International Student & Scholar Services

International Programs

International Student & Scholar Handbook

Academic Life

Course Units, Degree Requirements, Registration, and Payment
Academic Resources
Characteristics of Higher Education in the US and at Penn
Glossary of Academic Terms

There is no central federal department for higher education in the United States. Thus, American universities and colleges have considerable autonomy in determining their academic procedures and policies. The granting of a degree does not normally involve national or state examinations.

Students and scholars unfamiliar with the US system may find many aspects of American education different from those in your home country. It is essential to familiarize yourself with the policies and procedures governing academic coursework and research at Penn, as you will be responsible for complying with them. As academic life is the heart of the university, these policies and procedures are most strictly enforced and respected among the university community.

In particular, familiarize yourself with the following:

See the ISSS Post-Arrival Handbook section about University Policies and Procedures for more information you need to know to interact successfully at Penn in both academic and non-academic situations.

Course Units and Degree Requirements

In order to receive a degree, you must accumulate a certain number of course units and satisfy certain requirements for your major. Each degree program has different requirements. You should have a clear idea of what the requirements are for your program.

Registration for Classes

Registration for classes occurs each semester. Some students will have the opportunity to pre-register, i.e., to register in advance, midway through the current semester, while others will register at the beginning of the new semester during the Drop/Request period. Specific dates vary slightly from semester to semester. Registration and scheduling is coordinated in the:

Office of the University Registrar
Room 221 Franklin Building
3451 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6291

Tel: 215- 898-7511
Fax: 215- 573-2076
Email: regist@pobox.upenn.edu
Web: http://www.upenn.edu/registrar/

Payment of Tuition and Fees

The Office of Student Financial Services (SFS) handles the financial charges and credits for your department or school:

Office of Student Financial Services
100 Franklin Building
3541 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Telephone: 215- 898-1988
Fax: 215- 573-5428
Email: sfsmail@sfs.upenn.edu
Web: http://www.sfs.upenn.edu/home/

Top

Academic Resources

The following are resources that may help you adjust to the academic environment at Penn:

Academics Plus (A+) Workshop Series

Conducted by ISSS and the Tutoring and Learning Resources at the beginning of each semester. Workshops address issues related to making the transition to the American classroom, reading and study skills, writing and exam taking, and managing time and stress.

In addition, weekly walk-in hours are available to students who wish to meet with a learning instructor from the Tutoring Center. This service is free of charge. Semester office hours are posted at ISSS.

Tutoring Center
Suite 209, 3820 Locust Walk (Harnwell House)
Tel: 215-898-0809
Web: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/dasp/tutoringCenter_home.html

The Tutoring Center offers Penn students a variety of peer tutoring services. All services are free for matriculating undergraduates. Tutorials are generally offered for the core introductory and intermediate undergraduate courses.

Weingarten Learning Resources Center
Stouffer Commons
3702 Spruce Street, Suite 300
Tel: 215- 573-9235
Web: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/lrc/

Office of Learning Resources
Email: lrcmail@pobox.upenn.edu
Office of Student Disabilities Services
Email: sdsmail@pobox.upenn.edu

The Weingarten Learning Resources Center, comprised of the Office of Learning Resources and Student Disabilities Services, supports and enhances the academic experiences of Penn's undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 9am to 5pm.

The Writing Advising Center
414A Bennett Hall
Tel: 215-898-8525
Web: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/writing/

This tutorial service, staffed by trained graduate students from a variety of disciplines, is intended to assist students who have good English grammar skills but wish to improve their academic writing. The staff can assist you with the organization of your paper or other problems related to the content of your written work. They are not able to edit or proofread your paper. The service is free of charge.

English Language Program (ELP)
21 Bennett Hall
Tel: 215-898-8681
Web: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/elp/

ELP offers daytime and evening courses in conversation skills, writing, grammar, and TOEFL preparation year round and at all levels.

