Navigate Life’s Turning Points
Embrace your potential with practice-based learning that blends interpersonal skills with tools from theater.
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.
Immerse Yourself in the Great Books
Explore timeless works of literature, philosophy, history, and social thought.
Envision What Comes Next
Discover a meaningful next chapter through thoughtful reflections on your life and career.
Step into History in the Eternal City
Journey to Rome with fellow Basic Program students and alumni.
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.
Design a Future of Meaning and Impact
Join a community of accomplished leaders on a journey of self-discovery and meaningful action for society.
Choose Your Intellectual Adventure
Embrace lifelong discovery by taking curated courses that will intrigue, engage, and inspire you.
Why Lifelong Learners Love Graham
Browse Summer Courses
A Tale of Two Cities
Cynthia Rutz
Comedy and Menace: Three Plays by Harold Pinter
Douglas Post
Dante’s Inferno and the Theology of Hell
Robert Porwoll
Foundations of U.S. Foreign Policy
Jennifer A. Lind
How to Eat a Poem
Stephanie Friedman
Introduction to the Basic Program: How to Read Classic Texts
Stephen Hall, Amy Thomas Elder & Jacqueline Victor
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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Aug
18
Aug
28
The Science of Longevity: A Conversation with Coleen T. Murphy
Online
Join Professor Coleen T. Murphy from Princeton University for an illuminating discussion on her book ‘How We Age: The Science of Longevity’, exploring groundbreaking research on aging.
Sep
05
Graham School Liberal Arts and Society Symposium
David Rubenstein Forum
The Liberal Arts and Society Symposium annually explores the enduring value of the liberal arts and their relevance in contemporary times.
Sep
08
Navigating Life’s Turning Points: A Conversation with Harry Davis, Nancy Tennant, and Charlie Newell
Online
In this lively and reflective conversation with MyLife Studio’s co-leaders Harry Davis, Charlie Newell, and Nancy Tennant, we will explore how to align our intentions with action and step into the best version of ourselves in the moments that matter most.
Sep
09
Enduring Excellence: A Conversation with Mellody Hobson
Online/Livestream (in-person at capacity)
Join us for the inaugural conversation in our Enduring Excellence series, featuring Mellody Hobson—visionary business leader, bestselling author, champion for financial inclusion, and one of the most influential voices in corporate America.
Sep
10
The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half: A Conversation with Dr. Kerry Burnight
Online
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Kerry Burnight, gerontologist and former faculty member at UC Irvine School of Medicine, about her new book ‘Joyspan’.
Sep
15
Graham School Community Gathering in the NYC Area
The Ivory Peacock
Join us for our inaugural gathering for the Graham School community of lifelong learners in the NYC area. Whether you’re a current student, alum, or friend of the School, this evening is a chance to celebrate our shared commitment to the life of the mind.
Sep
16
Enduring Excellence: A Conversation with Arthur C. Brooks
Online
Join us for our conversation with Arthur C. Brooks—Harvard professor, bestselling author, and one of today’s leading voices on purpose, happiness, and leadership.
Sep
18
The Literature of Later Life
Online
How might we imagine middle and older age as periods of discovery, growth, and change? What can we learn from literature that explores the nuances of the later stages of life?
Sep
29
The Arts of Leading: A Conversation with Edward Brooks and Michael Lamb
Online
Join editors Edward Brooks and Michael Lamb of “The Arts of Leading: Perspectives from the Humanities and the Liberal Arts” for an exploration of how the humanities can transform our understanding of leadership beyond traditional management frameworks.
Graham School Stories
View Articles
Acting as a Catalyst for Change
Charlie Newell on the Power of Rehearsal in Everyday Life.
Be True to Yourself: A Glimpse into My Life Studio’s Transformative Idea
As collaborators in the Graham School’s newest offering, faculty Harry Davis, Charles Newell, and Nancy Tennett bring a unique blend of business insight, artistic vision, and personal transformation expertise to MyLife Studio.
An Educator’s Lifelong Learning Journey: Alyssa’s Path Through the Basic Program
Finding Intellectual Community Across Generations
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.