Free Courses

Examine how cultures of the ancient world defined themselves through literature and how their vision of literature contributes to our understanding of civilization, culture, and literature today.

Learn what is involved in using data wisely to build a culture of collaborative inquiry. 

Explore the ethical controversies of financial markets.

An in-depth look at the 1854 London cholera epidemic in Soho and its importance for the field of epidemiology.

Learn how to create, read, update, and delete data with relational databases.

An introduction to the study of bioethics and the application of legal and ethical reasoning.

A human-centered approach to the fundamentals of cell biology with a focus on the power plants of the cell - mitochondria.

Learn to process and convert raw data into formats needed for analysis.  

Top chefs and Harvard researchers explore how traditional and modernist cooking techniques can illuminate basic principles in chemistry, physics, and engineering. Learn about elasticity, viscosity, mayonnaise, baking, and more!

This introduction to moral and political philosophy is one of the most popular courses taught at Harvard College.

Examine best practices in child and family policies, advocacy, financing, and pathways to scale.

Learn the fascinating history of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, one of the most challenging and rewarding ballets ever written.

Explore the underlying structures of everyday arguments and develop the tools to communicate effectively.

Explore the Maoist period of China, from the Communist Party to the death of Mao and the reopening of China.

Increase your quantitative reasoning skills through a deeper understanding of probability and statistics, with the engaging “Fat Chance” approach that’s made this course a favorite among learners worldwide.

Perform RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq, and DNA methylation data analyses, using open source software, including R and Bioconductor.

Take your introductory knowledge of Python programming to the next level and learn how to use Python 3 for your research.

Learn the skills and tools of improvement science to make positive changes in health, healthcare, and your daily life.

This introduction to biochemistry explores the molecules of life, starting at simple building blocks and culminating in complex metabolism.

Learn how to face and meet today’s challenges and design a public value proposition that is both actionable and value creating.

Learn how to protect children from violence, exploitation, and neglect through law, policy, and practice in a human rights framework.

Learn how electricity makes the neurons in your brain tick.

Access to healthcare services is critical – but is it enough?

A quantitative introduction to the energy system and its environmental impacts.

Happiness is within your control. Write your own ending.

Learn to deliver high-quality primary health care at scale through national community health worker programs.

Explore the archaeology, history, art, and hieroglyphs surrounding the famous Egyptian Pyramids at Giza. Learn about Old Kingdom pharaohs and elites, tombs, temples, the Sphinx, and how new technology is unlocking their secrets.

Learn to forecast the weather just by looking out your window.

Learn about the Quran, the central sacred text of Islam, through an exploration of the rich diversity of roles and interpretations in Muslim societies.

Expand your learning of chemistry and thermodynamics by exploring entropy, free energy, and equilibrium.