Free Humanities Courses

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

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.

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

Learn how to read William Shakespeare's plays through his biography, Elizabethan and Jacobean history, and modern performance.

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

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

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

Learn how to better understand the rich and complex ways that religions function in historic and contemporary contexts.

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

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

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

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 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 ethical controversies of financial markets.

This introduction to moral and political philosophy is one of the most popular courses taught at Harvard College.

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

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

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

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