Stanford Continuing Studies Summer Courses 2024
Winter 2025
Welcome Letter
Welcome Letter
Dear Friends,
A
s winter draws near, many of us seek warmth, comfort, and new ways to engage our minds. It’s the perfect season to explore opportunities to learn and come together in our classrooms. In my family, this time of year means hearty meals like boeuf bourguignon and roast chicken, cooked together and enjoyed around the table. Even our 7th and 9th graders—despite typical teenage preoccupations—are curious to discuss what their parents learn in Continuing Studies courses and how that relates to their own classes at school. We hope you enjoy time with good food and family too, and if you happen to overindulge like I do in December, never fear—we have wellness and health options!
This winter, we are excited to again feature courses from some of Stanford’s iconic faculty and lecturers. Alex Nemerov returns with a new iteration of “How to Look at Art and Why,” featuring Renaissance, Baroque, and Romantic masters, inviting us to experience art in a deeper, transformative way. Historians David Kennedy and Jim Sheehan offer “World War II: Five Controversies and Their Enduring Legacy,” a course that revisits key debates such as the war’s long-term impact on international relations and offers a fresh perspective on how these pivotal moments resonate today. Margo Horn will explore “Global Women Leaders: Past, Present, and Future,” examining influential female leaders throughout history and how they have shaped today’s world. Stanford economist Scott Rozelle will present “The Chinese Economy: From Ancient Roots to Global Power,” a timely look at China’s rise. For those who fancy a touch of mysticism, literature professor Robert Harrison invites us on a journey to explore “Where Mind Meets Matter: The Spirit of Planet Earth.”
Speaking of icons, we’re honored to have Tara VanDerveer—fresh off her retirement as the winningest college basketball coach in NCAA history—lead “Basketball: A Masterclass,” which delves into her experience with key milestones in sports history, including the impact of Title IX, the formation of the WNBA, and Stanford’s national championship seasons. The course offers unique insight into coach VanDerveer’s Hall of Fame career and will feature an array of luminary guests from both college and professional sports.
For aspiring authors looking to tap into their creative side, “The Business of Books: Publishing Options for the Aspiring Author” with Emma Nelson, editorial director of Owl Hollow Press, offers valuable guidance. If you’d prefer to dance away the winter blues, legendary hip hop instructor Ronnie Reddick’s “Introduction to Hip Hop Dance” offers a refreshing escape. For those who want to kickstart a banner year, psychologist, best-selling author, and longtime friend of the program Kelly McGonigal returns with “The Science and Practice of Joyful Living.”
No matter your interests, we hope you’ll discover something challenging, nostalgic, surprising, or entirely new to immerse yourself in within our lineup. Thank you for your continued support of Continuing Studies, happy holidays, and we look forward to seeing you in class!
Warmly,
Nate Boswell
Assistant Dean, Stanford Continuing Studies
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Featured Courses
Explore a curated selection of Stanford’s top courses across various disciplines, designed to provide an exceptional learning experience
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Immerse yourself in the liberal arts to awaken your creativity, enhance your critical thinking abilities, and gain a deeper understanding of our complex world.
Art Studio
Reignite your capacity for creativity in an art studio course.
Food & Drink
Indulge your taste buds in a culinary journey through our Food & Drink courses.
Wellness & Health
Prioritize your health and wellness with courses designed to help you build healthy habits and support your mental and emotional well-being.
Creative Writing
Whether you’re just beginning to write or putting the finishing touches on your first novel, our writing courses offer expert instruction from accomplished authors, individual attention, and supportive feedback.
Communication
Hone your communication skills and learn how to convey a clear, compelling, and consistent message.
Business
Our business courses will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in building your career, launching a startup, or growing a business.
Technology & Data Science
Embark on a journey through artificial intelligence, master a new coding language, or dive into the world of data science.
Writing Certificates
Have you always wanted to write a book? Our Novel Writing Certificate and Memoir Writing Certificate are designed to take you from initial inspiration to a polished manuscript.
Public Programs
Continuing Studies is pleased to offer a variety of free public programs and special events every year.
Master of Liberal Arts
Start your next chapter with a part-time, evening graduate degree in the liberal arts.
Featured Courses
Featured Courses
Online
On Campus
Alexander Nemerov
Carl and Marilynn Thoma Provostial Professor in the Arts and Humanities, Stanford
How do we experience art in meaningful ways? Modeled on Alexander Nemerov’s long-popular lecture series at Stanford and Yale, this course will unfold like a book, in 10 chapters. Students will study the great human themes—love, joy, sadness—within paintings that span the Renaissance, Baroque, and Romantic periods, from Masaccio to Caravaggio and Vermeer. Such study offers occasions to pause, to attend to the artwork—and to ourselves. The goal is to live life closer to moments of emotional truth.
Image: Diana and Her Companions / Johannes Vermeer
Online
On Campus
David Kennedy
Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History, Emeritus, Stanford
James Sheehan
Dickason Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Modern European History, Emeritus, Stanford
World War II defined the modern age, and its unresolved controversies shape global dynamics today. Historians David Kennedy and James Sheehan will analyze this pivotal era and its lasting relevance, beginning with the war’s origins and questions of whether diplomacy could have averted conflict between the US and Japan. The course will move through the concept of “total war” and full-scale mobilization of societies; the Holocaust and its horrors; and the long shadow of aftermath, from European reconstruction to the Cold War and American global order amid the atomic age.
Online
On Campus
Tara VanDerveer
Former Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Stanford
Stanford basketball coach Tara VanDerveer—history’s winningest NCAA coach upon her retirement—will take students on a journey into the evolution and strategy of basketball. Known as the “Professor of the Court,” VanDerveer will unveil the tactics and philosophies behind her own success and trace the origins of the sport’s global rise, with milestones such as Title IX and the formation of the WNBA. Featuring game simulations, Q&A, and discussions with icons, the course offers a comprehensive view of basketball through the lens of one of its most influential figures.
On Campus
Margo Horn
Former Lecturer, Department of History, Stanford
This is a decisive moment in the history of global women leaders. Historian Margo Horn will introduce students to a series of pathbreaking women leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries. The course will include the history of patriarchy, the growth of feminist politics, movements for women’s self-determination, and leaders who have made marks—from Eleanor Roosevelt to Indira Gandhi, Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, and more. Students will gain an appreciation for the distinctive contribution of women leaders around the world.
Online
Nita Singh Kaushal
Founder, NSK Leadership and Miss CEO
Negotiations don’t have to be daunting. Imagine stepping into every discussion with the confidence to advocate for yourself and unlock new opportunities. Led by Nita Singh Kaushal, this empowering course equips women with the skills to master negotiation with a proactive and strategic approach. Discover how to adopt a winning attitude, build a resilient mindset, and gather the insights needed to set and achieve meaningful goals. Transform your career trajectory and walk away with the confidence to navigate your professional path with purpose and clarity.
On Campus
Martin Lewis
Senior Lecturer in International History, Emeritus, Stanford
At 8.1 billion and growing by 73 million a day, global population is a controversial topic. While experts say such growth threatens ecosystems, reduces resource availability, and increases our carbon footprint, a recent decrease in fertility rates also poses problems for social stability, economic prosperity, and even cultural survival. Stanford’s Martin Lewis will explore in depth the global demographic developments of international migration, urbanization, generational tensions, and more. Using both maps and graphs to illustrate changing conditions, the course will take a neutral approach, focusing on what is happening—rather than on what should be done.
On Campus
William Simon
William W. and Gertrude H. Saunders Professor of Law, Emeritus, Stanford; Arthur Levitt Professor of Law, Emeritus, Columbia
With a Supreme Court majority intent on transforming American law, US constitutional doctrine is undergoing major revisions. From shifts in the protection of individual rights to the consolidation of presidential power and the resurgence of federalism, this course will uncover the emerging themes of a new US constitutional framework. Law professor William Simon will use case studies, discussions, and analysis of court opinions to engage students in the changes and developments that are reshaping the legal landscape—with implications for future constitutional interpretation.
On Campus
Robert Harrison
Rosina Pierotti Professor in Italian Literature, Emeritus, Stanford
If “spirit” is the animated force of living things, we can say the surface of Earth is “inspirited.” Stanford’s Robert Harrison and Alexa Hazel will explore the spirit of wind, sky, rivers, and the afterlife of the dead. Aided by NASA’s first photos of Earth taken in 1966, the James Webb Telescope’s images of deep space today, the work of physicist Erwin Schrödinger, and poetry by Arthur Rimbaud and Wallace Stevens, students will probe the mystery of mind’s contact with matter.
