LISTENING TO MUSIC AT YALE

This course is called “Listening to Music” and is taught by Professor Craig Wright at Yale. While this course is focused on classical music, there are occasional references to modern styles such as hip-hop. The goal is to give the student “aural skills” necessary to understand and appreciate composition of music in the West. If you are interested in writing music, playing an instrument, or having an intellectual discussion over a glass of wine, this is a good place to start.

This course includes the following topics: musical genres, rhythm, melody, notes, scales, harmony, chords, sonata-allegro form, fugue, Benedictine chant, Baroque music, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Ravel, opera, and musical style.

Listening to Music (Yale)

STUDYING EARLY CHRISTIANITY AT YALE

Here is another free course from Open Yale Courses. Professor Dale B. Martin teaches “Introduction to New Testament History and Literature.” This course examines the early history of Christianity and its various interpretations. The Bible's New Testament is the main body of text used, but other sources are studied as well. Keep in mind that this course is taught from a strictly secular perspective, and it is not intended for religious insight. If you are interested in the origins of Easter and its customs, then this is a good place to start. This may also be a good course for those interested in Roman civilization and its subjects. Happy Easter!

The classes include the following topics: Biblical canon, Greco-Roman world, Judaism, the gospels, Jesus as a historical figure, Saint Paul, interpretations of scripture, and the afterlife.

New Testament History/Literature (OYC)

PSYCHOLOGY AT YALE

A lot of people get interested in psychology at some time or another in their lives. Why? Well, that is a psychological question. Studying how people think and analyzing the causes for their behaviors can be beneficial and fascinating. Understanding oneself is a key factor for personal growth. Understanding others can facilitate peace and prosperity. In much the same way that knowing how your body functions can empower you to take better care of it, studying the workings of the mind can help you maintain good mental health.

Yale University offers a free online course in psychology, taught by Professor Paul Bloom. “Introduction to Psychology” is just one of the various courses available at Open Yale Courses. OYC gives free access to recorded classes actually taught at Yale. You do not have to be registered at the university—just have a fast internet connection. The lectures can be heard as MP3s, watched as videos, and you can read the transcripts and presentation slides. While this course is genuinely taught at Yale, online viewers cannot get any university credit for watching the videos. If you want a degree, then you need to enroll at Yale.

This course includes the following topics: the teachings of Freud and Skinner, communication, emotions, morality, mysteries in psychology, mental illness, and happiness.

Introduction to Psychology (OYC)

 This is the first lecture of the course.