Guidelines for Requesting to Return
from a Leave of Absence:

 • Students on leave are required to notify the Wharton Undergraduate Division prior to their return.  The completed Return Request form initiates the re-activation of the student’s enrollment status.  Dual- and joint-degree students must contact both schools.  

 • To request a Return from Leave of Absence, students must submit the Wharton Return From Leave form. Documentation from a healthcare professional confirming your return to the University is required for a Medical and some other approved leaves.  An academic advisor can verify if documentation is required.

 • Students should meet with their academic advisor to discuss academic planning issues.

 • Students must meet with other campus offices (such as Student Financial Services, the Bursar, Housing and Food Services) prior to their return to campus.  

Financial reimbursement or credit may be issued when a leave is approved early in a semester.  Financial consideration for tuition refund or credit is based on the number of weeks completed in the semester. Refunds or credit for on-campus housing and dining is handled through University Housing.

Part-time Status

Wharton offers only a full-time program of study and the normal minimum course load is four cu’s per term for the Bachelor of Science degree, although Wharton undergraduates typically complete five cu’s per term.

Occasionally, a student may take a reduced course load of three and one half or three cu’s.  Students nonetheless are billed at the full-time rate.  Registration for a reduced course load of fewer than four cu’s per term may jeopardize both state and federal financial aid and may have an impact on such matters as visa status, athletic eligibility, and insurance coverage.  Students should check carefully to be certain that they know the enrollment requirements of relevant organizations or funding agencies to avoid jeopardizing their standing as students.

Graduating seniors in their final semester may be part-time by carrying two and one half or fewer cu’s if at that time they need only two and one half or fewer cu’s to graduate.  Part-time billing is not automatically implemented when students advance register for one or two courses.  Students must request approval in writing from the Wharton Undergraduate Division; without this approval, students will be billed at the full-time rate.  No requests for part-time billing will be considered after the second week of

Residency Requirement

For external transfer students, at least one-half (19 cu minimum) of required course work must be completed
at Penn.

Withdrawal from Courses

Students may drop a course with no notation on their transcripts until the end of the fifth week of the semester. (See the Drop/Request Period section for more information.) From then until the end of the tenth week of the semester, students may withdraw from a course with the written permission of their instructor.

Withdrawals appear on a transcript as a W and are not calculated into grade point average. According to University Policy, the formal withdrawal deadline is the end of the tenth week of the semester.

CONCENTRATIONS

In a Wharton academic career, students must choose a concentration as an academic specialty. These concentrations are intended to give an in-depth focus in one business area.  There is not a traditional “major” in Wharton because all students take a common bachelor’s degree program in Economics. Instead, students acquire academic depth through this four-course concentration.  Course requirements for each concentration are detailed below. More information about each concentration is available in the respective academic department or in the Wharton Undergraduate Division.

Concentrations should be declared by the end of the sophomore year in order to have a better chance of getting the upper-level courses in advance registration. To declare a concentration, complete a Concentration Declaration form in the Undergraduate Division Office or speak to an advisor. Students may change their concentration at any time. In addition, students may develop an Individualized concentration under the supervision of a Wharton faculty member. Individualized concentrations must first be approved via petition to the Petitions Committee.

Accounting

http: //accounting.wharton.upenn.edu

The Accounting Department at Wharton offers courses in financial, managerial and cost accounting, tax planning, auditing, international accounting, accounting for decision-making and control and accounting for mergers and acquisitions. Although strong quantitative skills and attention to detail are important qualities for an accounting concentration, students need to acquire other skills as well. Many students find the accounting concentration to be useful preparation for careers in consulting, investment banking, general management, public accounting, and securities analysis.