Humanities Courses

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

Gain an understanding of history, museum studies, and curation by looking at, organizing, and interpreting art, artifacts, scientific curiosities, and the stuff of everyday life.

Why should we care about Confucius? Explore ancient Chinese philosophy, ethics, and political theory to challenge your assumptions of what it means to be happy, live a meaningful life, and change the world.

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

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

Power and Influence for Positive Impact, a Harvard Business School (HBS) Online course, helps individuals develop their own power to gain influence and make an impact.

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

Build a viable, valuable tech venture that can profitably scale in this course from Harvard Business School (HBS) Online.

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

Explore the ethical controversies of financial markets.

Learn how American women created, confronted, and embraced change in the 20th century while exploring ten objects from Radcliffe’s Schlesinger Library.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

This course examines the Sikh scripture from a doctrinal and historical perspective by providing an overview of Sikh teachings as well as the historical context within which the scripture evolved and became canonized.

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.

Develop skills in digital research and visualization techniques across subjects and fields within the humanities.

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

Join Harvard faculty in this online course to discover the physical history of the Jewish bible.

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

Learn how global warming impacts human health, and the ways we can diminish those impacts.

Learn about the rich and diverse beliefs and practices of Buddhists across time and place. Experience Buddhism through its scriptures, both relationally as well as academically.

Explore the fundamental principles that guide ethical decision-making within health care environments: patient autonomy, the obligation to do good, the obligation to avoid harm, and justice.

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