Archive: Notes for Pre-Major Advisors
| Summer 2012 | |
New Sociology Concentration |
The Sociology major program is offering a new concentration focusing on Law and Society. Summer 2012 |
| Spring 2012 | |
Change to Communication Major |
Changes have been approved to the Communication major that will affect students beginning with the Class of 2016, who will matriculate in thefall 2012 semester. These changes include a new g.p.a.requirement of 3.0 in the three courses taken before application to the major and the replacement of the current "cluster" system with concentrations. For details, view the Communication undergraduate program site. Spring 2012 |
New Economics Major and Minor |
Students have two new options in the Economics program: a minor in Economic Policy and a major in Mathematical Economics. For details, visit the departmental site.Spring 2012 |
| Fall 2011 | |
Pre-Med Advising |
View the workshop on advising students interested in the health care professions. Fall 2011 |
BIOL 121 |
As of fall 2011, BIOL121 (Introduction To Biology - the Molecular Biology of Life) will beoffered split into two sections - BIOL121, a 1-c.u. lecture section; and BIOL123, a 0.5 c.u. lab section. Both sections should be taken concurrently (i.e., they are co-requisites). Fall 2011 |
| Spring 2011 | |
New Design Minor |
A new minor in Design will be offered, involving coursework in Architecture, Fine Arts, and Visual Studies. More information will follow by the fall. Spring 2011 |
| Spring 2010 | |
Freshman Checklist |
The Freshman Checklist outlines what incoming freshmen should be doing between June and August to prepare for their first academic semester. Spring 10 |
Changes in Introductory Chemistry |
The Chemistry Department has made changes to their introductory sequence. See the linked .pdf for details. Spring 10 |
Geology is Earth Science |
The former Geology major has been renamed Earth Science. Spring 10 |
Entry Courses to Majors |
Undergraduate chairs have provided a list of entry courses to their majors. Students may find this useful in early explorations. Spring 10 |
Two New Video Tutorials |
The Registration Tutorial for first-semester freshmen covers course selection, mock schedules and advance registration techniques. The XCAT Tutorial demonstrates how to request Penn credit for courses taken outside of Penn. Spring 10 |
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Fall 2009 |
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No Pre-College Math Credit |
The Mathematics department will not give credit for college Math courses taken by freshmen before they matriculated at Penn. Rather, these students should take the department's internal placement exam. Information on this exam can be found here. Please note that this does not apply to AP or IB test credit. Fall 09 |
Advising students on further study in French |
Some students will come to Penn having already placed out of the Language Requirement in French with an SATII or AP score. In many cases, the appropriate next course will be FREN202 (Advanced French), followed by FREN212 (Advanced Grammar and Composition). However, a student who has a 5 on the French AP language or literature exam or who has a 750 or greater on either of the SAT II subject tests in French could take FREN221 or 222 (Perspectives in French Literature). For further information about which course to take, please contact the Undergraduate Chair. Fall 09 |
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Fall 2008 |
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New requirements for the Economics major |
Beginning with the Class of 2012, Economics majors will be required to take a course in Econometrics, which will be numbered ECON104. As a result, the required courses for all Economics majors will be: ECON001, ECON002, ECON101, ECON102, ECON103, ECON104, MATH104, and MATH114 or 115. Fall 08 |
Introductory Biology courses |
A note from the Biology department: BIOL 101 is the companion course to BIOL 102 and may be taken before or after BIOL 102. (I.e. the two courses do not necessarily have to be taken in sequence. Both are still required for the Biology and Biological Basis of Behavior majors.) Fall 08 |
New ANTH concentrations |
The Anthropology major will offer a new concentration in Medical Anthropology and Global Health. |
New EALC concentrations |
The East Asian Languages and Civilizations major will add a dual concentration option in Chinese and Japanese (18 c.u.). See the websites for details. Fall 08 |
New major in Slavic Lang. & Lit. |
The Slavic Languages and Literatures department will be offering a new Russian Culture and History major. Visit the department website for details. Fall 08 |
Changes to the PPE major |
There have been some changes to the Philosophy, Politics and Economics major that are in effect for all students declaring the major as of fall 2008. Please go to the program's website to read the details. Fall 08. |
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Spring 2008 |
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Changes to Environmental Studies major |
The Environmental Studies major remains 15 credit units in total, but the number of required core courses for the major will increase from 5 to 8. ENVS200 will remain the required introductory course for the major. Details will be available on the department's website. Spring 08. |
Cultural Diversity in the U.S. Requirement |
Advisors for the Class of 2012 should note that students may not use the same course to fulfill both the Cross-Cultural Analysis and the Cultural Diversity in the U.S. Requirement. Each requirement must be satisfied by a separate course. Spring 08. |
Changes to BBB major |
Starting with students in the class of 2012 (freshmen entering this fall), the core requirements for the Biological Basis of Behavior major will be somewhat different. PSYC001 will no longer be required, and students interested in the major will be encouraged to take BIBB109, Introduction to Brain and Behavior, sooner. Also, ANTH003 will no longer fulfill a core requirement for the major. Details of these and other changes to the major will be available on the department's website. Spring 08. |
New Requirement: Sophomore Dual Degree/Transfer |
In addition to the previous requirements for students considering a dual degree with or transfer to Wharton, sophomores intending to apply must also have completed BPUB 250 or ECON 101. Spring 08. |
Change to the International Relations major |
At the moment the International Relations major stipulates four pre-requisite courses, including ECON001 and 002, which, along with the 12 required major courses, bring the total major requirement to 16 c.u. Beginning in fall 2008, ECON001 and 002 will no longer be official pre-requisites, dropping the total major requirement to 14 c.u. The Political Science and History pre-requisites will remain (see the IR program website for a list of courses), and students will still need to take ECON001 and 002 in order to proceed with the IR major, since there is further Economics coursework within the major core. However, those two courses will now be considered outside the major. For further questions or clarifications, send students to the IR program office. Spring 08. |
Math for Economics Majors |
Incoming freshmen with AP or transfer credit for ECON001 and ECON002 must complete MATH104 and MATH114 or MATH115 before enrolling in ECON101. Upperclassmen must have at least a B+ in MATH104 to take ECON101 and MATH114 or MATH115 concurrently. Spring 08. |
Student questions about AP credit |
If a student has any question about expected A.P. credits that do not show up on their transcript, the following is recommended: Confirm that the scores the student received will in fact confer credit. Some scores result in a waiver, which does not include any actual credit. A.P. equivalency chart here. Ask whether the student has directed ETS to send his or her scores to Penn. If not, then the student must arrange with ETS to have the scores sent to Penn. The ETS code for Penn's Undergraduate Admissions is 2926. If the student has already paid to have scores sent to Penn, then refer him or her to Mark Shank in the Admissions Office. Spring 08. |
AP credits in Math |
Entering students and pre-major advisors should note that the Mathematics Department does not give advanced placement credit for any foreign exams, such as the German Abitur, French Baccalaureat or English A-levels. Details on the department's advanced placement policies are here. Spring 08. |
