phd programs upenn

Graduate and Professional Programs

Penn pioneered professional education in the U.S. and continues to set the pace today with outstanding graduate and professional programs.

Degree Programs

Prospective student information.

An overview of Penn’s renowned graduate and professional programs.

A-Z Listing of Graduate Programs

Learn about programs offered for academic credit. Interested users can narrow results by academic level and school.

Graduate Catalog

Find detailed information about graduate programs at Penn including Ph.D., research master’s, professional master’s, and other professional degrees. Also discover information about important policies and resources.

Graduate Student Center

The Graduate Student Center is a centrally located space to connect with other graduate and professional students from across the University. It provides a variety of services and resources to empower graduate and professional students to participate fully in the graduate community at Penn.

Valuing Graduate Students

The Valuing Graduate Students website provides a comprehensive overview of the many benefits and programs that support graduate student life, research, career advancement, and work-life balance across campus.

Graduate School Populations (Fall 2023)

Annenberg School for Communication 64

School of Arts and Sciences 2,100

School of Dental Medicine 822

Weitzman School of Design 703

Graduate School of Education 1,649

School of Engineering and Applied Science 4,440

Carey Law School 990

Perelman School of Medicine 2,161

School of Nursing 572

School of Social Policy & Practice 565

School of Veterinary Medicine 587

The Wharton School 2,447

Investing in future teachers and educational leaders

The Empowerment Through Education Scholarship Program at Penn’s Graduate School of Education is helping to prepare and retain teachers and educational leaders.

Doctoral Programs

Immerse yourself in research and prepare to make original contributions to the future of engineering. A Ph.D. from Penn Engineering gives you the skills you need to thrive in academia, government or industry.

Interdisciplinary study  is a core feature of all of our graduate programs. As a Ph.D. student here, you can customize your program with elective courses across the university that match your engineering interests. In collaboration with students and faculty from other disciplines, you’ll gain new perspectives and find creative solutions.

Bioengineering, Ph.D.

Break boundaries at the intersection of biology, medicine and engineering..

Program Website

Combine advanced training in engineering with a focus on biological and medical sciences. The flexible curriculum allows students to select their own graduate coursework in order to focus on specific concentrations in biomedical sciences and bioengineering. Students can conduct cutting-edge basic, translational, and computational research with faculty whose labs are in Bioengineering, Penn Vet, Penn Dental, the School of Arts & Sciences, and Penn Medicine. At Penn, you’ll prepare for a distinguished career in biotech research and development, medical technologies, startup ventures, or academia.

Sample Undergraduate Majors*

• Bio/Biomedical Engineering
• Biological Sciences and related areas (e.g. Biology, Chemistry)
• Mechanical or Chemical Engineering

*This is not an exhaustive list. If you have questions about whether your major will meet our requirements, please consult the program coordinator.

Student Wins Prestigious Fellowship

Hannah Zlotnick was one of just 29 early-career scientists from around the world to be named a Schmidt Science Fellow.

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Ph.D.

Pioneer life-changing discoveries in energy, science and medicine..

From stochastic simulation for blood systems biology to degradable polymersomes that shrink tumors, Penn Engineers are breaking new ground and making the world a better place. The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is at the cutting edge of research in fields such as energy and sustainability, soft matter and interfacial phenomena, molecular and cellular biology, data science and machine learning, transport phenomena and process design. In our interdisciplinary environment, you’ll make new discoveries and prepare for a career in academia, government or industry.

• Chemical Engineering
• Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Computer and Information Science, Ph.D.

Shape the future of the tech revolution..

Join today’s most vibrant sector. Penn researchers make breakthroughs in fields ranging from data science to human-computer interactions, and they translate their innovative ideas into world-changing startups and products. Our work is influencing products at big tech companies, and we’re defining the research agenda in understanding natural language, uncovering security vulnerabilities, optimizing software systems and other fields. Research opportunities span a wide range of theoretical and application topics including algorithms, bioinformatics, databases, graphics, machine learning, programming languages, robotics, security, software engineering, systems, vision, as well as interdisciplinary collaborations with fields such as biology, electrical engineering, genetics, linguistics, and mathematics.

• Computer Science
• Computer Engineering
• Strong quantitative major (e.g. Statistics, Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science)

Electrical and Systems Engineering, Ph.D.

Apply electrical and systems theory to improve the human condition..

Electrical engineers apply circuits and systems theory and physics to the design of physical, biological, and socio-technical artifacts. We create the interfaces between the physical/biological world and digital machines. We’re at the forefront of research and application in areas including quantum engineering, VLSI circuits and chips, robotics, SWARM, nanotechnologies, cyber-physical and embedded systems, microelectromechanical systems and sensors, electromagnetics, photonics, wireless devices and networks, prosthetic devices, and human-machine interfaces. Join us to keep pushing the boundaries so we can solve the problems of tomorrow.

• Electrical Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Communications / Transportation/ Telecommunications

Materials Science and Engineering, Ph.D.

Transform the way materials are created and used..

Create innovative materials to shape the future. Penn researchers are using innovative building blocks to create real solutions for problems in energy, the health sciences, polymers and more. At Penn, you’ll prepare to have an impact on everything from electronics and communications to medicine, transportation, manufacturing and the environment.

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Polymer Science; Polymer Engineering
• Applied Chemistry/Physics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Bioengineering
• Energy Science and Engineering

Research Areas

• Computational Materials Science
• Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
• Microscopies and Scattering
• Materials for Energy
• Materials for Health Science
• Structural Materials
• Sustainable Materials
• Polymers and Soft Matter

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Ph.D.

Investigate the workings of the mechanical universe..

Combine science with math to design cutting-edge solutions to problems in biomechanics, fluid mechanics, nanomechanics and more. At Penn, you’ll explore everything from practical applications to fundamental mechanical questions and prepare for a career in industry, government or research

• Aerospace Engineering
• Energy and Power Engineering
• Automotive Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Industrial Engineering

Special Ph.D. Programs

Combined ph.d. programs.

Combine your engineering degree with a degree in medicine or veterinary medicine. Open to bioengineering students, our dual-degree programs offer a deep dive into cross-disciplinary research and practice.

Master’s to Ph.D. Bridge Program

Work toward your master’s degree and your Ph.D. at the same time. Our Bridge program provides individualized mentorship and Ph.D.-level laboratory training.

16 Sep Application opens for Fall 2025

16 Dec Application deadline

Funding Your Education

Ph.D. students typically receive funding to cover tuition and fees, living expenses and health insurance. Additional financial resources may also be available.

Ready to Get Started?

The application process is straightforward, and we’re here to help. Review our Application Checklist before submitting.

Any Questions?

Interested in learning more about graduate admissions at Penn Engineering? Here are some of the questions we hear most often.

• Undergraduate
• Course Information
• Areas of Focus
• Centers + Institutes
• Undergraduate Research
• Technical Reports
• Faculty Talks
• Postdoctoral Fellows
• Graduating Ph.D.s and Postdocs
• Open Faculty Positions
• Outreach Philosophy + Mission
• Meet Our Students
• K-12 Programs
• Diversity + Climate
• Chair’s Letter
• Student Awards
• Visiting CIS
• Make a Gift
• Current Students
• Program Offerings
• Doctoral Program

The Doctoral Program (Ph.D.) in Computer and Information Science (CIS) welcomes candidates   in disciplines related to computer science, information processing, and computing . Our curriculum is designed to develop the intellectual skills essential for the rapidly changing character of research and to meet the demands of academe and industry. Students develop their own advanced study focus, working with faculty mentors on topics ranging from the core computer science discipline to diverse scholarly interactions within the School of Engineering and the University.

Doctoral studies in the CIS department offer the opportunity for rewarding exploration and research. Research opportunities span a wide range of theoretical and application topics including algorithms, bioinformatics, databases, graphics, machine learning, programming languages, robotics, security, software engineering, systems, vision, as well as interdisciplinary collaborations with fields such as biology, electrical engineering, genetics, linguistics, and mathematics.

Our research laboratories offer myriad possibilities for exploration. Seminars hosting outstanding leaders in their fields at our departmental and laboratories’ colloquia provide rigor, breadth, and relevance to the research and education experience. The University of Pennsylvania’s schools and research centers create an academic environment whose synergy informs research and education in the CIS department.

Our faculty prepare our doctoral students to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders, and visionaries. The CIS department is an exciting place to be, and we invite you to join us.  Read more about our research areas and   highlights of projects and activities .

New Concentration in “Machine Learning + X”

Recognizing the integration of machine learning into all specializations of computer science: starting in Fall 2020, the department is offering applicants the opportunity to specify a new concentration called “Machine Learning + X” as the primary concentration, where X is any of several existing specializations in computer science that intersect with machine learning. Such applicants must identify one or two of these specializations as their 2nd and 3rd concentrations.  The department has exciting research projects at the intersection of machine learning and these specializations.

“Machine Learning + X” cannot be used as your 2nd or 3rd concentration. T his concentration is used to facilitate review of your application by the faculty listed in the specializations above, based on your choice(s) of the 2nd and 3rd concentrations.

How to Apply: https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/

FAQ: https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/faq/

Graduate Program:

• Master of Computer and Information Technology
• MSE in Data Science
• MSE in Embedded Systems (EMBS)
• MSE in Robotics
• MSE in Computer Graphics and Game Technology
• Admissions Statistics
• Fellowships + Aid
• New Students
• How to Register
• Graduation + Thesis Information
• Academic + Industry Job Postings

Your CIS Contacts:

Redian Furxhiu Graduate Coordinator for on-campus MCIT, CIS/MSE and CGGT programs Office: 308 Levine Phone: 215-898-1668 Email: [email protected]

Staci Kaplan Program Manager for DATS (Data Science MSE) Office: 308 Levine Phone: 215-573-2431 Email: [email protected]

Britton Carnevali Doctoral Program Manager Office: 310 Levine Phone: 215-898-5515 Email: [email protected]

Mariel Celentano Graduate Coordinator for ROBO Office: 459 Levine Phone: 215-573-4907 Email: [email protected]

Liz Wai-Ping Ng Associate Director for Embedded Systems MSE program Office: 313 Levine Phone: 215-898-8543 Email:  [email protected]

Julia Esposito PICS Program Coordinator, SCMP Academic Coordinator Office: 3401 Walnut, 5th Fl. Phone: 215-573-6037 Email: [email protected]

• Guide to Applying for Graduate School

The process of preparing for and applying to a PhD program can be overwhelming. The University of Pennsylvania has created this webpage to help prospective PhD students think through the process so you can put together a strong application.

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest degree one may obtain within a particular field of study. This ranges from studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields; Social Science fields such as Education, Economics, Political Science, and Sociology; as well as Humanities fields such as English, History, Music, Philosophy, and more. The PhD degree aims to prepare people to think critically, develop research, and produce scholarship that may be used for further research or implementation . The PhD historically prepared students to take on faculty roles in colleges and universities, and that is still the goal for many students pursuing the PhD. However, today the PhD is a sought-after degree in many other industries including pharmaceutical research, arts organizations and other nonprofits, publishing, government policy, big tech, finance, and more.

• Who can apply to a PhD program?   PhD education is available to people from various educational, occupational, socioeconomic, and demographic backgrounds.
• Who should get a PhD?  People interested in uncovering new ideas, solutions, or processes within a specific area of study through conducting independent research.
• Why is it important for diverse candidates to become PhD holders?   Our world thrives on heterogeneous ideas and experiences, which is why it is indispensable to include students with diverse perspectives in our PhD programs. These students will generate important and original research.