Online
Scott Rozelle
Faculty Co-Director, Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions
From ancient agricultural society to modern powerhouse, China’s remarkable evolution has propelled the country to the forefront of global economics. Stanford’s Scott Rozelle, an expert on Chinese economy and institutions, will lead this course in an examination of three critical phases: the pre-1949 era, the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution, and the last four decades of market reforms. From supply chains to the Belt and Road Initiative, students will gain a nuanced understanding of the far-reaching implications of China’s economic strategies and the country’s global significance.
Online
Kelly McGonigal
Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Joy is the human capacity to feel uplifted by something that is, in essence, good. Joy strengthens us on multiple levels—physiologically, mentally, and socially. Join Stanford’s Kelly McGonigal in this quest to discover how we can amplify joy’s influence in our everyday lives. Based on recent research in psychology and neuroscience, this course will offer lectures, exercises, discussions, and self-reflections designed to empower students with practical strategies for seizing control of their emotional landscape. Students will come away with tools to cultivate a mindset for deliberately choosing joy.
Online
Danielle Raad
Curator and Assistant Director of Collections, Stanford University Archaeology Collections
Objects have stories to tell—but we must slow down and listen. Join Danielle Raad of the Stanford University Archaeology Collections in this immersion into the rich narratives of objects, ranging from Paleolithic stone tools to Indigenous ceramics and treasures of the Stanford family mansion. The course will include discussion and analysis while also confronting the complex ethical issues of artifact collection. Through modern technology, storytelling, drawing, and poetry, this course will enhance your ability to think deeply and critically about objects—and change the way you experience a museum.
On Campus
Dona Tversky
Clinical Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford
Learn to think like a shrink and understand why we feel and behave the way we do. Professor and psychiatrist Dona Tversky will examine why early relationships shape our future connections, how we can optimize our emotions, and why contradictions in life are places for deeper understanding. The course will include weekly projects and discussions to uncover layers of psychological phenomena in both personal and public spheres. Students will emerge with a newfound appreciation for the complexity of their minds and an understanding of the psychology behind everyday life.
Online
Michael Krasny
Professor of English, Emeritus, SF State
The idea of a so-called “Great American Novel” has held sway as a boilerplate aspiration of readers and writers alike. But what kind of novel makes the grade? Join author and former radio host Michael Krasny on a deep dive into three literary American masterpieces: Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, and James Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain. Each is a brilliant thematic and stylistic work of literary art and great storytelling that takes us into the depths of understanding American history, culture, and language.
Headshot Photo: Courtesy KQED
On Campus
Ronnie Reddick
Lecturer, Department of Theater & Performance Studies, Stanford
If you have ever wanted to dance hip hop but felt too afraid to try—now is your chance to give it a go. Stanford’s Ronnie Reddick will introduce beginning students not only to this popular form of movement, but also the broader culture of music and fashion marked by creativity, rhythm, and individuality. Open to all fitness levels, this course will offer guided instruction for dancing in an effortless and enjoyable way, leaving you with moves you may take far beyond the classroom—to parties, weddings, and exercise class.
Online
Dan Forte
Music Journalist and Editor
The electric guitar captures the transformative spirit of the late 20th century as vividly as shifting hemlines and hairstyles. Join music journalist Dan Forte in exploring how this simple instrument, a hunk of wood with steel strings and magnetic pickups, revolutionized music and mirrored cultural change. Through lectures, listening, and hands-on activities, the course will examine the instrument’s history, its influence on fashion, and its role in individualistic expression. From Fender and Gibson to music by Jimi Hendrix and The Ramones, the electric guitar remains the sexiest instrument of all.
Online
Emma Nelson
Editorial Director, Owl Hollow Press
Choosing the right publishing path can feel overwhelming—for any author. Emma Nelson, editorial director of Owl Hollow Press, will guide student writers through an in-depth exploration of publishing options—including traditional, self, and hybrid models. The course will cover manuscript preparation, queries, and real-world insights from a literary agent and published author. Students will learn to develop a sustainable writing mindset, and they will emerge with the tools for making informed decisions about the path toward meeting their publishing goals and aspirations.
Online
Charlie Flanagan
Head of Applied AI, Balyasny Asset Management
Learn how to apply large language models for competitive business advantage. Taught by Charlie Flanagan, an expert in applied AI, this course will foster a detailed understanding of LLMs for use in everyday life, from writing content to increasing productivity and simplifying tasks. Students will gain practical skills through prominent platforms such as Python, LangChain, OpenAI, and Hugging Face, and applications such as automatic text generators, language translators, and models for gauging consumer sentiment. Students will end the course with skills for applying these models in future work and research.
Online
Kenneth Marshall
Chairman, Judicial Capital and Judicial Corporation
Discover a proven value investing model that anyone can adopt. With value investor Kenneth Marshall as a guide, this course will examine how to understand a company through its defining products and customers; how to gauge a company’s prospects through simple approaches to accounting; and how to determine if a stock is inexpensive. Students will apply what they learn to stocks of timely interest and steer clear of biases that can harm returns. By the end, students will have insights into the capital management strategy that performs best over time.
Online
Ronjon Nag
Adjunct Professor in Genetics, Stanford Medicine
Unlock the power of AI in biology, business, and beyond—no coding required. Led by Stanford’s Ronjon Nag, this high-level course is a continuation of “A Crash Course in Artificial Intelligence (AI): Part I.” Students will master practical applications of AI through prompt engineering, hands-on experience with specialized platforms, and custom AI personas. Gain skills to train and fine-tune large language models (LLMs), select and utilize models effectively, and leverage insights from expert guest speakers on real-world AI deployment. With a focus on drag-and-drop tools and minimal coding, this course equips you to boost personal and professional productivity using AI-driven solutions.
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Immerse yourself in the liberal arts to awaken your creativity, enhance your critical thinking abilities, and gain a deeper understanding of our complex world. From fine arts to film, language to literature, philosophy to history, explore a rich array of courses in the liberal arts and sciences.
Archaeology
Danielle Raad
Curator and Assistant Director of Collections, Stanford University Archaeology Collections
Discover the hidden stories that objects hold. Examine artifacts from around the world, including Paleolithic tools and Indigenous ceramics, and engage in deep observation, storytelling, and ethical discussions. Guided by the curator of Stanford University Archaeology Collections (SUAC), this course offers a fresh perspective on museum collections, blending technology with creative analysis to reveal the rich narratives embedded in historical objects.
Patrick Hunt
Former Director, Stanford Alpine Archaeology Project; Research Associate, Archeoethnobotany, Institute of EthnoMedicine
Explore the rich history and artistry of Mesoamerican and South American civilizations. Discover the unique architecture, art, religion, ancient topography, technologies, and material artifacts of these New World cultures and examine where they lived and worked—often in spectacular landscapes, utilizing their natural resources in deliberate and distinctly creative ways.
Art History
On Campus
Online
Alexander Nemerov
Carl and Marilynn Thoma Provostial Professor in the Arts and Humanities, Stanford
Unlock the transformative power of art and discover a deeper connection to the great paintings of the Renaissance, Baroque, and Romantic periods. This exploration of the art world aims not only to teach you how to look at paintings but also explore why we do so, inviting you to embrace vulnerability and openness as you seek moments of emotional truth through the profound works of masters like Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Vermeer.
Classics
Christopher Krebs
Gesue and Helen Spogli Professor of Italian Studies, Professor of Classics and, by courtesy, of German Studies and of Comparative Literature, Stanford
What is the nature of friendship? This course explores the nature and limits of friendship through Cicero’s On Friendship, written after Julius Caesar’s assassination. Reflect on the ethical dilemmas of friendship and its relevance in times of political conflict today by examining Cicero’s advice on loyalty, honor, and political duty, alongside later thinkers like Michel de Montaigne.
Barbara Clayton
Independent Scholar
Delve into the philosophy of Stoicism, focusing on the teachings of Marcus Aurelius, Rome’s philosopher-emperor, through his work Meditations. From the influence of Socrates to The Handbook of Epictetus, trace Stoicism’s history and core principles, examining how Stoic philosophy offers practical wisdom for modern-day challenges and personal growth.
Climate Change & Sustainability
Michael McWilliams
Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Emeritus, Stanford
Franklin (Lynn) Orr
Keleen and Carlton Beal Professor in Petroleum Engineering, Emeritus, Stanford
Explore the fascinating world of geological thinking and climate change as we explore the concept of uniformitarianism and its relevance to understanding the Earth’s climate history. Travel through time—from the distant past to the present—to unravel the complex interplay between natural forces and human impacts on our planet’s climate, gaining valuable insights into what the future may hold.