Computing Resource Center (CRC)
Suite 202 Sansom Place West
(Graduate Tower B)
Tel: 215-573-4778 (First Call Help Line)
Web: http://www.upenn.edu/computing/isc/csg/

CRC provides short courses in email, word processing, and database management. Other services include walk-in consultations, file transferring or recovery, hardware inspection and testing, and a hardware and software demonstration.

Career Planning and Placement Service
Suite 20, McNeil Building
Tel: 215-898-7531
Web: http://www.upenn.edu/careerservices/

Career counselors help students clarify career goals and conduct a good job search, as well as provide help with graduate/professional school applications.

Top

Characteristics of Higher Education in the United States and at Penn

Some general suggestions that may be helpful:

Don't overload your schedule. Overloading your schedule, particularly in your first semester, may result in poorer grades and unnecessary stress. But remember that international students must be registered for full-time courseload every semester.
Choose your courses wisely. Ask your advisors, professors and fellow students for their ideas.
Keep in mind that it may take some time for you to perform to the best of your ability.
Attend your classes regularly and arrive on time.
Hand in all assignments on time, and make
Make arrangements ahead of time with your professor to deal with any special requests and circumstances.
Participate in classroom discussion.

Faculty and Advisors

Relationships between students and faculty tend to be more informal than in many other countries. In most classes, students are expected to ask questions or comment on material being considered. In assigning grades, professors may consider the extent of a student's contribution to class discussion throughout the semester. This reflects the value Americans place on individual initiative and independent thinking.

Almost all faculty members maintain regular office hours when students may come and talk about individual concerns. You should use this opportunity to make sure that you are meeting course requirements. If you are uncertain about an assignment or have questions about the course material, make an appointment to see the professor or teaching assistant (TA).

You will be assisted in many aspects of your education by your academic advisor. It is your responsibility to set up an appointment to meet with him or her. It is a good idea to meet with both the professor and your academic advisor at the first sign of difficulty with any class. Since international students must take a full courseload every semester, early intervention with academic difficulties is important to helping you fulfill your immigration requirements, in addition to being sound academically.

Methods of Instruction

For each class you will likely be required to buy at least one textbook from which regularly assigned readings are given. Graduate classes often require several books. The instructor may also assign readings from other books in the library. Lectures will usually supplement these readings.

It is important to read all assigned materials and take careful notes on the lectures because examinations will be based on both. You are expected to attend all classes and laboratory sessions. Be sure that you are aware of the specific expectations for each of your classes.

Most instruction is organized and conducted in one of three ways: lecture, laboratory, or seminar.

Lecture: The lecture class is most frequently used at the undergraduate level, particularly for the first two years of study. Lectures are sometimes large and make discussion difficult. For this reason, a large lecture will often be supplemented with a recitation or laboratory period to permit discussion and/or scientific experimentation.
Recitation/Laboratory: Often the recitation or lab is conducted by a TA who is a graduate student in the particular discipline. Students are encouraged and expected to ask questions either during the lecture period or during the recitation or laboratory period. If you wish to speak during the question period, feel free to raise your hand.
Seminar: This is the most common form of instruction at the graduate level. These classes are generally smaller, permitting opportunities for direct student participation and closer interaction with professors.
Exams: Exams usually fall into three categories: quizzes, midterms, and finals. Most professors will announce the format of the exams and the material it is to cover.
Quizzes: These are short tests covering the material currently being studied. The instructor may or may not notify you in advance.
Midterm Exams: These are exams given approximately midway through the course of a class.
Final Exams: "Finals" are given at the end of the semester and may cover all the materials studied during the semester or only those covered since the midterm. The requirements for each class vary.

Types of Questions

Exams at the undergraduate level are often "objective," requiring brief answers rather than longer explanatory essays. They include:

Multiple Choice: You select the correct answer from several given.
True-False: You must state whether a given statement is true or false.
Matching: Items from one list must be correctly paired with items from another list.
Completion: You must supply a word or phrase to complete a given statement.
Essay or Short Answer: You need to write a short essay in response to a question.

