U Penn to Offer Online Bachelor's Degree Program

  • By Sara Friedman
  • 09/19/18
man studying using his laptop

The University of Pennsylvania is expanding its online course offerings to become the first Ivy League college to offer a bachelor's degree program, starting in the fall of 2019. The new program, designed for working adults and non-traditional students, is under the School of Arts and Sciences' College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS).

The new bachelor of applied arts and sciences (BAAS) degree program combines general-education requirements with interdisciplinary concentrations and it connects a liberal arts education to professional and career outcomes.

"The goal of this new platform is to make an Arts and Sciences education more accessible, flexible and affordable for working adults," said Nora Lewis, Penn Arts and Sciences' vice dean of professional and general education. "Penn LPS Online redefines the notion of who can get an Ivy League education by making it accessible to anyone who demonstrates the ambition and potential to earn it, without sacrificing the quality of the education offered."

The BAAS degree requirements will be met almost entirely online with two limited on-campus experiences designed to be accessible to working professionals. The degree also builds upon 20 years of experimentation with online teaching by faculty at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts and Sciences.

In addition to the BAAS degree, Penn LPS Online is launching for-credit certificate programs in several subjects including leadership and communication, creative writing, applied positive psychology and data analytics.

More information about the online degree and certificate programs can be found here.

About the Author

Sara Friedman is a reporter/producer for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe covering education policy and a wide range of other public-sector IT topics.

Friedman is a graduate of Ithaca College, where she studied journalism, politics and international communications.

Friedman can be contacted at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @SaraEFriedman.

Click here for previous articles by Friedman.


Featured

  • glowing hexagons and circles connected by illuminated lines

    Microsoft Intros Open Source Multi-Agent AI System

    Microsoft researchers have unveiled a new open source multi-agent AI system, Magnetic-One, aimed to help enterprises automate complex tasks typically requiring human intervention.

  • Two autonomous AI figures performing tasks in a tech environment; one interacts with floating holographic screens, while the other manipulates digital components

    Agentic AI Named Top Tech Trend for 2025

    Agentic AI will be the top tech trend for 2025, according to research firm Gartner. The term describes autonomous machine "agents" that move beyond query-and-response generative chatbots to do enterprise-related tasks without human guidance.

  • Digital Education Council survey data

    Survey: 86% of Students Already Use AI in Their Studies

    In a recent survey from the Digital Education Council, a global alliance of universities and industry representatives focused on education innovation, the majority of students (86%) said they use artificial intelligence in their studies.

  • abstract image of fragmented, floating geometric shapes with holographic lock icons and encrypted code, set against a dark, glitchy background with intersecting circuits and swirling light trails

    Education Sector a Top Target for Mobile Malware Attacks

    Mobile and IoT/OT cyber threats continue to grow in number and complexity, becoming more targeted and sophisticated, according to a new report from Zscaler.