Non-Matriculated Student Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I take courses on a non-matriculating basis?
- How do I get a PennKey, PennCard, and email address?
- What classes are you offering?
- What is the tuition?
- Am I eligible for student loans?
- Are there in-state resident rates?
- Can I take courses as an undergraduate?
- Can students use Center computers for printing, email, etc.?
- Can I audit a Bioethics course?
- I live in NYC/Washington/any other far-away city. How easy is the commute?
- I haven’t yet received my bill?
- I have to drop my class – do I have to pay for it?
- It’s really snowing hard and I’m not sure I should make the commute tonight for class – what should I do?
Can I take courses on a non-matriculating basis?
Yes. Students can take courses in the program on a non-matriculating basis. Non-matriculated students can enroll in up to 3 classes, while shopping the MBE program. Students can only register for a course if they have no outstanding incompletes and/or have permission from the graduate program director or assistant director.
Please click here for the application to take courses only (without applying for admission).
How do I get a PennKey, PennCard, and email address?
Once you are enrolled as a student in any BIOE course, you are entitled to a "PennKey" and "PennCard". A Pennkey is what gives you access to all of the University's online resources (the library catalogues, blackboard, and PennPortal - where you can register for classes and pay your bills). A PennCard is an ID card that allows you access to all of the University's buildings and lets you check out books from the library.
PennCards are distributed from the PennCard center in room 150 of the Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street.
You should have received information about your PennKey in the mail (sent from the Registrar’s office). If you have not, you can ask the PennCard Center how to get your PennKey set up code. To register your PennKey, go to http://www.upenn.edu/computing/pennkey.
Non-Matriculated MBE students are not entitled to a UPenn email account.
You should receive a mailing at your home address from the Registrar's Office containing information about your PennKey roughly one week after you are registered for your first Penn course. If you not receive this mailing within 10 days, you can either contact the PennKey Center to resend this information (disables original PennKey password) or ask the PennCard Center how to get your PennKey set up code. To register your PennKey, go to http://www.upenn.edu/computing/pennkey. It is also highly recommended that you immediately update your Penn directory information to reflect your email address to enable you to receive emails from your instructor sent through the Blackboard site.
What classes are you offering?
Current course descriptions can be found here.
The MBE program bills on a per course basis. For the 2010-11 school year, tuition and fees per course are approximately $5100.
Am I eligible for student loans?
The only loan option for non-matriculated graduate students is a private alternative educational loan. Federal funds are nont availble until a student is a matriculated student and enrolled at least half-time. Contact Student Financial Services for more information.
Are there in-state resident rates?
All students enrolled in our courses are charged the same rate.
Can I take courses as an undergraduate?
Undergraduates are not generally not permitted to take MBE courses. Beginning in the Summer of 2009, however, we will for the first time offer one of our most popular coursees to an exslusively undergraduate audience. Please contact Dr. Nora Jones for more information about our current undergraduate offering. Also, please see Penn's Center for Bioethics Undergraduate Study in Bioethics webpage for more information about undergraduate bioethics opportunities.
Can MBE students use Center computers for printing, email, etc.?
There are two computers in Suite 321 for student and alumni use. Students can use the computers to print papers for class, check email, and do research using the Penn Library system, etc.
Can I audit a Bioethics course?
No, we do not accept auditors in our courses.
I live in NYC/Washington/any other far-away city. How easy is the commute to Philadelphia?
We’ll let one of our commuting alum’s answer this for us:
"Commuting from NYC to the Penn Bioethics Masters Program was very easy. Amtrak is the quickest means of transportation, but the Center is a less than 10 minute walk from 30th Street Station. Driving is also a decent option - and parking is easy in the blocks surrounding the Center. In my experience, professors were very amenable to flexible arrangements. When it came time to write papers, they were very willing to chat by phone to answer my questions. This was a huge time saver! I would highly recommend the Penn Bioethics Program and would advise others not to think twice about commuting from NYC."
I haven’t yet received my bill?
Bursar bills are mailed by the Office of Student Financial Services usually within 4-6 weeks after the registration has been processed. First time students at the University are mailed to the address on record for the first 2 billing cycles. After that, only ebills will be delivered. For both incoming AND continuing students, notification emails are sent each month informing you that a new monthly billing statement is available via our online bill system, Penn.Pay.You can also check Penn.Pay daily, to see if any new items have been posted to your account since your last billing statement.
Please note that email is the primary mechanism for sending official communications to Penn students. Therefore, you need to check your University email regularly in order to stay abreast of important messages and notifications.
You can access your bill using the Penn Portal, http://medley.isc-seo.upenn.edu/penn_portal/view.php. Billing questions should be addressed to Student Financial Services, 215.898.1988.
I have to drop my class – do I have to pay for it?
If you drop a class within the first 2 weeks of the start of the semester, full tuition and the general fee will be refunded by credit to your University account. Between the second and fifth weeks, you may drop without academic penalty, but only 50% of your tuition and fees will be refunded. After the 5th week, you can withdraw, but a W will appear on your transcript, and you will not receive any refund. If you haven’t yet paid at the time of the withdrawal, you will still be accountable for that bill.
It’s really snowing hard and I’m not sure I should make the commute tonight for class – what should I do?
If we have to cancel a class for any reason, we will send an email to BIOEGRAD, to each student listed on blackboard, and we call each student. Due to the high volume of students we have commuting long distances, we like to give plenty of notice, so we try to call before 2:30. If in doubt, please call 215.898.7136.