Minimum Grade Requirements Course Sequence Waiving Prerequisites Withdrawal Policies Incomplete Policies Contact Us

Wharton Business and Law Certificate

Academic Policies

WPWP program representatives are available to provide guidance regarding Wharton (WPWP) course selection, academic policies, or other administrative issues.

Appointments can be made by emailing WPWP or calling +1.215.746.3149. Penn Law representatives can assist with issues relating to law classes, registration, or other academic issues. Please email gradadmissions@law.upenn.edu or call +1.215.898.0407.

Minimum Grade Requirements

All courses in the WBLC program earn academic credit, and upon completion students will receive a grade and a permanent record on their transcript. The following are the minimum grade requirements for the certificate:

1. In order for a given Wharton course to count toward the certificate, a student must achieve a grade of "C" or better.
2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or its equivalent in courses leading to the certificate is required for graduation. If a student completes all courses for the certificate and does not have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or its equivalent, the student may retake any Wharton course in which a C or better was not achieved or take an additional Wharton course, which then can be included in the certificate GPA calculation.
3. Students may retake any Wharton course in which they achieved an unsatisfactory grade. They must register for the course, pay the full fee, and meet all class requirements for attendance and assignments. The original grade remains on the student's official transcript but is not figured into the GPA for the purposes of certificate completion.

We encourage any students who have questions about meeting these requirements to speak with a WPWP program representative.

Withdrawal Policies

The specific dates that apply to drop/withdrawal/refund policies are included in the WPWP Academic Calendar, which is posted on Wharton Direct at the beginning of each term. Deadlines posted in this calendar supersede any deadlines posted elsewhere by other schools or departments at Penn.

In general, courses may be dropped during the first two weeks of the term in Spring and Fall. A 50% refund will be given for courses dropped in the third through fifth weeks of the Spring and Fall terms.

After the fifth week of the Spring and Fall terms, students may withdraw from courses until the withdrawal deadline published in the WPWP Academic Calendar. Students must complete a Withdrawal Request form, which includes obtaining permission from the instructor. This form can be found on Wharton Direct. A "W" will appear on the transcript. Students who withdraw from a course will incur full financial obligations, except when withdrawing due to illness, in which case a 50% refund will be given, or due to military leave orders, in which case a full refund will be given.

Students withdrawing due to illness must include with their withdrawal request a physician's letter stating clearly that the student has been disabled by an injury or illness arising after the beginning of classes and is unable to continue class work.

Students withdrawing due to military service must include a copy of military orders or a signed affidavit from the military member's commanding officer that confirms the military orders and the dates of the assignment.

Students also will need to notify Penn Law of their actions by emailing gradadmissions@law.upenn.edu or calling 215.898.0407.

Incomplete Policies

At the discretion of the instructor, students may arrange to receive a grade of "Incomplete" or "I" and complete coursework after the term ends. The deadline for instructors to turn in revised grades for all "Incomplete" grades is one month after the first day of the following semester. After that date, all "I" grades are automatically converted to "F." It is at the instructor's discretion to set a deadline for completion of coursework that allows him or her adequate time to review the student's work and submit a revised grade.