Who needs to request a permit to register for LPS Pre-Health (science/STEM) courses?
Any student who is not enrolled in the LPS Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate Programs is required to request a “permit” to allow registration in an LPS Pre-Health course. All LPS Pre-Health students may freely register for Pre-Health BIOL, CHEM, PHYS, ANAT courses without requesting a “permit” except in the case of NRSC courses. LPS Pre-Health students must request a “permit” for all NRSC courses as these seats are shared with the department.
What are the steps for requesting permission to take a class in Path@Penn?
Refer to the Quick Reference Guides (QRGs) for Students on the Penn Student Registration and Financial Services website at https://srfs.upenn.edu/path-at-penn. Under the Topic “Registration”, click on the Request Permission to Take a Class pdf guide.
But I am an LPS Pre-Health student and the class I want to register for is full. What should I do?
Submit a “permit request” for that course so we can add you to a waitlist.
Why has my “permit” not been issued when Path@Penn shows there are available seats in the course?
Seats are reserved in the LPS Pre-Health courses to allow time for existing and incoming LPS Pre-Health Programs students, and subsequently in order of priority, other LPS students, opportunity to register. We release available seats close to the start of the term when we have a reasonable assurance that LPS students have completed their registration. “Permits” are then issued to non-LPS students on a first come, first serve basis.
I received the “permit” for the course as requested. Does this mean I am automatically enrolled in the course?
No! A “permit” simply allows you to register yourself via Path@Penn. A “permit” does not hold your seat in a course. Only registration guarantees your enrollment in the course. When you request a “permit” you must take action to complete your registration in a timely manner. The number of issued “permits” often exceeds the number of available seats. Therefore, a delay in your registration may cost you a seat in the course. Once a course is full, all unclaimed “permits” become void unless or until a registered student “drops” thereby opening a seat. To find out if/when a seat becomes available in a course that is full you may sign up to receive a Penn Course Alert: https://penncoursealert.com/.
I am a Penn non-LPS undergraduate student and I wish to take an LPS biology (BIOL) course that is not one of the following: BIOL 1101, BIOL 1102, or BIOL 4004. Does this require an extra step before I request a permit?
Yes! All Penn non-LPS undergraduate students need to obtain APPROVAL from the Department of Biology in advance of requesting a “permit” from LPS for most LPS BIOL courses in Path@Penn. To request Department of Biology approval email bio-undergraduate@sas.upenn.edu. When your approval is received, forward the email with the departmental approval to fayep@sas.upenn.edu at the same time you submit your “permit request” via Path@Penn.
I am a Penn Graduate Student who wishes to take an LPS BIOL course. Do I need to request Department of Biology approval for any of the LPS BIOL courses?
No, if you are a graduate student, a Penn visiting student, or a non-Pre-Health LPS student, you do not need to request approval from the Department of Biology. You simply need to enter your “permit request” in Path@Penn.
If a lecture course is linked to a laboratory section, a laboratory lecture, and/or a recitation section must I request a “permit” for all linked sections associated with that course?
Yes! You must complete a “permit request” for the lecture AND all labs, lab lectures, or recitation sections associated with that particular course. If you do not, your request will be incomplete. Incomplete “permit requests” cannot be issued.
See examples below:
- PHYS 0101.601 General Physics: Mechanics, Heat and Sound with PHYS 0101.602 laboratory
- BIOL 1101.601 Introduction to Biology A with BIOL 1101.602 laboratory
- CHEM 1011.601 Introduction to General Chemistry I with CHEM 1011 602 recitation
- NRSC 1110.601 Introduction to Brain and Behavior with NRSC 1110.602 laboratory
- BIOL 2801.601 Elements or Microbiology with BIOL 2801.602 laboratory
Take note that the LPS General Chemistry lecture and lab sections are not linked. The LPS General Chemistry Lecture/recitation (CHEM 1011.601 and 602) may be taken with or without the LPS General Chemistry Lab/Lab Lecture (CHEM 1101. 601 and 602) and vice versa.
I am a Penn non-LPS undergraduate student hoping to take organic chemistry through LPS. What are the rules?
Penn non-LPS undergraduate students requesting permits for organic chemistry through LPS are required to enroll in the Organic Chemistry Lecture (e.g.: CHEM 2410) and Experimental Organic Chemistry lab course (e.g.: CHEM 2451) concurrently. This requires a total of 3 permit requests to be complete: one for the lecture, one for the lab lecture, and one for the lab itself. If your “permit request” is incomplete, no permits will be issued.
I am a Penn non-LPS undergraduate student who has already taken either the organic chemistry lecture or the organic chemistry lab. I feel that I should be granted an exemption from registering for these courses concurrently when I only need one. How should I properly request the “permit(s)” in this case?
Any exception to the Department of Chemistry requirement for concurrent enrollment in CHEM 2410 and CHEM 2451 or CHEM 2420 and CHEM 2452 must be reviewed and APPROVED by the Department of Chemistry. This also applies to situations where your major does not require the organic chemistry lab. To request such an approval, email Candice Adams in the Department of Chemistry at candicek@sas.upenn.edu. Forward the email from the department stating that you are exempt from the Department of Chemistry policy requiring concurrent enrollment in the Organic Chemistry lecture and lab to fayep@sas.upenn.edu and submit your appropriate “permit request” through Path@Penn.
How is the permit process handled for LPS online ANAT courses?
The online ANAT courses were created for LPS students. LPS students do not need a permit to register for ANAT courses. All non-LPS students do require a “permit” to allow registration. Please be aware that ANAT credits do not count toward program completion or graduation requirements for Penn non-LPS undergraduates. To take an ANAT course, they may seek APPROVAL from their academic advisor and submit a “permit request” in Path@Penn. Then forward the approval email to lps@sas.upenn.edu where LPS will provide instruction to complete the “permit” process.
What is the process for an LPS Pre-Health student to request permission to take an online NEUR course?
The online NEUR courses were created for students in the LPS online degree and certificate programs. In some instances, a limited few NEUR courses may be approved to count toward program completion credit for the LPS Pre-Health Programs. Such requests are reviewed by the Program Director on a case-by-case basis and will only be considered if there are no appropriate Pre-Health or College course options available. Check with your advisor to understand the APPROVAL process when seeking an exception to your study plan. If you have obtained approval, then you may submit a “permit request” via Path@Penn. Approval from the Program Director does not guarantees access to a NEUR course. Enrollment is dependent upon available space.
I have a question about permits for LPS Pre-Health courses that is not listed here. Where can I go for the information?
You may email or call the Pre-Health Programs coordinator, Faye McKoy. Email: fayep@sas.upenn.edu Tel: 215-746-2238.
