Free Humanities Courses

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

Learn about Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, an iconic Romantic symphony that ushered in an era of narrative “program music.”

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

Explore the ethical controversies of financial markets.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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