HISTORY OF CHINA AT HARVARD

This course is titled “China: Traditions and Transformations,” and it is taught by Professors Peter Bol and William Kirby. Provided by Harvard's Open Learning Initiative, the lecture videos are free to watch, but college credit will not be given. If you want credits, then you will have to pay tuition. Why study China? Its rapid growth and development are making it a new superpower in global politics and economics. Countless businesses import or export goods and services from China, often taking advantage of notoriously cheap labor. China's relationships with countries such as Japan, Tibet, and North Korea also make this nation extremely influential and worth watching as events unfold. Studying the history, political, and philosophical aspects of this country can provide insights into how its people think and how the government makes decisions.

China: Traditions and Transformations (Harvard)

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)

MORE CALCULUS AT MIT

If you have gained competence in single variable calculus, and want to learn more, then you might try studying “Multivariable Calculus” from MIT. This course is taught by Professor Denis Auroux. The main focus here is on vector calculus and working with multiple variables. As is usual, you have access to transcripts, lecture notes, exams, and assignments in addition to the lecture videos.

This course includes the following topics: dot products, determinants, matrices, parametric equations, Kepler's Second Law, partial derivatives, least squares, second derivative test, chain rule, Lagrange Multipliers, partial differential equations, polar coordinates, change of variables, vector fields, path independence, flux, spherical coordinates, divergence theorem, line integrals, Stokes' Theorem, and Maxwell's Equations.

Multivariable Calculus (MIT)

CALCULUS AT MIT

This free course is called “Single Variable Calculus” and is taught by Professor David Jerison. It introduces students to differentiation of a single variable and integration. In addition to lecture videos there are transcripts, lecture notes, exams, and assignments available.

This course includes the following topics: rate of change, slope, limits, derivatives, chain rule, implicit differentiation, exponents, logarithms, hyperbolic functions, approximations, maxima, minima, Newton's Method, Mean Value Theorem, differential equations, definite integrals, fundamental theorems, work, probability, substitution, polar coordinates, infinite series, and Taylor series.

Single Variable Calculus (MIT)

BUSINESS PLANNING AT CMU

This free course is titled “Entrepreneurship and Business Planning,” and it is taught by Professor Mark Juliano of Carnegie Mellon University. The lectures are in audio-only format, and they can be streamed or downloaded. Professor Juliano talks about starting a company, organizing it, ending it, and other subjects that are of interest to any entrepreneur.

This course includes the following topics: business plan, team building, incorporation, funding, forecasting, target market, strategy, competition, marketing, sales, pricing, liquidity, exit strategies, management, advertising, and ownership.

Entrepreneurship and Business Planning (iTunes, TalkShoe)

INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING AT MIT

This is a course from MIT's OpenCourseWare website. It is called “Introduction to Computer Science and Programming” and was instructed by Professors Eric Grimson and John Guttag. You can watch the lectures, read the transcripts, and view class assignments and exams. No programming experience is required. This course is intended to enable students to write small programs and use them for solving problems. The programming language utilized here is Python. Coincidentally, Python is the same language used by Blender.

This course includes the following topics: operators, variables, iteration, code patterns, recursion, bisection methods, lists, efficiency, algorithms, binary search, testing, debugging, dynamic programming, abstract data types, encapsulation, computational models, plotting, distributions, simulations, curve fitting, linear regression, and stock market simulation.

Intro. to Computer Sci. and Programming (MIT)

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)

FIRST-CLASS PHYSICS TEACHER

Physics classes can be daunting and boring to many people. It is often hard to fully appreciate the utility, ingenuity, and elegance of using mathematics to explain how the real world works. Teaching physics effectively can be very difficult, but Walter Lewin makes it look easy. Dr. Lewin is a professor emeritus at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Three courses taught by him have been recorded and made available online through MIT's OpenCourseWare project—much like Open Yale Courses. Anyone can access this university material for free, but do not expect college credit for watching the lectures. Dr. Lewin employs his comedic wit and dazzling demonstrations to clarify physics concepts and applications for his students. The first course is about “classical mechanics”, the second is about “electricity and magnetism”, and the third is about “vibrations and waves”. All three courses are intended for students who are experienced with calculus. Even if you do not plan on becoming a scientist, you will probably find the classes entertaining and thought-provoking.

The classical mechanics course includes the following topics: units, kinematics, vectors, circular motion, Newton's laws, friction, work, energy, forces, collisions, momentum, rotating bodies, stars, torque, oscillations, gravity, planetary orbits, gyroscopes, precession, fluid mechanics, buoyancy, harmonics, resonance, heat, thermodynamics, and astrophysics.

The electricity and magnetism course includes the following topics: historical background, fields, Gauss' law, flux, voltage, currents, EMF, circuits, electric motors, solenoids, induction, inductance, Faraday's law, eddy currents, levitation, material properties, electromagnets, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, light, refraction, polarization, scattering, rainbows, interference, Doppler effect, and cosmology.

The vibrations and waves course includes the following topics: oscillations, waves, damping, resonance, coupling, pendulum, sound, Fourier analysis, electromagnetic waves, polarization, Doppler effect, stars, radiation, reflection, standing waves, refraction, interference, double-slit experiment, thin films, diffraction, and rainbows.

Classical Mechanics (MIT)

Electricity & Magnetism (MIT)

Vibrations & Waves (MIT)

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.