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 the 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 instructor

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