Introduction to Humanities OpenCourseWare: Dixie State College of Utah's Undergraduate Level Free Online Course for Learning Western Culture Development
Dixie State College of Utah's 'Introduction to Humanities' is an OpenCourseWare class freely available online. This class, intended for students of all backgrounds, provides an overview of the major social and cultural movements in Western civilization starting at the Renaissance. If you're pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in History, a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy or a Bachelor of Arts in English this free class could be a helpful review.
Introduction to Humanities: Course Specifics
Degree Level | Free | Audio | Video | Downloads |
---|---|---|---|---|
Undergraduate | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Lectures/Notes | Study Materials | Tests/Quizzes |
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Yes | Yes | No |
Introduction to Humanities: Course Description
'Introduction to Humanities' is a free OpenCourseWare class offered by Dixie State College of Utah. Taught by Edwin Reber, associate professor of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department, this lecture-based course provides an overview of major movements in Western culture from the Renaissance. The professor states that the objectives of this free online class are to instill students with an appreciation of cultural diversity and the historical sources of present-day Western culture; instill a basic knowledge of the history of major ideas and artistic developments in Europe; and encourage students to think critically about history and present-day socio-political issues.
If you follow the readings presented on the course schedule (which are not, however, part of the online course), you'll be exposed to a history of ideas through the writings of Galileo, Francis Bacon, Descartes, Pascal, Hobbes and Locke. Keep reading to learn more about the development of European philosophy, culture and politics through the writings of Alexander Pope, Voltaire, Thoreau, John Steward Mill, Darwin and Freud.
This OpenCourseWare class is a good place to start if you're considering a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy or a Bachelor of Arts in History. However, this free online class provides a solid overview of the humanities that will be useful to students of any discipline.
Available materials for this OpenCourseWare class include a syllabus, course schedule, 13 PowerPoint presentations and a timeline of important thoughts, ideas and movements from feudalism to the Romantic period. If your interest has been piqued, visit the humanities course home page.