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Physics instruction is offered in various formats, including compact, fast-paced honors classes, Structured, Active, In-Class Learning (SAIL) sessions, and larger lecture-style courses. (Admission to the honors program requires strong mathematical readiness to engage with advanced material and a commitment to rigorous study). Our most distinguished faculty members lead the introductory courses, with all core department classes taught by professors. Beyond the first-year Physics curriculum, advanced courses feature intimate class sizes. Students enjoy frequent one-on-one interactions with instructors. Pursuing a dual major is easily achievable, with recent students pairing Physics with Mathematics, Economics, Electrical Engineering, or Chemistry. Many graduates continue their studies at prestigious Physics graduate programs.
International applicant should have completed a program of secondary education that would enable you to enter a university in your own country (e.g., A-levels, Abitur).
A strong command of the English language is necessary for successful study at Penn. Applicants whose families do not speak English at home, or applicants who have not attended a high school or secondary school where the primary language of instruction is English, are asked to take the TOEFL, the Test of English as a Foreign Language, administered by the Educational Testing Service. In the event the TOEFL is not readily accessible, Penn will accept results from the IELTS, the International English Language Testing System.