Submatriculation is an honors program at Penn for very strong undergraduates who would like to pursue a Masters degree at the same time that they pursue their Bachelors degree. In order to enter this program in Mathematics, students need to follow the steps listed below, including the submission of an application to the graduate program (item 6 on the list). As is the case with other graduate applications, this process is by no means automatic. For additional information about this process, the interested student should also read the SAS document on Submatriculation.

ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM:

Before entering the program, students are ordinarily expected to have completed (or be finishing) two of the four courses Math 360-61 and Math 370-71 (or the equivalent), with an average grade of at least A-. Note that Math 508-09 and Math 502-03 are masters level versions of these courses; these 500 level versions can count toward the masters, but not the 300 level versions. So for students interested in submatriculating, it is better to take the 500 level versions of these courses rather than the 300 level versions.

The steps of the application process:

1. Consult an Assistant Dean for Advising in your school office. Obtain an "application for submatriculation" form.
2. Consult the Graduate Group Chair in the Mathematics Department. In consultation with the Graduate Group Chair, complete the "application for submatriculation" form, including the intended graduate course plan. Get the signature of the Graduate Group Chair on this form.
3. Consult the Undergraduate Chair of the undergraduate major department (if courses are to be double counted). Get the chair's signature of approval on "application for submatriculation".
4. Return the completed "application for submatriculation" to the assistant Dean mentioned in step 1. Obtain the Dean's approval to proceed.
5. Go to the SAS Graduate Office . Submit a copy of the completed "application for submatriculation" and obtain graduate admissions application materials.
6. Complete the applications material as instructed, including getting at least two letters of recommendation (preferably three) from your mathematics professors at Penn. (You do not have to take the GRE.) After submitting your application, send email to the Mathematics Graduate Chair.
7. You will be informed via mail if you have been accepted into the program.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE:

1. Pass the Masters Preliminary Exam(see The First Year). For submatriculants, the preliminary exam must be passed by the beginning of their senior year, before the beginning of classes. If not, they will be dropped from the program. [Note: this is new, effective January 2012, and applies to all students who are Juniors in 2011-12].
2. Fulfill the Masters degree course requirements.
3. Write a Masters Thesis. After passing the preliminary exam, the student should immediately begin planning for the thesis by contacting a faculty member who will serve as his or her thesis advisor.
4. Pass the Masters General Examination.

For the course requirements as many as 4 (of the total of 8) credits can be counted towards both the Bachelors degree and the Masters degree. Graduate courses completed before admission to the submatriculation program can be applied towards the Masters degree with the approval of the SAS Graduate Office.

If the student chooses, the Masters degree may have a concentration in Applied Mathematics or a concentration in Computational Mathematics. To receive a concentration in applied mathematics or in computational mathematics both the Masters thesis and at least four of the courses taken for the Masters degree must be designated as being in that concentration. See the description of the Masters program for more details.

Penn Grad Math Page.

Penn Undergrad Math Page.

Penn Math Department Home Page.