Academics
There’s always something new going on at Penn’s four undergraduate schools and 12 graduate schools. Look here for information on upcoming academic initiatives, new classes and research conducted by professors and students.
Food and Fire course connects hands-on with ancient civilizations
One of the first assignments under anthropology course “Food and Fire” (ANTH148) is to make your own knife.
With the closing of the Institute of Research in Cognitive Science, CogSci majors express concern
Administrators say the cognitive science major will not be affected.
Students prefer to study alone for GRE
Despite efforts from the University to normalize seeking help, many Penn students don’t like to ask for it — even when they’re testing to apply to graduate school.
Non-traditional undergrads, non-traditional challenges
LPS students often have already faced a difficult journey just to get to Penn, but financial aid policies and curriculum constraints often present additional challenges upon arrival.
New government policy allows international students studying STEM to stay in the country longer
The rule was part of the STEM Optional Practical Training program (OPT), and extends the period of time foreign students can stay in the country seven months longer than what was outlined in the last policy, which was passed in 2008.
Clear goals are a key to submatriculating at Penn
For Penn students who aren’t satisfied with just one degree, submatriculation can offer the opportunity to earn two degrees in the span of only four or five years.
Penn's Graduate School of Education ventures into Kazakhstan
Penn professors are working towards building Kazakhstan's first world-class national research university.
Penn's honors classes take a deeper dive into popular subjects
Not many classes at Penn have honors alternatives; the ones that do include Chemistry 101 and 102, Finance 100 and 101, Math 114 and 240 and Physics 140 and 141.
RealArts@Penn program provides students with an alternative to OCR
Since 2007, RealArts@Penn through the Kelly Writer's House creates a means through which a student of any college can be connected with internships in the entertainment, journalism and publishing fields.
Penn professor conducts study on rise in opioid prescriptions
Mark Neuman, an assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care at the Perelman School of Medicine, recently led a study about this rise in opioid prescriptions.
Flint crisis has called attention to lead poisoning — but one Penn class has taught its dangers for years
In ENVS 404, Speaking About Lead in West Philadelphia, students learn about the history and dangers of lead poisoning and use their knowledge to perform educational outreach in West Philadelphia.
Penn professor named Woman Inspiring Change by Harvard Law
Penn Integrates Knowledge professor Dorothy Roberts was recently honored as one of Harvard’s Women Inspiring Change for 2016.
Penn professors weigh in on marriage and poverty
Certain Penn professors agree that policies the United States government has undertaken to promote marriage may not adequately target the problems of poverty in the United States.
Wharton and Nursing slip in U.S. News and World Report rankings
The graduate programs at the Wharton School and Penn Nursing both slipped in the 2017 U.S. News and World Report Graduate School rankings, but other graduate schools at Penn fared the same or better as last year.
Debt a looming concern for graduate as well as undergraduate students
Graduate students who take out loans at Penn shoulder a much larger average debt than undergraduates.
Penn's new Design Dean talks architecture and Texas gun laws
Frederick Steiner made headlines recently for announcing that Texas' campus carry laws contributed to his decision to leave the school.
Paul Farmer calls on universities to support global health
Physician and anthropologist Paul Farmer called on American research universities to do more to support global health equity on Wednesday.
Environmental science gen ed revamped as ENVS 100
The course, popular among non-majors for counting for two Gen Ed requirements, is becoming more distinct from other earth science courses and more aimed at introducing the field of environmental science.
Professors crack down on laptop use in classes
Laptops can be distracting, and increasingly, many professors have begun to introduce laptop policies that determine when laptops can be used or whether they can be used at all.