The advice and counsel of WPWP program representatives is available for course selection, clarification of academic policies, or other administrative issues. Appointments can be made by emailing WPWP or calling 215.746.3149.
Students should also contact a program representative to withdraw from a course after the drop deadline, to transfer from No Major Status or from one certificate program to another, to request course substitutions, or to request temporary inactive status or a leave of absence.
All courses in the WPWP certificate programs earn academic credit, and students will receive a grade and a permanent record on their transcript. The following are the minimum grade requirements for certificates:
In order for a given course to count towards a certificate, a student must achieve a grade of "C" or better.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in certificate courses is required for graduation. If a student completes all courses for the certificate and does not have a cumulative GPA of 3.0, the student may retake a course in which a C or better was not achieved or can take an additional WPWP course which can be included in the certificate GPA calculation.
Students may retake any 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 concerns or questions about meeting these requirements to speak with a program representative.
Students must observe the following policies regarding the order in which courses should be taken. The remaining courses may be taken in any order the student desires. Students wishing to alter the below sequencing requirements must submit a petition form to the WPWP office.
Business Essentials - Management 411 first; Management 423 last
WPWP does not accept transfer credits or give credit for life experience. However, students who have previously completed a course they believe to be equivalent to a course required for a certificate may petition to substitute the required course for another WPWP course. This should be done at the outset of the student's program, in consultation with a program representative (see "substitutions" below). Students will need to submit a description of the course taken issued by the academic institution where they studied. Evidence of a B grade or better must be indicated on the student's transcript from this institution.
Substitutions must be requested in advance through the submission of a formal petition and approved in writing by a program representative. Substitutions will not be approved retroactively. Petition forms can be found on Wharton Direct.
Students interested in taking WPWP courses in addition to those required for the certificate can do so by registering for the course through PennInTouch. Note that the additional course does not count toward the certificate. Students who wish to take courses outside of WPWP can do so with the permission of an advisor from the department in which the course is offered. Students also must get permission from a WPWP program representative. Courses outside of WPWP will not count toward a certificate.
Students who enroll in WPWP as a "no-major" student may count a maximum of two courses taken towards a certificate if they are later accepted into a certificate program. Courses taken will not be counted if they do not fall into the certificate sequence requirements.
WPWP students are not permitted to enroll in Wharton day undergraduate or graduate courses. Students may enroll in courses at Penn outside of Wharton, but these normally do not count towards a certificate. Students must be enrolled as a WPWP student in these cases.
The specific dates that apply to drop/withdraw/refund policies are included in the WPWP Academic Calendar, which is posted on Wharton Direct for all students 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 2 weeks of the term in Spring and Fall, and during the first week of a Summer session with a full refund. A 50% refund will be given for courses dropped in the third through fifth weeks of the Spring and Fall, terms and in the second week of a Summer session.
After the fifth week of the Spring and Fall terms and after the second week of Summer sessions, students may withdraw from courses up until the withdrawal deadline published in the WPWP Academic Calendar. Students must complete a Drop/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.
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 1 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 grade by the deadline.
Coursework for WPWP certificates must be completed within 3 years from the student's first date of entry. Exceptions can be made for military leave, disability, and other extenuating circumstances. Students wanting an exception to this limitation should contact a program representative.
Students who do not enroll in courses for more than three consecutive terms, including summer, will be considered inactive and will be required to petition to be reinstated to active status.
No Penn undergraduate students may enroll in WPWP courses.
However, Penn graduate students enrolled at other schools at Penn may enroll in WPWP courses on a space-available basis. Students enrolled at other schools at Penn must meet the WPWP entrance requirements of an earned bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA and at least 3 years of work experience. When applying to the program, they must submit:
Petition form
Current résumé
Written approval from program advisor
Once approval is granted, WPWP will assign a permit to register for courses
Wharton Programs for Working Professionals
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
255 South 38th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104.6359
215.898.2888 phone
215.386.4304 fax wharton-wpwp@wharton.upenn.edu
