Envision What Comes Next
Discover a meaningful next chapter through thoughtful reflections on your life and career.
Explore big ideas, together.
Join a community of eminent scholars and intellectually curious peers.
Find Your ProgramVideo 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.
Homer in Hyde Park: The Odyssey
Take a journey of intellectual and life enrichment by immersing yourself in this timeless text.
Experience the Locations that Inspired James Joyce
Immerse yourself in Joyce’s masterworks on a journey to Dublin, Ireland.
Shape Chicago’s Future
Gain the tools and networks to better understand, engage, and shape the region’s economic and community development.
Learning Never Stops
Renew your love of learning with a unique program aimed at personal growth.
Grow as a Thinker and Leader
Elevate your critical thinking and leadership through advanced study in the liberal arts.
Choose Your Intellectual Adventure
Embrace lifelong discovery by taking curated courses that will intrigue, engage, and inspire you.
Immerse Yourself in the Great Books
Explore timeless works of literature, philosophy, history, and social thought.
Design a Future of Meaning and Impact
Join a community of accomplished leaders on a journey of self-discovery and meaningful action for society.
Take a Journey of Discovery
Join us on transformative visits to historical sites.
Why Lifelong Learners Love Graham
Browse Autumn Courses
A First Experience with Finnegan’s Wake Part 5
Kendall Sharp
Advanced Novel Writing
Dipika Mukherjee
America’s Constitutions I: 1600-1800
Fred Beuttler
Ancient Greek Part 1
Kendall Sharp
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
View All Events
Aug
04
Aug
06
Information Session: The Chicago Leadership Circle
Online
Join CLC team members from Crain’s Chicago Business and the Graham School for a virtual info session. Learn about curriculum, logistics, and applications, hear from alumni, and get your questions answered.
Aug
07
The Fighting Spirit of ‘Fifth Avenue, Uptown’: A Testimony on Harlem’s Eternal Fight For the Humanities
Online
This First Friday Lecture is supported by the Anastaplo Lecture Series Fund in memory of Basic Program Instructor George Anastaplo.
Aug
12
Information Session: Graduate Student-at-Large Bridge Programs
Online
Gain valuable insights about how you can leverage the GSAL program to explore fields of academic study and preview graduate and undergraduate level for-credit courses at UChicago.
Aug
13
Navigating Caregiver Burden and End-of-Life Choices: A Conversation with Jessica Zitter
Online
Join Dr. Jessica Zitter for a conversation that sheds light on the complex realities of end-of-life care and the burdens family caregivers face.
Aug
18
Returning Scholar Information Session
Online
Join us to learn more about the Returning Scholar program.
Aug
18
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life and Legacy: A Conversation with Jonathan Eig
David Rubenstein Forum
What can the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tell us about the role of civic virtue in modern American history?
Aug
24
2026 Graham School Annual Report
Online
Reflections on the year behind us, a preview of the academic year ahead, and an invitation to help shape Graham’s future.
Aug
24
2026 Graham School Annual Report
Gleacher Center
Reflections on the year behind us, a preview of the academic year ahead, and an invitation to help shape Graham’s future.
Aug
25
Meet the Director: Graduate Student-at-Large Bridge Programs
Online
Gain valuable insights about how you can leverage the GSAL program to explore fields of academic study and preview graduate and undergraduate level for-credit courses at UChicago.
Graham School Stories
View Articles
From Classroom to Curtain: How Douglas Post Helps Writers Bring Their Stories to Life
Award-winning playwright and Graham School instructor Douglas Post helps students build the skills, confidence, and creative community to transform their ideas into stories that reach audiences beyond the classroom.
2025–2026 Graham Academic Year in Review
As another academic year comes to a close, we’re looking back with gratitude on a remarkable year at the Graham School. Take a moment to revisit the highlights of 2025–2026 and discover how our students, faculty, staff, donors, and partners came together to champion lifelong learning, spark intellectual curiosity, and strengthen meaningful connections across our…
Basic Program Instructor Richard Hoskins Discusses Thucydides on NPR’s On Point
Basic Program instructor Richard Hoskins joined On Point to explore how Thucydides’ account of great-power conflict continues to shape conversations about U.S.-China relations today.
GRAHAM SCHOOL COMMUNITY
We believe that the best learning happens in classrooms where people actively engage each other in the spirit of joint inquiry.
That’s why Graham School faculty focus on asking provocative questions and facilitating discussion rather than just imparting their expertise. Our courses invite learners to engage in meaningful dialogue across divergent perspectives.