Courses

Explore the ethical controversies of financial markets.

Learn about the Qin and Han dynasties, and how Buddhism and ideas of self-realization influenced the medieval period.

Learn how to better understand the rich and complex ways that religions function in historic and contemporary contexts.

Learn about the rich diversity of Hindu sacred texts – hymns, narratives, philosophical thought – and their interpretations.

An overview of modern Chinese history, including the fall of the Qing and the end of imperial China.

Explore the reunification of China under the Tang with a focus on aristocratic culture — from poetry to calligraphy to literature.

Use the case study method to study China from the rise of Deng Xiaoping to the present.

Learn about the forces in American politics that seek to influence the electorate and shift the political landscape.

Learn how the Manchus conquered the Qing and established the last of the imperial dynasties.

An overview of divination systems, ranging from ancient Chinese bone burning to modern astrology.

Explore the impact of the conquest dynasties and the world of the Ming.

Embark on a global journey to explore the past, present, and future of world literature.

Explore the birth of modern China with a focus on the time between the fall of the Qing and the end of World War II.

Examine how great modern writers capture the intricacies of our globalized world and how their works circulate within that world to find their own audiences.

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

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

Reimagine global health problems with some of the leading global health thinkers and actors through a case-based biosocial framework.

Gain critical communication skills in writing and public speaking with this introduction to American political rhetoric.

An exploration of the haunting figure at the heart of one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays.

Combine literary research with data science to find answers in unexpected ways. Learn basic coding tools to help save time and draw insights from thousands of digital documents at once.

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

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

Explore China’s imperial period, with a focus on the Song dynasty and the role of the exam system in government.

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.

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 how early American politics informed the U.S. Constitution and why its promise of liberty and equality has yet to be fully realized.

Learn about China’s origins, its integral early thinkers, and competing states and schools of thought.

Learn about Beethoven’s monumental 9th Symphony and forms of orchestral music.

Learn about Claudio Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, one of the first operas ever written.

Explore what makes cities energizing, amazing, challenging, and perhaps humanity’s greatest invention.