The advice and counsel of WPWP program representatives is available for course
selection, clarification of academic policies, and other administrative issues.
Appointments can be made by e-mailing WPWP or calling 215.746.3149.
Students should also contact a program representative to
withdraw from a course after the drop deadline
request course substitutions
convert from Non-Certificate/No-Major status
into a certificate program
transfer
from one certificate program to another
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 transcripts. The following
are the minimum grade requirements for certificates:
In order for a 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 take an additional WPWP course which can
be included in the certificate GPA calculation.
Students may retake any course in which they achieve 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.
WPWP courses may not be taken pass/fail.
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
key courses should be taken for each WPWP certificate program. The remaining
courses may be taken in any order the student desires. A student who wishes
to alter the course sequence requirements must submit a petition form to the
WPWP office prior to registering for the course. Students currently enrolled
in WPWP can find petition forms on Wharton
Direct;
other students must contact the WPWP office.
Business Essentials Certificate — Management 411 first; Management
423 last
Marketing Certificate — Marketing 411 first
Human Resource Management
Certificate — Management 422 first
Finance
and Accounting Certificate — Accounting 411 first
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 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. Substitutions must be requested in advance,
at the outset of the student’s program, through the submission of a formal
petition and approved in writing by a program representative. Substitutions
will not be approved retroactively.
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 official transcript from this institution. In
addition, a WPWP Course Substitution Petition form must be submitted. Students
currently enrolled in WPWP can find petition forms on Wharton
Direct;
other students must contact the WPWP office.
Students interested in taking WPWP courses in addition to those required for
the certificate can do so by registering for the course through Penn
Portal.
Additional courses
do not count toward the certificate course requirements unless approved by
the WPWP office. 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 obtain permission from a WPWP program representative.
Courses outside of WPWP will not count toward a certificate.
Students who wish to convert from “Non-Certificate/No-Major” status
into a certificate program may count a maximum of two WPWP courses taken under
non-certificate status toward the certificate. To qualify, however, courses
must comply with the certificate sequence requirements.
WPWP students are not permitted to enroll in Wharton undergraduate or graduate
courses. Students may enroll in courses at Penn outside of Wharton, but these
will not count towards a WPWP certificate. Students must obtain written permission
from the WPWP office prior to enrolling in courses. It is advised that students
contact the teaching school to learn if there are additional requirements prior
to registration.
The specific dates that apply to drop/withdraw/refund policies are included
in the WPWP Academic Calendar, which
is posted on Wharton Direct for current students. Deadlines posted on 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, 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 the Summer sessions, students may withdraw from courses at any time until
the withdrawal deadline, which is published in the WPWP Academic Calendar.
Students must complete a Course Withdrawal Request
form, which includes signed 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.
The following exceptions are in place:
A 50% refund will be given to students
withdrawing because of illness. Such withdrawal requests must include 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.
A full refund will be given to students withdrawing due to military service.
Such withdrawal requests must include a copy of military orders or a signed
affidavit from the military member’s commanding officer that
confirms the military orders and 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 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 the instructor adequate time to review the student's work and submit
a grade by the deadline.
Coursework for WPWP certificates must be completed within three years of
the student's first date of entry. Exceptions can be made for military leave,
disability, and other extenuating circumstances. Students who anticipate a
challenge in complying with this policy should contact a program representative.
Students who do not enroll in courses for more than two consecutive terms,
excluding Summer terms, will be considered inactive and will be required to
petition to be reinstated to active status.
No undergraduate students may enroll in WPWP courses.
Penn graduate students enrolled in other programs may enroll in WPWP courses
on a space-available basis. Students must meet the WPWP entrance requirements
of an earned bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA and at least three years of
work experience. When applying to the program, they must submit:
Permit
Request form from the WPWP office
Current résumé
Written approval from home school advisor
Evidence that all prerequisites for the requested course have been
satisfied
Once approval is granted from the WPWP office, WPWP will assign a
permit to register for courses. Students must claim and register for courses
within 24 hours, per University policy.
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