Upper level undergraduate and graduate level exams are generally "essay" type, with answers being drawn from information in texts, lectures and assigned readings. Sometimes you may be allowed to use textbooks and notes during an "open-book" exam. You may also have a "take-home" exam in which the exam is completed outside of class within a certain time limit.

Grades

Grades are a system for evaluating your academic work. They designate your relative standing in the class and are wholly determined by the instructor's judgment of your achievement on exams, term papers, class participation, etc. At Penn, the following symbols are used in most, but not all, programs:

A: Excellent
B: Good
C: Fair
D: Poor
F: Failure
I: Incomplete

In graduate school any grade below B is generally considered a poor performance. In a limited number of courses, pass-fail or credit-no credit systems are used.

If, for unavoidable reasons, you do not complete the work required for a course before the end of the semester, you may request an extension from your professor and ask for an "incomplete" (I) to appear in your transcript. You should make this request as soon as it becomes clear that you cannot complete the coursework. You will need to speak with your professor and your school's academic office to learn the rules regarding "incompletes" and the amount of time available to finish the course. A professor can refuse to grant you an "incomplete." In addition, before you request an "incomplete" check with ISSS to make sure that it will not cause a problem with your immigration status.

Top

Glossary of Academic Terms

Academic adviser: A faculty member appointed to assist students in the planning of their academic programs
Assignment: Out-of-class work required by a professor, due at a certain time
Audit: Attending a course with permission of the professor but not for credit
Bursar: Office in charge of payment of tuition and bills
Carrel: An enclosed desk in the library reserved by students and faculty doing research
Comps: Comprehensive exams which must be passed before receiving a doctoral degree
CU: Course unit
CUPID: Center for University of Pennsylvania Identification
Dean: University administrator, usually a senior faculty member, who heads a school
Dissertation: A scholarly independent research study required to obtain a doctoral degree
Add/Drop Form: Form used to change courses after registration
Finals: Examinations at the end of a semester on all the materials covered
Flunk: To fail a course
GPA: Grade point average, maximum of 4.0 (where A=4, B=3, etc.)
GRE: Graduate Record Exam
Humanities: Studies of human culture such as music, languages, and literature
Incomplete: A temporary mark given to a student who is doing passing work in a course but cannot complete all the requirements during the semester
Leave of absence: Authorized leave from the University. International students are required either to leave the US or to change their status when taking a leave of absence.
Major: Area of concentration or study
Matriculation: Enrollment in a degree program
Mid-term: A test in the middle of the semester
Natural sciences: Studies of the properties of nature such as mathematics, physics, geology, and astronomy
PARIS: Penn Automated Registration Information System
Pass/Fail: No letter grade is given for a course taken "pass/fail"
Penn InTouch: A University service which is accessible from your computer or kiosks located in the lobby of the Franklin Building, and Van Pelt Library. You can review your billing account, transcript, and update your address information at: https://sentry.isc.upenn.edu/intouch/.
Permit stamp: Stamp given by some departments to enter certain courses
Preregistration form: A form filled out prior to the beginning of a semester to ensure course selections
Prerequisite: A requirement that must be fulfilled before permission is given for enrollment in a particular course
Quiz: Test given during the semester
Recitation: Class session, usually headed by a teaching assistant, where students discuss and ask questions about the materials presented in the lecture or reading assignments
Registrar: Official recorder of students' academic information, such as courses taken and grades received
Reserve: Books, usually required readings for a course, that are taken out of general circulation and put aside and are available in the Rosengarten Room of the Van Pelt Library
SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test, for college admission
Semester: One academic term, which is half of the academic year. Penn has two semesters: "fall" and "spring"
Seminar: A small class which demands a high level of student participation
Skim: To read something quickly to get a general idea of its contents
Social sciences: Studies of the interactions of people in society, such as economics and political science
Submatriculate: Simultaneous enrollment in a graduate and undergraduate program
Summer School: Two six-week sessions are offered every summer
Thesis: A scholarly research paper required to obtain a master's degree
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
Transcript: Official record of past grades and courses taken by a student