Most PhD programs are fully funded, meaning that for a specific number of years, the program will pay for your tuition and fees and health insurance, as well as provide you with a stipend for living expenses . The structure of this funding varies by field. Below is an outline of general funding information as well as trends according to field of study.

• Teaching Assistantships or Research Assistantships: Part-time service that provides teaching and research training opportunities within your area of study.
• Funding packages provided through faculty research grants: Many STEM fields fund students through research grants awarded to faculty. In these cases, students perform research alongside the faculty. 
• Fellowships: Internal or external merit-based funding. Some fellowships require an application while others are given via nomination. Educational institutions typically have a resource listing fellowship opportunities. Winning a competitive fellowship looks good on your resume.
• Grants: Requires an application with supporting materials of either your grades, scholarly work, and/or anticipated research. These are available through internal and external means. Grants greatly vary so be sure to always understand the requirements. Educational institutions typically have a resource listing grant opportunities. Winning a competitive grant looks good on your resume.
• Employment: For example, serving as a residential advisor, on-campus jobs, etc. Some PhD programs restrict additional employment, so be sure to check before applying for jobs.
• The funding opportunities described here often can be combined.

Choosing a school or program that provides the most potential funding may be a challenging decision. The value of the same amount of funding will differ depending on the cost of living in different geographic locations. Admitted applicants should investigate cost-of-living tools (available on the web) and be sure to understand how their funding will be structured. Ask questions when you are admitted, such as: 

• Could you share more about your program’s funding mechanism?
• For how long is funding guaranteed? How does that compare to the average time-to-completion? Historically, what percentage of students have received funding beyond the guaranteed funding package?
• Does funding cover tuition, fees, books, health insurance?
• Does the funding rely on teaching, research, or other service? How much and for how long? 

Choosing a program for your studies is a personal decision that should reflect not only your research interests, but your work style, and interests outside of the classroom. Here we have identified five key tips to consider when selecting schools. 

• Ask about which programs are strong in your area of interest, which have high completion rates, and which have career outcomes that align with your goals. 
• Explore the websites of the professional academic associations in the field(s) that interest you. Many will have a directory of doctoral programs and other resources for graduate students. For example, see the American Economic Association’s list of graduate programs and their preparing for graduate school page .
• Conduct a general internet search with terms related to your research interest.
• Determine your geographic and personal preferences. Does the area meet your community needs? Is it important that the university aligns with your sociopolitical values? Do you prefer a large city or a smaller/college town? Is there a particular region(s) that has better access to resources needed to conduct your research?
• Access your current or former university career center. These services are often still available for former students!
• As you narrow your choices, try to identify at least 3 faculty in the programs of interest with whom you’d like to study. Also note how many of them have tenure. If relevant, research which of those faculty are taking on advisees in your year of matriculation.
• Read articles from faculty with similar research interests.
• Note the number of awards, publications, and service activities of faculty.
• Identify research opportunities funded by both your program and university at large.
• Connect with current and former students in the program for informational interviews.
• Connect with campus Diversity Offices.
• Whenever possible, before submitting your applications, make an appointment to visit the campuses and department(s) that interest you.
• Use  LinkedIn  to see what graduates of your program are doing and how they are involved in their communities.
• Estimate your feasible cost of living by geographic location and compare to the funding package offered.
• Consider availability of health insurance, childcare, housing, transportation, and other fringe benefits.
• Connect with a local bank or your prospective university’s financial services office for budgeting, savings, and other financial wellness advice.
• Research the career outcomes for PhD graduates from the institutions that interest you in your specific field.
• Your First Year in a Ph.D. Program
• What Does Academic Success Mean and How to Achieve it?  (STEM)
• Pathways to Science  (STEM)
• 7 Advantages PhDs Have Over Other Job Candidates  (Industry)
• During your undergraduate/master’s education, you should pursue coursework and/or research that will prepare you for the higher expectations of a PhD program; for example, taking a research methods course, pursuing a summer research experience, or conducting research with a professor at your home institution.
• Identify instructors who could write a letter of recommendation. Share with those instructors your interest in doctoral studies; faculty can be excellent resources for advice as well as recommendations!
• Experiences outside of higher education can also strengthen your PhD application. These may range from project management to volunteer work.
• Develop soft or hard skills. A soft skill that is most useful from the first day of your PhD program is networking. This is necessary not only for meeting other students but also to find collaborators with similar research interests and selecting faculty for your dissertation committee. Learning how to negotiate will also serve you well when approaching collaborative projects. Hard skills related to your field might include learning statistical analysis software, economic theory, a foreign language, or search engine optimization. In short, identify a few soft and hard skills that you can familiarize yourself with prior to your program’s start date.
• Finally, prepare by identifying leading researchers and practitioners in your field , exploring peer-reviewed literature and/or publications, and gain familiarity with research methods.
• Typically, PhD applications are due 10-12 months in advance of the program’s start date (i.e. apply in November to start the following September). A good rule of thumb is to begin your application process 6 months before the deadline. 
• The availability of reduced application fees or fee waivers varies and sometimes depends on financial status and/or experiences (AmeriCorps, National Society of Black Engineers, attending certain conferences, etc.). If you are interested in a reduced fee or waiver, reach out to the program coordinator for details.
• Be sure to address all the specific questions/topics in the statement prompt. 
• Clearly state why you want to pursue a PhD.
• Propose your research interest.
• Identify the faculty you’d like to study under. 
• Discuss the unique qualities/experiences you offer to the program/school.
• Outline what you hope to do with your degree.
• Ask for recommendation letters early in the process, at least 2-4 weeks before the deadline. A good letter takes time to write!
• Provide recommenders with your resume, information about the program, your statement of purpose and/or information about your research interests and research goals.
• Consider your current/former instructors, supervisors, colleagues. These should be people who can speak to your work ethic, academic abilities, and research interests.
• Test scores (i.e. TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, etc.) may or may not be required.
• All transcripts including those for coursework completed abroad and transfer credits. Some programs require official transcripts, which take longer to procure.
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Writing sample (field dependent): Include a graduate-level sample and update any statements, statistics, etc. as needed. It is highly encouraged that you edit your previous work.
• Diversity statement: Many institutions offer an optional short statement where students can expand on their diverse backgrounds and experiences that may contribute to the diversity interests/efforts of the school.
• Dress professionally, even if the interview is virtual. You don’t necessarily need to wear a suit but dress pants/skirt and a blouse/button down shirt would be appropriate.  
• Develop an engaging elevator pitch, a 30-60 second summary of your research interests and what you hope to gain by becoming a student at that particular university. Practice your pitch with a career counselor, faculty advisor, or friends, and ask for honest feedback.
• Prepare 2-3 questions to ask during the interview. These could include questions about program expectations, the experience and success of their PhD students, and (academic/financial/mental health) support for PhD students.
• Some interview programs will include multiple activities including a social event. Be sure to maintain a professional attitude: do not drink too much and keep conversation on academic/professional topics.
• This is also your opportunity to decide whether this campus is a good fit for you.
• Academia Insider  is a good resource. 

Unlike undergraduate and master’s level education, coursework is just one component of the degree. A PhD comes with additional expectations: you must independently conduct scholarly research in your field of study, train in specific activities such as teaching or lab/field research, pass “milestone” requirements along the way, such as comprehensive exams, and complete the process by writing a dissertation. Furthermore, some fields require you to write multiple articles (number varies by field/program) for conference presentation and/or peer-reviewed publication.

There are other important elements as well:

• Student/Advisor relationship. This is one of the most valuable relationships you can have as a PhD student. Your faculty advisor not only assists you with learning how to approach your research topic, but also typically serves as the lead supervisor of your dissertation research and writing, and ideally mentors you throughout the PhD experience. The selection process of choosing your advisor varies so be sure to know what is expected of you as a student and what is expected of the faculty member. Whenever possible, it is important to align your personality and work style with that of your faculty advisor. Many universities publish expectations for the PhD student/faculty advisor relationship;  AMP’ed  is Penn’s guide.
• Other relationships: Your faculty advisor is far from the only important person during your PhD career. Other faculty members will also serve on your dissertation committee and be potential mentors. Students in your program can also provide good advice and guidance along the way.
• Coursework: Most programs have a number of required courses all students must take regardless of research interests. Once you have finished this requirement, the classes you choose should closely align with your research topic. Choose courses that will help you learn more about your dissertation topic and research methods. It is a good idea to discuss elective course selection with your advisor. 
• The dissertation is a large-scale, written document that explores a narrow research topic of your choice. It is the final step before receiving your degree and must be presented and “defended” to your dissertation committee (made up of faculty members) for approval. Defending means that you have to answer in-depth questions about your topic. While this might sound daunting, the dissertation is simply a demonstration of all the knowledge and expertise you have acquired through your PhD education. 
• Networking comes in many forms and includes connections with your fellow classmates, faculty members, and scholarly community. Formal networking events typically take place at academic conferences, where scholars and students present research. Increasing your academic circle will not only allow you to have study buddies, but offer you the opportunity to collaborate on articles or even gain employment. Your school’s career center can provide best practices for effective networking. 

Explore  graduate programs at the University of Pennsylvania  and click on the programs that interest you to learn more about admissions and academic requirements.

Upcoming Penn information sessions and recruitment events include:

• Fontaine Fellows Recruitment Dinner (by invitation only): every March
• Summer Virtual Series for undergraduates thinking about graduate school: June-July, 2024
• DEEPenn STEM  (Diversity Equity Engagement at Penn in STEM): October 11-13, 2024. Application deadline is May 24, 2024.
• DivE In Weekend  (Diversity & Equity Initiative for Mind Research): October 18-20, 2024. Application due May 30, 2024.
• IDDEAS@Wharton  (Introduction to Diversity in Doctoral Education and Scholarship): April 2025. Application opens in November 2024.

National conferences to explore:

• The Leadership Alliance  supports students into research careers
• McNair Scholar Conferences
• SACNAS , the largest multidisciplinary and multicultural STEM diversity event in the U.S.
• ABRCMS , the annual biomedical research conference for minoritized scientists
• The PhD Project  for students interested in business PhD programs

• Youth Program
• Wharton Online

Application Requirements

The application for fall 2024 is now closed. the application for fall 2025 admission will open september 15, 2024 and deadline to apply is december 15th, 2024 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time. a complete application includes a completed online application and supplemental application materials. we recommend that you begin the application process early as it may take longer than expected. allow enough time to complete your online application, gather and submit your materials, and take the necessary standardized tests..

Wharton only accepts applications submitted via our online application system.

Letters of Recommendation

The Admissions Committee requires three recommendations. The recommendations must be submitted using our online system.

When you apply online, you will provide the names and email addresses of three recommenders. These recommenders will receive an email with a password, login, and link to our site that will enable them to submit their recommendation directly to our office via the online system.

To submit letters of recommendation via Interfolio, please follow the instructions from Interfolio:  https://product-help.interfolio.com/en_US/about-dossier-accounts/dossier-quick-start-guide

Assistance for applicants or the Interfolio agent can write to  [email protected] .

Transcripts & Academic History

You must submit transcripts of your academic work by scanning and uploading copies of your transcripts through the online application system. The file cannot exceed 600 KB in size and should be in .doc, .wpd, .rtf, .xls, .pdf, .docx, .xlsx or .txt format. For Mac users, please note that the filename must include the appropriate three- or four-letter extension. Also, please do not attempt to upload a document that is password-protected or that contains macros. This will cause the process to fail.

If you are offered admission, you will be required to provide official transcripts of all previous academic work to verify the information provided. If there are discrepancies between the self-reported academic work and official records, the offer of admission will be revoked. Offers of admission are not binding until academic records are verified.

