Policies Governing Submatriculation | University of Pennsylvania

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.

Policies Governing the B.A./J.D. Submatriculation

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.

Policies Governing Bio-Dental Submatriculation

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.