Strategic Thinking!

Study when the time is right for you — and earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree at Penn’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS).

You can fulfill the requirements for the B.A. degree in evening courses during the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms, and you will earn the same undergraduate degree as Penn’s full-time residential students. You also may take courses during the day.  What matters most is that you can do it on a schedule that  works for you!

Learn from the Best

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

Choose from courses in most areas of the 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 courses and times they are offered.

Majors

We’re flexible, so you can be, too. Choose your major from more than 50 academic disciplines. The Course Register contains full descriptions of programs and evening and day courses.

Degree Requirements

The B.A. degree requires 32 to 36 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 for students entering Fall 2008 and later

Transfer Credit

Up to half of your graduation requirements may be met with work completed at another institution. Learn more about transfer credits in our Student Handbook.

In general, you may receive transfer credit for academic courses taken at regionally accredited institutions, passed with a grade of C (2.0) or better, that is 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 course work (16 CUs minimum) at the University of Pennsylvania.