Former history majors looking for free online courses have many valuable options to explore diverse fields related to history, humanities, and the arts. Several platforms provide comprehensive content, university-level lectures, and curated learning experiences without charge.
One of the top recommendations is Gresham College, which offers public lectures on history and related topics. These lectures are similar in quality to university-level courses and cover a broad range of historical subjects. Gresham College aims to make learning accessible to all, maintaining academic rigor in its free offerings.
For those interested in broader academic exposure, many Ivy League institutions offer free online courses. These cover many disciplines, including history, political science, anthropology, and culture. It allows learners to tap into elite academic resources remotely. No fees or enrollment are required for many courses.
MIT has an extensive offering through its OpenCourseWare (OCW) platform. This website hosts a wide range of complete course materials. History majors can find detailed syllabi, lecture notes, assignments, and exams from real MIT courses. Notably, these materials come without registration, allowing users to browse and download at their convenience. OCW’s transparency includes original schedules and grading schemes, enriching the learning context.
Art history enthusiasts benefit from a distinct source: Smarthistory, a free resource delivering thousands of videos and essays focused on artistic expression as a form of historical narrative. It provides an alternative, engaging viewpoint on history beyond traditional coursework.
Smarthistory recently developed Reframing Art History, a guided and structured course-like experience with open access, making it an excellent resource for both art lovers and history majors. The platform emphasizes academic quality without ads or fees, blending education and enjoyment.
The UK’s OpenLearn from the Open University is a rich source of university-level material, especially recommended for topics like the history of medicine. This resource offers retired but relevant courses that remain educational and insightful. Learners can study independently at their own pace.
Though not always free, The Great Courses often provides promotional access to history lectures and related subjects for no cost or at low cost. These feature lecture series spanning 30 minutes per session over multiple episodes, suitable for learners preferring structured but manageable learning chunks.
Here is a brief summary of the key platforms:
- Gresham College: Public history lectures, university-style quality, free access.
- Ivy League Online Courses: Wide topical range, free academic courses from top universities.
- MIT OpenCourseWare: In-depth course materials with real schedules, freely downloadable.
- Smarthistory: Thousands of art history videos and essays, including guided course formats.
- OpenLearn (UK Open University): Free university-level history courses, notably history of medicine.
- The Great Courses: Paid platform with frequent free or discounted access to history lectures.
These free resources enable former history majors to revisit past interests or branch into new related disciplines. They accommodate different learning preferences, ranging from independent study via raw course materials to guided lecture series and multimedia content. This democratization effectively extends lifelong learning well beyond traditional classrooms.
