<p>I'm applying to CAS undecided, and in my penn supplement essay, I'm writing about how I'm interested in Penn's interdisciplinary focus and how I want to take advantage of that to expand my knowledge in many areas before finding the right path for me.</p>
<p>My question is, is the interdisciplinary system only available to students who apply to the special programs like roy/diana vagelos or jerome fisher program, etc?</p>
<p>or even if I do get to penn as an undeclared student, am I allowed to explore different areas with a pretty much loose core curriculum?</p>
<p>you can take any class you want, even from graduate schools (with permit). Thats the great thing about Penn. You dont need to be in a program.
Heck, you could be a anthropology major and take 6 engineering courses which would get you a minor. You can take almost any wharton course (except mgmt 100 and a few others). That is the one university policy.</p>
<p>Does interdisciplinary mean you HAVE to take a dual-degree accelerated program like Huntsman or roy and diana velagos, etc. or does the term refer to just the flexilibity of curriculums where students with one major in one college can take classes at other schools within penn?</p>
<p>I"m not sure if I worded that correctly… but I’m having some trouble writing my essay.
thanks a lot!</p>
<p>When Penn promotes “interdisciplinary study” it is referring to the flexibility of Penn students to take courses outside of their respective school and gain insights by blending disciplines that would be unavailable by adhering to a strict line of study for one’s major. This is embodied by dual-degree/joint-degree programs like M&T, Huntsman, Vagelos and by certain programs (like IR, Urban Studies) that sit at the intersection of a number of different “pure” academic disciplines.</p>
<p>Penn promotes interdisciplinary studies, by which they mean that your areas of study don’t necessarily have to be limited by the school in which you are enrolled; i.e., if you’re in CAS, you can still take Nursing and Wharton classes. The coordinated dual degree programs are specially-created options for those who are already sure which direction they want to go. You don’t have to be in vagelos/huntsman, etc, in order to take advantage of Penn’s interdisciplinary focus.</p>