Program Description

Each summer, 64 of the state's top high school juniors and seniors spend five weeks at Penn State, learn about a wide variety of topics in the agricultural sciences. 

The students work on research projects with professors and have access to college facilities, including specialized libraries and laboratories. More than 1400 students have attended the school since its inception. Nearly all of them have gone on to college, and many have chosen to attend Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Between 70 and 100 College of Agricultural Sciences faculty and staff members take part in the program each year, teaching such subjects as contemporary issues in animal agriculture, animal genetics, agribusiness, natural resources, conservation, plant science, and biological engineering.  The students take core courses and choose elective courses. The scholars also choose an independent study projects.

During the program, students take field trips to agricultural businesses and federal and state agencies and get hands-on experience working in laboratories, greenhouses and farms. Past activities included visits to New Bolton Center, Longwood Gardens, Bald Eagle State Park, Pasto Agricultural Museum, Evergreen Farms, Hanover Shoe Farm, UTZ Quality Foods, Inc., Hershey Technical Center, and Shaver's Creek Environmental Center. At the end of the program, participants receive a completion certificate from the state.

Students are not graded or ranked, leaving them free to learn without pressure.

The Governor's School is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Departments of Education, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture, the state's intermediate units and Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. Pennsylvania Governor's Schools also are offered in the arts, sciences, health care, teaching, information technology, international studies, and global entrepreneurship.  Please visit PGSE.ORG for more information and to download applications.