Additional Course Options

Academically Based Community Service Courses (ABCS) are service courses rooted in, and intrinsically linked to, teaching and research. With an emphasis on student and faculty reflection, ABCS is committed to linking theory and practice through activities that make a significant difference in the community of West Philadelphia and at Penn.

Supported by the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) courses involve hands-on, real-world problem solving and work to build a sustained engagement that transforms students into active community members and citizens. Through their work with West Philadelphia public schools, communities of faith and community organizations, ABCS faculty and students work to solve critical community issues in a variety of areas, such as the environment, health, arts and education. Over 160 ABCS courses from diverse schools and disciplines across the University have engaged in work in West Philadelphia through the Netter Center for Community Partnerships.

Once you have completed the first five components of Study Abroad: Step by Step you are ready to seek approval for your study abroad courses. Read more >>

Courses numbered 500-599 are designed as mixed courses primarily for graduate students. Permission of the instructor is required for registration by undergraduates in these courses; however, registration for courses numbered 600 and above requires permission of the instructor, a letter from the chair of the department in which the course is offered, and the endorsement of the Dean of the College.

The College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS) is a division of the School of Arts and Sciences. LPS administers programs for adult, professional and part-time students, and offers late-afternoon, evening and Saturday courses at the undergraduate, post-baccalaureate and graduate levels.

• Students in the College of Arts and Sciences may register for LPS courses through Penn InTouch.
• Note that a certain number of spaces may be reserved for LPS students until the first week of classes, and some classes have restricted enrollments for LPS students only.
• College students may direct questions about enrollment policies for specific LPS classes to the LPS office.
• Students can find LPS courses using the Course Search tool on Penn InTouch. A complete LPS course guide, with full descriptions of courses offered, is available at the LPS office and on the website.

A College course is any course offered by a department or program in the School of Arts and Sciences or the Communications Department.

The following are considered college courses:

• A.P. credits (except those designated CIS or STAT)
• Transfer credits given by College departments
• LPS courses Students who are unclear as to whether a given course is in the College should consult with an assistant dean for advising.

Courses from departments and programs in the following schools are non-College:

In addition, transfer credits given by non-College departments are considered non-College courses.

The College does not give any credit for ROTC or Preceptorial courses.

Some students enter Penn having already taken college-level courses during high school, either in competition with college students or as part of a special program taught at their high school. Penn treats these two cases differently, and students must be careful to observe the criteria below.

In order to seek credit for college work completed prior to matriculation at Penn, a student must log in to XCAT and submit a course syllabus to the appropriate Penn department. Students should be sure to check "pre-college course" when they make the request in XCAT.

• Any college courses used to fulfill high school graduation requirements are not eligible for credit at Penn.
• The college or university must be a fully accredited four-year institution.
• The course must correspond to a course offered by Penn, or be deemed equivalent in depth and intensity.
• A grade of C or better must have been received.
• The course must be part of the normal curriculum published in the college’s catalogue.
• The course must be taught on the college campus by a member of the regular faculty.
• The course must be open to enrollment by, and graded in direct competition with, regularly matriculated undergraduates at that college.
• The student must request that the external college or University send an official transcript directly to Ms. Eddrena Owens in the Undergraduate Admissions office (215.898.7507) along with a letter stating that the course was part of the normal curriculum published in the college’s catalogue, taught by the regular faculty on the college campus and was open to enrollment by, and graded in direct competition with, regularly matriculated undergraduates at that college.

Please note: Acceptance of pre-college credit is at the discretion of the individual Penn department or program. Instead of awarding pre-college credit, some departments may provide an assessment exam that may result in Penn credit. Please contact the undergraduate chair for confirmation.

The preceptorial program is designed to foster student-faculty interaction and learning for its own sake; to that end, there are no grades or tests.

• Preceptorials are short, small, non-credit seminars generated by students and led by some of the University's most distinguished faculty.
• Most preceptorials meet three times over the course of the semester, for 1 1/2 hours per session, but some are one-day trips. There is no fee to participate.
• Students request preceptorials during Advance Registration using Penn InTouch.
• A list of preceptorials can be found at the website.

Courses affiliated with Communication Within the Curriculum (CWiC) offer a variety of speaking assignments and are housed in a number of departments.  Every affiliated course requires students to work with the CWiC advisor assigned to the course to improve their classroom presentations.

The Creative Writing Program offers workshops in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, journalistic writing, screenwriting, and playwriting. It also offers minors in Creative Writing and Journalistic Writing, publishes a literary journal highlighting; the work of students, faculty and eminent alumni writers; and provides qualified English majors the opportunity to earn honors in English by submitting a creative thesis. Throughout the year, the program invites visiting writers to Penn for readings and talks, and sponsors a University-wide writing contest each spring.

The Critical Writing Program provides a uniquely discipline-based writing curriculum for Penn undergraduates across all four schools. Students fulfill their writing requirement through Critical Writing seminars and receive additional writing support and feedback from peer and senior tutors in the Writing Center.

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Courses recommended by major departments and programs for students interested in exploring a particular major.