When applying, list all post-secondary educational institutions you have attended, including technical and professional schools. Use the full, actual names of the institutions attended, and provide the titles of all diplomas or degrees earned. If you have attended more than one institution, submit official records from each institution, with the exception of study-abroad programs. If academic records and diplomas are not issued in English by the institution, both the official record and an authorized English translation must be submitted.

All translations should be complete and literal renditions of the original record. Records should show the date of enrollment, courses taken, units of credit or time allotted to each subject during each term or year, your marks or ratings in each subject, and, if available, your rank in the total class or group.

The institutional grading scale or other standards of evaluation, including minimum passing and failing marks and definition of grades between them, should appear on official records or be provided as an attachment.

Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, personally identifiable information can be disclosed to persons outside the University only with the written consent of the student or alumnus/alumna. The complete confidentiality statement is available in the University’s graduate academic bulletins.

You must complete the Personal Statement essay question on the online application.

There is also an optional essay question where you may provide additional information or clarification on other points of your application.

Standardized Test Scores

The Wharton Doctoral Programs requires ALL applicants to take and provide scores for either the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Test requirements vary by program, as described below. Applicants whose native language is not English must also take the TOEFL.

Self-reported test scores may submitted in the application, pending receipt of your official scores.

We no longer accept late test scores due to Covid-19. Please plan accordingly to ensure test scores and materials are submitted by the December 15 deadline.

Accepted applicant GMAT and GRE test scores usually fall within the top 10 percent. For the TOEFL test, a high level of proficiency is expected. You can find information about the average GRE and GMAT scores for our most recent fall matriculates in our FAQ section.

To expedite the processing of your application, you must self-report your scores via the online application. In addition, you must request that the ETS send an official copy of your scores to the Wharton Doctoral Office.

We strongly encourage applicants to take the necessary tests in the fall at the latest so that the test scores reach the Wharton Doctoral Office before the December 15 deadline. It has been our experience that students often underestimate the time it takes for the School to receive grade transcripts and test scores. Since this time period may be as long as two months, students are well advised to send requests for grade transcripts and to schedule the appropriate tests as early as possible. Note: Late arrival of test results prevents evaluation of your application.

GRE & GMAT Requirements by Program

• Accounting: GRE or GMAT
• Applied Economics: GRE only
• Ethics & Legal Studies: GRE or GMAT
• Finance: GRE or GMAT
• Health Care Management & Economics: GRE or GMAT
• Management: GRE or GMAT
• Marketing: GRE or GMAT
• Operations, Information & Decisions: GRE or GMAT
• Statistics and Data Science: GRE only

We will accept GMAT and GRE scores that are up to 5 years old. If your test scores are more than 5 years old (taken prior to July 2019), you will have to take the test again and submit the new scores. Please see the GRE and GMAT websites for further information on taking those tests.

The GMAT and GRE in-person and home tests will both be accepted.

We evaluate only GMAT and GRE results from tests taken prior to the receipt of your application. The highest score is used — we do not combine multiple scores. This requirement cannot be waived; there are no exceptions.

Ask the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to report your test scores using the following Wharton Doctoral Programs’ ETS codes:

• GRE: 2954-5199 or 2954-0000
• GMAT: G56-97-12

TOEFL Applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL. You may request a TOEFL waiver if you have earned an undergraduate or master’s degree (or will receive the degree by June 2025) in an English-speaking country or from an institution in which English is the language of instruction.

To waive the TOEFL, you must submit your request under the optional essay section of the application and have it documented that your medium of education was English. Your transcripts may serve as documentation that English was the language of instruction.

TOEFL scores are valid for two years. If your TOEFL test was taken prior to July 2022 you will need to submit new scores.

• TOEFL: 2954-02 or 2954-00

Please note:

• The TOEFL IBT and TOEFL ITP in-person and home tests will be accepted.
• We do not accept IELTS scores in place of TOEFL scores

Application Fee

A nonrefundable application fee of $80 must accompany your application. Credit card payments, made with a Visa or MasterCard only, are processed through Wharton’s secure server using Cybersource. The application fee cannot be waived; there are no exceptions.*

* McNair, Fulbright,  Leadership Alliance, IDDEAS and GRE Fee Reduction recipients applicants may waive the application fee. Please follow the instructions in the application.

Application Deadline

To begin your studies in Fall 2025, you must make sure that all your supporting materials (letters of recommendation, transcripts, and either GMAT or GRE scores) and your application are submitted no later than December 15, 2024.

As states on our website, please submit your application by December 15, 2024, 11:59PM ETS.

Prior Convictions Information

If an applicant has ever been convicted of, or plead guilty or no contest to, any felony or misdemeanor (excluding minor traffic violations), he or she must report that information. We offer a secure site for the applicant; answers will be reviewed by the Wharton Doctoral Programs Review Officer.

This information will not be provided to the admissions committee as part of the regular academic review process. If you have questions, you may contact the Review Officer directly at  [email protected] .

Generative AI Policy

The Wharton School embraces the use of generative AI technology and sees it as an important tool for business scholars in this rapidly changing world. While we believe that generative AI will continue to provide utility to all students, your work contained within this application must be your own. We recommend applicants treat generative AI as you would the guidance or writings of another person. For example, this means that, as it is unacceptable to have another person substantially complete a task like writing an admissions essay, it is also unacceptable to have AI substantially complete the task.

By embracing AI responsibly, Wharton aims to uphold the integrity of the application process while leveraging technological advancements to enrich the admissions experience. The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania requires that the work in your application must be completely accurate and exclusively your own, and may use its own proprietary and/or licensed AI solutions in order to identify AI-authored elements of applications. Any such flagging will result in a more holistic investigation of an application.

Recognizing the challenges of teaching, learning, and assessing academic performance during the global COVID-19 pandemic, Penn’s admissions committees for graduate and professional programs will take the significant disruptions of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 and 2021 into account when reviewing students’ transcripts and other admissions materials as part of their regular practice of performing individualized, holistic reviews of each applicant. In particular, as we review applications now and in the future, we will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Pass/Fail and other grading options during the period of COVID-19 disruptions. An applicant will not be adversely affected in the admissions process if their academic institution implemented a mandatory pass/fail (or similar) system for the term or if the applicant chose to participate in an optional pass/fail (or similar) system for the term. Penn’s longstanding commitment remains to admit graduate and professional student cohorts composed of outstanding individuals who demonstrate the resilience and aptitude to succeed in their academic pursuits.

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PhD Program

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Wharton’s PhD program in Finance provides students with a solid foundation in the theoretical and empirical tools of modern finance, drawing heavily on the discipline of economics.

The department prepares students for careers in research and teaching at the world’s leading academic institutions, focusing on Asset Pricing and Portfolio Management, Corporate Finance, International Finance, Financial Institutions and Macroeconomics.

Wharton’s Finance faculty, widely recognized as the finest in the world, has been at the forefront of several areas of research. For example, members of the faculty have led modern innovations in theories of portfolio choice and savings behavior, which have significantly impacted the asset pricing techniques used by researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Another example is the contribution by faculty members to the analysis of financial institutions and markets, which is fundamental to our understanding of the trade-offs between economic systems and their implications for financial fragility and crises.

Faculty research, both empirical and theoretical, includes such areas as:

• Structure of financial markets
• Formation and behavior of financial asset prices
• Banking and monetary systems
• Corporate control and capital structure
• Saving and capital formation
• International financial markets

Candidates with undergraduate training in economics, mathematics, engineering, statistics, and other quantitative disciplines have an ideal background for doctoral studies in this field.

Effective 2023, The Wharton Finance PhD Program is now STEM certified.

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PhD Program

Wharton’s PhD program in Management is flexible and interdisciplinary, applying social science disciplines and research methods to management problems. It offers specializations in strategy, international business, organizational behavior and theory, and human resource management.

The faculty has a broad range of interests ranging from the behavior of individuals and groups to organizational strategy. Major areas of faculty research currently include: human resources and competitiveness; foreign strategic investments and international cooperative relationships; organizational learning and adaptation; technology adoption, diffusion, and transfer within and across organizations; and new venture formation, growth, and corporate entrepreneurship.

Each student draws on the faculty’s diverse expertise and varied interests to develop a program uniquely suited to his or her interests. The program encourages students to gain research experience by working closely with faculty on a variety of projects. Recent placements include the Harvard Business School, INSEAD, New York University, University of Illinois, University of Maryland, University of Michigan and the University of Texas.

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The Ph.D. Program

Our Ph.D. program is a dynamic, hands-on and research-focused degree program. Overseen by the  Graduate Group in Materials Science and Engineering, students will interact closely with professors and research staff to pursue a degree tailored to their interests. Each student’s course of study is selected with the help of his or her advisor and the Graduate Group Chair. Thesis research is guided by the research advisor, a member of the graduate group, with advice from a small committee of faculty chosen for their interest and competence in areas related to the thesis work. The minimum time required for the Ph.D. degree for a student entering with an M.S.E. or equivalent degree is two calendar years. The time for the completion of a combined M.S.E. / Ph.D. is typically between four and six years.

The Ph.D. degree is awarded by the Graduate School of Arts and Science ; as a result, there are certain differences in the specifications for written dissertation and certain formal requirements to be met. Information on these is available from the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education of the School of Engineering and Applied Science . All applications for the Ph.D. degree are made through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students accepted into the Ph.D. program need not complete a master’s degree.

Currently, MSE supports over 60 Ph.D. students. The collaborative nature of the MSE graduate group allows the theses of our students  to be co-advised by faculty drawn from diverse disciplines. After graduation, many of our students have assumed leadership roles in industry and academia.

Check out our newsletters PhD Applicant Support Program

In this section:

• Program Requirements
• Modifications and Exceptions  

Advising and Advisor Selection

• Applicant Support

Ph.D. Program Requirements

Students must complete each of the requirements outlined below within the general time frames outlined above. If a member of the dissertation committee is unavailable for an examination, the advisor will recommend an appropriate substitute committee member, which must be approved by the Graduate Group Chair. In rare cases, the Graduate Group Chair may approve rescheduling the examination based on incompatibilities in the schedules of the committee members.

To qualify for the Ph.D. program, all students must complete 7 approved courses in their first year. Typically, four of these will be taken in the first semester and three in the second. Three core courses are required for all students (no exceptions): MSE 520 Structure of Materials, MSE 530 Thermodynamics & Phase Equilibria, and MSE 540 Phase Transformations. Students must maintain a grade point average (GPA) above 3.25 for the first year and above 3.0 for the remainder of their coursework. Non-core courses may be selected from offerings within the MSE department and other departments in SEAS, as well as the physical, biological, and mathematical sciences. A student transferring from other graduate programs can only include transferred courses with the approval of the MSE Graduate Group Chair. Students should register for one research credit in their second semester reflecting the expectation that they participate in research. Students are required to take at least 10 graduate level courses (500 or greater). Within the ten courses, students are expected to include courses outside of their research area to gain a broader understanding of materials science and engineering. Doctoral students with a Master’s degree may transfer up to nine credits as course units to the Ph.D. program upon the approval of the Graduate Group Chair.

