If you are a current undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, submatriculation provides a way to begin the Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences (MBDS) program while completing your undergraduate program. Please note that undergraduates in online programs are not eligible for this option. Once accepted to the MBDS program, up to three courses may double-count towards your graduate and undergraduate programs (see below).
Admission requirements
- Applicants must have a minimum 3.6 GPA.
- If you are interested in submatriculating, you should meet with your undergraduate academic advisor and the MBDS program team as early as possible. They can help you determine whether this program is a good fit for you, confirm your eligibility and determine whether additional forms should be completed.
- You must apply to the MBDS program using the standard application portal for the program, noting in your personal statement that you are applying to submatriculate.
Application deadlines
You may apply as early as the first semester of your junior year and as late as the first semester of your senior year. Apply by December 1 to take courses in the spring semester. Apply by June 1 to start taking courses in the fall semester. Students entering the last semester of their undergraduate careers at Penn are not eligible for submatriculation but may apply for regular admission to the Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences.
Prerequisites
The program has two prerequisite courses:
- Introductory statistics
- Microeconomics or game theory
Double-counting courses
Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences submatriculates may have three courses double-counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate programs. All double-counted courses must be approved by both your undergraduate and graduate academic advisors.
