Class of 2013 - Academics
The Wharton four-year undergraduate program consists of 37 course units, upon completion of which students earn a Bachelor of Science in Economics. Students take courses in business as well as the liberal arts beginning in the freshman year. The specific requirements of the Wharton undergraduate curriculum are detailed on the curriculum planning worksheet, which is a useful tool for academic planning, and in the 2009-2010 Wharton Undergraduate Student Handbook.
As a Wharton student, you have a variety of academic options available to you, including minors, dual-degree programs, and study abroad, to name a few. Information sessions will be held in the fall to discuss these opportunities in more detail.
First-Year Requirements
AP & Transfer Credit
FIRST-YEAR REQUIREMENTS
Management 100: Leadership and Communication in Groups
You are already registered for Management 100. The date and time of your assigned Management 100 lecture and recitation section is provided in your freshman registration packet. Arrange your advance registration requests around your Management 100 lecture and recitation enrollment. Because you are already enrolled in Management 100, it is not part of the advance-registration process. If you think you need to change your Management 100 assignment(s), contact your advisor. We will do our best to accommodate special academic needs, but assignments will not be changed because of personal preferences.
Economics
All students are required to complete Economics 010 in the fall semester of the freshman year. This course covers introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics for business. Econ 010 may be waived only if a student receives waivers for both microeconomics (Econ 001) and macroeconomics (Econ 002). Students who are interested in eventually pursuing upper-level course work in economics (e.g., as part of a dual-degree program or an economics minor) should consult with their advisor about the appropriate economics courses in which to begin. Please refer to the Advanced Placement section of this web page for more information on waivers for economics.
Math
Required for all Wharton students, Math 104 assumes that you have had the equivalent of AB calculus in high school and are familiar with concepts through applications of differentiation and basic integration techniques. Students without this background should consider taking Math 103 in the fall, in preparation for Math 104 in the spring. To help decide which course is most appropriate, consult the Penn Math website. Make sure to speak with your academic advisor as well.
Students who have fulfilled the Math 104 requirement may enroll in Stat 101. Students who have fulfilled both Math 104 and scored a 5 on the Statistics AP exam (this appears as Stat 111 credit on your transcript) may enroll in Stat 102.
Wharton students are not permitted to take Math 115.
For more information about AP credit in math, students should refer to the Advanced Placement section of this web page.
Critical Writing
Students are encouraged to fulfill their critical writing requirement in the first year. Besides practicing writing skills, you will have an opportunity to explore a liberal arts subject area in your Critical Writing Seminar. Consult the booklet “2009 Writing Seminars” for more information or view the website: www.writing.upenn.edu/critical. AP English does not fulfill this requirement.
Foreign Language
Because an international perspective is an important part of the undergraduate business education, students must demonstrate competency in a foreign language other than English. If you plan to continue with the language you took in high school, we urge you to do so beginning in the fall semester of your first year. Please review the Wharton Undergraduate Student Handbook for detailed information on the language requirement.
Wharton students may satisfy the foreign language requirement in any of the following ways:
- A required score on foreign language AP exam
- A required score on a SAT II foreign language exam
- For bilingual students, successful completion of a special test given by a department or by the Penn Language Center
- Successful completion of course requirements in a language (which usually consists of 2 semesters of beginner-level courses and 2 semesters of intermediate-level courses in a language, depending on placement results)
It is each student's responsibility to make sure that the Undergraduate Division has a record of the fulfillment of their language requirement. Students cannot graduate without satisfying the foreign language competency requirement.
For more information about language placement, students should refer to the Foreign Language Placement section of this website.
Other Courses
If you have waived or fulfilled some of the above requirements, take advantage of Penn’s broad offering of courses in other undergraduate schools. The Freshman Course Timetable (http://www.upenn.edu/registrar/freshman/index.html) includes a wide range of courses that are appropriate for first-semester students. Additionally, please refer to the booklet "2009 Freshman Seminars" for courses that explore specialized subjects in a small-group setting. Freshman seminars fulfill non-business requirements for Wharton students.
If you placed out of some of the courses listed above, you should discuss other course options in Wharton with your advisor. Some students may be interested in taking Legal Studies 101 (Law and Legal Process) or Legal Studies 210 (Corporate Responsibility and Ethics), depending on advance standing credits or waivers from higher-priority classes. Most business foundation or “core” courses are restricted to sophomores.
