FAQ

MLA applicants should have at least a 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate (B.A. or B.S.) coursework. In addition, MLA applicants should have the ability to conceive a program of study and be self-directed in completing it. Finally, in order to complete the MLA program, a flexible schedule is necessary as some day courses may be required.

The College of Liberal and Professional Studies
Admissions Office
3440 Market Street, Ste. 100
Philadelphia, PA 19104

If an interview offer is extended, a minimum of two weeks is required for a decision to be rendered.

Limited guaranteed student loans are available for students taking at least two courses per semester. Fellowship aid is not available. Tuition is the same for both day and evening students. To receive more information, contact Graduate/Professional Student Counseling at the University's Financial Aid Office.

Website: www.sfs.upenn.edu/

Do not expect to be able to negotiate the complexities of Penn alone. The MLA advisors look forward to assisting you through the bureaucratic mazes and to navigating with you the vast, academic options Penn offers.  For example, your advisors will know what prerequisites are expected for a course or which other well-suited courses loom on the horizon. They can counsel you on finding courses that complement one another or alert you when the requirements of two specific courses are likely to overwhelm even the most accomplished student. Please remember that your advisor is available to help you at all stages of your academic program.

The MLA office is located in suite 100 of 3440 Market Street.  To schedule an appointment with an advisor, call the main office at 215.898.7326.

The University’s Course Register, which is available online at www.upenn.edu/registrar/register/index.html, provides course descriptions for many courses offered at Penn.  Departmental web pages often include course descriptions as well. In addition, the Course Timetable appears in March and October and may be reached online at www.upenn.edu/registrar/timetable.  

LPS offers evening courses in most areas of the arts and sciences. A complete listing of evening courses with times and descriptions is published in the LPS Course Guide available in March for the following Fall term, in October for the Spring term, and in January for the Summer Sessions. Courses numbered at the 400-level or above may be taken for graduate credit.  

View: LPS Course Guides

MLA students have wide-ranging interests and diverse academic, professional, and personal backgrounds. Teachers, business executives, non-profit administrators, writers, researchers, and prospective Ph.D. students are but a few of the people who take advantage of the MLA program's flexibility. Some have been out of school for many years, while others have just recently completed their undergraduate work. Students enroll in the program for many reasons. Many view it as an opportunity for self-discovery. Some use their degree as a vehicle to a new career. Others view the program as a means of increasing expertise in their respective fields. Still others parlay the research and writing skills they cultivate into doctoral-level work.

The University’s Course Register, which is available online at www.upenn.edu/registrar/register/index.html, provides course descriptions for many courses offered at Penn.  Departmental web pages often include course descriptions as well. In addition, the Course Timetable appears in March and October and may be reached online at www.upenn.edu/registrar/timetable.

LPS offers evening courses in most areas of the arts and sciences. A complete listing of evening courses with times and descriptions is published in the LPS Course Guide available in March for the following Fall term, in October for the Spring term, and in January for the Summer Sessions. Courses numbered at the 400-level or above may be taken for graduate credit.

View: LPS Course Guides