Cultural Studies
Robert Harrison
Rosina Pierotti Professor of Italian Literature, Stanford
Alexa Hazel
Writer and Graduate Student in Modern Thought and Literature, Stanford
This course explores the “spirit” of natural elements such as wind, sky, rivers, and the afterlife, examining how science, poetry, art, and philosophy intersect to illuminate the nature of spirit, perception, and the connection between mind and matter. Through this multidisciplinary approach, students will gain a deeper understanding of how these fields shape our view of the world and the unseen forces within it.
Current Events
Gil-li Vardi
Lecturer in History and International Relations, Stanford
Gain a deeper understanding of the evolving nature of warfare and its future implications. Explore the history of state-driven wars from the French Revolution to the Cold War, and apply insights to current conflicts like the war in Ukraine. The course also investigates guerrilla tactics and insurgencies through case studies such as Algeria, Vietnam, and the war against ISIS, concluding with an analysis of asymmetric warfare in Gaza.
Dance Studies
On Campus
Ronnie Reddick
Lecturer, Department of Theater & Performance Studies, Stanford
Have you ever been interested in dancing hip hop but felt afraid to give it a go? Here’s a chance to learn one of the world’s most popular dance forms effortlessly and enjoyably with a renowned teacher and choreographer. This course is designed to introduce beginning students to hip hop’s vibrant expression of creativity, rhythm, and individuality in a fun and interactive setting.
Economics
Scott Rozelle
Faculty Co-Director, Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions
How did China evolve from an ancient agricultural society to a modern global powerhouse? In this comprehensive course led by a faculty co-director of the Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions, we’ll trace China’s remarkable transformation. By examining three critical phases of its economic development—pre-1949, the Socialist period, and recent market reforms—you’ll gain deep insights into China’s strategies and their far-reaching impact on global markets and governance.
Film Studies
Mick LaSalle
Film Critic, Hearst Newspapers
In 1968, the Motion Picture Association replaced the strict Production Code with today’s rating system, igniting a creative revolution in Hollywood. This course traces the Code’s demise, starting with landmark films like The Miracle (1948) and La Ronde (1951), and examines the groundbreaking movies that followed, including Midnight Cowboy (1969) and The Godfather (1972). Explore how this shift reshaped cinema despite limited roles for actresses.
Elliot Lavine
Film Historian and Filmmaker
How did Hollywood shape popular culture during the turbulent 1940s, a decade defined by World War II? In this course, we’ll examine how the American film industry responded to the era’s challenges, producing iconic masterpieces across genres—from Westerns and musicals to film noir and war dramas. We’ll explore Hollywood’s enduring influence on global culture by viewing and discussing 20 classic films by legendary directors like John Ford, Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Capra, and Orson Welles.
Geography
Martin Lewis
Senior Lecturer in International History, Emeritus, Stanford
The global population has reached 8.1 billion, with an annual increase of 73 million people. Despite this growth, fertility rates are plummeting in many regions, raising concerns among experts. This course explores the geographically uneven patterns of population growth and fertility decline, presenting global demographic trends in a neutral manner and using both maps and graphs to illustrate these evolving conditions.
History
On Campus
Online
David Kennedy
Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History, Emeritus, Stanford
James Sheehan
Dickason Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Modern European History, Emeritus, Stanford
World War II is the defining event of the modern age, with unresolved controversies—like territorial conflicts and tensions between Russia and the West—still shaping today’s global dynamics. In this lecture series led by Stanford historians James Sheehan and David Kennedy, we explore five pivotal debates from World War II and its aftermath, each with lasting relevance.
Scott Rozelle
Faculty Co-Director, Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions
How did China evolve from an ancient agricultural society to a modern global powerhouse? This comprehensive course explores three critical phases of China’s economic development—pre-1949, the Socialist period, and recent market reforms—offering deep insights into China’s strategies and their profound impact on global markets and governance.
Margo Horn
Former Lecturer, Department of History, Stanford
This course celebrates the distinctive contributions women leaders are making to our world. Delve into the evolution of patriarchy and the rise of feminist politics that paved the way for women’s self-determination movements in the 19th and 20th centuries. Explore the historical impact of pathbreaking women leaders, from Eleanor Roosevelt to Indira Gandhi and Kamala Harris.
Online
Patrick Hunt
Former Director, Stanford Alpine Archaeology Project; Research Associate, Archeoethnobotany, Institute of EthnoMedicine
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the historical and cultural significance of wine, tracing its origins from the Neolithic Near East to the modern era. We’ll examine the role of wine in ancient Celtic, Greek, and Roman societies, its importance in French winemaking traditions, and the rise of California viticulture. Through a multidisciplinary approach that includes science, history, literature, and art, the course will also dive into the geographic and varietal differences that define major global wine regions.
Languages
On Campus
Heather Howard
Lecturer in French, Stanford
This course is designed for students who can engage in basic present-tense conversations in French and aims to expand their vocabulary on topics like family life, leisure activities, and professions. Through collaborative activities, students will enhance their oral and written proficiency, deepen their understanding of French and Francophone cultures, and develop practical communication skills for everyday situations.
Online
Giovanni Tempesta
Advanced Lecturer in Italian, Stanford
Andiamo in Italia! Designed for students with enough initial exposure to Italian to exchange greetings and talk about their immediate world, this course will help students expand and refine their language skills in speaking, reading, and listening. Learn to order a meal, make travel plans, and shop in an open-air market.
Online
María Cristina Urruela
Former Lecturer in Spanish, Stanford
It’s time to speak Spanish with confidence! This immersive course is your gateway to oral proficiency and comprehension, offering a vibrant exploration of the Spanish-speaking world and its rich cultures.
Online
María Cristina Urruela
Former Lecturer in Spanish, Stanford
This course welcomes students who can meet and greet others, express likes and dislikes, and talk about daily activities in present-tense Spanish. This course emphasizes interpersonal communication through class activities such as role-plays, conversational exchanges, and short presentations where students share their passions and interests.
Law & Policy
William Simon
William W. and Gertrude H. Saunders Professor of Law, Emeritus, Stanford; Arthur Levitt Professor of Law, Emeritus, Columbia
This course examines the significant recent shifts in constitutional doctrine driven by a transformative Supreme Court majority, exploring emerging themes in American law. Through case studies and analysis of court decisions, students will engage with topics like changes in rights protection, the consolidation of presidential power, the theory of originalism, and the implications for future constitutional interpretation.
Stacey Jessiman
Founder and Director, Jessiman Law
Uncover the hidden stories behind the world’s most contested art and artifacts in this course on art theft and heritage destruction. From the Age of Imperialism to today, this course will explore the legal, ethical, historical, cultural, and financial complexities surrounding these gripping cases. Learn about wartime looting, the repatriation of Indigenous artifacts, daring museum heists, and the underground trade of antiquities.
Linguistics
Online
Will Leben
Professor of Linguistics, Emeritus, Stanford
This course provides an introduction to linguistics, exploring the structure of language and its role in society. Examine sound, meaning, grammar, and language change, with examples from English and global languages. By the end, students will understand the systematic nature of language, its social significance, and its applications in fields like education, AI, and machine learning.
Literature
Michael Krasny
Professor of English, Emeritus, SF State
For years, the idea of a “Great American Novel” has intrigued writers and readers alike. But which novels, if any, truly earn that title? In this course, we’ll explore three profoundly American literary masterpieces—Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, and James Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain—renowned for their thematic richness, stylistic brilliance, and deep insights into American history, culture, and language.
Abigail Heald
Lecturer in Literature, UC Santa Cruz
In a society defined by strict social codes and rigid norms, Shakespeare’s women stood out as intelligent, witty, and powerful figures who often defied expectations. This course examines five of Shakespeare’s plays that put women at the center of the action: The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, Coriolanus, and Antony and Cleopatra. We’ll analyze these complex characters, uncover their modern relevance, and explore the depth of Shakespeare’s language in bringing them to life.
Anne Hruska
Senior English Instructor, Stanford Online High School
This course explores the profound questions at the heart of Russian literature, where authors like Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Gogol, and Chekhov confront themes of life, death, morality, and identity. Through works such as The Death of Ivan Ilyich and The Gambler, students will wrestle with timeless questions about truth, beauty, and the power of literary art. By examining these thought-provoking and often surprising texts, the course invites reflection on the human condition and the purpose of storytelling.
Music Studies
Dan Forte
Music Journalist and Editor
No object captures the transformative spirit of the late 20th century like the electric guitar; it reflected societal shifts as vividly as changing hemlines and hairstyles. This course explores how this simple instrument—a hunk of wood with steel strings and magnetic pickups—revolutionized music and mirrored cultural change.