Looking Ahead - Spring Semester
Second-semester freshmen will have a chance to plan spring courses with an advisor in October and November. You will automatically be enrolled with your cohort in the spring semester class BPUB 250: “Managerial Economics,” a continuation of your studies in economics and the application of microeconomic theory to management problems. Most freshmen will also take OPIM 101: “Introduction to the Computer as an Analysis Tool” in the spring. You will want to continue with the next quantitative course requirement (Math 104, Stat 101, or Stat 102 for most students); take the next level of your foreign language requirement (if you have not yet reached proficiency); or complete the critical writing requirement if you’ve not already done so. There will also be room in most students’ schedules to take liberal arts classes for fun or personal enrichment that may count toward the General Education Distribution, Global Environment, Non-Business Elective, or Unrestricted Elective requirements.
AP & TRANSFER CREDIT
Students who took one or more Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations offered by the Educational Testing Service in Princeton should have the scores sent to the University of Pennsylvania, code #2926.
The Office of Transfer Credit and Advanced Placement also reviews and awards advanced placement credit on a case-by-case basis for:
- International Baccalaureate
- C.G.E. “A” Level examinations
- Other national exams, including the French Baccalaureate, German Abitur, Swiss Maturite and Canadian CEGEP program.
The Office of Transfer Credit and Advanced Placement coordinates the posting of all AP credits for incoming freshmen. For help regarding AP and pre-matriculation course work credits, contact the office at 1 College Hall, (215) 898-6080. A list of credit given for AP and International Baccalaureate exams is available on the Undergraduate Admissions Office web site.
The Office of Transfer Credit and Advanced Placement does not post course waivers. AP score sheets must be brought to an advisor in the Wharton Undergraduate Division to update student records with course waivers.
Penn’s foreign languages, mathematics, and natural science departments offer exams for placement into higher-level courses. The academic department administering the exam makes the determination on granting credit.
For students who are receiving AP credit based on Undergraduate Admissions Office guidelines, the following chart provides guidance on how this credit can be applied to requirements within the Wharton undergraduate curriculum.
Note: only one course unit (c.u.) in each of the General Education Distribution categories (i.e., Social Structures; Language, Arts & Culture; Science & Technology) can be fulfilled by using AP/IB credit. Any additional AP/IB credit can be used to fulfill unrestricted and non-business elective requirements (up to 10 c.u. maximum).
Subject |
Requirement |
Biology |
Science & Technology |
Chemistry |
Science & Technology |
Classical Studies – Latin |
Language Arts & Culture |
Computer Science A |
Science & Technology |
Computer Science AB |
Science & Technology |
English Language |
Language Arts & Culture |
English Literature |
Language Arts & Culture |
Environmental Science |
Science & Technology |
European History |
Social Structures AND Global Environment |
French Language |
Language Arts & Culture |
French Literature |
Language Arts & Culture |
German Language |
Language Arts & Culture |
Math BC |
Math 104 |
Physics B |
Science & Technology |
Physics C (Mechanics) |
Science & Technology |
Physics C (Electricity & Magnetism) |
Science & Technology |
Spanish Language |
Language Arts & Culture |
Spanish Literature |
Language Arts & Culture |
Statistics |
Stat 111 (will fulfill Stat 101 requirement upon successful completion of Stat 102) |
US History |
Social Structures |
World History |
Social Structures AND Global Environment |
Economics Placement
Economics 010 is the required economics course for first-semester freshmen in the Wharton School. Waivers for economics courses are granted per the standards set by the Economics Department for advanced placement.
Economics 010 may be waived ONLY in the case of students who receive waivers for BOTH Economics 001 and Economics 002.
Students who are waived from only Economics 001 may take either Economics 002 or 010. Students who are waived from only Economics 002 may take either Economics 001 or 010.
Students who are interested in eventually pursuing upper-level course work in economics (e.g., as part of a dual-degree program or an economics minor) should consult with their advisor about the appropriate economics courses in which to begin.
Math Placement
Credit for Math 104 is granted per the standards set by the Math Department for advanced placement. No credit is given for the AB exam.
