Free Humanities Courses

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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