Return to Handbook for International Students and Scholars

	International Programs Penn Abroad \| ISSS \| International Travel and Research
International Student & Scholar Services New Arrivals Orientation International Student & Scholar Handbook Visas & Immigration Information for Penn Departments Instructions & Forms International Student Advisory Board International Partners Outreach Group Intercultural Leadership Program ISSS Staff Events & Announcements Online Appointment Scheduler Emergency Contact Information International Programs Penn Abroad International Student & Scholar Services Staff Directory International Travel and Research	International Student & Scholar Handbook Academic Life Course Units, Degree Requirements, Registration, and Payment Academic Resources Characteristics of Higher Education in the US and at Penn Glossary of Academic Terms There is no central federal department for higher education in the United States. Thus, American universities and colleges have considerable autonomy in determining their academic procedures and policies. The granting of a degree does not normally involve national or state examinations. Students and scholars unfamiliar with the US system may find many aspects of American education different from those in your home country. It is essential to familiarize yourself with the policies and procedures governing academic coursework and research at Penn, as you will be responsible for complying with them. As academic life is the heart of the university, these policies and procedures are most strictly enforced and respected among the university community. In particular, familiarize yourself with the following: Code of Academic Integrity Classroom guidelines English Fluency Rules Governing Final Examinations See the ISSS Post-Arrival Handbook section about University Policies and Procedures for more information you need to know to interact successfully at Penn in both academic and non-academic situations. Course Units and Degree Requirements In order to receive a degree, you must accumulate a certain number of course units and satisfy certain requirements for your major. Each degree program has different requirements. You should have a clear idea of what the requirements are for your program. Registration for Classes Registration for classes occurs each semester. Some students will have the opportunity to pre-register, i.e., to register in advance, midway through the current semester, while others will register at the beginning of the new semester during the Drop/Request period. Specific dates vary slightly from semester to semester. Registration and scheduling is coordinated in the: Office of the University Registrar Room 221 Franklin Building 3451 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-6291 Tel: 215- 898-7511 Fax: 215- 573-2076 Email: regist@pobox.upenn.edu Web: http://www.upenn.edu/registrar/ Payment of Tuition and Fees The Office of Student Financial Services (SFS) handles the financial charges and credits for your department or school: Office of Student Financial Services 100 Franklin Building 3541 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 Telephone: 215- 898-1988 Fax: 215- 573-5428 Email: sfsmail@sfs.upenn.edu Web: http://www.sfs.upenn.edu/home/ Top Academic Resources The following are resources that may help you adjust to the academic environment at Penn: Academics Plus (A+) Workshop Series Conducted by ISSS and the Tutoring and Learning Resources at the beginning of each semester. Workshops address issues related to making the transition to the American classroom, reading and study skills, writing and exam taking, and managing time and stress. In addition, weekly walk-in hours are available to students who wish to meet with a learning instructor from the Tutoring Center. This service is free of charge. Semester office hours are posted at ISSS. Tutoring Center Suite 209, 3820 Locust Walk (Harnwell House) Tel: 215-898-0809 Web: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/dasp/tutoringCenter_home.html The Tutoring Center offers Penn students a variety of peer tutoring services. All services are free for matriculating undergraduates. Tutorials are generally offered for the core introductory and intermediate undergraduate courses. Weingarten Learning Resources Center Stouffer Commons 3702 Spruce Street, Suite 300 Tel: 215- 573-9235 Web: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/lrc/ Office of Learning Resources Email: lrcmail@pobox.upenn.edu Office of Student Disabilities Services Email: sdsmail@pobox.upenn.edu The Weingarten Learning Resources Center, comprised of the Office of Learning Resources and Student Disabilities Services, supports and enhances the academic experiences of Penn's undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 9am to 5pm. The Writing Advising Center 414A Bennett Hall Tel: 215-898-8525 Web: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/writing/ This tutorial service, staffed by trained graduate students from a variety of disciplines, is intended to assist students who have good English grammar skills but wish to improve their academic writing. The staff can assist you with the organization of your paper or other problems related to the content of your written work. They are not able to edit or proofread your paper. The service is free of charge. English Language Program (ELP) 21 Bennett Hall Tel: 215-898-8681 