Penn Arts & Sciences graduate students are exceptional scholars, learners, teachers, and classmates. In choosing Penn, graduate students choose first-class libraries and laboratories, state-of-the art museums and rare book collections, and premier technological innovations. At the same time, graduate students join our extraordinary community of faculty, students, and staff. Together, we form a wide-ranging group of scholars and researchers, working to understand and interpret our world, to create and transmit knowledge, and to make meaningful change for the better.
In the 21st century, universities are vital to our societies. As a leading academic center, Penn empowers students and faculty to pioneer scientific discoveries, mine data, cure diseases, decipher past civilizations, illuminate our present challenges, and chart the best courses for the future. At Penn, we envision the academy not as an ivory tower but rather as a powerful incubator of ideas for social good.
Graduate education at Penn involves individual mentoring by world-class faculty advisors as well as students who work together across disciplines and in cohorts to hone their skills and expertise. Ph.D. students are funded and supported inside and outside the classroom. We encourage our graduate students to develop as professionals in their fields, and to become independent thinkers and leaders of the next generation.
The University of Pennsylvania has a long and distinguished history, but it also continues to evolve to meet changing needs. I look forward to helping you meet your goals and to join with you in creating the knowledge and understanding that will change the future.
Beth S. Wenger
Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
Moritz and Josephine Berg Professor of History