Online
Stephen Schultz
Professor of Music, Carnegie Mellon
Johann Sebastian Bach masterfully fused German, French, and Italian traditions into a transformative synthesis that continues to influence composers and musicians today. This course offers an in-depth exploration of Bach’s life and compositions, from his early cantatas and Passions to the monumental works of his final decade, such as the Mass in B Minor and The Art of the Fugue.
Online
Michael Galisatus
Lecturer, Department of Music, Stanford; Director, Stanford Jazz Orchestra
Explore the evolution of jazz, from its roots in New Orleans to its influence on contemporary genres like hip hop and electronic music. This course examines jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis, uncovering how the genre broke artistic barriers and became a voice for civil rights and social change.
Music Studio
On Campus
Greg Vaughan
Instructor, Gryphon Stringed Instruments
Unleash your inner musician and dive into the enchanting world of the ukulele. This introductory course will equip you with the essential skills to play this fun instrument, from mastering uke chords and strumming techniques to exploring basic fingerpicking and rhythm.
Nature & Conservation Studies
Edwin Bernbaum
Co-Chair, International Union for Conservation of Nature Specialist Group on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas; Senior Fellow, Instituto de Montaña
From Mount Sinai in the Bible to Mount Everest in Nepal, mountains have always captivated our imagination and represented our highest aspirations. The course delves into the role of mountains in mythology, religion, literature, history, and art, drawing on the instructor’s personal experiences and research. It also examines the spiritual dimensions of mountaineering and addresses the pressing issues of climate change and environmental conservation. Leave with a deep understanding of the relevance of sacred mountains in our everyday lives.
Philosophy
Forrest Hartman
Senior Adjunct, Critical Studies Program, California College of the Arts
Explore the ethical challenges posed by AI as it becomes an integral part of daily life. We’ll focus on the “alignment problem”—the difficulty of ensuring AI systems adhere to human values and prevent harm. Through readings from philosophers like Nick Bostrom and Isaac Asimov, we’ll examine whether AI can make ethical decisions and discuss rigid rule-based systems versus flexible, empathy-driven frameworks.
Psychology
On Campus
Dona Tversky
Clinical Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford
Learn how to think like a psychotherapist and understand why we feel and behave the way we do. Gain insight into why psychotherapists focus on early life relationships and learning, why they privilege emotions, and why they see the seeming contradictions in our lives as places for deeper understanding. Leave the course with a newfound appreciation for the complexity of minds, a richer comprehension of the psychology behind everyday life, and a fresh perspective on personal relationships, group dynamics, and the tapestry of human experience.
Marwa Azab
Adjunct Professor of Psychology, CSU Long Beach
What if we could manage our emotions more effectively? Gain a foundational understanding of the neuroscience of emotions and regulation, exploring how emotions are constructed in the brain and how they influence thoughts, decisions, and relationships. This awareness can have far-reaching implications for fostering mental health, positive relationships, and our general quality of life.
Science
On Campus
Bruce Fogel
Adjunct Professor, Division of Clinical Anatomy, Department of Surgery, Stanford Medicine
Miguel Angeles
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Clinical Anatomy, Department of Surgery, Stanford Medicine
Explore cadaver specimens and digital technologies used by Stanford medical students and surgeons in the treatment and care of patients. Learn how to identify anatomical structures and common clinical conditions affecting the abdomen, with emphasis on the gallbladder, appendix, and reproductive system.
Victor Henderson
Professor of Epidemiology & Population Health and of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford
Gain a deep understanding of Alzheimer’s neurological underpinnings, familial factors, and distinctions from other forms of dementia, and learn about contemporary diagnostic methods, cutting-edge treatments, emerging therapies, and potential preventive measures. This course features faculty from the Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
Online
Clyde Wilson
Research Associate, Biochemistry, UC San Francisco
Get ready to kickstart a healthier you in the New Year! Explore the intricate relationship between nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress on your metabolism. Develop a personalized plan to boost your metabolism and achieve your health and fitness goals.
Tobi Schmidt
Immunologist and Personal Health Educator
Explore the fundamental biology of menopausal transition, understanding the pivotal role of sex hormones, bodily changes from perimenopause to menopause, and effective symptom relief strategies, including hormone replacement therapy. We’ll address key health considerations like heart disease and dementia risks and dive into menopause’s impact on metabolism, immune function, and gut microbiota.
Robert Siegel
Professor (Teaching) of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford Medicine
Take a journey through the realm of nature photography, where you’ll explore themes like ecological preservation and the artistry of capturing nature’s marvels. Deepen your connection with the natural world, ignite your powers of observation, and facilitate the communication of complex scientific ideas, all through the captivating language of visual and verbal storytelling.
Sports
On Campus
Online
Tara VanDerveer
Former Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Stanford
Join legendary Stanford basketball coach Tara VanDerveer—who retired in 2024 as the winningest coach in NCAA history—for an unmatched dive into the evolution and strategy of basketball. She will guide you through basketball’s origins to its global rise, including the growing popularity of women’s basketball. Examine key milestones like the impact of Title IX, the formation of the WNBA following the 1996 Olympics, and Stanford’s national championship seasons.
Art Studio
Art Studio
Reignite your capacity for creativity in an art studio course. From drawing and photography to creating your own podcast or video, our courses will help you develop your skills and find inspiration that will truly elevate your creative expression.
Audio, Video & Film
Digant Kasundra
Founder, Dead Set Films
This course is designed for beginners to learn the fundamentals of video creation, covering scriptwriting, storyboarding, shooting, and editing techniques using DaVinci Resolve. Students will analyze professional films and commercials, apply filmmaking strategies, and ultimately produce and publish their own short video.
Online
Laura Joyce Davis
Lecturer and Managing Editor, Stanford Storytelling Project
Have you ever marveled at the mesmerizing narratives in your favorite podcasts and wondered how they’re crafted? Learn how to transform stories into captivating podcast episodes through the use of scriptwriting, narration, audio editing, and sound design. Gain hands-on experience with audio editing tools and leave the course with a toolkit of techniques to enhance your future podcasting projects.
Drawing, Painting & Other Media
Online
Trevor Tubelle
Artist
Break free from realism and delve into the imaginative and conceptual world of abstraction. In this course, we will use a variety of strategies—from highly structured plans to wildly spontaneous accidents—to examine what it means to create abstract art.
Katie Hawkinson
Artist
Unlock the world of abstract art by exploring how it draws inspiration from the observed world while transforming elements like color, shape, and composition to convey emotions and truths. Reflect on the techniques of renowned artists like Cézanne, Matisse, and Kandinsky, and develop your own modern aesthetic using water-based media in this enriching course.
Gabriella Grill
Artist
Discover the hidden stories within everyday objects and transform them into art in this hands-on sculpture course. Through creative projects like assemblage, repair, and self-portraiture, students will explore color, form, and metaphor, learning techniques to reimagine found materials while uncovering their cultural and emotional significance.
Ann Miller
Artist
This course offers an in-depth exploration of the history and application of Norse runes, from Elder Futhark to the Ogham alphabet, highlighting their influence on modern design elements like the Bluetooth logo. Students will engage in practical exercises, such as crafting runes into various designs and mastering calligraphy techniques, to create personalized artwork that integrates these ancient symbols with contemporary artistic methods.
On Campus
John Peck
Instructor, Triton Museum of Art
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this course will equip you with the techniques to create realistic portraits and serve as a valuable foundation for future painting endeavors. Using a small mirror, we will distinguish between our imagination and what our eyes actually see. This approach will lead to an entirely objective way of seeing and drawing the realistic portrait.
Lauren Toomer
Lecturer, Department of Art & Art History and Division of Clinical Anatomy, Stanford
Based on the Art and Anatomy courses for Stanford medical students, this course is a unique opportunity to explore the human body with the eye of an artist. Through hands-on drawing and step-by-step guidance, you’ll develop both your artistic skills and anatomical knowledge, leaving you with the ability to depict the human skeleton with creativity and accuracy.
Photography
Joel Simon
Documentary and Fine Art Photographer
John Lambert
Photographer
Access to imagery has never been easier than in our digital age. Our phones and cameras are capable of producing hundreds, thousands, maybe millions of photos, but to what end and to what beginning? This course is designed for photography enthusiasts who want to build a creative practice of making photos every day.
