Choose Your Intellectual Adventure

The University of Chicago Graham School developed these courses to bring the University’s learning and spirit of free expression to curious adults. The program thrives on welcoming lifelong learners from diverse backgrounds who are enthusiastic about exploring new ideas and discussing them with others in a collaborative environment. If you ever feel confused or stuck, you’ll have ample opportunities to communicate with your instructors and get answers to your questions.

Open enrollment courses are not graded and do not receive formal credit. We have no tests, though most courses do require significant reading. These courses are focused on nourishing a love of learning, allowing you to immerse yourself in topics and discussions you find interesting.

Yes. Online open enrollment courses are engaging, live sessions that provide you with direct access to your instructors and fellow students. We purposely keep our class sizes small to allow all students to participate in the discussion. In-person courses are also available.

While our courses are driven by live discussions, we do record the online sessions. If you miss a class, you can watch the recording to catch up. In person classes are not recorded.

If you need to drop a course, please email us at graham@learningplatform.support to process your request. When reaching out, please include your full name, the course name and the section. If you made a donation during your course purchase, please confirm if you would like the donation refunded as well.

Courses dropped before the first day of class are eligible for a full refund. Courses dropped after the first class are subject to a 10% cancellation fee. No refund will be issued for courses dropped after the first week of classes.

Complete the assigned reading. If possible, give yourself time to go through the text a couple of times. Write down questions that occur to you while reading. If you keep up with the readings, feel interested in the course topic, and embrace your eagerness to explore deeper, you will find joy in your learning experience.

The weekly time commitment varies depending on what course you choose. You can expect a live session with an instructor and classmates every week. You will likely be assigned readings to complete ahead of each class. Typical preparation time is between one and four hours of reading a week. See individual courses for dates and times of courses.

No. Everyone is free to register for our open enrollment courses, pending availability.

Once you register for a course, you will receive an invitation to join the Canvas platform, where you can find the course syllabus and other files or documents provided by your instructor. In some cases, you may be expected to post to a course discussion board or respond to discussion questions through Canvas. If you’re taking a course online, you will also find the Zoom link that will allow you to access live classes. Your instructor will contact you before the first class session if there are any tasks you should complete ahead of the meeting.

Most courses do require specific editions of the texts to make sure that all students are reading the same translation or can find the same passages using page numbers. Books can be purchased online from the University of Chicago Bookstore, at the Gleacher Center, or at any other bookstore using the ISBN numbers provided on the syllabus.  

Your course will be available on the Graham Learning Platform three weeks before the start date. You’ll log in using the same credentials you used during registration. If you need help accessing your course, check out our helpful video tutorial.  

If you have a question about how to register for a course, watch the helpful videos on our registration tips page. You can also email our support team at graham@learningplatform.support. You will receive a response within 24 hours.  

Please email us at basicprogram@uchicago.edu, and our team will be happy to assist you.