Qualifying Exam (Paper and Oral)

In Year 1, in addition to the coursework, Ph.D. students must also pass the qualifying examination. This examination is held at the end of May after the second semester and tests student’s potential for identifying and investigating significant research questions, the depth of their understanding of the materials covered in the 7 courses and their intellectual integration. As part of this examination, the student will write an original paper that consists of an analysis and critique of one or more articles published in the scientific literature typically, though not necessarily, in the general area of student’s research focus area. The qualifying exam paper will be orally presented and defended to a committee of faculty members. The student must prepare (1) an abstract of their qualifying exam paper (no more than 250 words) and (2) a separate paragraph describing their research progress in the first year (no more than 250 words). The abstract (1) should describe the proposed area of focus for the qualifying exam paper, the topic(s) of the journal articles to be reviewed, and the general nature of the proposed critique. Students must also include copies of the selected research article(s). The abstract must be submitted by the end of the first Friday after the Spring Break. The student will be notified within 2 weeks whether the proposed literature article(s) is acceptable. If it is unacceptable, the students will be provided feedback explaining why the proposed articles(s) or other aspects of the abstract were not accepted. The qualifying examination paper must incorporate a thorough analysis of one or more important and significant research articles in the published scientific literature and include a proposed research plan. A typical qualifying examination paper will (1) specify the general research area, (2) summarize the main points of the article(s) and the student’s view of its significant contributions to the field, (3) identify issues that the article author(s) neglected or did not properly address and problems with the methodology, (4) address how these deficiencies would alter the data or their interpretation, (5) describe how the student would address these deficiencies, and (6) identify appropriate next steps in the line of research discussed in the article. The qualifying examination paper should be approximately (but no more than) 20 single-spaced pages (including figures) with references (no page limit), plus a one-page (single-spaced) description of their research progress to-date. The qualifying examination paper must be submitted by the end of the Spring Term finals period.

The oral section of the qualifying examination will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday the week before Memorial Day. During the oral examination, the student will (1) present their qualifying exam paper (30 minute maximum) and (2) present their research progress (15 minute maximum). The qualifying examination committee will assess the student’s ability to debate the fundamental background, significance, and results of the research article(s) and the research plan, illustrate its importance within the research field, and demonstrate that he or she is able to integrate the knowledge gained in their coursework. The qualifying examination committee will consist of members of the Graduate Group and the student’s advisor will not be present. Any student who fails the oral examination has the option of retaking the examination within six weeks of their first attempt. Students failing the retake are not permitted to continue in the doctorate degree program and have the option of entering the Masters degree program.

Dissertation Committee Composition and Meetings

The Dissertation Committee provides the student and advisor with additional sources of information, guidance, and critique of the research project, and reviews student progress in the Research Proposal Examination, 4th Year Research Update, the Dissertation Defense and other times as the student or advisor may request. Each student in the doctoral degree program will have a Dissertation Committee of at least four members, including the advisor. At least half of the members of the Dissertation Committee must be members of the MSE Graduate Group (at the time of their appointment to the committee), and at least one member must be outside the MSE department. One member of the Dissertation Committee from the Standing Faculty in the MSE Graduate Group will be appointed as Chair of the Dissertation Committee. If the Chair of a Dissertation Committee leaves the Standing Faculty before the dissertation is completed, then a new chair from the Standing Faculty in the MSE Graduate Group must be appointed as chair. The membership of the Dissertation Committee (including members from outside the MSE Graduate Group) must be approved in writing by the MSE Graduate Committee Chair.

The Dissertation Advisor is the person primarily responsible for overseeing the student’s dissertation research. A student may have both a Dissertation Advisor and a Dissertation Co-Advisor, or two Dissertation Co-Advisors, if that responsibility is shared equally. Dissertation Advisors, and/or Dissertation Co-Advisors, must be members of the Standing Faculty at Penn, with special exceptions that must be approved by the Graduate Group Chair. A member of the Associated Faculty (such as Research Faculty or Adjunct Faculty) may be permitted to serve as a Dissertation Advisor with prior approval of the Vice Provost for Education on a case by case basis. The MSE Graduate Group Chair may petition the Vice Provost for Education, in advance, for an exception. In such cases, a member of the Standing Faculty in the MSE Graduate Group must be appointed as the Dissertation Committee Chair.

Second Year Progress Update

In Year 2, doctoral degree students must submit an Annual Dissertation Research Progress Report (one page, single-spaced, one figure), signed by the advisor, to the Graduate Group Chair. This progress report should include background, motivation, research progress, and a brief summary of future work. This update is due December 1.

Third Year Research Proposal

In Year 3, doctoral degree students must submit a research proposal to the Graduate Group Chair and their Dissertation Committee. The proposal (20 pages maximum) should describe the focus of the student’s thesis project, identify the technological and scientific importance of the work, outline the theoretical or experimental approach to be followed, and include their results to date. The proposal is due December 20. In the week of Martin Luther King Day of the following January, an oral examination will be scheduled. The exam will be conducted by the Dissertation Committee. The purpose of this exam is to evaluate the motivation and capability of the student for research, based on his/her demonstration of in-depth understanding, independence of thought and progress towards completing his/her PhD. The committee will also provide advice and/or suggestions for future directions. The student will be expected to make a presentation (30 minute maximum) on thesis research followed by discussion with the Dissertation Committee. If the committee finds the student is seriously deficient in progress and/or capability to conduct the independent research, the committee may recommend a second oral examination within 3 months. Continuing in the PhD program requires committee approval of the research proposal.

Annual Research Update Beyond Year 3

In the week of Martin Luther King Day of Year 4 (and subsequent years if a student has not completed all requirements for the PhD degree), a 15-minute student oral presentation will be scheduled with the Dissertation Committee. (With the approval of the advisor, the students who will graduate within the same academic year may request a one-time waiver of the update.) The students will discuss their progress (e.g., significant discoveries, publications, proceedings, and abstracts) and anticipated work for completion of their doctoral thesis. The committee will review the doctoral degree progress and determine whether the progress is sufficient in all aspects. If the committee decides that the student is seriously deficient in research progress, it will recommend a follow-up oral presentation within 3 months from the first review.

Dissertation and thesis defense

When the dissertation work is completed to the satisfaction of the advisor, the student prepares a written dissertation according to the specifications available in the departmental office or Deputy Dean. The Examination Committee is normally the same as the Dissertation Committee; deviations from this norm must be approved by the Graduate Group Chair. Copies of the dissertation must be submitted to the members of the Examination Committee ten days before their defense, after which the student will defend the dissertation in an oral examination before the committee. Students schedule the time and location of their thesis defense and are asked to announce the time and place of the examination in advance, and the dissertation presentation and initial question-and-answer portion of the exam are open to the public. The final portion of the examination will be restricted to the student and the Examination Committee. However, this part of the examination may also be public if unanimously approved by the Examination Committee. If the dissertation and the defense are accepted, the advisor and the Graduate Group Chair will sign the Ph.D. Degree Certification form, which is then submitted to the Deputy Dean for further action. The committee may require changes in the dissertation, and, in exceptional cases, a second dissertation defense.

All doctoral degree students are required to attend all departmental seminars; persistent absences may result in removal from the graduate program.

Modifications and Exceptions

Requests for exceptions to or modifications of these requirements must be made in writing to the Graduate Group Chair. Requests should be discussed in advance with the advisor, and should include the reasons for seeking the change. Petitions to modify requirements of the University or of the School must be further approved by the Graduate Affairs Committee of the School.

The faculty advisor is principally responsible for overseeing the student’s program and degree progress, including course selection and requests related to the student’s formal status in the graduate program. Students may be assigned a thesis advisor at the time of admission or enter the program without a thesis advisor assigned.

Doctoral students typically register for four courses in their first semester, and three courses plus one research course unit in their second semester. Course selection is made in consultation with student’s thesis advisor. For unassigned students, the Graduate Group Chair will recommend and approve first-semester courses based on the student’s undergraduate transcript and intended area of research. An official course approval form signed by the thesis advisor or the Graduate Group Chair will enter student’s departmental file.

For unassigned students, the expectation is that a thesis advisor will be assigned during the first semester. Unassigned students should make appointments to meet individually with members of the MSE Graduate Group whom they consider to be prospective advisors, as well as students in the relevant research groups. By October 1, unassigned students must submit to the Graduate Group Chair a ranked list of three faculty members to whom the student would like to be assigned. The Graduate Group Chair then assigns students to faculty advisors in accordance with student preferences, subject to limitations imposed by the availability of research support, the wishes of faculty members, and the existing distribution of students among advisors.

Students may request a change of advisor at any time during their Ph.D. study, and the request will be honored if possible. However, since changing advisors usually implies changing research topics, it is advantageous to request a change as early as possible during the graduate program.

PhD Applicant Support Program

The Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) department and the University of Pennsylvania are strongly committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Application Support Program will offer assistance to applicants to the MSE Doctoral Program from under-served or under-represented communities in the admissions process. The program will connect each applicant with a current PhD student who will serve as a mentor to help navigate the application process, give feedback on the resume and personal statement, and provide any other reasonable assistance necessary.

This program is open only to U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents. Interested applicants should apply by filling this form. This form will expire on December 15, 2023 which is the deadline to submit a PhD application. Note that applying to this program does not guarantee a mentor, but the earlier that the form is filled, the more likely a mentor will be available.

Note: At the end of the application cycle, individual responses will be deleted, and only aggregated information in anonymized form will be retained for the purpose of evaluating the impact of the program.

Additional Information

The following individuals can also be contacted for more information:

• Graduate Group Chair: Ling Li, 308 LRSM ( [email protected] )
• Graduate Group Assistant: Irene Clements, 201 LRSM ( [email protected] )

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Graduate Program in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

The Graduate Program in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) at the University of Pennsylvania, established in 1893, is renowned for its excellence and dynamic nature.

Our program allows students to earn either a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. Additionally, a part-time master’s program is available to professional engineers who wish to continue working in the industry while pursuing their MSE degree. Our graduates thrive in successful careers, providing leadership in academia and various industrial settings, including pharmaceuticals, biotech, advanced materials, electronics, and traditional sectors such as chemicals, oil, and gas.

Master of Science in Engineering (MSE)

The MSE program equips highly-qualified students with a strong theoretical foundation and interdisciplinary skills essential for career advancement in the rapidly evolving field of chemical and biomolecular engineering. Our innovative Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) Program in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) is renowned for preparing students for leadership roles in the oil, chemical, pharmaceutical, and electronics industries.

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Doctoral Program (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. program in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering demands exceptional ability and the potential to make significant original contributions to the field. Doctoral candidates are expected to demonstrate the capability for independent work and study at the highest levels. This degree is essential for those aiming to teach chemical engineering or pursue a career in advancing research within the discipline.

Graduate Group

Graduate students in our program have the opportunity to join the lab of any faculty member within the CBE Graduate Group. Our faculty members, who are engaged in research across all areas of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, come from various schools at Penn, including Penn Engineering, Penn Dental, Penn Medicine, Penn Vet, and the School of Arts and Sciences.

For faculty listings sorted by research topic or to learn more about each research area, please visit the Chemical and Biomolecular Research Areas page . To see only faculty with academic appointments within the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, visit our departmental faculty page .

Graduate Group Review - Student Feedback Form

Graduate Groups are periodically reviewed by the Graduate Council of the Faculties (GCF) in order to identify strengths and weaknesses within each program, and to recommend any changes that may help to improve the Graduate Group. This feedback form is intended to solicit general information and impressions about your graduate school experiences to share with GCF.

Graduate Group Review Student Feedback Form

Chemical Engineering Graduate Association (ChEGA)

The Chemical Engineering Graduate Association (ChEGA) represents the academic and social interests of graduate students. The primary role of ChEGA is to organize social events such as happy hours and holiday parties. ChEGA organizes an annual Graduate Student Research Symposium and a weekly graduate student seminar series each spring, as well. While its main focus is to schedule social gatherings, ChEGA also serves an important role in providing student input to departmental policies and is also very involved in graduate recruiting.

