In addition to completion of the College's Language Requirement, students may choose a major or minor in a language and literature department or program, or they may choose to pursue a language certificate. The language certificate is intended to provide an additional incentive for students who may want to continue language study beyond the requirement, but who may not be able to include a language major or minor in their academic program.

Policies Governing the Language Certificate

For a list of less commonly taught languages, see the list on the Penn Language Center's website.

The Creative Writing Program offers workshops in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, journalistic writing, screenwriting and playwriting. It also offers minors in Creative Writing and Journalistic Writing; publishes a literary journal highlighting the work of students, faculty and eminent alumni writers; and provides qualified English majors the opportunity to earn honors in English by submitting a creative thesis. Throughout the year, the program invites visiting writers to Penn for readings and talks and sponsors a University-wide writing contest each spring.

Kelly Writers House is a historic house on Penn's campus that serves as a center for writers from Penn and the Philadelphia region at large. Each semester the Writers House hosts approximately 150 public programs and projects: poetry readings, film screenings, seminars, art exhibits and musical performances. Each week about 500 people work, write and collaborate in its many rooms and in the "Arts Cafe." Writers House also has a strong virtual presence through live interactive webcasts and dozens of listservs, web magazines and email discussion groups.

Critical writing seminars are small, innovative, discipline- and genre-based courses organized around a specific scholarly inquiry. These seminars focus on helping students improve their writing skills and each student is required to take one.

Policies Governing the Writing Requirement