Submatriculation

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Bio-Dental submatriculation is a seven-year joint program of the College and Penn's School of Dental Medicine for students who will major in Biology and who wish to enroll in the Dental School during their senior year in the College. Application to the program must be made at the time of application to Penn. Applicants will be notified of their conditional acceptance into the program when they are notified of their admission to Penn. Full acceptance into the program is made after the student's junior year and is based on academic performance during those three years and meeting the admissions standards of the Dental School. For details, see the Biology Department website.

The Bio-Dental submatriculation program is highly structured and may not allow students to pursue dual undergraduate degrees.

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This rigorous program offers an opportunity for highly qualified and motivated College students to apply to Penn Law School during what is generally the first semester of a student's junior year (between 16 and 23.99 c.u.). If accepted, the student will submatriculate into the J.D. program in their senior year. It is designed for students who, with careful planning, want to combine their broad experience of undergraduate study in the College with the professional focus of law school. Applicants must be committed to the study of law in its theoretical and practical aspects.

Students interested in this option should contact Dr. Hocine Fetni in the College Office.

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.

Application form >>

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.