Penn Arts & Sciences
The University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences forms the foundation of the scholarly excellence that has established Penn as one of the world's leading research universities. We teach students across all 12 Penn schools, and our academic departments span the reach from anthropology and biology to sociology and South Asian studies.
Members of the Penn Arts & Sciences faculty are leaders in creating new knowledge in their disciplines and are engaged in nearly every area of interdisciplinary innovation. They are regularly recognized with academia's highest honors, including membership in prestigious societies like the National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society, as well as significant prizes such as MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellowships.
The educational experience offered by Penn Arts & Sciences is likewise recognized for its excellence. The School's three educational divisions fulfill different missions, united by a broader commitment to providing our students with an unrivaled education in the liberal arts. The College of Arts and Sciences is the academic home of the majority of Penn undergraduates and provides 60 percent of the courses taken by students in Penn's undergraduate professional schools. The Graduate Division offers doctoral training to over 1,300 candidates in more than 30 graduate programs. And the College of Liberal and Professional Studies provides a range of educational opportunities for lifelong learners and working professionals.
- Behavioral and Decision Sciences Program
- Biological Basis of Behavior Program
- Center for Italian Studies
- Cinema and Media Studies Program
- Classical Studies at Penn
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Department of Anthropology
- Department of Biology
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Criminology
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science
- Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations
Search results
Publication Not Quite White: Exploring Shifts in Classification and Self-Identity Among Racially Ambiguous Groups(2024-05-20) Baghdady, IsabelaWhen Americans hear the terms “race” or “ethnicity,” certain categories come to mind: “White,” “African American,” “Hispanic,” “Asian.” From filling out the Census Race Question to checking off a box on a job application, these racial categorizations shape both public policy and self-identity. While racial categorizations play an important role in American society, there are certain groups whose identities do not fit into these neatly delineated categories, placing them in the ambiguous space between white and nonwhite. This thesis project examines racial categorization through the lens of three racially ambiguous groups, who each test the boundaries of whiteness and occupy a discrete position outside the lines drawn by present-day racial classifications: (1) Portuguese, (2) Lebanese, and (3) South Asian Indian Americans. Through tracking how these three communities have sought to institutionally express their racial identities over time, this project conducts a qualitative case study to consider: why did the Portuguese, Lebanese, and South Asian Indians—three groups who sought legal classification as white in the early twentieth century—move toward distinct racial self-definitions in the contemporary period, and how does this shift impact the boundaries of whiteness in the United States? This paper finds that shifts in racial classification among these three groups are due to a change in the meaning of whiteness between the early twentieth century and the contemporary period. The transition from overt racially discriminatory laws to covert racially discriminatory laws altered the ways in which whiteness is sustained and enforced, ultimately making it a less appealing label among racially ambiguous groups over time. In assessing this project’s broader implications for where America draws the boundaries of whiteness, this paper introduces a model that depicts whiteness as a concentric circle, arguing that whiteness is better understood as a series of degrees or gradations rather than a bounded category.Publication Postpartum Flourishing(2024-08) Jacqueline PelletierThis capstone project describes the mental health of mothers during the perinatal period. It provides a review of disorders that occur during the perinatal period, from conception through 12 months after childbirth, with a particular focus on depression. In addition to focusing on depression, it also describes postpartum flourishing, a term coined by Aurelie Athan (2011). This capstone also describes interventions that can be utilized to decrease depression as well as interventions to increase the mental well-being and flourishing of new mothers during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Investing in the well-being of new mothers and helping new mothers to flourish has the potential to have a positive impact on the well-being of the infant and the well-being of the family.Publication Beyond the Self: Exploring the Link Between Self-Transcendent Psychedelic Experiences and Prosocial Behavior(2024) Corinne KneisPsychedelic-induced self-transcendent experiences (PI-STEs) can enhance prosocial behavior under certain conditions, potentially enriching collective well-being. This exploratory literature review investigates the relationship between PI-STEs and prosocial behavior, analyzing the potential psychological mechanisms that may mediate this connection. By integrating the current bodies of literature on psychedelics and prosocial behavior, we gain insight into the ways that subjective effects occasioned by psychedelics interrelate with prosocial behavior/attitudes. This paper assesses the following categories of psychological mechanisms: cognitive, emotional, social, beliefs, and behavior. The psychological mechanisms with