Haverford College and the University of Pennsylvania are launching a new program that will allow undergraduates at Haverford to gain early admission into a master's degree program offered by Penn's School of Engineering and Applied Science. The arrangement effectively allows Haverford students to obtain their bachelor's degree in four years and then, through Penn, obtain their master's degree with just one additional year of study.

Called the Four Plus One partnership, the agreement was finalized last week at a signing ceremony with Eduardo Glandt, dean of Penn Engineering, and Linda Bell, provost of Haverford College.

"Penn Engineering is excited to work with our colleagues at Haverford in offering this new program," Glandt said. "We are always searching for ways to expand access to our excellent engineering education and are looking forward to welcoming our first class of participants."

After their sophomore year, Haverford students with necessary backgrounds, majors and a strong academic record may apply, via Four Plus One, to a master's program at Penn Engineering.

"This new program is tremendously exciting as it allows our students to expand the frontiers of their liberal arts undergraduate training and advance their expertise through well integrated specialization in a specific engineering field related to their undergraduate major," Bell said.

As part of the Quaker Consortium, students at Haverford may already take classes at Penn that count toward their undergraduate degrees at no additional cost. This new program expands on that relationship. In addition to providing access to appropriate undergraduate prerequisites, the Four Plus One partnership will allow Haverford students to take graduate-level courses that will count towards their prospective master's degree work in engineering.

“This expansion of our collaborative relationship with Penn is the sort of innovation that makes academic and financial sense for all concerned,” said Joanne V. Creighton, interim president of Haverford College.  â€œWe can now offer an engineering track to an Ivy League advanced degree, and Penn becomes a visible and ready next step for our top students.”

"Many liberal arts colleges currently have 3+2 program in conjunction 
with engineering schools,” said Rob Scarrow, professor of chemistry and director of Haverford's Koshland Integrated Natural Sciences Center.“But many students lose interest in 3 + 2 programs when they realize that they will miss their senior year at their undergraduate institution. Thus, I am pleased that we have been able to design and offer this 4+1 program with Penn which makes it possible for students to spend a full four years in residence at Haverford.”

Scarrow, along with Professor of Physics Walter Smith, participated in the early planning discussions with Penn that lead to the design of the new program. "I believe this is the first 4+1 partnership in the country between an elite liberal arts college and an elite engineering program,” said Smith.  â€œI'm very excited about the way this opens up options for our students, and about the range of engineering programs at Penn."

An informational meeting for students (particularly current freshman and sophomores) will be held on Tuesday, April 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Stokes 010.

Meeting Details: http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/201252