Sophomores: Investigate Additional Opportunities

The submatriculation program allows students in the College to obtain both a baccalaureate degree and a master's degree simultaneously, thereby condensing the total number of years normally required to complete the undergraduate and graduate degrees combined. Students are advised to complete at least one graduate level course in their intended program before applying. In addition, students should speak with the intended graduate program’s chair or director. Read more >>

The College of Arts and Sciences sponsors twenty-five summer research internships at Penn and Philadelphia area cultural, historical and educational organizations, including the Institute for Contemporary Art, the University Museum, Rare Books and Archives, the Van Wert Film Collection, the Art Sanctuary, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Philadelphia History Museum, among others.

Typically these internships pay $3,300 for ten weeks during the summer and ideally lead to an undergraduate research project or provide students with curatorial and/or editorial skills that can be utilized later in their undergraduate careers.

Applications are available in the spring semester. For further information contact the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships or Dr. Eric Schneider in the College Office.

See policies on internships >>

Career Services provides leads on internships in many fields.

In order to apply at the end of the first year at Penn, students must have completed at least 4 course units in each of their first two semesters at Penn. Students may not apply to the dual degree program with unresolved I's, NR's or GR's on their transcripts.

Penn undergraduates have the unique opportunity to receive two Bachelor's degrees simultaneously by completing the requirements of the College along with those of the Nursing School, the School of Engineering and Applied Science or the Wharton School.

A student pursuing the dual degree earns a B.A. from the College and a B.S. from Wharton or Nursing, or the B.S.E. or B.A.S. from Engineering.

It is important to distinguish between a double major and the dual degree program: A student pursuing a double major satisfies the requirements for two separate major programs within the College but earns a single B.A. degree. A student pursuing a dual degree will receive two bachelor's degrees simultaneously, from two separate schools of the University.

A candidate for a dual degree should consult with an advisor from the school of interest and one of the College advisors who specialize in dual degrees in the College Office, Dr. Srilata Gangulee or Dr. Molly McGlone. Careful planning is an important part of doing a dual degree.

College students submit their application for the program to Dr. Gangulee or Dr. McGlone, who forward it to the school to which the student is applying. If the student is accepted, the College will continue to act as his or her home school.

Satisfying the requirements of both schools requires a heavy courseload and may require more than four years to complete, depending upon A.P. credits and how many courses overlap both schools' requirements.

Students wishing to apply for College credit away must obtain approval from the appropriate department at Penn before enrolling in the course, if possible. To request credit away through a Penn department, log in to XCAT (External Course Approval Tool) and submit a course syllabus and other supporting materials from the external institution.

After the course has been completed, the student must request that an official transcript be sent from the institution at which the away credit was taken to the College Office. The College cannot post away credit until this transcript is received.

A minimum grade of C is required for a course to be eligible for credit away. The grade itself, however, will not appear on the Penn transcript.

No credit will be granted for:

• Courses taken at two-year institutions (e.g. junior or community college)
• Courses taken in time frames significantly different from the regular University schedules (academic year and summer sessions)
• Courses other than field courses taken on sites without the appropriate facilities of a college or university (e.g., libraries and laboratories) unless supervised by School of Arts and Sciences faculty
• Distance learning or online courses taken with institutions other than Penn.

After matriculation at Penn, students may not transfer more than 5 c.u. of credit away. Only 4 c.u. may be transferred for work done during one summer. Students must complete the final two semesters of full-time study in the College.