Every year CheGA members create, act, and produce a satirical video about CBE faculty and their experiences from that year. Take a look at one of ChEGA’s past videos here !

Graduate Student Symposium (GSS)

The annual Graduate Student Symposium (GSS) is a student-organized event that provides an opportunity to the graduate students from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania to present their findings to the academic community and the interested industrial representatives. It is a great ground for students to make connections and to discuss their research topics. In the past, representative from companies such as ConocoPhilips, Merck, ExxonMobil, L’Oreal and Air Products have attended this event.

Each year we are fortunate enough to have at least 12 oral presentations and 35 poster presentations given by our students.  Our most recent event was a great success with more than 100 people in attendance!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at  [email protected] .

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Department of Mathematics

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Mathematics Graduate Program

Thinking of applying to graduate school in mathematics.

Penn was ranked 8th among all US universities in a leading national study , and our mathematics graduate program was recently highest in a study of graduate programs in arts and sciences at Penn. We have a very active and involved mathematics faculty , diverse course offerings and a broad seminar schedule , with a variety of research projects and strengths in algebra, analysis, geometry-topology, combinatorics, logic, probability, and mathematical physics. We have a supportive atmosphere, with personal attention from the faculty and extensive interaction among graduate students. Our grad students can take courses not only in the Mathematics Department but also elsewhere at Penn, and the wide resources of the university are available. Our former graduate students have gone on to mathematical careers both in academia and in industry.

Our full-time Ph.D. students receive a generous and competitive support package including

• five years of funding with a combination of  fellowships and teaching assistantships;
• a stipend and a full tuition scholarship;
• no teaching responsibilities for at least two years (generally including the first and fourth year);
• health insurance coverage provided at no cost to the student.

We invite you to learn about our graduate program, our math department, our university and living in Philadelphia, a cosmopolitan city and a true mathematical hub, with easy access to nearby mathematics departments and research institutes.

We are looking for interested, mathematically talented and dedicated students to be a part of our group of excellent future mathematicians. Consider applying to Penn for your graduate education. Questions?

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Department of anthropology.

PhD Program

The emphasis in the Graduate Program is on training candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.  This degree certifies that, in addition to having a sound knowledge of anthropology as a whole, the holder has been trained to do independent research at a professional level of competence in at least one of the major subfields of Anthropology (Anthropological Archeology, Biological [Physical] Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology).

Joint PhD Program

Applicants should apply to only one program within GSAS (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences). If you are interested in another department within GSAS, you may include this in your personal statement. Upon review, our faculty will decide if the candidate is a good fit for our department or if another program is more suited to their academic interests.

Applicants may, however, apply to more than one school simultaneously (i.e.: Penn Medical School, Penn Graduate School of Education, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences). In the case of a dual degree, Anthropology will be the secondary department and funding will come from the primary department. For more information about the MD/PhD program click here .

Course Requirements

The PhD degree requires a minimum of twenty (18) course units (one unit per course); a normal full-time program consists of three to four units per term.  Of these units, at least twelve (12) must be taken at this University. Up to eight (8) course units may be transferred from another institution.  Students should request credit transfer from the Graduate Group Chair after the first year of residence. 

All PhD students must complete successfully a core program of four courses in the first year.  The first-year courses cover the four subfields of anthropology and are mandated by the Graduate Group (GG).  These courses include ANTH 6000, 6010, 6020, and 6030. Failure to complete the first year core courses with a final grade (i.e., no Incompletes) by the end of the second semester disqualifies a student from continuing in the program.  The Graduate Group will determine the action to be taken. 

Comprehensive Examinations (PhD Preliminary Exams)

The Comprehensive Examinations (Comps) are taken during the last week of May of the student's first year, following completion of the first-year core courses.  Held over eight hours on two consecutive mornings, the Comps will cover the field of anthropology as presented in the first year core program and focus upon an integration of the material discussed therein.  In addition to formal course work, further opportunities for preparation for the Comps include departmental colloquia and lectures, the basic anthropological references in the Van Pelt Library and the University Museum Library, and ethnographic and archaeological collections of the University Museum. 

Core course faculty will evaluate the Comps and the student's first-year academic record within two weeks after the exams are completed.  Faculty approval of both is necessary for the students to able to continue to work toward PhD Candidacy and/or the MA Degree in the department. 

Foreign Language Exam

Students pursuing the PhD (and MA)  degree in Anthropology are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language used in written source material or scientific literature relevant to the student's professional career.  Language examinations may be taken in French, German, Spanish, or Russian (or other languages with permission of the Graduate Group).  Dates for language examinations will be arranged by the Department.  Students are strongly urged to take the language examination at the first opportunity but, in any case, are encouraged to complete the requirement by the end of their second year.  The language exam must be completed before the student is able to take the Oral Examination.   Students whose first language is not English are exempt from the requirement.

At the time of matriculation, students shall work together with the GG Chair to determine an appropriate advisor, if they have not already done so.  An advisor will work with a student on a regular basis in order to determine the shape of the student's program from semester to semester.  As the student gains familiarity with other faculty within the GG, he/she may invite those professors to serve on his/her Oral Examination and Dissertation Committees.  It is expected that the core members of the committees will be determined by the time the student is defending his/her field statements and dissertation proposal (in most cases, by the end of the third year) during the Oral Exam (see below).  When special expertise is required, additional committee members may be appointed from outside the GG or the university.  The Advisor is responsible for initiating regular meetings with the student for the purpose of guidance.  These meetings occur at least once per semester, at least until the student has passed the Oral Examination. 

Oral Examination (PhD Candidacy Exam)

When course work, the language exam and the Comps have been completed, the student is eligible to stand for the Oral Examination (Oral Exam).  At least one year must have lapsed since the completion of the Comps before the Oral Exam can be taken.  At least one semester in advance, after consulting with her/his Committee, the student should reserve a date for and petition the GG Chair to take the Oral Exam.   

The Oral Exam will concentrate mainly on the student’s specialized fields of interest, theoretically and geographically, and on his/her program of proposed research.  The student, in conjunction with his/her advisor, and the GG Chair, will determine the appropriate fields of examination (see examples of approved fields in the Graduate Handbook) and produce Oral Exam statements summarizing research on those topics.  In addition, the student must generate a PhD dissertation proposal.  This proposal should demonstrate the student’s ability to plan and execute independent research in accordance with professional standards. 

Two weeks prior to the Oral Exam, the student is required to submit the PhD dissertation proposal and three Oral Exam statements on areas of concentration for distribution to the Graduate Coordinator (“tabling”).  The proposal and statements should be reviewed and approved by the Oral Exam Committee before being tabled.  While the Oral Exam is open to all members of the GG, a quorum of five GG members, including the student’s advisor, the GG Chair and other Oral Exam Committee members, must be present in order for the Oral Exam to proceed.

Within one month following successful completion of the Oral Exam, the PhD candidate, in consultation with the Oral Exam Committee, must produce a final version of the proposal for approval by the Graduate Group and submission to the Graduate Division.

PhD Dissertation

The PhD dissertation proposal should demonstrate the candidate's ability to plan and execute independent research in accordance with professional standards and to present its results in a manner that is coherent and readily intelligible to fellow professionals.  The dissertation is based on the candidate's own field investigation and is written under the direction of a Dissertation Committee appointed by the GG Chair.  The Dissertation Committee will consist of a student’s Advisor and 2-4 other faculty members who are usually appointed at the time the student passes his/her oral examination.  At least two members of the Dissertation Committee must be active members of the GG.

After the Dissertation Advisor and Committee reads and approves a complete, “defendable” or “close to completion” (but not necessarily the final) version of the dissertation, the PhD Candidate will schedule the Dissertation Defense.  The version of the dissertation for the Dissertation Defense should include all chapters, including the introduction and conclusions, and a complete literature cited section that have been read and approved.

At least two weeks in advance of the Dissertation Defense, the PhD Candidate must make a physical and a digital version of the dissertation available to the Graduate Group (“tabling”).  The digital version is sent with an announcement of the Dissertation Defense to the entire Graduate Group.  At the public defense, the PhD Candidate will present his/her research and respond to questions from the Dissertation Committee members and others in attendance.  The Dissertation Committee, in concert with the Graduate Chair, will determine if the PhD Candidate has passed the defense.

Upon passing the Dissertation Defense, the newly minted PhD must submit a final copy (consisting of two copies for the University and one copy for the Department) to the GG for final acceptance, according to Graduate Division guidelines.

Program Planning

Each student's program of study and research is an individual one and the timing will vary from person to person.  The total years to degree has traditionally ranged from 5 (for students transferring in) to 9 (with allowance for MA degree and/or additional time in the field).  The general schedule provided below may be used as a template for planning purposes.  While this schedule reflects the five-year funding package, it is expected that students will apply for external research funds to support dissertation research during their third and fourth years, which will extend their Ben Franklin funding by a year.

• Core courses
• Basic courses in area of specialization
• Comprehensive Examination (spring) 

Second Year

• Specialized courses, seminars, tutorials
• Grant writing course
• Teaching Assistant
• Completion of Language Exam (fall or spring)
• Completion of course requirements
• Apply for dissertation research grants
• Oral Examination & submission of Dissertation Proposal

Fourth Year

• Dissertation Research (preferrably supported by external research funding in Fourth Year or Fifth Year) 
• Dissertation Research, Writing, and Submission (with outside research funding Fourth Year or Fifth Year)

Sixth Year (if necessary)

• Dissertation Writing and Submission

Students must complete all course requirements, the foreign language requirement, the Comps, and the Oral Exam within a period of five consecutive years.  The granting of a leave of absence or research leave does not extend this limit.

• College of Arts & Sciences
• Graduate Division
• College of Liberal and Professional Studies

About Urban Studies

What is urban studies.

Penn Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary program within the School of Arts in Sciences that integrates resources across the social sciences (anthropology, sociology, history, economics, political science) and professional fields (city planning, education, environmental studies, public health, public policy, real estate) in the service of studying urban trends. 

Urban Studies students, or “Urbies”, are interested in making a difference and connecting to real world issues. Urbies undertake the task of explaining the conditions of urban places, and work towards creating places that foster equity, better health outcomes, environmental sustainability, and a better quality of life. In order to do this well, students learn about urban history as well as current challenges, and are equipped with a wide range of methodological tools and academic experiences to help them marry the theory (of the problem) with the practice (of solving it). 

Why Urban Studies?

More than half of the world's population lives in cities, and the pace of urbanization in most of the world is accelerating. According to the World Bank, by 2050, 7 in 10 people will live in urban areas. Cities are critical nodes of wealth generation in the world economy, global incubators of culture and social life, and spatial aggregates of society’s most intractable problems. But cities are also dense and dynamic places, where people come together to find viable solutions. 

The field of Urban Studies explores problems like residential segregation, income inequality, homelessness or housing precariousness, unequal access to health care, climate change and other environmental threats, criminal injustice, and lack of investment in public goods such as schools, transportation, and infrastructure. Understanding these issues, and their histories, and impacts empower urban scholars and practitioners to enact meaningful change.   

Urban Studies is a flexible and intimate program. Students can shape their experience through courses that reflect particular interests and that cover the range of concerns in the field. Urban Studies is the only major on campus that requires students to carry out an internship for academic credit. Our students experience a strong sense of community in the program as a result of small classes, an active Undergraduate Advisory Board, many extra-curricular activities, and the opportunity to learn directly from faculty working in their respective fields. Urban Studies also has a strong alumni network and opportunities for mentorship and career exposure.

