Free Humanities Courses

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

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

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

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

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

Explore the ethical controversies of financial markets.

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.

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

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

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 the Quran, the central sacred text of Islam, through an exploration of the rich diversity of roles and interpretations in Muslim societies.

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.

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

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