Humanities Courses

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.

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

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

Lead with stories that clarify, align, and inspire action.

Build a foundational understanding of AI concepts with this course from Harvard Business School (HBS) Online.

Explore acts of storytelling in Shakespeare’s Othello alongside world-class artists who interpret Othello’s story in new forms and contexts today.

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

Gain a foundational knowledge of American constitutional democracy while crafting your own civic voice and identity.

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

Learn how businesses thrive and grow while simultaneously solving some of the world's biggest challenges in this course from Harvard Business School (HBS) Online.

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

Explore the ethical controversies of financial markets.

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

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

Learn about the key beliefs and practices of Judaism through an examination of its sacred texts and their interpretation.

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

Prepare your student for college-level writing now.

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

Led by Harvard Instructors and historians, you will discover China’s return to power through political, social, and economic growth in relation to other countries.

Discover Handel’s Messiah in this installment of First Nights, which will explore five masterpieces of western music.

Join the first Harvard University–affiliated continuing education course in sports cardiology and gain practical, case-based insights that empower you to deliver evidence-driven care to athletes and active individuals across every level of performance.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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