Updated Aug. 9, 2009
Not every university course makes it into my directory of Best free courses & lectures. Maybe I didn’t like the lecturer, or the subject matter did not catch my fancy, or maybe I didn’t have the time to review the course. This list is for classes I thought were still worthy of note, even though they didn’t make the A-list. If I listened long enough to give it a rating, I include the stars awarded. I also include suggestions made by readers.
(For other online course directories see How to begin.)
Anthropology
Anthropology of Religion –website– Richley Crapo, Utah State University
This course is chock full of fascinating details of religions from around the world, which range from the tales and practices of hunter-gatherer peoples to the rites of large-scale denominations of modern America. Crapo’s somnolent delivery mars an otherwise interesting offering.
Bible
Recommended by reader Anair: “The Life & Teachings of Jesus” and “The Life & Letters of Paul” from Covenant Theological Seminary. “The History of Philosophy and Christian Thought” from Reformed Theological Seminary seems good, and from Concordia Seminary, “Biblical Hermeneutics”.
Economics
Introductory Economics -website- John Palmer, University of Western Ontario
This is a serviceable introduction to basic concepts in economics. It would be greatly improved if you could see the graphs being discussed in lecture.
Principles of Macroeconomics (iTunes), Thomas Wyrick, Missouri State University (unrated).
This course includes video lectures and transcripts.
Video Lectures -website- Mark Thoma, University of Oregon (unrated)
Thoma has posted lectures for three of his economics courses: History of Economic Thought, Monetary Theory and Policy and Econometrics.
For more economics courses on-line, see Online Economics Courses–Video, etc.
History
American History before 1870 (iTunes) and US History since 1877 (iTunes), Gretchen Reilly, Temple College
This presentation sounds more like an audio book than a series of lectures because there is no interaction with students on the soundtrack.
American History from the Civil War (iTunes, website), Jennifer Burns, UC Berkeley
I listened to this entire course, and while I enjoyed it, I noticed a number of factual errors, which left me wondering what else she got wrong. The course was especially strong in its coverage of Barry Goldwater and the rise of conservatism. According to her website, this period is Professor Burns’ area of specialization.
Crash Course on Jewish History (website), Ken Spiro.
Recommended by reader Rebecca.
United States History to 1865 (iTunes, website) and United States History, 1865-Present (iTunes, website), David Noon University of Alaska Southeast
Noon converses with students, asking for their ideas and comments as he covers the main events in American history. The pace is a bit slow for my taste and the teacher repeats himself too much for this to be a four or five-star offering.
Religion, the Occult, and Science 1600 to the Present (website), Courteney Raia, UCLA(unrated)
Recommended by reader BCamarda.
Languages
Latin (website)
Recommended by reader Evan Millner.
Literature
Science Fiction and Politics -iTunes- Courtney Brown, Emory University, (unrated).
Worlds of Wordcraft – iTunes- Jay Clayton, Matthew Hall, Vanderbilt University
This literature course looks at game design and the world of on-line gaming as well as readings like Spenser’s Faerie Queene. The audio recordings include class discussion as well as presentations by the professors. If you’re interested in the history of computer games, be sure to check out the Chronology of Influences on Gaming part 1 and part 2.: The syllabus is here.
Mathematics
Pre-Calculus Algebra, (website) St Petersburg College.
Recommended by reader Eric Balkan.
Philosophy
20th Century Philosophy (website) John Drabinski, Hampshire College.
Recommended by reader Theages.
Religion
Muscular Judaism -website- – iTunes- Filmmaker and photographer Eli Ungar
This course examines the biblical book of Sampson line by line in Hebrew and English, looking at that literary structure of the biblical text as well as insights of traditional and modern commentators. Ungar makes extensive use of Israeli novelist David Grossman’s book Lion’s Honey: The Myth of Samson.
Science
Astronomy 161, Richard Pogge, (iTunes) Ohio State University (unrated).
Recommended by reader Baxter Wood.
Social Science
Modeling Politics -iTunes- Courtney Brown, Emory University, (unrated).