the most empirical support as potential mediators of PI-STE prosocial effects are as follows: mindfulness, self-transcendent positive emotions, affective empathy, and the perception of social connectedness. This review discusses the potential risks involved with psychedelic use (e.g., acute psychological distress, contraindicated comorbidities), emphasizing the importance of ethical and controlled administration under the care of mental health professionals. Additionally, this paper acknowledges the limitations of the current research, including sample representativeness, methodological constraints, and the challenges of adequately measuring these experiences' subjective nature. Future research directions are discussed, emphasizing the need for rigorous standards and interdisciplinary approaches. Ultimately, this paper aims to analyze potential psychological mediators of PI-STE prosocial effects in hopes of illuminating avenues to enhance prosocial behavior and collective well-being.Publication You Are Important, We Need You to Thrive: Exploring Thriving & Well-being in Black Women Lawyers(2024-08-01) Bolaji, JacqueslineWhile the legal profession has the capacity to provide meaningful and engaging work that enables lawyers to thrive, it often falls short of this promise, particularly for Black women lawyers in U.S. law firms. Research indicates that Black women lawyers face numerous barriers to well-being and achieving their potential as valued members of law firms, yet guidance for improvement is limited, often focusing on "women of color" rather than their specific needs. Additionally, positive psychology literature has been criticized for its cultural-blindness and excessive focus on the individual, making it poorly suited to understanding their experiences, which are shaped by culture and systemic barriers. This literature review examines the obstacles and facilitators impacting the thriving of Black women lawyers. It explores the intersection of race, gender, and profession, highlighting systemic barriers, microaggressions, imposter phenomenon, and limited access to professional resources. The review also identifies facilitators that contribute to thriving, including resilience, high-quality connections, psychological safety, racial identity formation, and culturally responsive support systems. By synthesizing existing research, this paper emphasizes the importance of developing inclusive legal environments that acknowledge and address the unique challenges faced by Black women lawyers. This paper will conclude with a discussion that elaborates on its theoretical and practical implications, specifically for positive psychology, and outlines my plan for future work to further develop the science needed to guide strategies to improve Black women lawyers’ thriving in U.S. law firms.Publication Curation of Self & Somatic Self Expression: Personal Style as a Conduit to Well-being.(2024-07-28) Danielle LybrandGetting dressed is a ubiquitous and essential component of being human. Each day, our selection of clothes offers the opportunity for an agentic curation and expression of self. Research indicates how the body’s adornment influences how we feel and experience life. As positive psychology explores what makes life most worth living and seeks to promote well-being actively, the daily act of dressing emerges as a potent way to support this pursuit. Building on the age-old adage, ‘look good, feel good,’ this paper examines how articulating self through personal style aligns with the broaden-and-build theory, self-determination theory, and other positive psychology concepts to enhance well-being and contribute to the good life. This exploration aims to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and practical everyday actions, highlighting how intentional dressing can catalyze individual and collective well-being.Publication Dobbs is Different: Evaluating the Dobbs Decision's Lack of Strategy Compared to Landmark Sexual Privacy Cases(2024-05-20) McAtamney, SiobhanEvidence shows that the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was controversial and contributed to the Court’s weakening legitimacy in the eyes of the American public. To better understand how Dobbs was truly different from other sexual privacy cases, we can look at how other landmark sexual privacy cases were decided, primarily the context of the decisions but also the decision itself. To evaluate decisions in a more organized manner, scholars of Court decision-making often turn to “models” that propose general suggestions on what the Court’s justices are primarily considering as they make their decision. I posit that the narrow and integrative strategic models, as advanced by Epstein and Knight, are a satisfactory way of explaining the landmark sexual privacy cases before Dobbs, namely Roe v. Wade (1973), Bowers v. Hardwick (1986), and Lawrence v. Texas (2003). After a thorough examination of the literature and outline of the strategic models, I will evaluate each case to identify how the decision was made strategically. I will then examine the context of the Dobbs decision and text of the majority opinion to highlight how in contrast to prior cases, Dobbs cannot be explained by the strategic models. Specifically, I will show that the Dobbs decision showed little to no consideration of the other branches of government, the Court’s legitimacy in the eyes of the public, and for the majority public opinion on abortion. This is a significant finding because it illustrates how the prevailing methods of analyzing and understanding the Court’s decisions might be inadequate for the current Court, since the models suggest the context of the Dobbs decision would lead to a decision contrary to the one the Court made.Publication Waste and Scope 3 Emissions: Assessment of Value Chain Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U.S. Solid Waste and Resource Recovery