University of Pennsylvania

Academics

Grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and enriched by the integrated resources of four undergraduate and 12 graduate schools, Penn offers students an unparalleled education informed by inclusivity, intellectual rigor, research, and the impetus to create new knowledge to the benefit of individuals and communities around the world.

Explore Across Disciplines

Penn students develop the intellectual connections they need to thrive in an ever-changing and complex world. Working with faculty across a flexible curriculum spanning 4 undergraduate and 12 graduate schools, students develop adaptable, well-rounded minds. The physical proximity of the university’s resources make thinking and learning between departments and disciplines a part of everyday life at Penn. From innovative dual degree programs that defy traditional academic boundaries to rigorous grounding in the liberal arts and sciences, Penn is fueled by an open and endless exchange of ideas.

Innovate and Apply Knowledge

Penn students do more than just wrestle with big ideas—they bring them to life by putting them to use, embracing a practical approach to education that dates to Penn’s founder, Benjamin Franklin. Encouraged by professors and supported by the university, students test their knowledge through practical application—in our labs and classrooms, throughout Philadelphia, and around the world. By connecting their studies to actual problems, Penn students develop the skills, experiences, and inclination to thrive in a world that needs innovative 

Belong to a Diverse Community

Join a community where you can be who you are and do what you love. At Penn, you will live and learn among inspiring and talented people, encountering a remarkable range of backgrounds, interests, and beliefs. Supportive and stimulating, Penn offers everything our students need to feel at home—from dynamic College Houses to opportunities for cultural exploration to the unmatchable spirit of Ivy League athletics.

Live in a Vibrant City

To Penn students, Philadelphia is more than the nation’s fifth-largest city and cheesesteak capital. The City of Brotherly Love is a second home and a vital part of their education. A short walk from campus, this extended classroom offers great museums, research opportunities, corporate internships, iron chef restaurants, the nation’s largest city park system, ethnic neighborhoods, professional sports, live music—and countless opportunities to play a role in making the city even better.

Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships

The Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF) is a unique resource that links students with research opportunities throughout the entire University. CURF links students with research opportunities throughout the University.

CURF advisors assist undergraduates interested in research with finding faculty mentors and opportunities for involvement. In addition, CURF helps those interested in post-graduate fellowships to develop competitive applications and proposals and provides information and assistance for undergraduates applying for funding for research and research-related activities.

Undergraduate Publishing

The value of research is increased when the results can be shared. Both in collaboration with professors and independently, Penn students regularly publish their research results and present their findings at professional conferences throughout the country and world. Penn’s 11 undergraduate research journals offer opportunities for Penn students to share their findings. Here are a few of the most common.

Penn in Your Town

Admissions Officers travel throughout the world hosting various programs for current high school students and their parents. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change, so be sure to confirm the details of the session you are interested in attending as the event approaches.

Additionally, Penn Admissions travels across the country with representatives from Duke University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, and Stanford University as part of our Exploring College Options (ECO) recruitment program. To see more information on Exploring College Options.

Undergraduate Research and Scholars Programs

Invitations to join or apply to specific programs are made at the time students are admitted.  Students can also apply directly to designated programs at the end of their freshman year.  Please check individual websites for information.

Benjamin Franklin Scholars

Benjamin Franklin Scholars are selected based on their deep engagement in the liberal arts and sciences, both as a broad foundation of knowledge and as engines of change in the world.

University Scholars

The University Scholars program provides an unusual academic environment for intellectually dynamic students who have already demonstrated their commitment and dedication to research.

Integrated Studies Program

Students accepted into Benjamin Franklin Scholars (BFS) who are also enrolled in the College engage in a unique liberal arts and sciences education. It begins with a special freshman-year curriculum, Integrated Studies, which surveys the broad territory of the arts and sciences and continues into the sophomore, junior, and senior years with an open invitation to participate in a wide array of BFS seminars. Scholars choose among these advanced-topic seminars according to their interests, with minimal prerequisites, and from a wide variety of fields.

The Joseph Wharton Scholars Program

Founded in 1988 as part of the Benjamin Franklin Scholars program, the Joseph Wharton Scholars Program was designed to emphasize the importance of breadth in the liberal arts and sciences within thframework of a business education.

Nursing Undergraduate Honors Programe 

Students enrolled in the School of Nursing who are selected for the Nursing Undergraduate Honors Program (NUHP) are simultaneously designated Benjamin Franklin Scholars. NUHP develops the next generation of nurse achievers—scholars, leaders, and researchers—by promoting intellectual rigor, academic excellence, and outstanding achievement. NUHP looks for highly motivated, inquisitive students who thrive on challenge, want to take more intellectually stimulating courses, and wish to contribute to knowledge and practice via scholarship and research. NUHP Scholars meet with the Associate Director of Undergraduate Academic Affairs to create an individualized plan of study and are required to take at least three BFS seminars while at Penn (see above).

Clark Scholars within Penn Engineering 

Clark Scholars Program, funded through a gift from the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation, provides financial support for engineering students who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated financial need. Students enrolled in the cohort-based program will pursue a rigorous engineering curriculum, take at least 1-2 business courses, participate in community service and leadership seminars, engage in research internships and seminars, and interact with faculty leaders in the field. By combining engineering, leadership, business skills and service learning, the Clark Scholars Program aims to foster engineer-leaders dedicated to civic engagement and the public good. Penn will aim to enroll the first cohort of ten students in the fall of 2018. 

Rachleff Scholars Program within Penn Engineering

The Rachleff Scholars Program offers Penn Engineering undergraduates the opportunity to gain valuable research experience with standing faculty and to join a community of peers who share an interest in research and scholarly inquiry.

Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Molecular Sciences

Students in the Vagelos Scholars Program in Molecular Life Sciences are interested in the molecular view of life and plan to pursue research careers in science, pure and applied, including medicine. 

We encourage students and candidates to contact program participants.  Current students (peer advisors) in the Vagelos Molecular program who can provide insight and one-on-one interactions can be contacted at vspeers@sas.upenn.edu. 

Civic Scholars

Penn Civic Scholars commit to four years of civic service and scholarship with close faculty mentorship and receive recognition at graduation. Through a sustained and connected approach, Penn Civic Scholars engage in community service or social advocacy work, special pro-seminars, summer internships, selected courses, and capstone research projects aimed at public policy recommendations.