Please click the headings below to read the frequently asked questions (FAQ) in each section or click the "Expand All" button on the right to expand all sections.
The VIPER program immerses students in energy research from the start of their undergraduate journey, providing opportunities to perform graduate-level work during their studies as undergraduates. Upon completing the program, students earn two degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA). VIPER’s mission is to cultivate the next generation of leaders and innovators dedicated to addressing global challenges in energy science. The program offers personalized advising, with faculty and staff meeting one-on-one with each student, fostering strong cohort bonds as students collaborate, study, and engage in research starting from their first year at Penn!
Each year, VIPER admits 25 to 30 students. Class sizes for the VIPR 1200 and VIPR 1210 seminars vary based on the incoming cohort, while other Penn classes range from intimate seminars (10–20 students) to large lecture courses (up to 200 students). Class size details are available through Path@Penn during course registration.
Prospective students most commonly join VIPER through the Penn undergraduate admissions process. High school seniors can express their preference for VIPER when applying to Penn, submitting their application via the Early Decision (ED) or Regular Decision (RD) timelines. Applicants are also asked to indicate a secondary program choice, with the option to specify whether their second choice should remain under the binding Early Decision agreement.
The application can be found here.
First-year Penn students may also apply to VIPER via internal transfer. The deadline for transfer applications is by the end of the Fall semester of their first year.
Your decision to apply Early Decision (ED) or Regular Decision (RD) will depend on several factors, including how you feel about your different college options and if you feel you have a clear number one choice. Students who apply and get accepted ED make a binding agreement to attend that school, so they are confident that they want to attend that school. VIPER reviews applications on the same timelines for ED / RD as all other Penn applicants, and you can see the statistics for the Applicant Pool and Admitted Class of 2023 for all Penn students, including information on RD and ED applications.
Some additional things to note:
- Students not accepted into VIPER but listing a second-choice program (e.g., a single-degree Engineering major) will still be considered for that program.
- Students not admitted to VIPER during the initial application process may later apply as first-year undergraduates via internal transfer.
When applying to Penn, students will be asked to indicate a primary and secondary school or program choice. The application includes the question: “If we are unable to admit you as an Early Decision (ED) candidate to your primary program of choice, do you wish to be considered under the binding Early Decision agreement for your secondary school/program choice?” Applicants can respond with "Yes" or "No."
For example, if a student selects "No," they are applying to VIPER under the ED agreement only. If they are not admitted to VIPER, their application for their second-choice program will be considered during the Regular Decision (RD) cycle.
Enrolling in VIPER does not double tuition costs compared to enrolling in a single school at Penn. Student Registration and Financial Services (SFRS) provides cost-of-attendance overviews, and tools are available to estimate personal costs. However, the tools for estimating cost are only approximations, and Penn would only be able to provide a fully accurate assessment after students are admitted.
VIPER is a rigorous academic program that integrates courses needed to earn both science and engineering degrees. For the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) degree, students follow a liberal arts approach. In addition to classes for their chosen major, students explore a wide breadth of classes for their general education requirements, from foreign language to society to cross-cultural analysis. For the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) degree, students take engineering classes in addition to technical electives, social sciences and humanities classes, and classes in which students work on senior design engineering projects. To get a better sense of the VIPER curriculum, you can explore the sample schedules and VIPER curriculum overview.
It is important to note that, while a dual degree does require careful planning, it doesn’t necessarily mean double the workload. Many courses count toward both SAS and SEAS requirements, though students have slightly less flexibility with electives due to the dual-degree structure. Early and thoughtful planning is essential in VIPER, and each student's academic plan will depend on their individual interest and choices. It is possible to pursue accelerated master’s degrees, minors, study abroad opportunities, or summer internships, but in some cases may require additional time to complete the program. External credits, such as AP or IB credits, can help ease the workload significantly.
Yes, VIPER is a specific program at Penn, and as such, VIPER students have all of the resources available to all Penn students and take classes with other students at Penn. The only VIPER-specific courses are VIPR 1200 and VIPR 1210. Otherwise, as students advance in their curriculum, they will be taking more classes with other students in their majors.