All students are eligible to take the internal placement exams administered by the Math Department during the first week of the fall and spring semesters. Please refer to the Math Department website for details about these internal exams and when they are offered.
Most freshmen will register before they know the results of their AP exams. Students should register for the math course they think they will take based on their experience in the subject. Necessary adjustments can be made during the course selection period.
Choosing the Appropriate Math Course
Math 104, Calculus Part I, assumes that students have had the equivalent of AB calculus in high school and are familiar with concepts through applications of differentiation and basic integration techniques. Students who did not take AB calculus in high school should start with Math 103, which provides an introduction to calculus. Math 104 can then be taken in a subsequent semester.
Math 104 satisfies the calculus requirement for most Wharton students. Joint program students (Huntsman, Management and Technology, Nursing and Health Care Management, or Life Sciences and Management) should consult their respective advisors for the requirements of their programs. Joseph Wharton Scholars are encouraged, but not required, to take Math 114 (upon successful completion of Math 104).
Wharton students are not permitted to take Math 115.
Students who have fulfilled the Math 104 requirement may enroll in Statistics 101 or continue with calculus (MATH 114). Students who have fulfilled both Math 104 and scored a 5 on the Statistics AP exam (this appears as STAT 111 credit on your transcript), may enroll in Statistics 102.
For more information about choosing the proper math course, please consult the Math Department website for freshmen.
Foreign Language Placement
Satisfying the Foreign Language Requirement
Wharton students may satisfy the foreign language requirement in any of the following ways:
- A required score on a foreign language AP exam
- A required score on a SAT II foreign language exam
- For bilingual students, successful completion of a special test given by a department or by the Penn Language Center.
- Successful completion of course requirements in a language (which usually consists of 2 semesters of beginner-level courses and 2 semesters of intermediate-level courses in a language, depending on placement results)
Registering for the Appropriate Level
Students who took a foreign language SAT II exam may automatically enroll in the appropriate level without taking the departmental placement exam. Please refer to the SAT II Language Placement Chart, which provides a list of scores and the corresponding level of the language to be taken.
Students who did not take a foreign language SAT II exam or who did not earn the necessary AP language score to exempt them from the foreign language requirement must take a language placement exam to determine the most appropriate level of the language in which to begin.
During New Student Orientation, students will have the opportunity to take a departmental placement exam. Placement exam dates and times will be posted on the New Student Orientation website later this summer. NOTE: Spanish and French placement exams are offered online and can be taken at any time. Students must take a language placement exam to determine the most appropriate level of the language in which to begin. If the level of placement is different from the level of the language for which students have registered, they must alter their course registration accordingly during the first week of classes.
Students who enter with language competency are urged to continue with a language or to learn a new language. Some study abroad programs require language levels beyond basic competency.
The following chart provides a list of commonly taught languages at Penn and the departments in which they are housed.
African Studies
|
Amharic |
Twi |
Classical Studies
|
Greek (Classical) |
Latin |
East Asian Languages & Civilizations
|
Chinese |
Korean |
Germanic Languages & Literatures
|
Dutch |
Swedish |
Near East Languages & Civilizations |
Akkadian |
Persian |
Romance Languages
|
Catalan |
Portuguese |
Slavic Languages & Literatures
|
Czech |
Russian |
South Asia Studies
|
Bengali |
Panjabi |
Penn Language Center
|
Provides courses in less commonly taught languages; evaluates proficiency in these languages. |
|
Transfer Credit for Pre-College Course Work
Up to 4 c.u. may be transferred in from pre-matriculation coursework. Transfer credit for pre-college course work will be evaluated for Penn credit if the course was:
- Taught at an accredited college or university by a regular faculty member.
- Open to enrollment by, and graded in direct competition with, regularly matriculated undergraduates at the college.
- Part of the normal curriculum published in the college’s catalog.
- Not used to fulfill any high school graduation requirement.
- Taken for a grade (not pass/fail or audit).
To receive credit during the first year at Penn, students must send the following to the Office of Transfer Credit and Advanced Placement, housed within Undergraduate Admissions:
- An official transcript and a letter from the registrar of the college where the courses were taken, verifying that the above criteria were met
- A description of the course work completed
- Approval from the corresponding Penn department.
Once the transcript and letter have been approved, credit will be granted for courses with grades of C or better. Grades do not transfer, only course credit.
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