Transferring to CAS

More than half of Penn undergraduate students earn their degree from the College of Arts and Sciences — which houses over 55 majors across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The College has a curriculum based in the liberal arts—meaning you will acquire a foundation for analytical and creative thinking with coursework across disciplines to enrich your learning experience along with a specialized education in a major subject area. The College can serve as a launch pad to prepare you for your future with endless career paths. 

The College of Arts and Sciences accepts both second-year and third-year transfer students with up to two years of credit. 

Learn more about transfer policies and expectations from the College of Arts and Sciences. 

Curricular Requirements

As a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, you will likely take four or five courses per semester. The total number of course units required to complete a major varies from program to program, but is never less than 12.  

In addition to your major, you will need to complete up to 20 courses—including the College's General Education requirements and free electives. This means that the total number of courses needed for graduation ranges from 32 to 36, depending upon the number of courses required in a particular major. You won't be required to complete more than 36 course units, but you may take additional courses if you wish. 

Academic Preparation and Choosing a Major

There are many majors to choose from that may align well with your interests and current coursework. We recommend that you review the List of College Majors to learn more about the major requirements and prerequisite coursework for the program you are interested in before applying to the College of Arts and Sciences.  

  • Interested the natural sciences or economics? For these majors, you will need a strong preparation in college-level calculus to successfully transfer into these programs. 
  • Interested in architecture? We ask that you submit a portfolio to ensure alignment with our design studio structure. 
  • If you are considering an individualized major, keep in mind this option is only available if you’re applying to study in your second year at Penn. Once you are enrolled, you will need to submit your proposed individualized major for approval before you start your third year at Penn.