The Accelerated Master’s (4+1) Program provides motivated students with a head start on their graduate education by allowing them to begin a master's degree while completing their bachelor's. With departmental approval, students can take graduate-level courses alongside their undergraduate coursework. Additionally, up to three course units can be dually applied toward both degrees, with approval, which significantly reduces the time and cost to complete the program. This streamlined academic path not only accelerates a student's progress but also enhances their advanced expertise and prepares them for a competitive job market.

Admissions

We strongly recommend students review their course plan with their undergraduate advisor(s) – both faculty and academic – as they become interested in the AM (4+1) Program and before submitting the application. This will help immensely with the curriculum planning process. Applicants should apply during their sophomore or junior year. Students may submit an application as early as their third semester in the undergraduate degree. For application procedures, deadlines, and eligibility, visit Accelerated Master's (4+1) Programs Admissions.

Academic Policies

The Accelerated Master’s (4+1) Program is designed with the expectation that students complete their undergraduate degree in four years and the master’s degree in a fifth year. Some students may be able to finish both degrees in less than five years if they enter with significant AP or transfer credit, or if they take summer courses. However, students are not permitted to exceed the standard course load (i.e., overload) in any term in order to accelerate completion of the program.
This policy helps ensure students maintain a balanced academic schedule and gain the full educational benefit of both degrees.

Credits and Double Counting Courses
Students may double count up to three course units (CUs) of graduate courses to fulfill both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. This is subject to approval by program chairs/directors.

(Note: Students whose primary undergraduate program is not in Engineering should confirm policies about double-counting with their home school, as they may differ from Engineering’s).

50% Rule: Students admitted in the AM (4+1) program should make sure 50% or more of their enrolled course units (CUs) in a term satisfy requirements for the undergraduate degree. At no time should a student be taking more than four graduate level CUs (5000+ level) in a single term.

• If more than 50% of enrolled CUs in a term are graduate course units that satisfy requirements for the graduate degree only, the student is not eligible for undergraduate financial aid in that term. Students should plan carefully with their academic advisors to avoid this scenario.
  • Example A: For 5 CUs, if 3 CUs are used for undergraduate (UG) requirements only and 2 CUs are for Master's (Grad) requirements only, this follows the 50% Rule.
  • Example B: For 6 CUs, if 2 CUs are used for UG requirements only, 3 CUs are used for Grad requirements only, and 1 CU is double counted between UG and Grad, this follows the 50% Rule.
  • Example C: For 5 CUs, if 1 CU is used for UG requirements only, 3 CUs are for Grad requirements only, and 1 CU is double counted between UG and Grad, this does NOT follow the 50% Rule.

Students may apply a maximum of three course units (CUs) that were taken prior to matriculation in the AM (4+1) degree towards the master’s degree.

• The three graduate level courses taken prior to matriculation into the AM (4+1) must be double counted.
• 4000-level courses taken at Penn before matriculation into the AM 4+1 are allowed to count towards the graduate degree if they are scheduled with (formerly known as cross-listed) a 5000+ level course in the term the course was taken, and the 5000+ level course meets a requirement for the master's degree.
  • Note that any course lower than 4000 level may not be used towards the graduate degree.

After a student matriculates into the AM (4+1), they must only take classes at the 5000 level and above towards the master’s degree. No exceptions.

• No course may be triple counted, i.e., counted for more than two credentials. For example, if a course is counted towards two undergraduate degrees, it cannot be counted towards a graduate degree as well. Certificates are considered credentials so these courses also cannot be triple counted.
  • Minors - Beginning with students admitted in Fall 2026, minors do factor into triple counting. One course CANNOT be counted towards a minor + undergraduate degree + graduate degree, for example. A course counting towards a minor can count towards either the undergraduate degree or the masters’s degree, but not both. A course counting towards a minor and a master’s degree is a double count and will be used as one of the three double counted courses allowed.
• Students will have their graduate level courses reflected on the master’s transcript during the term taken. The Office of Academic Services (OAS) Registrar Team will contact students each term regarding this. Upon matriculation into the AM (4+1) program, students will be contacted to collect any of their double-counted courses (3 CUs) taken prior to the current term. Once a course is finalized, it cannot be altered on the transcript.
• Engineering recognizes matriculation into one Accelerated Master’s program across the schools; there are no dual-degree AM (4+1) programs. An AM (4+1) student may enroll in a graduate certificate, but would need to be careful to avoid triple-counting.

