A coordinated dual degree
A BA in a life science major from the College and a Wharton degree, completed in four years.
Undergraduate · Penn
Penn's Life Sciences and Management Program: science and business in four years
Penn's Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management (LSM) is a coordinated dual degree combining a life science major in the College of Arts and Sciences with a Wharton degree. Penn Admissions lists it as a specialised program applied for in the first-year application with one additional essay, and the program's own pages name A-level and IB Higher Level courses as ideal preparation. For an A-level or IB applicant, the decision is whether the combination of laboratory science and management fits, and whether to apply as a first-year or consider an internal transfer. This guide claims nothing about odds.
Official information · read 31 October 2026, no entry-year label
What Penn says about Penn Life Sciences and Management
Taken from Penn Admissions' Four Schools, Specialized Degree Programs, International Applicants and Testing pages and the LSM program's own pages, read on 31 October 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Penn's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Apply at first-year admission, or transfer in
Penn says students may apply through the first-year application or as internal transfers, space permitting; one additional essay is required.
A-level and IB Higher Level named
LSM says AP, IB Higher Level and A-level courses are ideal where available, and that they can help students place out of introductory courses.
Business experience not required
LSM says business experience is neither expected nor required.
The SAT or ACT is required
Penn's testing page says applicants are required to submit scores, with a waiver for hardship.
Official sources
- Penn Admissions: The Four Schoolsadmissions.upenn.edu
- Penn Admissions: Specialized Degree Programsadmissions.upenn.edu
- Penn LSM Program: Home and Preparing for LSMlsm.upenn.edu
- Penn Admissions: International Applicantsadmissions.upenn.edu
- Penn Admissions: Testingadmissions.upenn.edu
Read on 31 October 2026 on Penn Admissions' Four Schools, Specialized Degree Programs, International Applicants and Testing pages and the LSM program's own pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Penn's LSM curriculum pages, the application essay prompt, the transfer page, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The programme
What Penn and LSM say it is
Penn Admissions describes LSM as a BA in a life science major from the College plus a BS in Economics from Wharton; the program's own page describes the second degree as a BSE in management through Wharton. The two pages word the Wharton degree differently, so check the current wording before relying on either. LSM's watchword is learning by doing, and its pages emphasise research or healthcare experience in extracurriculars, with business experience neither expected nor required. This guide did not read the curriculum pages.
Is it the right route?
LSM, a life science major or Wharton
Penn describes each as a separate route. Avandy's comparison is general.
LSM fits if
you want a life science major and management together, and are prepared for a demanding combined curriculum.
The College alone fits if
you want a life science major without the second degree. Avandy's Penn College guide covers it.
Wharton fits if
your focus is business. Avandy's Penn Wharton guide covers it.
Admission and testing
SAT or ACT, predicted scores and A-level or IB Higher Level named
Penn's testing page says applicants are required to submit SAT or ACT scores, with a waiver for hardship. Penn says it has no explicit course requirements or minimum test score requirements, and accepts predicted scores when final results are not yet available. LSM names A-level and IB Higher Level courses as ideal preparation in rigorous science and math. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Penn's.
Do you want laboratory science and management together?
The two degrees come from different schools.
Are your science and math courses as rigorous as your school allows?
LSM says that is what it encourages.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT with your A levels or IB?
Penn requires one of them, with a hardship waiver.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Penn's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Penn's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 31 October 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Penn has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Penn for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the LSM preparation page and plan the SAT or ACT.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with the University of Pennsylvania. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
How do I apply to LSM?
Penn says students may apply through the first-year application or as internal transfers, space permitting; one additional essay is required for the first-year application.
Does LSM mention A levels or the IB?
Yes. It names AP, IB Higher Level and A-level courses as ideal preparation where available.
Do I need business experience?
LSM says business experience is neither expected nor required.
Which degrees does LSM award?
A BA in a life science major from the College plus a Wharton degree; Penn Admissions and the LSM site word the Wharton degree differently, so check the current wording.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Penn's testing page says applicants are required to submit scores, with a waiver for hardship.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Penn's wording with no entry-year label. Check Penn's pages again when Penn publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Penn Life Sciences and Management
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their science and mathematics, their interest in management and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.