Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree Completion

Complete your Bachelors degree at Penn

Study when the time is right for you — and complete your Bachelor degree at Penn’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS).

A world-class Bachelor of Arts program at times that work for you

You can complete the requirements for the B.A. degree attending part-time or full-time in evening courses during the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms.  You will earn the same undergraduate bachelor of arts degree as Penn’s full-time residential students, in one of the foremost institutions of higher learning in Philadelphia and the country.

You also may take courses during the day to complete a bachelors degree. What matters most is that you can do it on a schedule that works for you!

Learn from the best in our Bachelor of Arts degree completion program

Our diverse faculty includes Penn professors, scholars affiliated with University departments, and advanced graduate students.

Penn’s Bachelor degree completion program encompasses most areas of the liberal arts and sciences. The LPS Course Guide (available in March for the following Fall term, in October for Spring term, and in February for Summer Sessions) describes the liberal studies courses for the bachelor of arts program and times they are offered.

BA Degree Majors
We’re flexible in planning programs for students who wish to complete their part time undergraduate degree, so you can be, too. When you decide to complete your bachelors degree at Penn, you can choose a major from more than 50 academic disciplines.

The Course Register provides a list of all courses offered each semester in the School of Arts and Sciences and other schools in the University.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

The bachelor of arts program requires 32 to 36 BA degree course units (CUs), depending upon your choice of major. You'll also complete

• the General Requirement (ten courses from seven different sectors or areas)
• two writing courses
• demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language
• four “free” electives, selected from the entire university curriculum
• the Quantitative Data Analysis Requirement (QDAR)
• the Cross-Cultural Analysis Requirement
• the Cultural Diversity in the U.S. Requirement

Transfer Credit

Up to half of your graduation requirements in the bachelor degree completion program may be met with work completed at another institution. Learn more about transfer credits for the BA degree program in our Student Handbook.

In general, you may receive transfer credit for academic undergraduate program courses taken courses taken at regionally accredited institutions, passed with a grade of C (2.0) or better, that are similar in focus and classroom hours to courses at Penn. Pass/fail courses are not transferable unless the other school verifies in writing that you earned a grade of C (2.0) or better.

Residency Requirement

You must complete at least half of your BA degree course work (16 CUs minimum) at the University of Pennsylvania to be eligible for a complete bachelor degree.