School of Arts & Sciences

David Roos taking a selfie while teaching a class online, with scientific materials on the screen behind him

A quick pivot turns an infectious disease class into timely education

Students in David Roos’ upper-level biology course had been studying pandemics. Now they get to learn in real time how public health scientists attempt to understand COVID-19.

Person with glasses smiles in front of blurry trees and a red brick building.

Rethinking microeconomics

Economics professor Rakesh Vohra has spent the last five years reimagining the design of the intermediate microeconomics course, resulting in a new book and a new course structure. The approach is unique, and this academic year every full-time student taking intermediate microeconomics is taking Vohra’s innovative version.

Person sits on corner of conference table with wall of books behind them, smiling at the camera.

Walter Licht’s legacy of civic engagement

For more than 40 years at Penn, Walter Licht has crafted a career of equal parts renowned historian, teacher, and community activist, including creating the Penn Civic Scholars Program. Licht recently announced he is stepping down from his positions at Civic House.

Person praying in front of a crowd in China with mask down around their chin, people wearing masks walk around them, outside a temple.

Human rights during the coronavirus pandemic

During a virtual event at Perry World House, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, former United Nations high commissioner for human rights, spoke to PWH interim director Michael Horowitz about the importance of centering human rights and about holding governments accountable in a time of pandemic.

Why Asian-American racism is rampant during the coronavirus

In a Q&A, Professor of English Josephine Park discusses the history of Asian-American racism in the U.S. in light of recent rhetoric from government officials and reports of harassment in public.

A long line of people waiting to in a bread line in New York City during the Great Depression in 1932

The Great Depression, the New Deal, and how disasters change politics

History professor Brent Cebul talks about lessons politicians can take from the Great Depression and the New Deal and how disasters like the current pandemic can change politics.

Student standing in front of an outdoor fountain.

Penn junior Misha McDaniel named a Beinecke Scholar

English major Misha McDaniel has been awarded a 2020 Beinecke Scholarship to pursue graduate education. McDaniel is one of 18 Beinecke Scholars chosen from throughout the U.S., and the 13th recipient from Penn since the award was first given in 1975.

Parade from 1918 in the streets with people carrying a large American flag

The legal history of epidemics in America

Sarah Barringer Gordon, the Arlin M. Adams Professor of Constitutional Law and Professor of History, offers a commentary on American political responses to epidemics past.

Facade of one of the dorms in the Penn Quadrangle in daylight

Class of 2024 Regular Decision admissions results

The University of Pennsylvania has announced admission decisions for Regular Decision applicants to the Class of 2024, the institution’s 268th class.

Four Penn juniors named 2020 Goldwater Scholars

Four juniors have been selected as 2020 Goldwater Scholars by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship & Excellence in Education Foundation, to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering.

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