Policies Governing Degree Options
Policies & Procedures|Policies-Academic Opportunities
Dual Degree
- Students who have been accepted to dual degree programs must complete 14 College courses outside the major, including courses for the Foundational Approaches, Sector Requirements and Free Electives.
- The total number of credit units for both degrees is between 37 and 48. Students must complete worksheets with their advisors in both schools showing how they will meet graduation requirements.
- Dual Degree with the Nursing School: A g.p.a. of 3.00 is necessary for consideration. Consult the Nursing School further details.
- Dual Degree with the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (See further details.) The Engineering School looks for a cumulative g.p.a. of 3.00. The School also likes to see MATH 104, MATH 114, PHYS 150, PHYS 151, and CHEM 101 and CHEM 053. By the end of the second year, the student should have at least one sophomore-level engineering course. The total number of credit units a student must have for the two degrees may be as high as 46.
- Dual Degree with the Wharton School (See further details.) Students must have a minimum 3.40 cumulative g.p.a. at the time of application. This g.p.a. does not guarantee admission to the program. In order to apply at the end of the first year, a student needs to have taken or have credit for MATH 104, and a waiver or credit for ECON 001 and ECON 002. In order to apply in the middle of the sophomore year, students must have taken STAT 101 and ACCT 101 and BPUB 250. In order to apply at the end of the sophomore year, students must have taken STAT102 and ACCT 102 as well. Students who transfer to the College with junior standing, whether they are internal or external transfers, may not apply for a dual degree with Wharton.
Application
In order to apply at the end of the first year at Penn, students must have completed at least 8 credit units at Penn. Students may not apply to the dual degree program with unresolved I's, NR's or GR's on their transcripts.
Applications for a dual degree can be submitted at the end of the freshman year, after the first semester of the sophomore year or at the end of the sophomore year. Students are usually not eligible to apply for the dual degree after the sophomore year.
Both degrees must be awarded at the same time even if the requirements for one are completed in an earlier semester.
Submatriculation
The minimum course requirement for the master's degree is 8 credit units, although some graduate programs may require more than this minimum. Courses earning credit for the master's degree must be at the graduate level as specified by the graduate program, usually at the 500 level and above.
In any submatriculation program, a maximum of 4 credit units at the graduate level may be included in both the B.A. and the M.A. degrees. Thus, the minimum number of credit units for a submatriculation program is 36. These four courses may be part of the major requirements or the electives of the undergraduate program, but may not include courses in independent study. Some graduate programs may permit fewer than four courses to be double counted.
Graduate courses taken prior to admission into a submatriculation program in Arts and Sciences cannot be applied toward a masters degree, unless approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies. Non-Arts and Sciences submatriculation programs may vary with regard to this restriction.
Most submatriculation programs are intended to be completed within the prescribed four undergraduate years. If you are currently a financial aid recipient, your masters degree may be entirely covered by undergraduate financial aid. If your studies extend beyond the four years, however, you'll need to consult with Student Financial Services and the relevant graduate school and department for further information regarding financial aid.
Residency
All coursework for a maste's degree from Arts and Sciences must be completed at Penn, except for graduate coursework completed on a Penn-sponsored study abroad program. No transfer or study away courses will be accepted. Requirements for non-Arts and Sciences programs may vary.
- Print the Application for Submatriculation form and then see Dr. Gary Purpura in the College advising office, 120 Claudia Cohen Hall, for a consultation about submatriculation. Note that, once admitted to submatriculation, changes to the proposed course plan on the Application for Submatriculation must be submitted in writing to Dr. Purpura.
- See the graduate group chair of the proposed masters program to discuss interests and qualifications. Obtain the graduate chair's approval of the intended graduate course plan.
- See the undergraduate chair of the undergraduate major department (if the proposed graduate courses are to be used for the major) to obtain approval to proceed.
- In the case of Arts and Sciences, submit a copy of the approved Application for Submatriculation to the Graduate Division Office (3401A Walnut Street, Suite 222) in order to obtain the signature of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies. Obtain graduate admissions application materials and complete them as instructed. For other graduate schools, submit a copy of the approved Application for Submatriculation and other materials as required by that school. Note: Some programs may require certain graduate examinations be taken.
Financial Aid
Students on financial aid are advised to consult with Student Financial Services regarding the continuation of their aid beyond eight semesters if they will need more than eight semesters to complete both degrees. Some programs require students to become graduate students in their final year which may not be covered by the students’ undergraduate financial aid. Again, consultation with Student Financial Services is essential.
- Students must apply to the seven-year Bio-Dental submatriculation program at the time of application to Penn. Their status will be reviewed at the end of their sophomore year when they declare the biology major. Admission into the program is conditional upon the student's academic performance in his/her three years of College, the g.p.a. in the sciences taken in the College, and the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) score.
- Students must apply to the Dental School again when they have completed 28 of the 36 c.u. required for the B.A. with a biology major. (All 28 c.u. must be College of Arts and Sciences courses, i.e., not Wharton, Engineering, etc.)
- If admitted to the program, four Dental School courses will be counted toward the biology major and four courses will count as Free Electives in the College.
- The student may elect to opt out of the program, in which case he or she may complete the undergraduate degree with a biology major or even choose a different major.
For further information please contact Dr. Gary Purpura in the College Office.
- Prospective applicants to the B.A./J.D. program should have fulfilled most—if not all—of their undergraduate degree requirements by what is generally a student's junior year (between 16 and 23.99 c.u.).
- A prospective applicant should have a g.p.a. of 3.4 or above to apply.
- Following matriculation to the Law School, four College courses (400-level or above) must be taken and will be counted toward both the B.A. and the J.D. These courses must be approved by a Law School advisor.
- Up to four Law School courses may be counted toward the B.A., either as free electives (as long as the student has taken a total of sixteen College courses outside the major) or as major-related courses (as approved by the major advisor).
- No more than 8 courses in all can be double counted toward both degrees. Students must satisfy all the requirements for the J.D. during their fourth, fifth and sixth years of study.
- Students in the program must complete an advanced-level seminar or independent study in their major field of study by the time they have completed 23.99 c.u.
Application
Students apply to the Law School for admission to this program in the fall semester of their junior year. The application includes an essay explaining the relationship between his or her experience in the College and the study of law and a proposed plan of study developed in consultation with the College advisor.
LSAT scores are required
Although the Law School makes the final decision about acceptance into the submatriculation program, the student's application must also be approved by the College committee.
Students who are serious about this program should contact Dr. Hocine Fetni at 215.898.6341 for an appointment to discuss their plans.
Inquiries about the J.D. requirements should be addressed to Ms. Renee Post, Director of Admissions at the Law School.