Eligibility

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required. (BE requires a cumulative GPA of 3.5, BIOT requires a cumulative GPA of 3.5, CIS requires a cumulative GPA of 3.2, and ROBO requires a minimum STEM GPA of 3.2.)
• Both BSE and BAS degree students in Penn Engineering may apply for the Accelerated Master’s (4+1) program. Qualified undergraduates in Penn’s other schools may apply for an Accelerated Master’s (4+1) into any of the Engineering Master’s degree programs, subject to their home school’s rules and regulations.
• Uncoordinated dual degree students are not eligible for the Accelerated Master’s (4+1) degree.
• If a student is unable to apply for the AM (4+1) while the student is an undergraduate, the student can still apply for a Penn master’s program through the standard admissions process as an external applicant following application rules and requirements. If admitted, the student must complete ten graduate level CUs, as double counting rules will not apply.
• Penn Engineering Online does not allow matriculation into their programs through Accelerated Master’s (4+1). Interested students must apply externally to start after completion of the undergraduate degree.

Coursework Completion Requirements

All coursework counting toward the master’s degree must be completed at Penn. Transfer, study abroad, or ‘credit away’ courses are not permitted.

• For single undergraduate degree students, the undergraduate degree must be completed in eight (8) semesters, or the student will not be eligible to continue with the Accelerated Master’s (4+1) degree.
• Students pursuing a coordinated dual degree (e.g., M&T, VIPER) program must complete their Engineering Undergraduate degree in ten (10) semesters.
  • While there is no penalty for completing your undergraduate degree sooner, students are not allowed to overload (7/7.5 CUs) to accomplish this.
• If a student is terminated from the AM (4+1), they will lose the privilege to double count courses between the undergraduate and graduate degrees and must apply to the master’s program externally, submitting all relevant application materials.

Questions? Contact the OAS Grad Advising team at grad-affairs@seas.upenn.edu.

You may combine your BAS or BSE degree with a second degree in one of Penn's other undergraduate schools. A Dual Degree is not to be confused with a "Dual Major," where a student earns two majors within Penn Engineering, or with a "Second Major" where an engineering student also earns a major within the College.

Penn's specialized dual degree programs offer students the opportunity to pursue an integrated curriculum jointly offered by two schools within the university and incorporating interdisciplinary course work. Students receive two degrees upon completion of the specialized curricula. Penn Engineering's programs are described below.

The number of course units required is specific to each program, but the minimum requirement is 46 course units. A student who wishes to pursue a dual degree option should develop a plan of study with the aid of an advisor in the Office of Academic Services and an advisor in the School which will grant the second degree. No course may be triple counted, i.e., counted for more than two degrees/majors. Dual and joint degree programs between Wharton and Penn Engineering require a one-year probability and statistics sequence which may be satisfied with either ESE 3010/4020 or STAT 4300/4310. (SEAS students are not permitted to take STAT 1010 or STAT 1020 which are on the No Credit list.)

Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology (M&T)

In the M&T program, students bridge the management and technical disciplines in this pace-setting program. Receive a BSE or BAS from Penn Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School. This combination enables students not only to understand engineering and business concepts, but also to understand the integration of the two and how this intersection distinctively shapes our world. Management & Technology (M&T) students build on the strengths of these prominent professional schools and on the respected faculty of Arts and Sciences to have a true Ivy League experience with a blend of educational and research opportunities.

Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER)

The Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) enrolls talented, prepared and motivated students who are interested in energy science and engineering. VIPER students earn both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree and receive instruction and state-of-the-art research experiences, enabling them to pursue advanced degrees in these fields and to establish high caliber research careers as innovators in the discovery and development of sustainable ways to harness, convert and use energy. Candidates for the program apply as they seek admission to the University.

