Dual Degree Curriculum
VIPER is a unique college experience that positions students to make a significant impact in the development of sustainable energy science and technology while cultivating an interdisciplinary perspective in science and engineering and forming lasting connections with a community dedicated to solving the world's energy challenges.
Dual Degree
VIPER is a coordinated dual-degree program at Penn, and our students pursue two degrees — a Bachelor of Arts in the School of Arts and Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Chemistry (CHEM)
Physics & Astronomy (PHYS)
Earth and Environmental Science (EESC)
Mathematics (MATH)*
Computer and Information Science (CIS)*
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (CBE)
Material Science & Engineering (MSE)
Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics (MEAM)
Electrical and Systems Engineering (ESE)
Dual-degree students should complete at a minimum of 46 course units (CUs). VIPER students pursue the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE), not a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS). Students may petition for additional STEM majors to be considered for approval and must demonstrate how the proposed course plan relates to energy science and aligns with VIPER's programmatic goals.
* Students who are pursuing a major combination of MATH and CIS should additionally complete one thermodynamics course. Currently approved thermodynamics courses include: MEAM 2030 (Thermodynamics I), MSE 2600 (Energetics of Macro and Nano-scale Materials), PHYS 1230 (Thermal Physics and Waves), and CHEM 2220 (Physical Chemistry II).
** Students in the Class of 2029 will be the last cohort to be able to declare Biology or Bioengineering as majors in the VIPER program. These majors will no longer be options for the Class of 2030 and beyond.
In Summary, VIPER Students Complete:
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA)
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- Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE)
- VIPER Requirements
- VIPR 1200 (0.5 CU)
- VIPR 1210 (0.5 CU)
- VIPR 1300 (3.5-4.5 CU)
- 2 summers of research
- 3 energy courses
Research Experience
VIPR 1200: Introduction to Energy Research (First Year)
VIPR 1210: Introduction to Energy Research (Second Year)
Students take a dedicated "Introduction to Energy Research" seminar in the first (VIPR 1200, 0.5 CU) and second year (VIPR 1210, 0.5 CU). This seminar series prepares students for their first summer of research at Penn by introducing them to current energy research topics, the challenges and techniques involved with conducting research, and strategies for reading and writing technical papers.
Throughout this course, students will receive support and guidance towards finding research opportunities with Penn faculty mentors that reflect their interests in energy science and technology.
Summer Research
During their time at Penn, VIPER students conduct energy research for at least 2 summers. VIPER provides substantial financial support for students to conduct research over the summer. During their first summer, students conduct research on Penn's campus. For their second summer, they have the option to explore research opportunities both at Penn and beyond at another academic institution. Additionally, VIPER students can choose to do a third summer of energy research with VIPER.
Learn More About Summer Research & Research Policies
Leadership Development
VIPR 1300
In addition to the "Introduction to Energy Research" seminar, VIPER students enroll in an asynchronous course on energy research and leadership development (VIPR 1300, 0.5 CU). Starting in their sophomore year, students take this course every semester, including summers. The course encourages students to reflect on their energy-related experiences at Penn and to explore new opportunities both within and outside of VIPER. These include attending on-campus energy talks, participating in poster sessions, engaging with alumni, and joining community-building events.
Energy Courses
VIPER students are required to complete a minimum of three courses that relate to energy science during their time at Penn. These energy courses can be taken at any point over a typical student's four-year course plan. The list of approved energy courses is given below.
Other important aspects to consider:
- Students may petition for additional courses to be considered for approval and must demonstrate their relevance to energy science.
- Students may request to count one graduate-level course from a STEM major as an energy course provided that the course helps further their career goals as future energy leaders.
- Additionally, the energy course requirement is waived for VIPER students who have been accepted into and are in the process of completing an Accelerated Masters program at Penn.
If courses are cross-listed, the course it is also offered as is listed in parentheses. Please note that Penn has recently transitioned to a 4-digit course numbering scheme. Courses can be searched for at Path@Penn.
* Introductory courses. Students should consider these courses carefully in the context of their four-year plans as they may not count towards major or other degree requirements outside of the energy course requirement.
