Free Humanities Courses

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.

Traces Albert Einstein’s engagement with relativity, quantum mechanics, Nazism, nuclear weapons, philosophy, the arts, and technology.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

Learn about Christianity through a study of its sacred scriptures. We will explore how diverse Christians have interpreted these writings and practiced their teachings over a 2000 year, global history.

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

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

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

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