Web: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/elp/ ELP offers daytime and evening courses in conversation skills, writing, grammar, and TOEFL preparation year round and at all levels. Computing Resource Center (CRC) Suite 202 Sansom Place West (Graduate Tower B) Tel: 215-573-4778 (First Call Help Line) Web: http://www.upenn.edu/computing/isc/csg/ CRC provides short courses in email, word processing, and database management. Other services include walk-in consultations, file transferring or recovery, hardware inspection and testing, and a hardware and software demonstration. Career Planning and Placement Service Suite 20, McNeil Building Tel: 215-898-7531 Web: http://www.upenn.edu/careerservices/ Career counselors help students clarify career goals and conduct a good job search, as well as provide help with graduate/professional school applications. Top Characteristics of Higher Education in the United States and at Penn Some general suggestions that may be helpful: Don't overload your schedule. Overloading your schedule, particularly in your first semester, may result in poorer grades and unnecessary stress. But remember that international students must be registered for full-time courseload every semester. Choose your courses wisely. Ask your advisors, professors and fellow students for their ideas. Keep in mind that it may take some time for you to perform to the best of your ability. Attend your classes regularly and arrive on time. Hand in all assignments on time, and make Make arrangements ahead of time with your professor to deal with any special requests and circumstances. Participate in classroom discussion. Faculty and Advisors Relationships between students and faculty tend to be more informal than in many other countries. In most classes, students are expected to ask questions or comment on material being considered. In assigning grades, professors may consider the extent of a student's contribution to class discussion throughout the semester. This reflects the value Americans place on individual initiative and independent thinking. Almost all faculty members maintain regular office hours when students may come and talk about individual concerns. You should use this opportunity to make sure that you are meeting course requirements. If you are uncertain about an assignment or have questions about the course material, make an appointment to see the professor or teaching assistant (TA). You will be assisted in many aspects of your education by your academic advisor. It is your responsibility to set up an appointment to meet with him or her. It is a good idea to meet with both the professor and your academic advisor at the first sign of difficulty with any class. Since international students must take a full courseload every semester, early intervention with academic difficulties is important to helping you fulfill your immigration requirements, in addition to being sound academically. Methods of Instruction For each class you will likely be required to buy at least one textbook from which regularly assigned readings are given. Graduate classes often require several books. The instructor may also assign readings from other books in the library. Lectures will usually supplement these readings. It is important to read all assigned materials and take careful notes on the lectures because examinations will be based on both. You are expected to attend all classes and laboratory sessions. Be sure that you are aware of the specific expectations for each of your classes. Most instruction is organized and conducted in one of three ways: lecture, laboratory, or seminar. Lecture The lecture class is most frequently used at the undergraduate level, particularly for the first two years of study. Lectures are sometimes large and make discussion difficult. For this reason, a large lecture will often be supplemented with a recitation or laboratory period to permit discussion and/or scientific experimentation. Recitation/Laboratory Often the recitation or lab is conducted by a TA who is a graduate student in the particular discipline. Students are encouraged and expected to ask questions either during the lecture period or during the recitation or laboratory period. If you wish to speak during the question period, feel free to raise your hand. Seminar This is the most common form of instruction at the graduate level. These classes are generally smaller, permitting opportunities for direct student participation and closer interaction with professors. Exams Exams usually fall into three categories: quizzes, midterms, and finals. Most professors will announce the format of the exams and the material it is to cover. Quizzes These are short tests covering the material currently being studied. The instructor may or may not notify you in advance. Midterm Exams These are exams given approximately midway through the course of a class. Final Exams "Finals" are given at the end of the semester and may cover all the materials studied during the semester or only those covered since the midterm. The requirements for each class vary. Types of Questions Exams at the undergraduate level are often "objective," requiring brief answers rather than longer explanatory essays. They include: Multiple Choice You select the correct answer from several given. True-False You must state whether a given statement is true or false. Matching Items from one list must be correctly paired with items from