temporarily bypass the transcript section. To do so, upload something in each transcript slot such as a simple Word document that briefly indicates why the transcript isn’t there (such as “official transcripts have been sent to Penn” or “waiting for unofficial transcripts to arrive”).
Each applicant will submit one letter of recommendation. The letter should come from an individual in a position to evaluate your professional and/or academic work, such as a supervisor or professor, and who knows of your desire to enter the Dynamics Learning Exchange program. Recommendations may be submitted online (preferred) or by mail. For online recommendations, please follow the instructions in the Recommendations section of the online application.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We require letters to be on letterhead with an original or digital signature. Letters received without this information will not be accepted and could delay your admissions process.
Standardized test scores
Standardized test scores are not required for admission to the Organizational Dynamics Programs. However, you may choose to submit standardized test scores, such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), in support of your application. Request that your scores report for the GRE test be forwarded to the College of Liberal and Professional Studies, using ETS institutional code 2986.
A strong command of the English language is necessary for successful study at Penn. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores to demonstrate English proficiency. Please note that the TOEFL is rarely waived; therefore, we encourage applicants to take the test to avoid delays in completing the application. The minimum TOEFL scores required for admissions consideration are: 100 (iBT), 250 (CBT) or 600 (PBT). The TOEFL must be sent from ETS using the institutional code 2986. To locate a testing site near you or schedule an exam, visit the TOEFL website. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is also accepted and the minimum score for consideration is a 7. You may upload a copy of your IELTS test to the standardized test score section of the application.
Please note, the College of Liberal and Professional Studies is accepting at-home GRE and TOEFL test scores. Visit the specific standardized testing websites for exam options in your home country.
Upon review of an applicant's file, the Admissions Committee reserves the right to request TOEFL scores.
International transcripts from institutions outside the United States
Applicants who have attended a college or university outside the US are required to have a course-by-course credential evaluation (with grade point average and course levels) performed by an outside evaluation service. You do not need to have a transcript evaluation done for a university which was attended for only one semester as an exchange student. Credential evaluations will be reviewed by our administrators, and the determination of degree equivalency to US degrees is at the discretion of the College of Liberal and Professional Studies. The following evaluation service is acceptable:
World Education Services Inc. (WES): WES must complete a course-by-course evaluation of all post-secondary credentials. The course-by-course evaluation should include the comparability level of your education and list each of your courses along with the equivalent US marks and credit. Please select the WES basic course-by-course evaluation (with grade point average and course levels) and request that WES send your evaluation to Penn College of Liberal and Professional Studies Admissions. The school can be found by searching the University of Pennsylvania and then selecting College of Liberal and Professional Studies. The evaluation becomes an official academic record and sole property of the University upon its receipt. For additional information about the WES application and its review process, please visit the WES website.
The World Education Service will provide instructions for how to request and submit the required academic documents for review, and the process can take several weeks to complete. We encourage you to begin this process at least eight weeks in advance of the application deadline.
Please note that this service charges a fee for the evaluation.