Urbies pursue courses, research, and internship opportunities that set them up for careers in law, city planning, social work, public policy advising, consulting, education, healthcare, sustainability and environmental justice, city management, community development, architecture, non-profit management, social entrepreneurship, real estate, politics and governance, and creative enterprises. 

Our Urban Studies Alumni Network on LinkedIn has over 500 members. About half of our graduates attend graduate school and most take a year or more before applying. The most common graduate degrees that Urban Studies alumni pursue are Masters in City Planning, Law, Public Policy or Public Administration, Master of Business Administration, Education, Master in Social Work, Certificate in Real Estate, Master in Architecture, and other various specializations.

Are you still with us?

What does the urban studies major look like.

You can shape your Urban Studies experience through courses that reflect your particular interests. We strongly encourage you to visit our office for course planning and advising!

The major has three components ( 14 cus ):

Urban Studies majors all take a set of core requirements (4 cus) that include 1) a research course that teaches quantitative and qualitative methods for studying cities, 2) an internship for credit and accompanying Fieldwork Seminar, and 3) a senior year original research project.

Themes courses :

Majors can shape their experience through choosing 7 courses that reflect their particular interests and that cover the range of themes in the field - 1) the history of cities, 2) comparative and theoretical dimensions 3) the built environment, 4) urban economics and finance 5) urban politics and policy.

Discipline focus :   

Finally, because it is interdisciplinary, the Urban Studies major requires students to take 3 courses in a discipline or field that speak to the expertise they develop. These electives should cluster around a discipline (sociology, anthropology, history) or a field (public policy, environmental justice, real estate). (see Pathways) 

Fieldwork :  

In the spring semester, students engage in a 15 hour/week immersive fieldwork experience at an urban institution or organization. During those hours students will work on projects in coordination with a supervisor that allow them to understand the connection between theory and practice in the field, develop hard skills, and cultivate professional relationships and networks. Students are encouraged to take the course in the spring of junior year but must plan in advance to take fieldwork in the spring of sophomore or senior years if they are going abroad. Students will meet for a 2 hour seminar weekly in addition to their hours at their fieldwork site. 

All majors are required to complete a 35-40 page senior seminar paper on a topic of interest. The paper will be based on original data collected in pursuit of answering a specific research question relevant to that topic. It will be framed within an existing body of research and theory, citing secondary sources. The senior seminar paper allows students to become an authority based on their own original findings, concluding the urban studies education and catalyzing the start of students’ professional careers. The senior seminar is taken in the fall of senior year. 

Penn GSE Graduate Assistantship Program

Teaching assistants for mssp 6280: policy analysis.

Location: Master of Science in Social Policy Program (MSSP), School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2)

Modality: In-Person

Position Length: Fall

Work Hours and Commitment: avg. 7hrs/week

Application Deadline: 2024-09-13

Pay Rate: $20.00/hr

Additional Compensation: None

The MS in Social Policy Program seeks 3 teaching/course assistants for MSSP 6280: Policy Analysis. Each of the lecture sessions are held at the times below:

• Wednesdays, 8:30-11:00am
• Wednesdays, 5:15-7:45pm
• Thursdays, 10:15am-12:45pm

Course description: Policy Analysis requires an understanding of social problems/social issues and the processes by which policy is developed and implemented. Critical skills in many policy frameworks include problem definition and analysis, review of relevant research, identification of possible actions, implementation and evaluation, and fiscal analysis. Competency in written and oral communication is also essential. To develop these and related skills, this course utilizes as a base a dynamic social problem analysis framework that addresses issues of equity, equality, and adequacy. It also examines multiple theoretical and analytical perspectives. Through the review of contemporary and historical social policy debates and provisions, selected case examples, and policy briefs, this course provides students with an understanding of the policy roles of the legislative and executive branches of government, including goal setting, policy rulemaking and enactment, allocation of resources, financing, regulation, and implementation. The policy process at state and local levels of government will also be addressed. The primary focus is on U.S. policy, although global policies will be discussed when relevant.

Teaching/Course Assistants can expect to work 7-10 hours/week (max 100hrs total) and are paid $20/hour up to $2,000, or $2,000 over the course of the semester. 

Supervisor/Contact

Katherine Stewart - Administrative Director, MS in Social Policy Program

[email protected]

Required Duties

TA duties include the following:

• Managing the Canvas site
• Grading of assignments/class participation
• Contributing to the design of some of the assignments
• Answering students' questions about assignments, course logistics, course content, and grading. The questions will be answered on email and/or Ed Discussion, as determined by the instructor. Difficult questions are escalated to the instructor.
• Attending lectures or, by permission of the instructor, reading the relevant course materials instead of attending lectures.

Preferred Qualification and Essential Skills

The teaching assistant must have a strong mastery of the course content as demonstrated by relevant degrees, classes taken, and/or professional experience. 

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit a resume and short cover letter detailing your relevant experience to:   [email protected] . Please also list all available course sections in your application.

Accelerating the Path to a Master’s Degree

Sep 7, 2024 | Featured , News

As a computer science major at Penn Engineering, Mahika Calyanakoti ’26 enjoyed her courses in data science, math, and machine learning. So when she decided to pursue an accelerated master’s degree , she chose Penn Engineering’s data science program .

Originally published in Penn Engineering

August 13, 2024.

“A lot of computer science undergrads go into the accelerated program in computer science, but I wanted a little more variety in my studies,” she says. “While the CIS master’s is a great program, I felt the Data Science master’s better suited my desire to broaden my academic horizons.”

Penn Engineering’s accelerated master’s program enables Penn undergraduates to get an early start on a master’s degree by taking graduate courses while still working on their bachelor’s. As a result, they can earn two degrees in just four years, saving time and costs.

For Calyanakoti, the decision to stay at Penn for her graduate degree was an easy one. “I wanted to take advantage of the accelerated option that Penn offers,” she says.

“It’s definitely unique to Penn. And I really like the interdisciplinary nature of Penn Engineering. We’re on the cutting edge of a lot of new technologies — for example, the school recently introduced a new AI major. I wanted to be at a place like that for my master’s as well as my bachelor’s.”

Penn Engineering Student Activities Council Board Members

An academic powerhouse 

Calyanakoti says her academic experience at Penn has lived up to her expectations and then some. Among her favorite classes so far is Market and Social Systems on the Internet, a course taught by Swapneel Sheth .

“The class talked about a wide range of things, from HTTP requests and game theory to how the internet works and how different systems work all around us,” she says. “We did a lot of fulfilling projects — for example, we built a Wikipedia web scraper to answer questions about the Oscars. He took something that’s fun and made it a learning experience.”

Calyanakoti points to Erik Waingarten , who teaches algorithms, as another outstanding teacher. “He has a really positive mindset, which draws students in,” she notes. “Also, he never just gives you the answer. He’ll hand you the chalk, and you’re the one writing on the board and walking through the problem.”

A supportive environment

For Calyanakoti, another important aspect of the Penn experience has been the support she’s received from professors, classmates, and mentors.

Students play games during the 2024 ESAC Engineering formal at Dave & Buster’s.

The mentoring program connects students via PeopleGrove , Penn’s career access network for students and alumni. Operating as a Penn-specific version of LinkedIn, the platform takes a personal approach to networking, allowing participants to include details about their personal interests, hobbies and motivations.

“I like the personal aspect of PeopleGrove,” Calyanakoti says. “It can tell you what you have in common with someone else, and it tells you what motivates someone. That definitely adds a vibrant, personal touch.”

Calyanakoti has also taken advantage of Penn’s robust alumni database to make professional connections with people from a wide range of companies.

“I’ve been talking to people at companies that I would love to work at,” she says. “And those mentors have also been really influential for me.”

At the same time, Calyanakoti emphasizes that the Penn network extends beyond students and alumni to the faculty.

“It might feel intimidating to go talk to your professors, but they’ve worked with thousands of students throughout their career, so they have some of the best advice,” she says. “And they’re doing a lot of different projects, so they can also provide you with opportunities to explore your interests even more.”

A promising future

Calyanakoti performs at the Penn Raas Dance Team show.

“A lot of trading strategies and investment strategies are driven by different algorithms and quantitative methods,” she says. “That’s most intriguing for me right now. But I would love to explore all the different opportunities at Penn and find something that’s really meaningful and fulfilling for me.”

In the meantime, she encourages future students to make the most of their time in college. “We only have four years at Penn, which feels like a very short time,” she notes. “So make the best use of that time, whether that means a double major or an accelerated master’s or just talking to senior students and alumni. They’re always willing to talk and always willing to help.”

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The Sverdlovsk Region territorially covers practically the entire Middle Urals and part of the Northern Urals . The region is usually associated with the Urals in general, and the city of Yekaterinburg, its administrative centre, is called the capital of the Urals . This city is also the centre of the Urals Federal District.

Flora and Fauna

Water resources, landmarks and tourism, konzhakov stone, serebryansky kamen (stone), denezhkin stone & the kvarkush range, kachkanar mountain, the peter the gronsky aka petrogrom rocks, the devil's fortress, the seven brothers rocks, mount bunar, the urals mars, reserves, national and natural parks, picturesque rivers, the revun rapids, zoo nurseries, major cities, yekaterinburg.

In earlier times, the region was part of the Siberian province, then part of the Trans-Ural region of the Perm province of the Russian Empire. As an administrative unit, the Sverdlovsk Region was separated from the Urals Region in 1934 and finally appeared on the maps as an independent entity. It received its name from the regional centre – the city of Sverdlovsk, which is actually Yekaterinburg, but the city was renamed in the Soviet times to commemorate the revolutionary Yakov Sverdlov. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the city was given back its historical name – Yekaterinburg, but the region was not renamed, thus the discrepancy. The same story happened with Saint Petersburg and Leningradskaya Region.

The Sverdlovsk Region borders the Komi Republic and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region in the north, the Tyumen Region in the east, the Kurgan and Chelyabinsk Regions in the south, the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Perm Territory in the west.

There is a conditional border between Europe and Asia running from north to south through the whole Sverdlovsk Region. The area of the region is 194 307 sq. km., the length from north to south is 660 km, the distance between the western and eastern extremes is about 560 km. The population of the region is 4.3 million people. There are 47 cities in the Sverdlovsk Region.

The relief of the region is diverse. The western part is mountainous, whereas the central and eastern parts are plain. The Main Urals Range extends from north to south. The highest point in the Sverdlovsk Region is Konzhakov Stone (1,569 m).

The vegetation is dominated by coniferous and mixed forests, mainly birch, pine, spruce, less often aspen and cedar, while in the extreme south-east there are some forest-steppes. Forests cover about 82.3% of the territory. Mountain slopes up to 600 m high are covered with dark coniferous northern taiga forests (spruce, fir, cedar). The mountains, passes, plateaus starting from the height of 800 m and higher are covered with rocky tundra.

The fauna of the Sverdlovsk Region is filled with typical forest representatives. There are 66 species of mammals, 6 species of reptiles, 9 species of amphibians, 228 species of birds, and 48 species of fish.

The watershed between the basins of the main tributaries of Russia's two largest rivers, the Irtysh and the Kama, runs along the ridges of the Ural Mountains and the eastern foothills in the south of the Sverdlovsk Region. The region's river network includes 18,414 rivers with a total length of more than 68,000 km. They are characterized by mixed feeding (by ground and meltwater, and atmospheric precipitation) with a predominance of snow (snow feeding is about 85-90% in the southern areas of the region and about 60-65% in the Ural Mountains ). The rivers freeze in late October-November and open up in April. The main river in the Irtysh basin is the Tobol with its tributaries of the first, second and third-order: the Iset, Tavda, and Tura (tributaries of the Tobol); the Nitsa, Pyshma, Tagil (tributaries of the Tura); the Lozva, Sosva, and Pelym (tributaries of the Tavda). The main rivers in the Kama basin are the Chusovaya River (a tributary of the Kama River) and its tributary – the Sylva River, and the Ufa River (a tributary of the Belaya River).

