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Freshmen & Sophomores: Getting Started in the Major

The IR Program will continue to provide its hallmark advising function.  Advising is available in person in Williams Hall, or via Zoom.  While we strongly recommend you opt for in-person meetings whenever you can, you should abide by all Penn regulations regarding COVID related precautions, and also excercise good judgement.

You may book appointments either in-person or by Zoom.  Please call the IR office at 8-0452, or Email Mark Castillo.

For a guide on course planning please click here (link)

Admission to the Major

Prospective majors are required by The College to declare their major before pre-registration during the spring term of sophomore year. Students who are changing majors or adding a second major are urged to contact the IR office (notifying a College Advisor of this plan as well) prior to the start of the fall semester of their junior year and no later than the end of the drop/add period in the fall term. Students are encouraged to apply earlier, especially if they plan to study abroad during their junior year. Because of staffing and enrollment contingencies pertaining to the Senior Project and the Senior Seminar for Thesis Research, no one will be admitted to the major after their junior year or after they have reached senior status.

In any case, all applicants are required to have a pre-admission interview and advising session in order to plan a schedule for the completion of their major requirements. You should do this at your earliest possible convenience. Students are obliged to complete requirements in force at the time of admission to the major, and are cautioned against completing curriculum requirements without consultation with the IR advisor.