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History students

Undergraduate Minor inHistory

Summary Courses Careers Costs and Aid

Study past events and interpret historical documents to provide context for developing solutions to present-day problems. This program can help students develop skills that can enhance a wide range of majors.

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.

History is the study of the past through the interpretation and analysis of written documents. Knowledge of the vast range of human accomplishments, capabilities, and events helps students better situate themselves and provide an educated response to the vast social, political, and cultural changes and movements at work in the modern world. At the same time, the practice of history develops valuable skills, such as critical reading and thinking, applied research and information gathering, and professional writing and the effective communication of ideas, all of which are vital assets for virtually any major field. Adding a history minor to your undergraduate degree is an excellent way to expand your skill set, regardless of your career aspirations, while complementing your main course of study.

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

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.

Penn State's history minor currently provides a wide range of instruction on topics such as early American history, including the American Revolution and the Civil War, as well as more focused courses on 19th-century Europe, World War II, and the modern United States.

At least 6 credits must be at the 400 level.

  • 3
    credits

    An historical survey of the American experience from its colonial beginnings through the Civil War and Reconstruction.

  • 3
    credits

    An historical survey of the American experience from the emergence of urban-industrial society in the late nineteenth century to the present.

  • 3
    credits

    History of the Roman Republic and Empire from the origins of Rome to the disintegration of the Empire.

  • 3
    credits

    Political, social, and ideological developments; origin and impact of two World Wars; totalitarianism and democracy; changing role in the world.

  • 3
    credits

    Survey of the causes and consequences of America's deadliest conflict, the Civil War, from the end of the U.S.-Mexican War in 1848 through the end of Reconstruction in 1877.

  • 3
    credits

    In-depth study of the origins and conduct of World War II. Political and economic aspects as well as military.

  • 3
    credits

    Origins of Islamic civilization; expansion of Islam; the Ottoman Empire; the Middle East since 1918.

  • 3
    credits

    Involves a thematic or topical investigation with an emphasis on historical criticism and analysis; students will pursue the study of one historical topic in detail in this writing intensive course.

    • Prerequisite

      4th semester standing

  • 3
    credits

    In-depth study of the history of the Holocaust in Europe that puts special emphasis on primary sources.

  • 3
    credits

    Contemporary economic, social, and political aspects of the United States and its role as a world power since 1945.

  • 3
    credits

    The history of the ways Americans have used and thought about the environment since 1500.

    • 3
      credits

      A study of selected problems in the history of work in the United States, especially since 1877.

    • 3
      credits

      A study of selected problems in the history of work in the United States, especially since 1877.

  • 3
    credits

    A selective overview of the history of imperialism and nationalism in Africa.

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
    • ensure that your 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 History, offered in partnership with the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts, please contact:

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