Immerse Yourself in the Great Books
Explore timeless works of literature, philosophy, history, and social thought.
Explore big ideas, together.
Join a community of eminent scholars and intellectually curious peers.
Start Your JourneyVideo Description
Woman walks down street on University of Chicago campus. Classroom discussion with four students and instructor. Graham School instructor leads virtual classroom discussion. Student writes down reflections in notebook. Student smiles during classroom discussion. Three Graham School students greet each other prior to an event. David Brooks and Anne Snyder converse with a Graham School student. Three Graham School students explore the UChicago Smart Museum. Three Graham School students and Anne Snyder converse. Dean Seth Green looks over UChicago campus while speaking with a student.
Featured Offerings
Our offerings are inspired by the belief that lifelong engagement with the liberal arts enriches lives and invigorates societies.
Grow as a Thinker and Leader
Elevate your critical thinking and leadership through advanced study in the liberal arts.
Explore the “City of Dreaming Spires.”
Study with world-class faculty and enjoy unique cultural experiences at Oxford with fellow lifelong learners.
Explore Human Diversity
Study key dimensions of human diversity with eminent scholars and peers committed to open exchange.
Envision What Comes Next
Discover a meaningful next chapter through thoughtful reflections on your life and career.
Choose Your Intellectual Adventure
Embrace lifelong discovery by taking curated courses that will intrigue, engage, and inspire you.
Design a Future of Meaning and Impact
Join a community of accomplished leaders on a journey of self-discovery and meaningful action for society.
Visit the Roots of Classical Civilization
Join fellow Basic Program students & alumni in Greece to encounter the historic sites in the Core Curriculum.
Why Lifelong Learners Love Graham
Browse Winter Courses
20th Century: Becoming Individual: Consciousness, Identity, and Gender
Amy Thomas Elder & Charles Elder
A Raisin in the Sun Deep Dive
Adam Rose
“Making Reality Real”: The Art of Eudora Welty
Joseph Alulis
Alaska: Indigenous, Russian, American
Alina Shokareva
Alumni Sequence: Asian Classical Traditions Year 1 Winter
Simon Friedland, Noah Chafets & Clare Pearson
Alumni Sequence: The Romans Year 2 Winter
Zoë Eisenman, Kendall Sharp & Cynthia Rutz
American Politics and Policy 1776-1920
Fred Beuttler
New to Graham
Are You New to the Graham School?
In the Graham School’s one-of-a-kind community, you’ll join intellectually curious peers to explore big ideas with our extraordinary faculty and instructors. Whether studying the classics or looking at contemporary issues, our students are motivated by fundamental questions like: “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” “What difference do I want to make?” We create a welcoming space of intellectual discovery and discernment for learners in mid-life and beyond.
Choose from our wide variety of offerings to learn in the modality and at the pace that makes sense for you.
Upcoming Events at Graham
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Dec
03
The Craft of Story: Elements of Disorder
Online
Join us on Zoom at 11:00 am on December 3 for a conversation with Susan Hubbard.
Dec
05
Dec
05
Embracing Longevity
Online
Join our conversation with Peter Kaldes, President and CEO of Next50, on the trends and challenges of longevity, and how aging can be embraced as an opportunity for both individuals and society.
Dec
06
No One Wants Bad Things: Desire in Plato’s Meno
Online
This First Friday Lecture is supported by the Anastaplo Lecture Series Fund in memory of Basic Program Instructor George Anastaplo.
Dec
09
The Power and Potential of Our Lives
Online
Join our conversation with neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin on why health span matters and how to approach aging with purpose and joy.
Dec
10
Dec
12
Dec
12
From Tragedy to Apocalypse in American Literature
Gleacher Center
Join us as Lin Atnip discusses her recently published book, ‘From Tragedy to Apocalypse in American Literature: Reading to Make Sense of Our Endings’ with Seth Green, Dean of the Graham School.
Dec
16
George Washington’s Farewell Address
Online
Join us for a Graham School sample class as we discuss this critical founding document and its enduring relevance in U.S. foreign policy today.
Dec
16
Study in Greece Information Session
Online
Join the Basic Program for an online information session.
Graham School Stories
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Sustaining Extraordinary Instruction
Through their gifts to the Graham School, Hope and Jeff Sheffield are committed to supporting the Basic Program’s world-class instructors.
Lessons for Retiring Well: A Conversation with Christine Benz
What are the keys to a successful retirement? Watch our conversation with Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning for Morningstar as we discuss her new book, “How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement.” In this conversation we also examined the non-financial lessons outlined in her book, including……
Lifelong Friendships, Ambitious Futures
For Fellows in the inaugural Leadership & Society Initiative cohort, an inspired learning journey sparked new perspectives, compelling visions for the future, and a desire to support more leaders in experiencing LSI.