The Great Courses

Have you ever wanted to take a university-level course in a subject of your choosing at your own pace? Whether you need to brush up on a specific topic or are looking to broaden your knowledge in your spare time, the Great Courses would be an excellent resource to use. The Great Courses desscribes itself as lecture series catered to lifelong learners looking for “a customized and entertaining educational journey that’s both comprehensive and fascinating.”

University professors that are experts in their field are chosen to give a series of 30 or 45 minutes lectures on selected topics. You can listen to them as audiobooks or watch them as videos depending on your preference and the subject being discussed. Subject matter that can be found in the Great Courses includes history, science, literature, philosophy, religion, hobbies, language, economics, and music.

I can’t tell you how many lectures I have listened to over the last few years in all the subjects offered. When I was in college, there were so many classes I wanted to take on topics I found fascinating but unable to do so because of my schedule and degree track. The Great Courses gave me an opportunity to explore my interests and love of learning outside the classroom and it can do that for you too.

Here are a few of my favorite Great Courses lectures:

The History of the United States, 2nd Edition by Allen C. Guelzo and Gary W. Gallager
Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as Philosophy by David Kyle Johnson
The Modern Political Tradition: Hobbes to Habermas by Lawrence Cahoone
Classical Mythology by Elizabeth Vandiver
Modern Economic Issues by Robert Whaples
Sacred Texts of the World by Grant Hardy
My Favorite Universe by Neil DeGrasse Tyson

You can find many courses on OverDrive as well as Kanopy in both audio and video formats. You’ll find that there’s something for everyone in the vast library of courses made available to you. Be sure to check them out and happy learning!