There are two courses specific to the VIPER program, VIPR 1200 and VIPR 1210, taken in the spring of the freshman year and fall of the sophomore year, respectively. These courses provide an introduction to doing scientific and engineering research. VIPER classes (or cohorts) take these classes together. They complete many other courses together as well, collaborate on projects, and work together inside and outside of class. They study together in the VIPER student lounge and have a shared experience in the program that fosters teamwork, support, and camaraderie.
A typical first-semester schedule for VIPER students includes the following:
- A math course (e.g., Calculus I, II, or III)
- A chemistry course (e.g., General Chemistry I or Honors Chemistry)
- A chemistry lab (e.g., General Chemistry Lab)
- A physics course (e.g., Principles of Physics I or Honors Physics)
- An introduction to their chosen engineering major
- A writing seminar
VIPER students receive additional curriculum guidance and consult with faculty and staff during the summer before starting at Penn. For an overview of the VIPER curriculum, click here.
All VIPER students collaborate with the program’s leadership team to find a research mentor on campus during their first year, as part of the VIPR 1200 spring course. To support summer research at Penn, VIPER provides a generous housing stipend, supplemental research funding (available upon request from faculty advisors), and additional financial support for conference-related travel.
For a general overview of VIPER research opportunities and the seminar series designed as a gateway to research, click here. For more details about summer research at Penn, click here. Students can also arrange additional paid internships through CURF and other Penn resources, with VIPER providing guidance throughout the process.
Penn’s campus is home to a diverse faculty conducting research in areas relevant to the science and technology of energy. Students are encouraged to explore research opportunities in departments such as Mechanical Engineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, Biology, Biophysics, Earth and Environmental Science, and Bioengineering.
To identify potential research mentors, students can start by exploring faculty profiles and research areas on the websites of the relevant departments. Many faculty members list their current projects, recent publications, and areas of expertise online, providing a starting point for understanding their work. Additionally, students are encouraged to attend departmental seminars, workshops, and networking events to learn more about ongoing research and to connect directly with faculty members. The VIPER leadership team is also available to provide guidance and recommendations tailored to students’ research interests and goals.
While Penn currently looks quite different due to COVID-19 and is operating virtually, field trips will be planned once it is safe to do so. Past field trips have included visiting power plants, solar fields and wind turbine manufacturing plants in the Fairless Hills; a hike in the Wissahickon Valley; and a trip to the Chemical Heritage Foundation and Reading Terminal.
VIPER graduates have gone to a wide range of opportunities after Penn. Many alumni are currently pursuing Ph.D. programs at Universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, and MIT. Several alumni are pursuing their Master's degrees at Penn and the University of Cambridge. Many alumni leverage their technical expertise as engineers or research scientists in industry and several alumni who have started their careers in entrepreneurship by founding their own ventures. Several VIPER alumni have used their knowledge in energy science to go into energy consulting. Additionally, we also have alumni in the fields of medicine, law, and finance – the possibilities are endless!
VIPER is a relatively new program and our first VIPER class graduated in 2016. As such, we are in the beginning stages of building our VIPER alumni association this year! This initiative is being spearheaded by members of our driven and committed VIPER alumni, and we're excited to see what the future will bring!
We are happy to talk to you about the program! For any questions about VIPER, please contact us at contact-viper@sas.upenn.edu.
We love meeting prospective students, so if you are interested in applying to the program, please reach out to us at contact-viper@sas.upenn.edu to schedule a one-on-one meeting with the Managing Director, Dr. Michelle Hutchings. Additionally, if you're interested in meeting with one of our Faculty Co-Directors, Professor Andrew Rappe or Professor John Vohs, please let us know.
You are welcome to join our VIPER Information Sessions where you will be able to learn more about the overview of the program as well as hear from the perspectives of current students. To see all upcoming scheduled events and to register, please click here. We hope to see you there!