Applying for a Dual Degree (Adding a Penn Engineering Degree)

A student from another school at the University who wishes to apply to add an engineering degree should create a four year academic plan detailing how all degree requirements for the intended engineering major will be completed.  All dual degree applicants must select a major at the time of application.

A student must complete a minimum of eight (8) Penn course units to be eligible. Only students of demonstrated ability and a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher will be considered for dual degree status. Students applying from the Wharton School require a minimum GPA of 3.4 for consideration. A student may not be eligible if his/her record includes uncleared F, I, GR or NR grades. In particular, we look for successful completion of calculus (typically, at least MATH 1410) and physics (typically, PHYS 0150/0151). Course requirements may vary depending on the selected major as well as the number of semesters completed.

All Wharton and Engineering dual degree students must complete STAT 4300/4310 or ESE 3010/4020. Notes: STAT 1010/1020 cannot be used toward any engineering requirement.

All dual degrees with engineering require a minimum of 46 course units.

Application Deadlines:

• Fall entry: May 15
• Spring entry: December 15

Applications for dual degree must be made prior to the end of the sophomore year at Penn.

Apply Here

For any course taken pass/fail in Spring 2020 or Fall 2020, please be aware of the following:

If you receive a ‘P’ in a math, science or engineering course taken in Spring 2020 or Fall 2020, you will be eligible to apply. However, the committee will consider the strength of your performance in required courses taken pass/fail to ensure that you meet the standards expected for internal transfer students.

Engineering students interested in applying for dual degree with Wharton should access the following site: https://undergrad-inside.wharton.upenn.edu/dual-degree-wharton/

Engineering students interested in applying for dual degree with the College should access the following site: https://www.college.upenn.edu/dual-degree.

If you have additional questions, please email ddtransfer@seas.upenn.edu.

Students who are interested in pursuing two of the Engineering and Applied Science curricula may apply to expand their program in order to earn a degree with both majors. These students receive one diploma upon completion. In such cases, the student must satisfy three requirements:

1. They must satisfy the requirements for each major. Only one senior design project is required for dual majors in engineering: if the course units required for senior design are the same for both majors, then students may sign up for senior design in either major; if the course units required for senior design are different for the two majors then students must sign up for the senior design with the larger course unit requirement.
   1. CIS students (only) have the option of taking CIS Senior Thesis in substitution of SeniorDesign. Please note engineering students that have more than one engineering major may not substitute two semesters of Senior Thesis for two semesters of Senior Design within their non-CIS major.
2. They must take a minimum of 22 Engineering courses.
3. No more than one 1000-level class from outside the two majors can be included in the list of 22 Engineering courses.

Note:

• ARIN students are not eligible for dual majors with ASCS, CSCI, NETS, or SSE.
• BAS students are not permitted to dual major within engineering.

To apply for dual engineering major status, a student must prepare an academic plan showing how the requirements for both majors will be satisfied. The academic plan must be submitted for approval first to the student’s academic advisor and the undergraduate curriculum chair for each program and fill out a Declare/Update Field of Study form requesting a second major. This process should be completed no later than the beginning of the junior year or the accumulation of 20 course units of relevant work.

The program should show evidence of intellectual purpose and not be merely a manipulation of overlapping requirements for the sole purpose of satisfying two separate engineering majors. No course may be triple counted, i.e., counted for more than two degrees/majors. Only students of demonstrated ability, generally a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher, will be permitted to register for dual major status.

Some SEAS students may wish to consider a second major in the College of Arts and Sciences. All College majors are open to engineering students as a second major. Please stop by the College Advising Office in Claudia Cohen Hall for further information.

Penn Engineering undergraduates pursue majors in either Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) or Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) programs.

A BSE degree is for a student who wishes to practice engineering after graduation or is interested in more technical coursework relating to the engineering field. The BAS program is designed for students who do not plan to work as professional engineers but rather want a customized education that combines other interests and technology in a manner unique to their career goals.

