Course Numbering System

Courses offered through Penn Engineering are numbered according to the following system. Note that many 5000 level courses are available for undergraduates. Some require approval of the advisor and the course instructor.

4000 level and below – Undergraduate credit only

5000 level -Master’s and UG credit; PhD credit unless otherwise specified, Seniors can register w/o
permit unless otherwise specified.

6000 level – Masters and Ph.D. credit, Undergraduate credit with permission by instructor

7000 level – Seminar courses for Ph.D. students, Undergraduate and Masters credit with permission by iinstructor

8000 level – Special topics courses for Ph.D. students, Undergraduate and Masters credit with permission by instructor

5970 – Master’s Thesis (two to three units of research w/thesis)

5990 – Master’s Independent Study

8990 – Independent study for Ph.D. credit

9950 -PhD Dissertation (Registration after proposal approved)

9990 – PhD Dissertation Research