Frequently Asked Questions

When do I take DEMOG 590?

• If you are new to the Demography program, you should take DEMOG 590 as soon as possible in the fall semester. The fall version of the class introduces students to demography in general and here at Penn State.
• If you have already taken DEMOG 590 in the fall and you plan to earn a Ph.D. in Demography, you need to take DEMOG 590 a second time in the Spring semester before you complete your comprehensive exam. For most students, this is the spring semester of their third year in graduate school at Penn State.

How do I become a Demography dual-title PhD student?

• First, you need to already be a graduate student enrolled at Penn State in one of the seven affiliated departments at the University Park campus.
• Second, you need to consult a Demography faculty member in your "home" department to learn more about how the dual-title program works for your field.
• Third, you need to complete the Demography Application Form and email it to Dr. Martin at least two months before you take your qualifying exams in your "home" department.

Do I need to be an official Demography dual-title student to enroll in DEMOG 590 in the fall?

• No, in fact, one of the activities we do in DEMOG 590 is talk about the application process to the Demography program. If you want to be a Demography dual-title student and your graduate program is affiliated with the Demography program, then sign-up for DEMOG 590 in LionPath before applying to the dual-title demography program.

Do I need to enroll in DEMOG 590 every semester?

• No. Students earning a Ph.D. in Demography must only enroll in DEMOG 590 twice -- once in fall and once in spring. Demography Master's students and Ph.D. minor students must only enroll in DEMOG 590 once in the fall semester.
• You should always attend as many PRI events and  demography-related professional opportunities as possible.

What do I do if my primary advisor is not a Demography faculty member and I am a dual-title Master's or PhD student?

• You will need to have a Demography faculty member serve as a co-chair of your Master's thesis or Dissertation committee. Please review the list of Demography faculty and schedule meetings with appropriate candidates as soon as possible to get their assent, notify your current chair, and file the paperwork with the Graduate School.
• Ph.D. students also need a second Demography faculty member on their dissertation committee.

How do I get funding to attend a Demography conference where I am presenting a paper or poster?

• Please review Penn State policies before making any travel arrangements to attend an international conference.  See Penn State's general policies here and review the Graduate School's international travel policies here. You cannot deviate from these procedures.
• If you are not on the program as a paper or poster presenter, it unlikely that you can receive any travel support.
• When looking for travel funds, students should consider and access the following sources (in order):
  1. Consult with faculty advisor or research supervisor: If the paper or poster is connected to an externally-funded research grant, they could have funds available for travel support.
  2. Consult with your home department: Many departments have small pockets of funding for student travel. Learn what is available to you and utilize these funds.
  3. If the conference is the annual meetings of the Population Association of America (PAA), apply for funds from Penn State's Population Research Institute (PRI): Each spring PRI sends out an email with the policies and procedures for applying for travel funds for PAA.  Carefully follow those steps.
  4. If all other sources have been depleted and you will present at a demography conference, then you can apply for up to $500 annually in travel funds from the Demography program. Up to 4 students can receive funding each year.  To apply for these funds, please sign-in using your Penn State account (e.g., abc123@psu.edu) and complete this form.

If I have a general question about my graduate training or Penn State Graduate School policies, whom do I ask -- Demography or my "home" department?

• You ask the Graduate Staff Assistant or the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) / Professor in Charge (PIC) for your home department. Your home department is the lead administrative unit for your graduate education. Also, your program may have specific requirements that take precedent over Demography program procedures.

What if I no longer want be a Demography Master's or Ph.D. student? What if want to switch to a Ph.D. minor in Demography?

• We will be sad to see you go but understand that plans change. To exit the program or switch to a Ph.D. minor, email the Graduate Program Assistant, Ms. Cheryl Mohr, stating your intentions and cc Dr. Martin on that email. Ms. Mohr will generate the official forms for you to sign and submit them to the Graduate School. Note that you cannot become a Demography Ph.D. minor student until after you have completed your Master's degree.