BEPP 2630 (OIDD 2630) – Environmental and Energy Economics and Policy
- BIOL 1019* – Biological Science and Public Policy
- BIOL 1604 – Humans and the Environment
- CBE 3750 – Engineering and the Environment
- CBE 4215 (CBE 5215) - Energy and Sustainability: Science Engineering and Technology
- CBE 5050 – Carbon Capture
- CBE 5430 (EESC 6610) – Sustainable Development and Water Resource Systems
- CBE 5450 – Electrochemical Energy Conversion & Storage
- CBE 5250 – Molecular Modeling and Simulations
- CHEM 1200* - Environmental Chemistry
- EAS 2420 - Energy Education in Philadelphia Schools
- EAS 3010 (EAS 5050) – Climate Policy and Technology
- EAS 4010 (EAS 5010) – Energy and its Impacts: Technology, Ecology, Economics, Sustainability
- EAS 4020 (EAS 5020) – Renewable Energy and its Impacts
- EAS 4030 (EAS 5030) – Energy Systems and Policy
- ENGR 2500 (MEAM 2500) – Energy Systems, Resources and Technology
- ENVS 4336 (EESC 4336 / PHYS 3314) – Ocean-Atmosphere Dynamics and Implications for Future Climate Change
- ENVS 3103 – Penn Global Seminar: Case Studies in Environmental Sustainability
- EESC 2300 - Global Climate Change
- EESC 4400 (EESC 6400) - Biogeochemistry
- EESC 4336 (PHYS 3314 / ENVS 4336) - Ocean-Atmosphere Dynamics and Implications for Future Climate Change
- EESC 6610 (CBE 5430) - Sustainable Development of Water Resource Systems
- ESE 2180 - Electronic, Photonic, and Electromechanical Devices
- ESE 5210 - The Physics of Solid State Energy Devices
- ESE 5800 - Power Electronics
- MEAM 2500 (ENGR 2500) - Energy Systems, Resources and Technology
- MEAM 5020 - Energy Engineering
- MEAM 5030 - Direct Energy Conversion: from Macro to Nano
- MEAM 5040 - Tribiology
- MEAM 5430 - Performance and Design of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
- MEAM 5480 - Wind Physics and Applications
- MEAM 5610 - Thermodynamics: Foundations, Energy, Materials
- MSE 2150 – Introduction to Nanoscale Materials
- MSE 4550 (MSE 5550) - Electrochemical Engineering of Materials
- MSE 5450 – Energy Storage and Technology
- MSE 5610 – Atomistic Modeling in Materials Science
- MSE 7900 - Energy, Water, and Materials for the AI Economy
- OIDD 2630 (BEPP 2630) – Environmental and Energy Economics and Policy
- PHYS 0016* – Energy, Oil and Global Warming
- PHYS 3314 – Ocean-Atmosphere Dynamics and Implications for Future Climate Change
- PSCI 2404 - Climate Change, Energy Security, and Geopolitics: The Case of Taiwan
- PSCI 3150 – Politics, Geopolitics, and China's Role in the World's Renewable Energy Revolution (Satisfies Cross Cultural Analysis Foundational Approach)
Academic Standing
To remain in good standing with the VIPER program, students are required to:
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (multiple incomplete or withdrawal grades will be taken into consideration).
- Make steady progress towards meeting their dual degree requirement.
- Make steady progress towards meeting their research requirements.
Students who do not meet these criteria will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. To regain good standing, students must:
- Regularly meet with the VIPER Managing Director to discuss their academic progress and actively engage with their advisors. These discussions should include reflecting on academic challenges and creating a plan for improvement.
- Adhere to potential restrictions on their maximum course load (CU) and update their 4-year plans accordingly.
- Achieve a minimum GPA of 3.0 during the probationary term.
Students are also encouraged to take advantage of VIPER and Penn resources, such as peer study groups, Student Health and Counseling, the Weingarten Learning Center, and the Tutoring Center to work towards their goals. Students may receive additional communications from the School of Arts and/or Sciences or School of Engineering and Applied Science regarding their academic standing.
Failure to meet the requirements to return to good standing may result in removal from the program. Students who earn an F or multiple Fs may be removed from the program immediately.