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Undergraduate Minor inEconomics

Summary Courses Careers Costs and Aid

Gain confidence in your ability to approach economic problems logically and explain their solutions clearly. The course work for this 18-credit online minor emphasizes analytical and critical thinking.

100% Online

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

18 Credits$632/$678 per credit

Gain Specialized Knowledge

Earning a minor enables you to complement your major, pursue a personal interest, or explore a different field of study.

An economics minor can provide you with skills that are highly valued by many employers, including analytical and critical thinking. The study of economics can teach you to approach problems logically and explain your solutions. The economics minor will introduce you to methods of economic analysis, economic models, and basic statistical concepts.

The knowledge and skills that you gain can prepare you to work in a variety of fields, including but not limited to business, financial institutions, government, and national and international nonprofit organizations.

In this program, you will have the opportunity to study with highly regarded faculty from Penn State's College of the Liberal Arts, one of the premier institutions in the world to study and work in the liberal arts disciplines.

The 18-credit economics minor is composed of four required economics courses. You must also take a minimum of two additional 400-level ECON courses to complete the requirements for the minor. A grade of C or better is required in all courses that you take to fulfill requirements for the minor.

Convenient and Flexible

Each course is taught using a blend of web technology, print, and other media to maximize flexibility while maintaining teacher and student interaction. As a Penn State World Campus student, you have the opportunity to learn when and where it's most convenient for you.

Prescribed Courses (12 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    Methods of economic analysis and their use; price determination; theory of the firm; distribution.

  • 3
    credits

    National income measurement; aggregate economic models; money and income; policy problems.

  • 3
    credits

    Allocation of resources and distribution of income within various market structures, with emphasis on analytical tools.

    • Prerequisite

      ECON 102

  • 3
    credits

    Analysis of forces that determine the level of aggregate economic activity.

    • Prerequisite

      ECON 104

Supporting Courses and Related Areas (select 6 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    Development and application of the tools for decision making under uncertainty and for game theoretic analysis of economic problems.

  • 3
    credits

    Analytic and policy aspects of public expenditure decisions; applications from areas of contemporary public interest.

    • Prerequisite

      ECON 302 or ECON 323

  • 3
    credits

    Environmental pollution, the market economy, and optimal resource allocation; alternative control procedures; levels of environmental protection and public policy.

  • 3
    credits

    Causes/consequences of trade; effects of tariffs and quotas; strategic trade policy; political economy of trade restrictions and other topics.

  • 3
    credits

    Trade balance movements, exchange rate determination; monetary and fiscal policies in open economies; international policy coordination; the world monetary system.

    • Prerequisite

      ECON 304 or ECON 333

  • 3
    credits

    Problems of capital formation, institutional considerations, theories of economic growth.

    • Prerequisite

      ECON 302 or ECON 304 or ECON 372

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:

Upcoming Events

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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 the minor code and major code do not match

  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 Economics, offered in partnership with the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts, please contact:

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

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