Joel Simon
Documentary and Fine Art Photographer
John Lambert
Photographer
Capture compelling close-up photographs wherever you go. Learn to appreciate the visual delights of “seeing” close up and revealing familiar elements in unfamiliar ways. Understand how to control depth of field and “figure to ground” separation and examine the roles of color, contrast, shadow, texture, and form to create intriguing compositions—both simple and complex.
Yunfei Ren
Visual Artist
Whether you’re a beginner looking to develop a creative outlet or an experienced photographer seeking to adapt to the mobile era, this course is designed to empower you with the skills needed to create fine art photographs using only your smartphone. You will learn to look at the world like an artist, enabling you to create visually captivating and emotionally resonant images.
Yoni Mayeri
Photographer and iPhoneographer
Learn to turn your everyday iPhone photos into stunning pictures. Explore the built-in Photos app for editing and enhancing images, optimize the features of the native camera, and discover third-party editing applications and accessories to enhance your images.
John Todd
Photographer
Learn the fundamental concepts of landscape photography—including composition, camera settings, visualization, and discovering your personal vision—in this introductory course suitable for any image-capture device. Tailored for beginners eager to dive into landscape photography and experienced photographers seeking a new challenge, this course provides the tools and inspiration to create beautiful landscape photographs on your own.
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Indulge your taste buds in a culinary journey through our Food & Drink courses. From wine and coffee to chocolate and cheese, our courses are designed to broaden your knowledge and feed your curiosity.
Food & Drink Courses
Liz Thach
President, Wine Market Council
Dive into the wine business and discover how sustainable, organic, biodynamic, and natural wines impact the industry’s value chain—especially in viticulture and winemaking. Explore various channels for marketing and selling wine, and gain insights into key consumer segments, trends, and regulatory requirements.
Trevor Ring
Founder, Community Cultures
This course explores Asia’s rich fermentation traditions, offering both history and hands-on experience in crafting a variety of fermented foods. We’ll cover time-honored techniques that go beyond Western staples like sauerkraut and kombucha. Whether you’re a fermentation enthusiast or curious home cook, you’ll learn to build home incubators, ferment with diverse microbes, and create inventive, delicious products.
Wellness & Health
Wellness & Health
Prioritize your health and wellness with courses designed to help you build healthy habits and support your mental and emotional well-being. Explore courses taught by psychologists, physicians, health advisors, and other experts in their field.
Emotional & Mental Health
Kelly McGonigal
Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Joy is the human capacity to feel uplifted by something that is, at its essence, “good.” Explore the physiological, mental, and social benefits of joy and learn practical strategies rooted in psychology and neuroscience to help you harness and choose joy as a deliberate and empowering force in your life. Discover the transformative impact of cultivating joy as a daily choice and unlock the potential for greater fulfillment and happiness.
Campbell Frank
Lecturer, Interpersonal Dynamics, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Uncover the transformative potential of emotional intelligence (EQ) as we blend ancient wisdom with modern science and practical techniques. Journey through philosophy, mindfulness, and experiential practices to develop a deeper awareness of emotions and enhance your decision-making, relationships, and overall well-being.
Life Design
Terri Hanson Mead
Author and Inspirational Speaker
Specifically designed for women over 40, this immersive course offers guidance and support during the pivotal transitions of midlife. It’s designed to help rediscover purpose, embrace change, and draw wisdom from personal stories, offering strategies to foster fulfillment and empowerment through midlife transformations.
Mindfulness
Ted DesMaisons
Founder and Principal, ANIMA Learning
Embark on a journey toward a more mindful, joyful life. This immersive course fuses mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy with the spontaneity of improvisational theater. Dive into engaging topics such as embracing failure, cultivating curiosity and kindness, understanding the mind as a storyteller, and shifting from reactivity to response.
Nutrition
Rosane Oliveira
President & CEO, Plant-Based Life Foundation
Plant-based nutrition is one of the most powerful ways to improve your health, lose (or maintain) weight, and contribute to a more sustainable world. Learn the fads, facts, and fiction surrounding different plant-centered diets, including Mediterranean, Blue Zones, vegetarian, vegan, and whole-food plant-based. Discover what foods to eat and what foods to avoid to promote health, vitality, and longevity.
Online
Clyde Wilson
Research Associate, Biochemistry, UC San Francisco
Get ready to kickstart a healthier you in the New Year! Explore the intricate relationship between nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress on your metabolism. Develop a personalized plan to boost your metabolism and achieve your health and fitness goals.
Physical Health & Well-Being
Quinn Kennedy
Director of Aging Research, neuroFit
This course focuses on the often-overlooked aspect of retirement planning: maintaining cognitive health into our later years. We will explore pragmatic, evidence-based strategies for enhancing brain health through physical exercise, social connections, diet, and sleep; critically evaluate brain-training products and supplements; and create a personalized plan for integrating cognitive-boosting activities into our daily routines for a mentally active retirement.
Tobi Schmidt
Immunologist and Personal Health Educator
Explore the fundamental biology of menopausal transition, understanding the pivotal role of sex hormones, bodily changes from perimenopause to menopause, and effective symptom relief strategies, including hormone replacement therapy. We’ll address key health considerations like heart disease and dementia risks and dive into menopause’s impact on metabolism, immune function, and gut microbiota.
Creative Writing
Creative Writing
Whether you’re just beginning to write or putting the finishing touches on your first novel, our writing courses offer expert instruction from accomplished authors, individual attention, and supportive feedback. Choose from courses in creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, memoir, magazine writing, travel writing, the short story, and more.
Creative Nonfiction & Memoir
Monica Wesolowska
Author and Editor
Embark on an impactful memoir writing journey and discover the art of creating narratives that deeply resonate with readers. Learn to delve into your experiences, master narrative techniques, and emerge with a compelling truth that captivates and moves your audience.
Rachel Howard
Author
This exploratory course in creative nonfiction focuses on transforming everyday details into universal experiences through various forms, from lyric to narrative. By studying authors like Richard Rodriguez, Grace Paley, Joan Didion, and Amy Tan, students will learn to uncover deeper truths in their writing, discovering meaning rather than imposing it.
John Evans
Phyllis Draper Lecturer of Creative Nonfiction, Department of English, Stanford
Prepare to unlock the secrets of compelling storytelling, ignite your creative spark, and embark on a path of personal and artistic development like never before. Through an immersive exploration of essays across diverse memoir subgenres, excerpts from renowned memoir books, and a curated memoir course reader, you will not only deepen your understanding and appreciation of memoir but also nurture your growth as a skilled and imaginative writer.
Amanda Montei
Author
Discover how to effectively craft a compelling book-length memoir by managing the passage of time, drawing inspiration from such authors as Roxane Gay, Mary Karr, and Maggie Nelson. Learn to establish a primary timeline for your memoir while weaving in key periods or research threads to enrich context, plot, and characterization. Explore strategies for defining your story’s boundaries and moving fluidly through time to build tension and deepen meaning.
Genre
Faith Merino
Author
This course focuses on writing a speculative novel, helping you navigate the challenge of balancing world-building with character development and plot. You’ll learn how to create immersive worlds while keeping the story moving, especially in genre-blurring fiction like sci-fi, fantasy, and horror.
Jeanne De Vita
Author and Editor
Do you have a love story in mind and want to try your hand at writing a successful romance novel? Learn to avoid common mistakes and follow what the pros do to make their stories stand out. Study the current romance publishing landscape and explore the concepts of genre, sub-genre, and niche, reading and analyzing examples of best-selling works by authors such as Emily Henry, Casey McQuiston, and Jasmine Guillory.
Narrative Craft
Robert Hoekman Jr.
Author and Editor
At the core of every unforgettable piece of writing lies its driving force: the sentence. This course explores the art of crafting sentences that truly resonate, focusing on techniques for dynamic composition, structure, and syntax. Through hands-on exercises in rhythm, precision, and style, you’ll learn how to turn ordinary sentences into powerful, captivating ones—emphasizing the impact of verbs, sound, and unexpected twists.
Deborah Johnson
Author
Do you have an idea for a novel or a work of creative nonfiction but feel overwhelmed by not knowing how to write your story? This course, which is appropriate for writers of all levels, will demystify the art of storytelling by teaching you how to write scenes—the basic building blocks of all stories, whether real or imagined.
Jeff Lyons
Writer and Producer
Subplots are essential for maintaining momentum in the middle of any novel or memoir, yet many writers overlook their importance. Learn how to consciously design subplots that enhance the main story, ensuring your narrative never lags and keeps both you and your readers engaged until the very end.
Novel
On Campus
Angela Pneuman
Author
Starting a novel is an exciting venture—and one that can soon turn daunting. Unlike the compressed energy of a short story, the novel’s world spools out over time and often involves the management of layered plots and a large cast of characters. But these challenges are also opportunities. Experiment with various approaches to your own novel beginnings, gaining insights into managing plot layers and character dynamics.