• List of BSE Majors
• List of BAS Majors
• Curriculum Deferred Information
• Academic Department Links
• Undergraduate Program Contacts

Explore additional disciplines and complement your current area of focus by adding to your educational repertoire a minor from any of the Penn Engineering departments (with the exception of Bioengineering) or one of the many subject areas in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Departmental Programs

• Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Computer and Information Science
• Digital Media Design
• Electrical and Systems Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering - email the coordinator for more information.
• Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Interdisciplinary Options

In addition to the minors associated with specific Penn Engineering departments, several minors are offered which intersect several departmental boundaries.

DATA SCIENCE MINOR (DATS)
Data Science applies core concepts in computer science, statistics and mathematics to problems in a wide variety of fields, from physical, social, biomedical, and behavioral sciences to arts and humanities. The minor targets students with strong analytical abilities and some existing programming experience, and requires courses in statistics, data-centric programming, data management, and data analysis. It also points to courses across the University that deal with data in areas of importance to Data Science. To apply for a DATS minor, students should complete the Application for a Minor form online. If you have questions about the minor email: (datsmast@seas.upenn.edu) Learn more.

Energy and Sustainability (ENSU)
Penn Engineering offers a Minor in Energy and Sustainability, providing students with a broad coverage of technical and societal issues confronting the world and in-depth treatment of selected topics in technical areas relevant to energy and sustainability. The ENSU Minor will require that students use some or all of their free electives to satisfy course requirements. Energy policy courses will be used solely to satisfy SEAS degree requirements in the “Technology in Business and Society” (TBS) category.  Learn more.

Engineering Entrepreneurship (EENT)
Penn Engineering offers a Minor in Engineering Entrepreneurship (EENT), complementing the core engineering disciplines. This minor is designed for students majoring in engineering and applied science. However, it is open to all University undergraduates, subject to available class space. Non-engineering students should check with their home schools to determine their eligibility to take the EENT minor. All courses for the EENT minor must be taken for a grade (no pass/fail). Minor approval forms for EENT must be approved by Dr. Thomas Cassel.

Cognitive Science
Penn Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences together offer a special minor in Cognitive Science. This minor is aimed at a wide range of students in either the College or Penn Engineering, and permits a number of options. Students must choose at least six courses corresponding to the parent disciplines of computer science, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology. Students must take a prescribed number of Introductory and Foundational courses, but they are free to choose one of the five tracks and also to choose their advanced courses.

Applying for a Minor – Engineering Students

Process: An Engineering student who wishes to minor in a special subject area should complete an “Declare/Update Field of Study” form and have the proposed selection of courses approved by the  department in which you wish to obtain your minor. Should the selection of courses you wish to take to complete the minor change, an approved and updated form must be submitted so the transcript reflects the approved selection of courses for the minor area. The minor form must be submitted and the courses completed by the end of the student’s final undergraduate semester.

Requirements: Engineering minors consist of at least 6 course units, all of which must be taken for a grade. A maximum of two courses may be double-counted between the engineering minor and designated, named requirements in the student’s major (e.g., MATH 1400). Courses that fulfill broad or flexible requirements in the major (e.g., Technical Electives or general elective categories) do not count toward this two-course limit and may be applied to both the major and the minor. Any course that is approved within the engineering category for a major is eligible to count toward the minor, subject to the double-counting rules above.

Applying for a Minor – Non Engineering Students

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences, Nursing, or Wharton may also pursue a minor in the School of Engineering. The “Declare/Update Field of Study” form is used to apply for the Engineering minor. Non-engineering students are also advised to speak with their academic advisor regarding how the courses for the Engineering minor will be counted in their overall course plan. Please note that engineering minors consist of at least 6 course units, ALL of which must be taken for a grade.

The Online Accelerated Master’s (4+) Program enables qualified undergraduates to take up to three residential graduate-level courses during their undergraduate degree, which may then be applied toward a Penn Engineering Online master’s program upon admission and matriculation. Students complete the remaining graduate requirements (typically seven additional courses) fully online, within three years, and from anywhere in the world. This model allows for the opportunity to optimize academic planning, reduce time and cost to degree completion, and acquire advanced technical expertise beyond the undergraduate experience.

