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Letters Arts and Sciences student

Undergraduate Minor inEnglish

Summary Courses Careers Costs and Aid

Explore the ways that studying literature can provide insights into human behavior while also encouraging a deeper understanding of diverse cultural values with the course work offered through this online minor.

100% Online

Complete your Penn State course work at your own pace and 100% online.

18 Credits$632/$678 per credit

Enhance Your Penn State Degree

Add a minor to get even more value out of your education.

To be successful in fields like business and industry, government and education, or engineering and science & technology, you must be able to communicate effectively. The English minor courses offered online through Penn State World Campus give you the opportunity to explore writing and literature in order to become a more practiced and eloquent communicator. You may select any combination of writing and/or literature courses that are relevant to your personal interests and professional goals.

The study of literature can provide insights into human behavior as well as useful perspectives on diverse cultural values. Writing requires logical thinking to formulate a point of view and find the most precise and appealing way to present it.

You may select any combination of writing and/or literature courses that are relevant to your personal interests and professional goals. To complete this minor, you must complete 18 approved credits with a grade of C or better. You may not count courses used to satisfy the General Education Writing/Speaking requirement toward this minor.

Select courses from the following options, to be taken during your third through eighth semesters:

  • 6 credits from ENGL 200–299
  • 6 credits from ENGL 400–499
  • 6 additional credits in English

Offered in collaboration with the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts, this minor is open to all Penn State World Campus undergraduate students who meet the prerequisites.

Recommended Courses (18 credits)

This sample course list would fulfill the requirements for the minor.

  • 3
    credits

    Practice and criticism in the reading, analysis, and composition of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry writing.

  • 3
    credits

    Literature(s) of fantasy from early forms through a variety of contemporary traditions.

  • 3
    credits

    Written exercises in, and a study of, the principles of article writing; practice in the writing of specific articles.

    • Prerequisite

      ENGL 015 or ENGL 030

    • 3
      credits

      Learn about the dominant themes in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies, with an emphasis on both literary and cultural studies. This course explores the history of modern, Western ideas about sexual identity as manifested in literature, theatre, film, and other narrative forms of popular culture.

    • 3
      credits

      Learn about the dominant themes in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies, with an emphasis on both literary and cultural studies. This course explores the history of modern, Western ideas about sexual identity as manifested in literature, theatre, film, and other narrative forms of popular culture.

  • 3
    credits

    Preparing and editing professional papers for subject specialists and for others interested in careers as writers or editors.

  • 3
    credits

    A successful grant writer achieves confidence with hands-on practice, mastering the underlying principles of effective research and outreach; feasible and complete content-generation; and the writing of precise, clear, audience-centered prose.

    • Prerequisite

      ENGL 15 or ENGL 30 or (ENGL 137, ENGL 138) and (ENGL 202a or ENGL 202b or ENGL 202c or ENGL 202d)

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.

Learn about this program's tuition, fees, scholarship opportunities, grants, payment options, and military benefits.

Undergraduate Tuition

Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State.

Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2024–25 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 semesters.
How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$632 per credit$678 per credit
12–19$7,678 per semester$8,288 per semester

2025–26 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026 semesters.
How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$638 per credit$685 per credit
12–19$7,755 per semester$8,371 per semester

Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19. 

Financial Aid and Military Benefits

Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Federal financial aid may only be used to pay for credits used to satisfy program requirements.

Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.

Additional Cost of Attendance Details

To view the detailed list of cost of attendance elements:

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Convenient Online Format

This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule. You can skip the lengthy commute without sacrificing the quality of your education and prepare yourself for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving your home.

A Trusted Leader in Online Education

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Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades. Our online learning environment offers the same quality education that our students experience on campus.

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You must be a current student and meet specific requirements to apply for a minor.

Application Instructions

Steps to Apply

  1. To be eligible for admittance into this minor, you must:

    • be a current Penn State undergraduate student in your fifth semester and be in a bachelor's degree major
    • maintain a grade of C or better in all courses for the minor
    • confirm that you do not have a matching minor code and major code

  2. Talk with your academic adviser about incorporating the minor into your major and to develop a semester-by-semester plan for meeting requirements. You should add the minor as early as possible, but you can apply up to the late drop deadline of your graduating semester.

  3. Add the minor in LionPATH

    You will receive a confirmation email once you declare the minor in LionPATH.

Admissions Help

Please work with your adviser if you have questions about adding a minor. You can find your adviser's contact information in your student portal or by calling advising at 814-863-3283.

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Have questions or want more information? We're happy to talk.

To learn more about the Minor in English, please contact:

World Campus Advising
Phone: 814-863-3283
[email protected]