Christine Sneed
Author
Break ground on your debut novel in this supportive and practical workshop. Explore novel-worthy ideas, craft or refine gripping premises that captivate readers from the first page, and learn strategies for developing multidimensional characters with strong motivations and compelling arcs—all to help you make meaningful progress on your debut novel.
Sarah Stone
Author
Ideal for writers with a novel or novella in progress, this course helps you break through common hurdles—whether you’re stuck on chapter 3 or grappling with a rough draft revision. Dive into plot structure, character development, captivating beginnings and endings, POV, voice, and world-building…and walk away with a clear roadmap for completing your novel.
Stephanie Reents
Author
Writing a novel is challenging. This course is designed to help you on your journey by providing the inspiration and structure needed to draft the next 50–80 pages of your manuscript. Generative exercises, weekly deadlines, and feedback focusing on possibilities and patterns—rather than problems—will inspire you to keep moving forward.
Poetry
Jalen Eutsey
Poet
Discover the art of writing poetry that resonates beyond immediate understanding, capturing emotions and ideas that unfold with each reading. Explore the rhythm and sound of language—rhyme, assonance, and alliteration—while mastering essential elements like imagery and tone. Study poets like Elizabeth Bishop and Terrance Hayes and develop a collection of your own work that embodies the depth and nuance of true poetic craft.
Keith Wilson
Creative Writing Faculty, Spalding University
We all aspire to write exceptional poems, but what should we do when our cherished lines don’t resonate with others? Moreover, what if we struggle to identify our most impactful lines? This course provides invaluable guidance for writers of all levels, emphasizing the crucial skill of crafting contemporary poetry by strengthening and embracing our distinct voices that lie at the core of our uniqueness.
On Campus
David Gorin
Poet
In this generative poetry workshop, explore the power of using concrete nouns to bring vividness and energy to your writing. Through techniques inspired by improv, Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities, and ancient Chinese and Japanese poets, you’ll learn to create rich, imaginative worlds in your poems. By the end, you’ll have a portfolio of new poems and a deeper understanding of how to “talk in things.”
Prompt-Driven Writing
Niloufar Talebi
Author
Transform your “aha” moments into captivating narratives across various writing genres. With dynamic exercises inspired by diverse art forms, collaborative live sessions, and a supportive community, this course empowers both novices and seasoned writers to unleash their creativity and develop consistent, inspired writing practices.
Daniel White
Author
This creativity-boosting course is designed to help you overcome writer’s block and spark fresh ideas for stories, essays, poems, and books. We’ll begin with “radical defamiliarization,” reimagining the ordinary and strange, and then explore surrealist traditions and absurdist twists through works by Yukiko Motoya and world-building with guidance from authors like Ursula K. Le Guin and Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah.
Online
Caroline Goodwin
Author
Discover the therapeutic power of creative writing as you embark on a journey to find meaning, healing, and connection through words. This course offers daily prompts, diverse literary samples, and a supportive community to help you explore your personal truths in creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, empowering you to develop a strong writing practice and a sense of purpose in today’s complex world.
Publishing
Tiffany Hawk
Author and Publishing Consultant
Overcome procrastination, perfectionism, and doubts like lacking new ideas, expertise, or having a too-personal story. Transform your rough idea into a roadmap for a groundbreaking book only you can write. Hone your idea, develop a unique and marketable hook, outline your structure, and brainstorm effective ways to build your platform.
Jeanne De Vita
Author and Editor
Craft an effective query letter to capture the attention of agents and publishers. Learn to research comparable titles, identify suitable markets, and create a tailored list of agents or publishers. Discover the submission process, from interpreting agent responses to planning your next steps. By the end of the course, you’ll have a complete, polished submission package and the confidence to submit your work.
Emma Nelson
Editorial Director, Owl Hollow Press
Acquire the tools to navigate the publishing industry confidently. Explore the pros and cons of traditional publishing, self-publishing, and hybrid models, and learn about manuscript preparation, querying agents, and the roles of editors and publishers. With guest speakers, including a literary agent and a published author, plus opportunities to workshop your query letter, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to choose the publishing path that aligns with your goals.
Reading Like a Writer
Robert Anthony Siegel
Author and Writing Coach
Join us as we learn how to read like writers and write like readers. By taking apart great short stories or “reading like a writer,” we can learn how to put together our own stories more effectively, identifying and eventually incorporating other writers’ techniques into our own work. This course is designed to help students hone their critical reading habits, gain a deeper understanding of story construction, and produce exercises that may become the basis of future stories.
Short Story
Daniel Orozco
Author
The short story attains its dramatic heft mainly by being short, and the best stories derive their emotive power over the reader via elision, compression, and concision—the three essential methodologies for all practitioners of the form. In this introductory course, you’ll conceive, build, and develop a story. We’ll talk about first sentences, first paragraphs, world-building, foreshadowing, conflict, crisis, tension, and closure—all in a supportive and respectful environment.
Evgeniya Dame
Author
This course equips writers with the tools to craft captivating short stories, focusing on choosing engaging openings and satisfying endings and maintaining momentum throughout. Through an exploration of plot elements and various opening and ending techniques, writers will develop a strong understanding of story structure from conception to completion.
Thomas McNeely
Author
Unleash your storytelling potential by diving into the artistic process of transforming raw experiences into polished works of fiction. Through weekly submissions and expert guidance, you’ll master the craft of manipulating point of view, setting, tension, and more.
Communication
Communication
Hone your communication skills and learn how to convey a clear, compelling, and consistent message. Our courses in public speaking, interpersonal communications, and more will help you succeed in business and personal settings.
Communication Courses
On Campus
James Wagstaffe
Instructor, Oral Communication Program, Stanford Summer Session
Bruce Bean
Founder and Owner, The Trafton Group Commercial Real Estate
Discover a hands-on, pragmatic approach to developing essential public speaking skills. From making memorable first impressions to captivating your audience, you’ll learn how to transform a “no” into a “yes.” Discover various speaking styles, from impromptu talks to compelling storytelling, and explore traditional speech genres like informative, persuasive, and entertaining presentations.
Marianne Neuwirth
Communication Consultant and Coach
Stories and storytelling are integral to every culture on Earth. Learn the art of storytelling by exploring storylistening, story construction, and oral delivery techniques. Gain skills to craft compelling, relatable stories with clear plotlines, vivid details, and engaging delivery through voice and body language.
On Campus
Amy Wong
Conversational Intelligence Certified Executive Coach
Get ready to stop informing and start inspiring! In this dynamic and engaging workshop, we will delve into the art of effective delivery, whether in virtual or in-person settings, and uncover the secrets to building trust, increasing credibility, and engaging your audience purposefully. By mastering nonverbal communication techniques and exploring the neuroscience behind them, you will be empowered with the skills to create a positive impact in every communication exchange, no matter the scale.
On Campus
Lee Eisler-Duvall
Founder and CEO, Presence Delivered
Gary Grossman
Independent Theater Professional
Unlock the power of your authentic voice in this dynamic, experiential workshop designed to enhance your speaking skills. Using a blend of business coaching and acting techniques, you’ll learn to claim the stage, project presence, and captivate any audience. Present a series of speeches on personal and professional topics, while mastering the eight essential tools of great delivery—such as storytelling, metaphor, vocal tone, and spatial dynamics.
Carmen Simon
Cognitive Neuroscientist
Learn to think visually and create persuasive content that inspires action, even without prior design experience. Whether you’re working with data, processes, structures, or abstract concepts, this course will teach you how to use pictures, text, lines, color, and texture to bring your business communications to life. Discover universal design principles that help your audience process information quickly and easily, ensuring your message is clear, engaging, and impactful.
Susan Neville
Facilitator, Interpersonal Dynamics and LEAD Program, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Campbell Frank
Facilitator, Interpersonal Dynamics, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Kevin Martin
Facilitator, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and relationship building with this unique course inspired by the renowned “Interpersonal Dynamics” program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Through immersive T-group experiences, small-group collaborations, and engaging class exercises, you will develop a profound understanding of yourself and others.
Jeff Cabili
Founder and Principal, How2Captivate
Discover the keys to effective nonverbal communication and master the “how to say it” aspect rather than solely focusing on “what to say.” Explore the nuances of expression, encompassing gestures, body language, vocal techniques, eye contact, and the strategic use of silence. Gain insights into leveraging nonverbal communication as a powerful tool for influencing others, even in challenging situations.
