Highly motivated Wharton students have the opportunity to challenge themselves through a variety of scholars programs at Penn:
Joseph Wharton Scholars (JWS)
The JWS program:
- Emphasizes the importance of scholarly research and the liberal arts and sciences within the framework of a business education.
- Involves taking scholars seminars and courses both inside and outside of Wharton and engaging in a significant senior research project.
- Requires membership and continued good academic standing in the Benjamin Franklin Scholars program.
- Features fall faculty research presentations that are open to all Wharton students.
- Invites students to join before entering as first-years or to apply in their second semester at Penn.
University Scholars
The University Scholars program provides an unusual academic environment for intellectually dynamic students who have already demonstrated their commitment and dedication to research. The program involves:
- In-depth research
- An early start in graduate and professional courses
- Mentoring, research funding, and scholarly events
- Weekly lunches at which students present and discuss their research
Wharton Research Scholars (WRS)
WRS is an intensive one-year, for-credit research program for a select group of upper-level students who are interested in conducting research under the supervision of some of Wharton’s preeminent faculty members. The program is structured as a for-credit seminar (WH 2990). Program highlights:
- Students convene to discuss project progress, strategies, and challenges throughout the year, thus creating a sense of scholarly community.
- Near the end of the first semester, students defend their project proposals in a public session with students and faculty mentors in attendance.
- Research progress continues through the second semester, culminating in final presentations and a paper for publication on ScholarlyCommons.