For some, grad school starts early

In the time it takes some students to complete one major, a few Penn undergraduates are earning both their graduate and undergraduate degrees.

“Time and money are the greatest benefits [of submatriculation],” according to College junior Ben Moskowitz, who is graduating with a master’s in public administration from the Fels Institute of Government. “But also it’s a different environment and a different dynamic. This one has a professional, practical bend to it … It’s definitely interesting and worthwhile to be able to interact with students who have been in the workforce for a while,” he added.

Most submatriculation programs take four or five years. Options for submatriculation are available to students in all four undergraduate schools and include a variety of programs ranging from biotechnology in the School of Engineering and Applied Science to an accelerated English master’s in the College of Arts and Sciences.

“You feel more comfortable because you’re already in the same environment and you already know the school,” added Engineering junior Christine Kappeyne, who is pursuing a mechanical engineering degree with a concentration in robotics and microelectromechanical systems.

Molly McGlone, assistant dean for advising in the College, explained that submatriculation is beneficial in terms of expanding students’ intellect. She said she hopes students are submatriculating to “get more knowledge in their field and decide if they want to pursue graduate study outside Penn.”

“You get really close contact with faculty members, you get to try out graduate school both intellectually and socially, and you can do it within the price of a bachelors,” she added. It’s also an ideal option for students who ultimately hope to continue their education and earn a doctorate, she continued.

An increasing number of students have shown an interest in a joint bachelor of arts/juris doctor program with the Law School in recent years — possibly because of the current economy, according to Hocine Fetni, assistant dean for academic advising in the College.

“Students are mainly interested in this program because if admitted, a student can complete both degrees in 6 years rather than the usual number of 7 years,” Fetni wrote in an e-mail. “This will save them one year worth of tuition.”

However, he added, the B.A./J.D. program is a “very competitive program for highly qualified and motivated students.” The requirements for the program are “rigorous” and students must take the LSAT during their junior year. Currently, only one Penn student is scheduled to graduate this spring with a B.A. and a J.D.

For those students who do pursue the B.A./J.D. program, the benefits are worthwhile, according to Steve Barnes, associate dean of communications for Penn Law.

“Recent graduates have worked at global law firms, in investment banking, and have pursued judicial clerkships,” he wrote in an e-mail.

In general, the number of submatriculating students has been small but steady. During the 2009-2010 academic year, 54 College students submatriculated. McGlone pointed to the rigorous nature of submatriculation programs as a reason for these low numbers.

Engineering junior Michelle Sherrott, who is pursuing a joint BSE and MSE in materials science and engineering, explained that while her course load is “decently more challenging” than if she were just studying for a bachelors, she feels submatriculation is worthwhile.

“Taking more upper-level classes is really helpful in figuring out what I want to do once I graduate because it has exposed me to a lot of new ideas and fields of study,” she said.

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