Industry(2025) Higa, EricaIn calendar year 2022, five of the 45 largest waste companies in the United States (“US”) contributed over 106 billion pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, as the global climate crisis nears irreversible tipping points, society at large must reduce anthropogenic, or human-caused, GHG emissions by 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach a net-zero emission rate by 2050. Achieving these reductions requires standard measurement and reporting methodologies. As of 2023, most US solid waste and resource recovery companies accurately and transparently report Scope 1 (direct and controllable) and Scope 2 (indirect from purchased utilities) emissions. However, only five of the 45 largest waste companies in the US reported on Scope 3, or indirect value chain emissions, in the 2023 reporting cycle. This report presents a comprehensive analysis of 2023 waste industry reporting and identifies areas of (dis)consensus regarding material emission sources. As of said reporting, Scope 1 accounts for on average 87 percent of companies’ combined Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, while Scope 3 accounts on average for 12 percent. Thus, it is recommended that waste companies immediately prioritize Scope 1 emission reductions, while simultaneously implementing Scope 3 monitoring programs that focus on the industry’s material Scope 3 sources: purchased goods and assets, fuel-related lifecycle emissions, and third-party transportation services. By accounting for Scope 3 alongside Scope 1 and 2 emissions, companies will be poised to meet and exceed sustainability goals and explore new business development opportunities while maintaining resiliency against climate, financial, and legal risk. Deeper emissions literacy among sustainability professionals and leadership will be key to redesigning a more efficient global value chain. Ultimately, a collaborative business sector will play a major role in solving the 21st Century’s most pressing issue: the global climate crisis.Publication Positive Leadership at CHRIS 180: Leveraging Positive Psychology to Weather Uncertain Times(2024-05-06) Uman Borrero, Gaia; Diamond, Shea; Emambakhsh, Sahar; Gott, NielsThis project examines the integration of positive psychology into leadership development at CHRIS 180, a non-profit organization providing trauma-informed care. CHRIS 180 has undergone significant growth, necessitating a leadership approach that aligns with its core values of creativity, honor, respect, integrity, and safety. The intervention employs the PERMA model, which emphasizes positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment, to enhance the leadership capabilities within the organization. Results from the implementation suggest that positive psychology can significantly improve leadership development, leading to a more resilient and effective organizational culture. The implications of this work are profound, indicating that positive psychology interventions can be instrumental for organizations in managing rapid growth and mitigating the risks of burnout and compassion fatigue. This approach could serve as a model for similar organizations aiming to foster a supportive and thriving environment amidst challenging circumstances. Keywords: positive psychology, leadership development, trauma-informed care, PERMA, organizational growth, compassion fatigue, character strengths, communication strategies, crisis management, wraparound services, psychological safety, matteringPublication How the United States Killed Its Cities: An Analysis of Urban Transportation and Segregation in Philadelphia(2022-05-16) Coleman, LukeWhy, in the United States, do we see such dramatic racial sorting across metropolitan areas? More than 50 years removed from the Civil Rights Movement which altered American social life, why is urban residential segregation still a dominant feature in the United States? The scholarly literature has yet to come to a consensus. There are two broad and well-researched areas of social science that attempt to uncover why neighborhoods in American cities are so racially homogenous. One espouses the belief that racial groups prefer to live near each other. The other upholds the idea that the American government squandered the wealth of communities of color and made it impossible for them to integrate with white people. A burgeoning area of research involves a combination of these two fields: racial groups may frequently prefer to live near each other, but even if they did not, American private and public institutions have made wealth building and residential mobility incredibly difficult for communities of color. This project seeks to supplement this flourishing literature on the American government’s role in fomenting racial segregation by analyzing an often overlooked public good—public transit. To do so, this project uses Philadelphia as a case study, examining how the legacy of redlining continues to impact citizens and how effective, equitable public transit has the capacity to reduce the harmful effects of this legacy, but often fails to do so. This project employs a mixed-methods approach. I use interviews and participant-observation, in pursuit of a community-based comprehension of this policy failure, to understand Philadelphians’ relationship with public transit. Targets of this research are primarily areas simultaneously experiencing lower incomes and limited access to transit relative to the rest of the city. I conclude that Philadelphia’s transit agency, SEPTA, is not sufficiently effective in counteracting the effects of segregation on wealth-building for low-income communities and communities of color.Publication How Physicists Get Started Thinking About New Phenomena(2024-07-26) Nelson, Philip C.Main ideas of dimensional reasoning are outlined starting with high-school physics and arriving at Planck's universal units.