another list. Completion You must supply a word or phrase to complete a given statement. Essay or Short Answer You need to write a short essay in response to a question. Upper level undergraduate and graduate level exams are generally "essay" type, with answers being drawn from information in texts, lectures and assigned readings. Sometimes you may be allowed to use textbooks and notes during an "open-book" exam. You may also have a "take-home" exam in which the exam is completed outside of class within a certain time limit. Grades Grades are a system for evaluating your academic work. They designate your relative standing in the class and are wholly determined by the instructor's judgment of your achievement on exams, term papers, class participation, etc. At Penn, the following symbols are used in most, but not all, programs: A Excellent B Good C Fair D Poor F Failure I Incomplete In graduate school any grade below B is generally considered a poor performance. In a limited number of courses, pass-fail or credit-no credit systems are used. If, for unavoidable reasons, you do not complete the work required for a course before the end of the semester, you may request an extension from your professor and ask for an "incomplete" (I) to appear in your transcript. You should make this request as soon as it becomes clear that you cannot complete the coursework. You will need to speak with your professor and your school's academic office to learn the rules regarding "incompletes" and the amount of time available to finish the course. A professor can refuse to grant you an "incomplete." In addition, before you request an "incomplete" check with ISSS to make sure that it will not cause a problem with your immigration status. Top Glossary of Academic Terms Academic adviser A faculty member appointed to assist students in the planning of their academic programs Assignment Out-of-class work required by a professor, due at a certain time Audit Attending a course with permission of the professor but not for credit Bursar Office in charge of payment of tuition and bills Carrel An enclosed desk in the library reserved by students and faculty doing research Comps Comprehensive exams which must be passed before receiving a doctoral degree CU Course unit CUPID Center for University of Pennsylvania Identification Dean University administrator, usually a senior faculty member, who heads a school Dissertation A scholarly independent research study required to obtain a doctoral degree Add/Drop Form Form used to change courses after registration Finals Examinations at the end of a semester on all the materials covered Flunk To fail a course GPA Grade point average, maximum of 4.0 (where A=4, B=3, etc.) GRE Graduate Record Exam Humanities Studies of human culture such as music, languages, and literature Incomplete A temporary mark given to a student who is doing passing work in a course but cannot complete all the requirements during the semester Leave of absence Authorized leave from the University. International students are required either to leave the US or to change their status when taking a leave of absence. Major Area of concentration or study Matriculation Enrollment in a degree program Mid-term A test in the middle of the semester Natural sciences Studies of the properties of nature such as mathematics, physics, geology, and astronomy PARIS Penn Automated Registration Information System Pass/Fail No letter grade is given for a course taken "pass/fail" Penn InTouch A University service which is accessible from your computer or kiosks located in the lobby of the Franklin Building, and Van Pelt Library. You can review your billing account, transcript, and update your address information at: https://sentry.isc.upenn.edu/intouch/. Permit stamp Stamp given by some departments to enter certain courses Preregistration form A form filled out prior to the beginning of a semester to ensure course selections Prerequisite A requirement that must be fulfilled before permission is given for enrollment in a particular course Quiz Test given during the semester Recitation Class session, usually headed by a teaching assistant, where students discuss and ask questions about the materials presented in the lecture or reading assignments Registrar Official recorder of students' academic information, such as courses taken and grades received Reserve Books, usually required readings for a course, that are taken out of general circulation and put aside and are available in the Rosengarten Room of the Van Pelt Library SAT Scholastic Aptitude Test, for college admission Semester One academic term, which is half of the academic year. Penn has two semesters: "fall" and "spring" Seminar A small class which demands a high level of student participation Skim To read something quickly to get a general idea of its contents Social sciences Studies of the interactions of people in society, such as economics and political science Submatriculate Simultaneous enrollment in a graduate and undergraduate program Summer School Two six-week sessions are offered every summer Thesis A scholarly research paper required to obtain a master's degree TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language Transcript Official record of past grades and courses taken by a student Return to Handbook for International Students and Scholars
	International Programs Penn Abroad \| ISSS \| International Travel and Research