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Open-to-All Courses in the Liberal Arts

The Open Program in the Liberal Arts

Explore ideas and the world with the liberal arts at the University of Chicago as your guide, since 1892.
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The Open Program offers noncredit courses in the liberal arts to adults seeking to learn from University of Chicago scholars and researchers, accomplished alumni, leading authorities, and gifted teachers. Classes are small, energetic, and diverse.  No grades or academic credit are assigned. Open Program courses celebrate lifelong intellectual curiosity.

Continuing a tradition of outreach that began in 1892 when the first classes on our Hyde Park campus opened, the Open Program was designed to extend the intellectual growth and ongoing research of the University to the City of Chicago and beyond. The Open Program offers an agile curriculum that reflects the intersection of leading edge research and popular interest.

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SCROLL DOWN TO EXPLORE our course categories:

    Arts
    Our arts courses cover pieces ranging from impressionist to modern. Study how to interpret and contextualize the artist's vision with tools gained from our arts offerings.
    Museum art
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    Chicago
    Engage with the creative elements of our city or look into the political landscape that has shaped it in our Chicago courses.
    The Bean downtown Chicago
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    Classical Studies
    Our classical studies courses encompass topics including literature, philosophy, and history. In these courses, you will read texts written by Plato, Sophocles, and Homer.
    Classical Greek Studies
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    History and Politics
    History and politics courses range from early Chicago history to current global studies in the University of Chicago tradition.
    Open Courses History and Politics
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    Literature
    Join us in pursuing a literary life of the mind. In these courses, you will explore various literary traditions focusing on both ancient and modern civilizations and learn to appreciate and critically analyze works of literature.
    Reading a book
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    Middle Eastern Studies
    In our Middle Eastern studies courses, you can study important components of the region such as the religion of Islam.
    Map of Middle East
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    Music
    Enjoy music courses on topics from traditional western classical music to various other musical traditions from around the world. Our courses engage students through lecture, discussion, and review from established music repertoire to contemporary work.
    Music courses
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    Philosophy & Religious Studies
    Take a philosophy and religious courses and examine the ideas of Socrates, Nietzsche, and more.
    HBCU and HSI Bridge Scholarship Program
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    Writer's Studio
    Dabble in creative writing or professional writing or hone your craft in our non-credit writing classes that are designed to inspire and challenge.
    Writer's Studio
    Search Writer's Studio Courses
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