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.
SP2 panel inspires students to turn service into careers
The School of Social Policy and Practice hosted its first panel Thursday evening for students looking to pursue further studies in social work and social policy.Integrated Studies Program to house freshman scholars
Those selected for the program will enroll in a year-long, residential-based liberal arts curriculum designed to bridge the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences.
Mummies exhibit reopens at museum
The Secrets of the Silk Road exhibit opened to East Coast audiences Friday after the Chinese government pulled artifacts from the exhibit and then reversed the decision.Penn professors to join in educating students in India
The Young India Fellowship, started through an SEAS partnership, will offer one year of free education to 50 post-graduates and lead to the foundation of a new university.
Author Susan Cheever visits Kelly Writers House
Susan Cheever, who authored a biography of author Louisa May Alcott, spoke at the Kelly Writers House Monday as part of the Writers House Fellows Program.MBAs to access free courses after graduation
As part of the new MBA curriculum launched in December, Wharton is promising graduates free, one-week courses every seven years throughout their working lives.Mummies to return to museum
The Penn Museum announced Friday that its “Secrets of the Silk Road” exhibition will again feature rare artifacts previously withheld by the Chinese government, including two mummies.College, Engineering to offer double major
Students can now pursue majors in both the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science without enrolling in a dual-degree program.
For students, requirements trump interest
For many students, the incentive to enroll in classes depends less on interest and more on the necessity of the curriculum, with PSYC 001 having the highest number of enrolled students of any course at Penn.Penn offers back-up for Egypt study abroad
Penn Abroad will now allow students planning to study abroad in Egypt or other Middle Eastern countries to apply for a “back-up” program in light of recent political unrest.Students receive Thouron Award for study abroad
On Monday, the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships announced seven recipients of the Thouron Award — a Penn-specific scholarship that provides full funding for undergraduate and graduate students to study in the United Kingdom.
iPads become reality in Wharton classrooms
Two sections of MBA classes are participating in a Wharton Computing pilot, which gives students access to free iPads.Penn plans for increase in students going abroad to China
In step with President Barack Obama’s “100,000 Strong Initiative,” Penn has positioned itself to increase the number of students studying abroad in China in the upcoming year.Harvard, MIT join book loan program
Both schools announced plans to join the Borrow Direct inter-library loan program last week, increasing the number of volumes available to Penn students by about 20 million.Frequent test-taking may optimize learning
A study found repeated test-taking to improve fact retention better than other methods, but some Penn professors and students contend that more exams don't necessarily mean more learning.
Writing down fears may curb test-taking anxiety
A recent study found that students who were anxious about exams performed better after they were given 10 minutes to write down their test-related concerns.
Professors crack down on laptops in class
The professors have caught on. Because of the distractions laptops pose for students during class, more and more professors have adopted a no-laptop policy.