Debra Schifrin
Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Daniel Schifrin
Founder, StoryForward
Become proficient in thinking quickly and be empowered to handle unexpected situations with ease, inclusiveness, and humor. Boost your confidence and communication skills by cultivating curiosity, embracing spontaneity, and engaging your audience with energy and delight. By developing a stronger and more intuitive communication style, you’ll prevent missteps and forge authentic connections with your audience.
Neil Jacobs
Professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures, Emeritus, Ohio State
Take your English proficiency to the next level with this comprehensive accent reduction course. Through a combination of theory, practical exercises, and personalized feedback, you will gain a deep understanding of English speech sounds, tackle pronunciation challenges, master word stress and intonation, and navigate the nuances of formal and casual speech.
Elke Framson
Communication Coach
Clear and concise writing is essential for professional and personal success, especially for non-native English speakers. Master the principles of effective business writing, from formal proposals to essential daily communications like emails. Focus on organizing your thoughts, choosing precise words, and structuring sentences and paragraphs for maximum clarity and impact. Plus, explore how AI tools can support your writing process.
Business
Business
Our business courses will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in building your career, launching a startup, or growing a business. Taught by industry leaders from Silicon Valley and beyond, our courses cover product management, marketing, finance, leadership, and more.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Bret Waters
Entrepreneur and Silicon Valley Investor
Delve deep into the narratives of successful startups like Zoom, Venmo, and Zapier, revealing the strategies that propelled them from niche markets to the mainstream. With exclusive insights from founders and venture capitalists, this course provides a firsthand look at the key elements that drive entrepreneurial victories.
James Terranova
Managing Director, Emeritus, WS Investment Company at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Ready to launch your new enterprise? This course offers a comprehensive overview of venture capital and angel financing, covering topics such as risk assessment, funding organization, negotiation strategies, and current industry trends. Gain valuable perspectives from both the startup and investor sides—essential for anyone navigating the world of entrepreneurship and seeking funding for their ventures.
Sally Dominguez
Founder and Strategist, Adventurous Thinking Group
This immersive workshop is designed to push you beyond conventional thinking and unlock groundbreaking ideas through the “five lenses” of creativity: negative space, thinking sideways, thinking backwards, rethinking, and parkour. Learn to tackle challenges with fresh perspectives, generating innovative solutions that break from routine thinking and enhancing your ability to drive innovation and achieve better outcomes in both your personal and professional life.
Finance & Investing
Markus Lipp
Finance Executive, Consultant, and Investor
This course is designed to empower leaders and managers to understand their organization’s financial health with confidence. Gain practical skills in financial analysis, statement interpretation, investment decision-making, and budgeting, equipping you to make informed business decisions and drive success.
On Campus
Christopher Canellos
Certified Public Accountant
It’s not how much you make—it’s what you keep. This course dives into advanced financial planning strategies, emphasizing the critical role of taxes in wealth accumulation. Explore sophisticated tax-saving measures, gain insights into recent changes in the US income tax code, and learn how to integrate this knowledge into your financial planning to optimize wealth generation and minimize tax liabilities.
Kenneth Marshall
Chairman, Judicial Capital and Judicial Corporation
This course introduces a proven value investing model inspired by successful investors like Warren Buffett. Learn to thoroughly understand a company, evaluate its prospects using simple accounting and strategic analysis, and identify undervalued stocks. Weekly exercises will apply these principles to real companies, helping you gain practical insights and avoid biases. By mastering these tools, you will develop the skills needed to adopt an effective, time-tested capital management strategy.
Kenneth Marshall
Chairman, Judicial Capital and Judicial Corporation
This course provides a clear and practical approach to managing personal finances, accessible to anyone motivated to learn. It begins by teaching essential economic concepts, such as risk, growth, and incentives, to lay a strong foundation for decision-making. Then, it applies these concepts to key areas of personal finance, including spending, saving, investing, and planning. Emphasizing simple, effective solutions, the course avoids complex jargon and focuses on building students’ confidence in making sound financial choices.
Leadership & Management
Moe Lotfy
Data Science and Analytics Leader
Whether you are new to the job market or an established leader, converting data into actionable insights is a crucial business skill and the cornerstone of informed decision-making. This course will equip students with the knowledge and practical skills to navigate complex analytical challenges by teaching them how to interpret data and turn numbers into compelling narratives that inspire action and drive innovation.
JeanAnn Nichols
Executive Coach and Author
Lisen Stromberg
Company Advisor and Author
This course equips next-gen leaders with the skills and insights needed to thrive in today’s complex business environment. Learn the six essential power skills of modern leadership: humility, empathy, accountability, resiliency, transparency, and inclusivity. Gain a deeper understanding of your leadership style and build an action plan for growth.
Marta Hanson
Principal, Social Impact Consulting
People who tap into their strengths daily are not only more engaged at work but also more likely to enjoy an exceptional quality of life. In this course, you’ll dive into leadership through the lens of strengths, discovering how to harness your natural talents to achieve success and turn that insight into powerful, actionable steps for the future.
Denise Rabius
Executive Coach, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Gain a strategic advantage in the corporate world by unlocking the power of your unique leadership style. Refine your signature leadership style, strengthen your presence, and develop tools for coaching effectively and navigating complex conversations. Learn to overcome gender biases with insights from academic research and practical exercises, elevating your leadership competencies to make a significant impact on organizational strategy and execution.
Nita Singh Kaushal
Founder, NSK Leadership and Miss CEO
This two-day leadership workshop tailored for women focuses on honing professional communication skills, advocating for career goals, and gaining support from key stakeholders. Learn to build trusted relationships with sponsors, manage time effectively, and enhance your overall professional impact. Leave the course equipped with practical tools and strategies to maximize career potential.
Tiffany Teng
Product and Marketing Executive
Imagine reframing workplace conflicts as opportunities for growth and connection. Drawing from conflict mediation, psychology, and neurobiology, you’ll gain practical tools and frameworks to effectively manage workplace and interpersonal conflicts, from identifying needs and de-escalation techniques to fostering psychological safety and navigating power dynamics.
Tina Choi
CEO and Founder, Travonde
Susan Greene
Executive Leadership Coach
This course will help students understand their leadership style and create a power declaration and map to aid in identifying and advancing projects relevant to their goals. Key topics include building and leveraging personal power, aligning with a higher purpose for impactful leadership, and navigating relational power dynamics. Students will also learn about the “four sources of power”—positional, relational, personal, and higher-purpose.
Nita Singh Kaushal
Founder, NSK Leadership and Miss CEO
Knowing how to skillfully and confidently advocate for yourself is essential to succeeding in the workplace, navigating opportunities, and achieving meaningful goals. This course is designed to teach women how to develop a proactive and effective approach when it comes to negotiation. Specifically, students will learn how to adopt a winning attitude, improve their mindset, and implement valuable information-gathering techniques in order to determine the right target.
Heather Meeker Green
Co-Founder and Senior Consultant, Accordence
Mastering negotiation is essential for success, whether you’re dealing with colleagues, clients, friends, or family. Discover the core principles that underlie successful negotiations, including trust-building, clear communication, and the delicate balance between collaboration and assertiveness.
Matthias Weber
Partner, Mighty Capital
Discover the essential roles and responsibilities of startup board members, gain insights into effective governance dynamics, and learn how to navigate critical moments in a company’s lifecycle. From fundraising to IPO, this comprehensive course is designed for both aspiring and experienced board members of fast-growing startups.
Marketing
Liz Berman
Marketing and Strategy Consultant
Discover the essential strategies and tactics for fostering customer loyalty and long-lasting relationships. Grounded in loyalty economics and the science of retention, this course explores key concepts, innovative techniques, and real-world insights from industry leaders. Whether you’re a marketer, product manager, or general manager, unlock the resources to cultivate lifelong customers.
Jason McDonald
Director, JM Internet Group
Gain a thorough grasp of the contemporary digital marketing landscape and the proven strategies that engage consumers during pivotal decision-making moments. Enhance your expertise in key topics such as social media, search engine optimization, content marketing, and online advertising.
Miscellaneous/Other Business
Tatiana Legrain
Lawyer and Art Advisor
This course introduces the art market and gives students the tools to navigate it. Learn about key artworks from the past century and how they gain importance among scholars and critics. Discover the connection between an artwork’s history and its market value, with guest speakers offering insights into the roles of artists, collectors, and auction houses.
