Engage in a Week of Civic Virtue
This August, spend a week on UChicago’s Hyde Park campus to explore big ideas and lively conversations with fellow Graham students.
If you have ever immersed yourself in a World War II documentary, a museum exhibit of Medieval artifacts, or a biography of an influential leader, you know how illuminating and fascinating history can be. Reading about and discussing the past has the potential to transform the way you think about the present and envision the future.
History courses at the Graham School often focus on topics that are directly relevant to our current moment, like the Greek foundations of modern civilization, the progression from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment, or the social and philosophical context that produced the U.S. Constitution.
This August, spend a week on UChicago’s Hyde Park campus to explore big ideas and lively conversations with fellow Graham students.
Explore timeless works of literature, philosophy, history, and social thought.
Elevate your critical thinking and leadership through advanced study in the liberal arts.
The University of Chicago Graham School offers history courses as part of the Basic Program of Liberal Education and the Master of Liberal Arts, or as open enrollment courses for anyone who’s interested in delving into historical topics.
You can choose from classes exploring a variety of time periods and issues, such as civil rights, immigration, and Chicago politics. In these courses, you will learn about history from the people who lived it by examining primary sources and then discussing your thoughts with your classmates. Our expert instructors guide the conversation with insights into relevant social, political, and cultural issues.
Learn more about the Graham School’s history offerings.
History courses are focused on exploring a particular era or specific topic such as the constitution and often through the lens of primary texts, regardless of political affiliation. The University of Chicago is committed to promoting free expression and open discourse. We welcome all viewpoints in our classrooms.
While students in the Master of Liberal Arts program are assigned papers to write, the majority of Graham’s offerings do not have papers, tests, or grades. Students participate for their love of learning and eagerness to explore these topics.
The Graham School offers both online and in-person class experiences. The description for each course specifies whether it will be offered online through Canvas or in person at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago.
Complete any assigned reading and come prepared to participate actively in classroom discussion.
No application is required for Basic Program courses or open enrollment courses. There is a required application for the Master of Liberal Arts.
Anyone who is interested in immersing themselves in reading about and discussing historical topics is welcome to take open enrollment courses through the Graham School.
Yes. These non-credit courses are built for adults who have life experience and want to learn. Our instructors encourage all students to participate, regardless of their educational background, creating an inclusive learning environment with a collegial atmosphere.
Students come to each session prepared to engage in lively, respectful discussions about the assigned reading. With a small group of peers and your instructor, you’ll examine fundamental questions through the lenses of multiple disciplines and lived experiences.