FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Huntsman Program is designed in such a way that students develop specialized knowledge in the area of the world in which their target language is spoken and graduate with a nuanced understanding of the political, economic, and cultural complexities in a changing world. It is an integrated curriculum that encompasses the examination of international studies through a social science lens, the study of international business perspectives, and deep engagement with a region of the world through advanced language acquisition and area studies courses that are usually taken during the required semester abroad. While Huntsman students specialize in one area of the world, they also acquire a comprehensive understanding of the changing global environment.

In working toward the completion of requirements in both the College of Arts & Sciences and the Wharton School, as well as the International Studies major, Huntsman students do find time to pursue other academic interests. Many Huntsman Program students over the years have pursued minors in the College of Arts & Sciences, including Political Science, Philosophy, Comparative Literature, among others, including minors in the various language departments. Majors in the College of Arts & Sciences are less frequent, as this entails a heavier course load; however, Huntsman students have completed majors in History, Germanic Studies, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Psychology, Economics, and Hispanic Studies.

For the first year Huntsman Program students live in King’s Court College House. They occupy the third floor of a coed dorm. The residency program was established to foster a community among the Huntsman Program cohort that will endure throughout their four years at Penn and beyond.

Huntsman Program students will have on- and off-campus options after their first year at Penn. In many situations, Huntsman students continue to live together. However, students may decide to live in different campus housing options, including fraternity and sorority houses, as well as in the various housing options near campus.

Applying to the Huntsman Program is no different from applying to the University of Pennsylvania. Applicants should consult the Penn Admissions website for details pertaining to admissions criteria. Huntsman Program applicants will apply through the Penn Application Supplement, where applicants will be asked to write an additional essay addressing a contemporary international affair.

When applying to the Huntsman Program an applicant must choose a Target Language. There are 11 Target Languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Students typically demonstrate intermediate language proficiency when applying to the Huntsman Program.

The Target Language serves as a focal lens from which the student will gain a more nuanced understanding of the political, economic, and cultural complexities in this changing world; and the mandatory semester abroad is an opportunity for students to advance their language proficiency and gain an immersive experience into this understanding.

Yes. As an applicant to the Huntsman Program, there is the additional option of selecting a single-degree school, either the College of Arts & Sciences or the Wharton School. Applicants will be taken into full consideration for both the dual-degree program and the single-degree option.

Yes. An applicant can apply ED to the Huntsman Program. Applicants can also apply concurrently to the single-degree option during Early Decision, or defer their single-degree option to Regular Decision.

No. However, admissions criteria may vary for international students. Please consult the Penn Admissions webpage for international applicants.

No, the Huntsman Program does not admit transfer students. Any questions regarding transfer applications to Penn should be directed toward Penn Admissions.

In addition to working toward requirements in both the College of Arts & Sciences and the Wharton School, Huntsman Program students major in International Studies at Penn. The International Studies major encompasses courses aimed at advancing language and cultural proficiency, the practice of international business, and the comprehension of international politics and economics.

A Huntsman Program student is required to complete 40 course units at Penn to graduate from the dual-degree program. Typically students average 5-5.5 course units in a semester. This average allows for Huntsman Program students to graduate in four years.

Huntsman Program students are required to complete one semester abroad in a region where the student’s target language is the primary language. This semester abroad will typically occur in the spring semester of a student’s sophomore or junior year.

The International Studies major can accommodate a second semester abroad without the student losing time toward graduation. This second semester abroad could be an extension of the student’s target language semester abroad, or it could be a second semester abroad in a location unaffiliated with the target language (and within the bounds of the Huntsman Program’s and Penn’s policies).

A student can pursue more than one target language; however, this is not common, mainly due to students’ interests in other academic pursuits. A Huntsman Program student has the opportunity to learn a new language or continue advancing a language, as long as it does not interfere with the student’s target language advancement. This second language pursuit can be met at a student’s own pace or through the completion of a language department certificate or minor.

Huntsman Program students are not isolated from the general Penn student population. Though Huntsman Program students live in King’s Court College House during their first year at Penn, there are many opportunities to meet other students and build friendships outside the Huntsman Program cohort. These interactions occur in the classroom, as all curricular course work is taken with Penn students, as well as outside the classroom, through different clubs, organizations, sports, etc.

Yes. Huntsman Program students are involved in many extra-curricular activities in varied roles. Students participate in cultural organizations and are members of student government, the Undergraduate Assembly, and the International Affairs Association, which includes Model UN. Students are also members of different associations, community service related organizations, acapella groups, dance troupes, and Greek life. The Huntsman Program has also had varsity athletes complete the program; however, an athlete should always confer with the coach about participation in both.

The Huntsman Program alumni are an excellent group of people doing amazing things in the world, and they are always eager to contribute their time and knowledge to the currently enrolled students. There are a number of events that are geared toward connecting current students with the alumni, both engaging professional and academic pursuits. And there is a Huntsman Alumni Council, a board of Huntsman Program alumni, that represents the many alumni living throughout the world. This board works toward fostering community among the alumni and current students and building initiatives to disseminate a wealth of knowledge and opportunities.

As mentioned above, the Huntsman Program alumni are very involved with the program. There is an official Huntsman Alumni Mentorship Program that connects current students with alumni in an effort create a relationship that will develop according to professional, academic, or general life goals.

Through the generous donation of the Huntsman Program Advisory Board and friends of the program, there is funding available to students for three main pursuits during the summer: first-year summer language study, academic research projects (affiliated with Penn faculty), and unpaid internships.

There is no one typical career path. There are many resources at Penn to help prepare students to pursue any career path. Huntsman Program alumni can be found in financial services, consulting, marketing, the tech industry, as well as governmental positions and non-profits worldwide, among others. It is also not uncommon for Huntsman Program alumni to pursue graduate studies. Currently, there are alumni enrolled in graduate business schools, med schools, and Master’s and Doctoral programs at Stanford, U Chicago, Harvard, Columbia, UPenn, Oxford, the Paris School of Economics, among others over the years.