Swamps and marshlands occupy about 10.53% of the total area of the region (20461 sq. km.). The largest marshes are located in the north-east, in the Tavda river basin.

The Sverdlovsk Region has more than 5,850 lakes and artificial water bodies with the total area of about 1.35 thousand sq.km., including about 2000 lakes with the area of more than 0.01 sq.km, as well as a number of even smaller lakes (according to the Institute of Lake Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences).

The largest lakes in the region are the Pelymsky Tuman (its area is 65 sq.km) and the Vagilskiy Tuman (half the size of its bigger brother, it is 31.2 sq.km.). The largest artificial lakes are the Beloyarskoye reservoir on the Pyshma River and the Volchikhinskoye reservoir on the Chusovaya River. The Sverdlovsk Region takes the last place by the total area of lakes and artificial reservoirs, as well as by lakes among the regions of the Ural Federal District. The size and number of lakes, artificial reservoirs, swamps and wetlands is unstable and tends to change depending on natural factors such as water regime, climatic phenomena, swamping, etc. and anthropogenic factors, viz. excessive drainage or, conversely, watering of territories, regulation of river flows, etc.

Underground water reservoirs are also powerful and aplenty in the Sverdlovsk region which ranks the third in terms of the volume of forecasted groundwater resources (after the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area).

The climate of this area is moderately continental. The Ural Mountains partially protect the region from cyclones and anticyclones. Strong winds and snowstorms are quite rare. As we move away from the Main Ural Mountain Range and towards the south of the region, the air temperature increases and the amount of annual precipitation decreases. But on the whole, despite the large territory of the region, climatic conditions in all parts are quite similar. Seasons are well-pronounced, and precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the calendar year. Summer is warm, characterized by moderately hot weather without any extremes. The warmest month is July, with an average daily temperature of +21 to +26°C (+70 to +79 F), and in the mountains, it is only +14 to +16°C (+57 to +61 F). If you get very warm and dry air from Kazakhstan and Central Asia at this time of year, the daytime temperature can reach +35 to +40 ° C (+95 to +104 F), whereas the invasion of the Arctic air can bring some frosts at night frosts. Winter is freezing cold with dense snow cover. January is the coldest month of the year, with average daily temperatures ranging from -14 to -20°C (+7 to -4 F). However, during the Arctic cold air onslaughts, there are severe frosts down to -48 to -50 °C (-54 to -58 F), and in the northern parts of the region down to -55 °C (-67F). Thaws are also possible when the day temperature rises to +8°C (+46 F) in winter, but this is very rare.

The Sverdlovsk Region is one of the largest industrial centres in the country due to extensive mining. In terms of industrial output, it ranks second in Russia after the Moscow Region. There are rich deposits of bauxite, gold, various minerals, platinum and asbestos. The territory is blessed with many deposits of precious and semiprecious stones, they are mainly located in the so-called ‘gem strip’ running on the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains .

There are many interesting places in the Sverdlovsk Region that attract travellers. In 2017, it was included in the top 10 most popular tourist regions of Russia. This area is especially suitable for aficionados of active rest.

Beautiful and majestic mountains attract herds of tourists in summer and winter alike. You can go hiking, skiing or drive snowmobiles here. The highest of the mountains are in the north of the Sverdlovsk region together with the main peak Konzhakov Stone (1,569 m). Tourists sometimes call the mountain Konzhak. The mountain is 450 km north of the city of Yekaterinburg. There is no cellular communication, but you can spend the night in a tent. Every year on the first Saturday of July, on the slopes of this mountain massif there is held an International Mountain Marathon Konzhak. It is a challenging 42-km distance running along the mountain trails and rock rivers of Konzhakov Stone , over the rivers and snows fields. The run goes from the river Konzhakovka to the top of the mountain and back.

Next to Konzhakov Stone , in its eastern spur, there is Serebryansky Kamen Mountain (also called Serebryanka). The mountain is almost 300 m lower, but it is as frequently visited as Konzhak. The top of the mountain is crowned with huge and steep rock bastions. Its spurs are like the spine of a dragon. In winter, the mountain is often compared to the kingdom of the Snow Queen, so everything here is majestic and impregnable (rocks, ice and snow). On the slope of the mountain in the olden days there used to be a rescue base, the only remnant of that is a sauna. If necessary, you can stay there for a sleepover (it accommodates 3-4 people). The nearest connection with the Ministry of Emergency Situations is at the tourist base Serebryansky Kamen at the intersection of the highway Karpinsk-Kytlym with the river Serebryanka. Here you can spend the night, visit the bathhouse, there is a parking lot as well.

Other high mountain ranges include the Main Urals Range , the nearby Denezhkin Stone Range and the Kvarkush Range. Between the Main Ural Ridge and Denezhkin Stone Mountain there is the Zvezda camping site. There are also no cellular communications or regular transport links in the area. On the Kvarkush Range you can visit the Zhigalan Falls, a five-stage waterfall which is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Urals . By the end of autumn, the waterfall freezes, which attracts fans of ice climbing.

In the central and southern parts of the region, the mountains are low but easily accessible and no less beautiful. Among them are Mounts Kachkanar , Volchikha , Shunut , Sinyaya (Blue) , Azov-Mountain , and the Merry Mountains.

Kachkanar mountain is 270 km away from Yekaterinburg by the Serov road. It is a ridge with two peaks – Great Kachkanar (878 m) and Little Kachkanar (866 m). It is better to start climbing from the top of Mt Malaya. There was founded a monastery called Shad Tchup Ling (Place of practice and realization) on the northeast spur of this mountain in 1995 by Lama Sanje Tenzin Dokshitom (Mikhail Sannikov). When you come up to the beginning of the log path to the monastery, you are invited to take a brick with you up to the monastery so that your path would cease to be some common walking, but will gain the meaning. The bricks are needed for the construction of the site which is still underway today. There are several monks living on the mountain at any time of year. The guests are welcomed by the Awakening stupa. A stupa is a Buddhist commemorative monument usually housing sacred relics associated with the Buddha or other saintly persons. Another stupa is hidden in the rocks from prying eyes. Anyone can come to the monastery as a guest with an overnight stay or as a volunteer worker. From the monastery, the trail continues to Camel Rock, from where you can enjoy views of the town of Kachkanar and the huge steps of the Kachkanar Mining and Processing quarry (EVRAZ KGOK, formerly called KGOK Vanadiy, an iron ore producer). A small lake formed by flooding a quarry is located 500 m from the beginning of the trail to the monastery. From here, bypassing the monastery, there is another road to Camel Rock.

If you are pressed for time, within the city limits of Yekaterinburg there are beautiful rocks with bizarre forms, the most famous of them are the rocks of Peter Gronsky (aka Petrogrom or Grony), the Devil's Fortress, and the Seven Brothers. Tourists admire their beautiful views, and climbers train here to conquer the rocks of varying difficulty.

The rocks of Peter the Gronsky are stone remains on top of the Upper Iset granite massif (370 m high). The height of the rocks themselves is 15 m. They have several names. On the maps, they are called the rocks of Peter the Gronsky . In the Soviet times, it was believed that revolutionary workers headed by Peter Gronsky hid their weapons here and held mausoleums. However, local historians believe that Peter Gronsky, who lived at the Iset railway station in those years, could not participate in the revolutionary events, because he was still very young. Scientists call the rocks Petrogrom, in honour of Peter the Thunderer. They say that lightning strikes here very often. And among the tourists, there's a simpler name – Grony aka Thunderstorms. According to archaeological excavations, in ancient times there was a metallurgical production here, the ore was supplied here from the Sugra mine. Nowadays, it is a popular weekend route oftentimes taken with children at any time of year. From the rocks, there is a picturesque view of Lake Iset. The Petrogrom Rocks are located to the north-west of Yekaterinburg. You can get to them by public transport: by train to Nizhny Tagil, go 479 km to the station. The trail to the rocks starts on the right of the stop. A visit to the Petrogrom Rocks can be combined with a trip to the rocks of the Devil's Fortress and Iset Lake.

The Devil's Fortress is both a mountain (the absolute height is 347 m) and a rocky massif on its top. The rocks are a mighty granite ridge with a height of 20 m having a folded structure. As for the name, one version of the place was "damned or devilish" because if you look at such an erratic heap of granite slabs them seem so unnatural as if laid out by an evil force. In the process of excavations, there were found traces of ancient people staying here. Probably the first locals made sacrifices here to appease the gods. Mass visitation to the Devil's Fortress began at the end of 19th century after the Ural railway was opened. In 1980-1985, this place was closed to visitors. During this time the territory was cleared, garbage was taken out and the area was equipped with a climbing wall, one of the first in the USSR. For climbers, the northern side of the remains is of the greatest interest. The southern side is more gentle and goes down as if in steps to the valley of the Semipalatka river, a tributary of the Iset River. A wooden staircase leads to the very top of the Devil's Fortress. You can visit the Devil's Fortress by taking a train from Yekaterinburg to Iset station, the rocks are 6 km from this station.

The Seven Brothers Rocks, one of the most popular rock idols in the Middle Urals , are the highest rocks in the vicinity of Yekaterinburg. They are located at the top of Mount Semibratskaya (422 m) and belong to the Upper Iset granite massif. The height of the idols is up to 32 m. In the upper part, the mount is dividing into separate stone columns of folded structure, reminiscent of giants or brothers, from which the name comes. Actually, there are more than seven ‘brothers’, and next to them there is a remnant called ‘a sister’. There are many legends associated with the name of the rocks, and most of them imply that the brothers turned into stone. No traces of ancient people were found here. It could be connected with the prohibition for ordinary people to visit this place because it was believed that gods lived there. Nowadays there are a lot of tourists here, climbers have the training and sometimes competitions. Nearby (1.5 km) are the Rocks of Three Sisters. There are indeed three stone idols of no more than 20 m high. It is easy to climb to the south side. On the north side, there is an interesting big grotto. You can get to the Seven Brothers from the town of Verkh-Neyvinsk (7 km) and to the village itself take a train from Yekaterinburg.

Mount Bunar (612 m), which is the highest in the vicinity of Verkh-Neyvinsk and Novouralsk, has the Bunar idols. There are no idols on the top itself, they are scattered all over the slopes of Mount Bunar . It is not easy to find them among the dense taiga filled with windbreak. There is a belief that there are 999 idols in these forests. You climb one of them, you open your eyes to the next one. By the way, real idols which were worshipped by the peoples who lived here in ancient times must remain hidden from curious eyes. Most of the tourists manage to find two rock sculptures which are called very dramatically: the First and the Second. Not far from Mount Bunar , there are mineral deposits. To the south of Mount Bunar on the Kamenka River, there is one of the few deposits of green garnet in the Urals - a diamond-like demantoid. In the east, in the environs of the former mountain, there is now the Zaplotny Stone quarry where they mine tourmalines, chlorites, sphenes, and radiated zeolite. It is better to start the trip to Mount Bunar from Belorechka settlement or from the railway station Neivo-Rudyanskaya.