Product Management
Vikash Rungta
Lead Product Manager
This course is designed to equip product managers, startup founders, and technology strategists with a deep understanding of GenAI and its practical applications in product development. It offers real-life examples and hands-on learning experiences to explore how GenAI is revolutionizing the technology industry. Gain insights into strategic integration of GenAI into existing and future products, building technical skills and decision-making capabilities to effectively align product strategy, advancements in GenAI, and business goals.
Kunal Punjabi
Product Management and Product Strategy Leader
Master the entire product management lifecycle, from idea generation and market research to effective product design and collaborative Agile methodologies. By learning the tools to create successful products and avoid common pitfalls, you’ll build the confidence and skills you need to excel in this highly influential field.
Project Management
Trevor Gamba
Operations Leader
This hands-on course teaches project management by analyzing real-world case studies and applying insights to an actual project scenario. Students will develop a comprehensive plan using the SMART approach and gain proficiency in Waterfall and Agile methodologies, as well as essential tools like Microsoft Project and Smartsheet, to successfully lead projects across industries.
Technology & Data Science
Technology & Data Science
Embark on a journey through artificial intelligence, master a new coding language, or dive into the world of data science. We offer courses designed for all skill levels, from novices to seasoned programmers.
AI & Machine Learning
Gauthier Vasseur
Business Analytics Leader and Strategist
Unlock AI’s potential by learning to align its applications with business goals, develop an AI vision, build an operating model, and foster an AI-driven culture. Gain practical skills in stakeholder alignment, data planning, and ethics while designing an AI prototype to drive business transformation.
On Campus
Online
Ronjon Nag
Adjunct Professor in Genetics, Stanford Medicine
This crash course is your gateway to unlocking the potential and unraveling the complexities of AI. Topics covered include neural networks, generative AI, large language models, and the societal and ethical aspects of AI applications.
Ronjon Nag
Adjunct Professor in Genetics, Stanford Medicine
Leverage the power of AI in biology, business, and beyond—without needing to code. This advanced course focuses on practical applications. Gain hands-on experience training and fine-tuning large language models on platforms like GPT, navigating the complexities of model selection and utilization. Expert guest speakers will provide real-world insights into building and deploying AI systems.
Gaurav Khanna
Senior Manager, Data Science and Digital Journeys, Cisco Systems
This course examines well-known AI technologies like natural language processing, computer vision, and pattern recognition. We will break each application down into its component parts to understand how the underlying technology works and why it’s most appropriate for particular use cases. Developing this practical understanding of different AI models will enable students to strategically implement AI tools to increase productivity, reduce costs, or create new products and revenue streams.
Charlie Flanagan
Head of Applied AI, Balyasny Asset Management
Develop the practical skills required for creating large language model applications for text generation, translation, sentiment analysis, and more. Learn the differences between various model architectures and how to select which architecture is best suited for a particular use case, techniques for efficient training and fine-tuning of models, and how to select and interpret metrics for model performance predictions. Obtain hands-on experience in Python, LangChain, OpenAI, and Hugging Face.
Gregory Ryslik
Chief Technology Officer, Compass Pathways
Patrick Staples
Biostatistician and Data Scientist
Gain a high-level overview of some of the most common concepts in statistics that make AI and ML possible: inference and prediction. You will come away with a high-level understanding of common statistical tools used in AI and ML algorithms and will be able to derive your own conclusions from statistical studies.
Design
On Campus
Rupa Chaturvedi
Product Design Professional
Designed for both UX professionals and newcomers, this course teaches you how to design AI-powered user experiences by blending traditional UX principles with AI-specific strategies. You’ll learn foundational concepts like natural language understanding and natural language processing and key design principles such as fairness, bias mitigation, and conversation flow.
Programming
Prasad Saripalli
Vice President of ML and AI and Distinguished Engineer, MindBody
Learn to build a robot! This course introduces students to the expanding realm of robotics, reflecting their integration into everyday life from manufacturing to autonomous operations. Designed for those curious about or aspiring to a career in robotics, it offers foundational knowledge in programming, control systems, and sensors. Through lectures, lab sessions, and hands-on projects, students gain essential skills for exploring opportunities across various industries like manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and R&D.
Scott Simpson
Software Developer
Learn the fundamentals of Python in this beginner-friendly course—and build valuable programming skills. Discover how to design and create a basic terminal-based note-taking application using foundational Python concepts such as variables, control structures, and collections.
AI Leadership Series
AI Leadership: A Three-Course Series
Artificial intelligence will have a profound impact on the way we work and on what shape our jobs and careers will take in years to come. In this three-course series, students will develop a deep and practical understanding of this new and transformative technology. They will explore the foundational underpinnings of AI and large language models, learn how to strategically select AI applications to meet specific business needs, and even have a chance to build their own AI-based solutions, with little or no coding needed. Students who complete the series will be able to seamlessly integrate AI into their own work processes and effectively lead AI initiatives within their organizations.
No prerequisites or prior experience with AI are required. Completing each course guarantees priority registration in the following quarter. Each course can be taken independently as well.
Winter 2025: Leading AI Transformation
Gauthier Vasseur
Business Analytics Leader and Strategist
This course offers frameworks and strategies for developing and implementing AI initiatives within organizations. Students will learn to identify high-impact AI use cases and align them with strategic business objectives. They will design a roadmap and requirements for bringing to life an AI solution, with particular emphasis placed on developing an AI vision, establishing an AI operating model, and fostering an AI-driven culture.
Spring 2025: Building and Scaling AI Solutions
Hamza Farooq
Adjunct Professor, University of Minnesota and Santa Clara University
This course provides students with practical skills for developing, deploying, and scaling AI solutions. Students will gain hands-on experience working across the entire AI application lifecycle—from data processing and model training to deployment, monitoring, and optimization. They will also have the opportunity to experiment with low-code/no-code approaches to conceptualizing and building AI-based applications.
Fall 2024: Introducing AI Systems
Gaurav Khanna
Senior Manager, Data Science and Digital Journeys, Cisco Systems
This course examines well-known AI technologies such as natural language processing, computer vision, and pattern recognition. We will break each application down into its component parts to understand how the underlying technology works and why it’s most appropriate for particular use cases. Developing this practical understanding of different AI models will enable students to strategically implement AI tools to increase productivity, reduce costs, or create new products and revenue streams.
This course has been completed.
Writing Certificates
Writing Certificates
Have you always wanted to write a book? Our Novel Writing Certificate and Memoir Writing Certificate are designed to take you from initial inspiration to a polished manuscript.
Each certificate consists of six courses and is facilitated completely online. The two-year format of each program allows you to access courses from anywhere, participate in classes on your schedule, and receive invaluable feedback and encouragement from instructors and peers as you work toward completing your novel or memoir. Because the programs rely on dedicated, dynamic cohorts, admission is by application only.
To learn more about the curriculum, admission process, tuition, and instructors,
Public Programs
Public Programs
Continuing Studies is pleased to offer a variety of free public programs and special events every year, including lectures, readings, and webinars covering a broad range of subject areas from current affairs to the creative arts.
Master of Liberal Arts
Start your next chapter with a part-time, evening graduate degree in the liberal arts.
Stanford’s Master of Liberal Arts Program (MLA) offers an extraordinary opportunity to pursue an interdisciplinary course of study in the liberal arts and earn your master’s degree at one of the world’s great centers of learning. Designed with busy adults in mind, this part-time graduate degree program holds classes in the evenings and offers a flexible academic schedule.
S
tanford’s Master of Liberal Arts Program (MLA) offers an extraordinary opportunity to pursue an interdisciplinary course of study in the liberal arts and earn your master’s degree at one of the world’s great centers of learning. Designed with busy adults in mind, this part-time graduate degree program holds classes in the evenings and offers a flexible academic schedule.
In the MLA program, students form a close-knit cohort that takes courses taught by Stanford faculty. Areas of study include history of science, philosophy, literature, environmental studies, political science, history, and more. Students will hone their ability to write persuasively and creatively, develop compelling arguments, conduct original research, and integrate thinking from multiple disciplines. For many students, these are ends in themselves. For others, these skills serve them well in their professional lives.
MLA applications are accepted from September through January, with classes beginning in September of the following academic year. For more information on the program and admissions details, please visit: mla.stanford.edu.
Taking Stanford Continuing Studies courses can be excellent preparation for applying to the MLA program. Each quarter, the MLA program recommends courses that are similar in subject and format to seminars you would find in MLA study.
RECOMMENDED CONTINUING STUDIES COURSES: WINTER 2025
© Robert Siegel
Whether you prefer the flexibility of online classes or the vibrant atmosphere of in-person sessions, we look forward to seeing you this Winter Quarter!
Registration opens December 2, 2024, and the quarter begins the week of January 13, 2025.