This program is also available for students who are currently enrolled in the Residential Accelerated Master’s (4+1) program but are unable to complete it due to professional obligations or other post-graduation commitments. Residential Accelerated Master’s (4+1) students may request a change of degree into one of the Online Accelerated Master’s (4+) programs.

The Online Accelerated Master’s (4+) Program is designed with the expectation that students will complete their undergraduate degree with up to three residential graduate-level courses that may be double-counted toward an online master’s degree. Once Online AM (4+) students matriculate into an Online Graduate program, they must complete the degree within three years. The Online Accelerated Master’s (4+) Program is designed so that students can learn at their own pace and customize their course load with our completely online, asynchronous course options.

Note: Students enrolled in the Online Accelerated Master’s (4+) program will not be eligible for visa sponsorship or CPT/OPT opportunities.

Full information about the program and its policies can be found on the Online Accelerated Master’s Tab of the Online Student Handbook.

Application and Admissions information can be found on the Online Accelerated Master’s page.

Penn Engineering students may find the second major an attractive alternative to the dual degree. Qualified students may pursue a second major in any major offered through the College of Arts & Sciences. It is important to note that this program results in a single degree (from Engineering) with two majors. Students must satisfy the degree requirements for both their Engineering curriculum and those of the second major.

Students seeking admission to the second major should contact directly the Department that offers the major.

JD Degree Program in Penn Law

Penn's Law School offers an opportunity for qualified juniors in Penn Engineering to apply early to the Law School and submatriculate into the JD program beginning their fourth year. The program is designed as a 3-year + 3-year accelerated program for highly qualified Engineering undergraduates either in the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) or Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree programs. The details of this program are as follows:

• If admitted, the student's entire fourth year will be registered as primary enrolled in Penn Law, spending that year as a full-time student in the Law School with the first year class and taking only Law courses. Prior to applying, BSE degree students must obtain permission from their Undergraduate Chair and the Engineering Academic Programs Office to complete the required senior year courses in their fifth and sixth years.
• The Law School Admissions Committee will select students for admission as submatriculants. The rigorous selection process for the JD submatriculation program is designed to assure that each candidate is evaluated in terms of their academic promise and potential contribution to the intellectual life of the law school community. Applicants to the program should have superior communicative and analytical skills. The Admissions Committee considers factors such as the academic record, which includes course selection and grades, either a LSAT, GRE, or GMAT  score, letters of recommendation, community service, extra-curricular activities and the applicant's examples of written expression.
• Submatriculants will be allowed to use Law courses to satisfy the unrestricted Free Electives (3 CU) and/or the Social Science and Humanities requirements where appropriate.
• Students must satisfy all of the requirements for the JD degree during their fourth, fifth and sixth years.  Following their matriculation in the law school, however, submatriculants may apply up to four (4) engineering or other 1 CU courses taken at the 5000 level or above during the fifth and sixth years of the program, to double count for both degrees.
• Submatriculants may file for graduation from the undergraduate program at the end of the term in which they will have satisfied all requirements for the BSE or BAS degree from Penn Engineering. (Note that students may participate with their original undergraduate class graduation ceremonies, regardless of when they actually complete all of the degree requirements.) All students in the program must have completed all the requirements for the undergraduate degree before they may receive their law degree.
• Please note that for submatriculants, the primary school at Penn will be the Law School. As such, those who receive undergraduate financial aid will terminate their undergraduate aid package. However, submatriculants will be eligible to apply for graduate financial aid.

Procedures for students interested in this opportunity are as follows:

Engineering-related: Meet with an advisor in the Office of Academic Services (OAS). Please be prepared to discuss your interest in this program, during which time an up-to-date detailed academic plan should be completed and discussed. You must show how you will meet graduation requirements within the double-counting limitations described above. (For BSE degree students, this is also when permission must be sought to defer senior year requirements into the 5th and 6th years.)

Law-related: Review the application procedures for the JD. Submit the completed application with all requested materials by March 1. For additional information, contact the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, Penn Law School. (Tel: 215-898-7400 | Email: contactadmissions@law.upenn.edu).