The relief of the Urals Mountains made it possible to build many ski centres in the Sverdlovsk Oblast. The largest of them are located on Belaya, Volchikha, and Yezhovaya mountains. In the city of Nizhny Tagil on Mount Dolganaya there is a ski jump complex where international competitions are held.

In the Sverdlovsk Region, you can see ethereal landscapes which the locals call the Urals Mars. Unusual beautiful landscapes reminiscent of Martian and sometimes lunar ones appeared on the place of former clay quarries. The official name of this place is Poldnevoy Section of the Troitsko-Baynovsky refractory clay deposit located south of the town of Bogdanovich, near the Poldnevoy village. The deposit is 20 km long and has an area of about 75 sq.km. It is one of the largest reserves in the Middle Urals. The clays have different colouring ranging from white and light grey to black with admixtures of iron oxides and humus matter. Due to this, the local clay quarries differ considerably in colour from each other. Clay hills have the appearance of ridges of different sizes. There are several lakes with water of orange and brown-red colour which is explained by the presence of pyrite in water. Bathing in such water is dangerous. Walking in this area can be likened to walking on another planet.

Thanks to karst phenomena, there are many caves, gaps, sinks, arches and other karst formations in the mountains. However, the exploration of grottoes and caves continues to this day and even geographers make very tentative guesses about their numbers. There are about 80 caves in the Sverdlovsk Region that are more than 50 meters long and deeper than two meters.

The longest caves are the Severnaya Cave (2,250 m long), the Bolshaya Yurtishenskaya Cave (930 m long), the Tayozhnaya Cave (850 m long), the Smolinskaya Cave (630 m long), and the Druzhba Cave (500 m long).

The deepest caves are the Sadykovskaya (88 m), the Tayozhnaya (64 m), the Saranskaya (49 m), the Vetrovaya (45 m), and the Volkovskaya Mine (44 m).

The most popular caves in the Sverdlovsk Region are the Smolinskaya, Druzhba, and the Arakayevskie caves. The Smolinskaya Cave is located two kilometres from the village of Beklenishcheva in the Sukholozhskoye District. The Druzhba Cave is located near the Iset River and the Revun rapids. The Arakayevskie caves can be found near the village of Arakayevo in the Deer Streams Nature Park.

The Sverdlovsk region has many interesting places to visit:

• Nature reserves Denezhkin Stone , Visimsky
• Nature parks Deer Streams , Chusovaya River, Bazhov’s Places;
• National Park Pripyshminskie Pinewoods
• Nature and mineralogical reserve Rezhevskaya

Fans of water trips will be interested in rafting along the picturesque rivers Chusovaya, Sosva, Lozva, Serga, Iset, Rezh, Kakva, Ivdel, Tagil, Ufa, Neiva, Pyshma, Shishim, Serebryanka, Sulem, Ay, and Bardym. The most stunning of them is the Chusovaya River. On the banks of many rivers, there are plenty of beautiful rocks of various shapes and sizes.

For the lovers of extreme pleasures, the Revun rapids on the Iset River are the biggest temptation. The Iset River is a calm, not a mountain river but for 500 m it turns into a bubbling stream and shows a duel of water and stone. The complexity category of the rapids varies depending on the season and water level in the river from the 2nd to the 5th at the end of March or in April during the flood. It is often possible to watch rafters' competitions or training sessions in canoes, catamarans, kayaks on the Revun rapids. Beklenishchevskie rocks (20-30 m high) surrounding the rapids lure all types of climbers, experienced and beginners alike. In 1989, the last All-Union Tourist Con was held here. In the vicinity of Revun, just 1.5 km away, there is the Smolinskaya cave (500 km downstream, on the opposite bank and 800 m deep into the forest to be exact), which can be visited after rafting.

The following zoo nurseries are located in the Sverdlovsk Region:

• Maral farm Visimskiye Zori. Marals are large semi-wild deer brought here from the Altai. It is situated in Visim settlement, 180 km from Yekaterinburg.
• Zoo in Pridannikovo village, 200 km from Yekaterinburg.
• Irbit ostrich farm in the town of Irbit, 205 km from Yekaterinburg.
• The equestrian sports club Kapriol which keeps horses, reindeer, and white camel. You can order a tour, or go for a walk to the Seven Brothers Rocks. The club teaches horseback riding. It is located in Verkh-Neyvinsky, 70 km from Yekaterinburg.
• Deer reserve UZGA. It is situated not far from Itkul, near Sysertskoye Lake, 116 km from Yekaterinburg.
• Kholzan bird of prey nursery near the village of Kashino, 46 km from Yekaterinburg.

Those who want food for thought and a calmer but no less interesting experience should go to the major cities of the Sverdlovsk region where you can visit their temples and monasteries, museums, and get acquainted with local culture and traditions.

The main pearl among the cities of the Sverdlovsk region is its capital city – Yekaterinburg. You can get to Yekaterinburg in one of the following ways:

• Fly by plane to Koltsovo Airport.
• Take a train to the station of Yekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk-Sortirovochnaya station).

You can take a bus, suburban train or a taxi to other towns of the region from Yekaterinburg.

By order of Peter the Great, the city of Yekaterinburg, also spelt as Ekaterinburg, was originally established in the Urals as an industrial and trade centre. In 1723, the Yekaterinburg plant was built on the Iset River. This year is also considered the birthday of the city. Its founders are Vasily Tatishchev and Georg Wilhelm de Gennin. The city received its name in honour of the wife of Peter I, the future Empress Catherine I. The city has a favourable geographical location. Yekaterinburg is located on the eastern slope of the Ural Mountains , in the Middle Urals. The Ural Mountains in this place are low, they are basically hills, which provides favourable conditions for the construction of railways and large roads here. The Koltsovo International Airport is also located here. Now Yekaterinburg is one of the largest transport and logistics hubs. The city has many shopping and office centres. Yekaterinburg is the most compact city with a population of one million people in Russia. Its area is 490 sq. km. In terms of population (about 1.5 million people) it is the fourth city in Russia after Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Novosibirsk. The main river of the city is the Iset. There are also ponds within the city limits: the Urban, the Upper Iset, and the Lower Iset ponds. All the tributaries of the Iset in the city except the Patrushikha River were hidden underground in the past years. Yekaterinburg is the only city in the Urals with metro, and for a long time, it was considered the shortest in the world.

It is convenient to start a brief acquaintance with the history of the capital of the Urals with the Plotinka - the dam of the city pond that gave rise to the plant and the city of Yekaterinburg itself. A stone's throw from it, there is a monument to the founders of the city (Tatishchev and de Gennin), a chapel in honour of Catherine I and a fountain called the Stone Flower. In addition to the dam and the pond, you can visit the exhibition of large-size equipment of Ural factories in the open air. A walk along the embankment of the city pond and along the Iset River in the centre of the city will open views of the old buildings preserved here. In summer, you can take a boat ride on the pond.

Another attraction is the Temple on Blood built on the site of the Ipatyev’s house. It is believed that during the Civil War in 1918 in the basement of Ipatyev's house the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and his family were executed. The cathedral was built in the Russian-Byzantine style and divided into the Lower and Upper Temples. There are a firing room and a small museum in the tomb chapel of the Lower Temple.

Across the road from the Temple on Blood, on Voznesenskaya Hill, there is a palace and a park which is sometimes called the Yekaterinburg Acropolis. The estate of the Ural Kharitonov-Rastorguyev dynasty includes a park with an artificial pond and a gazebo-rotunda on it.

To get acquainted with the panorama of the city, it is worth visiting the observation deck of the skyscraper Vysotsky (the 52nd floor, height of the platform 186 m). There is also an observation deck in the business centre of Antey.

There are many theatres in Yekaterinburg, as well as a philharmonic, circus, zoo, and an aqua park. Museums are plenty as well, there is the Museum of History of Yekaterinburg, Museum of Ural History and Archaeology, Museum of Nature, Museum of Radio, Museum of Fine Arts. In addition, the museum complex is located in the Literary Quarter. In the Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore, you can see the world's oldest wooden sculpture – the Big Shigir Idol, its age according to the latest estimates is 11.6 thousand years. The most modern museum in Yekaterinburg is Boris Yeltsin’s Museum located in Yeltsin centre. Yeltsin Center itself has become a large public, cultural and educational centre, which hosts many bright, interesting events in the city.

Among the natural sights within the city limits the most interesting are the rocks of Shartash stone tents and lake Shartash, and the Baran peninsula on Upper Iset pond.

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Higher Education, PhD

The Ph.D. in Higher Education (HE) is a highly individualized program that prepares students for an academic career in the field of higher education.

Through coursework, research assistantships, and working closely with their academic advisors, students in the Ph.D. in Higher Education program develop the skills they need to conduct primary research in higher education. These skills include understanding research design and the analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. This program is highly individualized and students work closely with their academic advisor to draw from courses from the division and from other areas on campus that relate to their area of inquiry. Ph.D. students develop a planned program of study in consultation with their academic advisor.

For more information: http://www.gse.upenn.edu/hed/phd

View the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs .

The PhD program in Higher Education is highly individualized. The program requires students to complete the Penn GSE Doctoral Proseminar on Education Research (EDUC 7132) and 2 methods courses as described below. PhD students develop a planned program of study in consultation with their academic advisor.

Total number of courses is determined by the student's advisor.

The Quantitative Methods and Methods requirements are defined by the advisor. The courses that are used to fulfill these requirements will NOT be allowed to double count to meet other doctoral course requirements.

Transfer credit

GSE will, under certain conditions, accept equivalent credit toward the degree. Up to 8 graduate level CUs taken at GSE, Penn, or another institution, may count toward the PhD degree. 

Transfer credit is not automatically accepted or applied toward the doctoral degree. Students should consult their academic advisor and the GSE website for the policies governing the application for transfer credit in their first semester of coursework at GSE. Students who are not awarded a full 8 CUs of transfer credit should consult their academic advisor for the appropriate elective coursework to fulfill the coursework required for the PhD degree program. Please consult the GSE website for the proper forms and and procedures.

Methods Course

All HE doctoral students are required to take 2 methods courses either within GSE or another school at Penn. Methods courses must be at the 5000 level or above. One of these courses must be a quantitative methods or statistics course. Students should consult their academic advisor regarding the appropriate methods courses for their program of study. Methods courses filled at GSE outside of the HE Division will also fulfill GSE's distribution requirement.

Electives courses

Electives may be taken at any school at Penn, although the majority of HE students fulfill their electives within the division. Courses must be at the 5000 level or above and students must consult their academic advisor before enrolling in any course outside of GSE. Students without a master's degree in HE may be required to fulfill some of their electives with required coursework from the HE MSEd program.

Students may not register for more than 4 independent studies (EDUC 9999) over the course of their program. Information regarding program candidacy, doctoral preliminary examination, forming a dissertation committee, holding an oral proposal hearing and scheduling a final defense can be found on the GSE website .

Required Milestones

Qualifications evaluation (also known as program candidacy).

A Qualifications Evaluation of each student is conducted after the completion of 6 but not more than 8 course units. The evaluation is designed by the specialization faculty and may be based on an examination or on a review of a student’s overall academic progress.

Preliminary Examination (Also known as Doctoral Candidacy)

A Candidacy Examination on the major subject area is required.  The candidacy examination is a test of knowledge in the student's area of specialization, requiring students to demonstrate knowledge and reasoning in the key content areas in their specialization as defined by their academic division. This examination is normally held after the candidate has completed all required courses.

Oral Proposal

All doctoral candidates must present their dissertation proposals orally and in person to the dissertation committee.

Final Defense of the Dissertation

The final dissertation defense is approximately two hours in length and is based upon the candidate’s dissertation. 

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

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