English for Career Development, an online course available since 2016, was created by Penn’s English Language Programs (ELP) with a grant provided by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs. The course was designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in advancing their careers in the global marketplace and helps participants strengthen their English language skills and vocabulary. On Monday, August 31, English for Career Development surpassed 1 million learners on the Coursera platform.
As Penn’s most popular Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), English for Career Development boasts higher than average course ratings and over 7,000 reviews from around the globe.
It was ranked as the seventh most popular course on Coursera in 2019, remaining among the top 10 most popular courses in the world for the third year in a row. Students learn about the job search, application, and interview process in the United States while comparing and contrasting the same process in their home country. The course includes readings, videos, quizzes, and peer-reviewed written submissions.
Penn’s English Language Programs was established in the 1960s and offers courses in English as a Second Language and dynamic cultural experiences. Now, many of their most successful courses are available online, including five, sponsored by the Department of State: English for Career Development, English for Business and Entrepreneurship, English for Journalism, English for Media Literacy, and English for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The ELP supports the University of Pennsylvania’s Compact 2022 by providing inclusive, practical, and educational English learning opportunities.
Read more about English for Career Development and the grant that helped launch other English-learning Coursera MOOCs on the ELP website.
