The College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is the heart of Penn’s undergraduate experience. It is home to disciplines spanning the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. It is where tradition meets innovation.
A degree in the arts and sciences is practically and personally invaluable, serving as a foundation for navigating the ever-changing world around us. As a student in the College, you will be part of the creation, synthesis, application, and transmission of new knowledge that you uncover as part of research projects with faculty from the College, hospitals, research centers, and other undergraduate and graduate schools. If you want a broader perspective, you can embrace several academic disciplines through creative combinations of majors and minors.
In Applicants to the College of Arts & Sciences, We Would Like to See:
- A curiosity about making connections that span the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences
- An ability to apply classroom knowledge to the real world
- Strong preparation in a balanced and advanced college preparatory curriculum
What Can You Study in the College?
Majors & Minors
Whether you have a sense of your intended field of study, or have too many interests to decide just yet, the College offers a flexible curriculum designed to frame opportunities for you, and their extensive advising network will help you navigate them. The College fosters a culture of exploration and as such, students do not declare a major until the end of their sophomore year.
Coordinated Dual-Degree, Accelerated and Specialized Programs
If you have focused academic interests, you can apply to programs that will enable you to earn more than one degree as you delve deeply into specific areas of interest. We encourage students interested in these programs to explore them closely to learn what they offer, and what specific application requirements they may have.
Those programs that include a degree in the College of Arts & Sciences include: