Stanford University courses

Succeeding in today’s complex organizations requires skillfully navigating relationships in every direction—upward with managers, downward with direct and indirect reports, and laterally with peers and cross-functional partners. Competing priorities, unclear…

Strip away the software and sleek digital interfaces of modern life, and you uncover something unexpected: seven unassuming materials have held our world together for centuries. Silicon, glass, steel, aluminum, copper, plastics, and concrete form the backbone…

Much of what powers our lives runs on mathematics, whether we notice it or not. Each day, mathematical models quietly curate what you encounter online, guide aircraft through turbulence, forecast storms, and even pinpoint your position as your phone guides…

Python is a widely used and flexible programming language adopted across many fields. It enables you to build software, automate tasks, and connect programs and data. It is also central to modern AI development—whether calling APIs, processing data, or…

Move beyond the headlines and learn to harness AI as a partner in your career and daily work. This course helps professionals distinguish hype from real potential and teaches how to design human-in-the-loop workflows that amplify productivity while…

Whether you identify as a Swiftie or are simply Swift-curious, it is impossible to deny that Taylor Swift has become a cultural, economic, and political powerhouse. This course will be an academic Eras Tour: we will take a historical approach to Swift’s…

The global sports industry, often estimated in the trillions of dollars, is among the most visible and influential sectors of the modern economy. It operates as a complex ecosystem of competition, capital, and culture—from professional leagues and media…

Artificial intelligence did not emerge fully formed with ChatGPT. It evolved through a series of architectural breakthroughs that reshaped how machines process language and learn from data. This course traces that technical evolution, offering a structured…

When we picture the Renaissance, we often imagine familiar Italian icons such as Brunelleschi’s dome or Michelangelo’s ceilings. Yet the spirit of renewal that transformed Italy between 1400 and 1600 also reshaped societies far beyond Europe. This course…

Company leaders and managers need to understand their organization’s financial condition so they can secure resources to support their projects and develop new strategies to increase their bottom line. This course introduces basic financial terms and…

Once upon a time… Few words captivate us so completely. Storytelling is central to every culture, connecting audiences through shared images, characters, and ideas. This course highlights the art of oral (rather than written) storytelling, with an emphasis on…

COURSE DESCRIPTION Many writers dream of becoming published authors, but the path to publication is seldom straightforward. How do you know when a manuscript is ready to submit to agents? Do you even need an agent? If you don't land a major commercial…

In 1842, Edgar Allan Poe said of the short story: “The unity of effect or impression is a point of the greatest importance... [and] cannot be thoroughly preserved in productions whose perusal cannot be completed at one sitting.” In other words, the short…

Jane Austen’s novels remain cultural touchstones, endlessly adapted and debated. But Austen faced many setbacks before seeing her work published. This course revisits Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), and Mansfield Park (1814) in the…

Machine learning has evolved from a technical specialty into an essential decision-making tool for business leaders. This course uses Python to equip professionals with both technical skills and strategic frameworks for effective decision-making. Through…

This course is a combination of T-group (“T” is for training) and class exercises with a focus on building and sustaining relationships. T-group is an experiential way of learning about yourself and others that is the cornerstone of the flagship…

Today’s leaders must navigate complexity and accelerated change while driving innovation and guiding themselves and others through uncertainty. This interactive course empowers leaders at all levels to expand their leadership capabilities by strengthening…

The future of leadership is flexible, embedded, and on demand. As organizations adopt leaner operating models and seek senior expertise without full-time overhead, fractional leadership is reshaping how companies grow and how experienced professionals design…

A dramatic scene takes hold of a reader and insists: Pay attention. Live here. Engage fully. While you’ve undoubtedly heard the adage “Show, don’t tell” and may already understand the importance of dramatization in fiction, developing images and ideas into…

AI has moved from side projects to the core of how companies compete and grow, requiring technology leaders to operate beyond engineering—shaping product direction, platform strategy, and roadmaps that directly influence business performance. This course is…

What began as a regional experiment in South Korea has become one of the defining cultural forces of the 21st century. This course traces how K-pop evolved from a tightly managed domestic industry into a global phenomenon that has transformed how popular…

Social media is no longer a side project—it is central to how businesses build brand trust, engage audiences, and communicate with key stakeholders. Yet many organizations struggle to translate business goals into clear, effective digital strategy. This…

Few works of literature draw us into the depths of the human mind like Hamlet , Shakespeare’s haunting exploration of grief, vengeance, and the fragile work of self-understanding. Recent reinterpretations, such as Maggie O'Farrell's novel Hamnet and its 2025…

Turn your ordinary snapshots into extraordinary photographs using the power of the device that is always with you. Smartphones are the most important camera of our age, used for capturing everything from family events to products for business, making art, and…

AI is reshaping product management. While it won’t replace product managers, those who embrace AI will outpace those who don’t. This interactive, hands-on course equips you with practical AI tools and strategies to elevate your effectiveness at every stage of…

As products grow more complex and markets more competitive, product marketing has become central to strategy, product development, and customer insight. This course provides a practical introduction to the core responsibilities of product marketing for…

Flash fiction is efficient, nimble, and exhilarating, a form powered by what George Saunders calls “a line-by-line energy.” In this course, we’ll explore how vivid language, unconventional structures, and compression can create stories that make a lasting…

What gives an artwork its balance and visual energy? This course introduces Nōtan, the Japanese principle of light and dark, as an accessible framework for exploring visual structure in text, letterform, and pattern. Working primarily in black and white,…

In a world flooded with inane content, bold communication stands out to create connection, inspiration, and lasting loyalty. This course helps you shape original ideas with intention, clarity, and courage, transforming them into compelling messages that…

AI is transforming how products are imagined, tested, and brought to market, making rapid experimentation and creative problem-solving accessible to non-technical founders and aspiring product managers alike. This course empowers participants to harness AI to…

To write is to sell a ticket to escape, not from the truth, but into it. —Alexander Chee Do you long to write your stories down but need a kickstart? In this course, innovative and inspiring daily prompts will get you writing your own short creative…

AI tools are changing how software gets built, making the process faster and accessible to people without a coding background. This course introduces vibe coding, a concept-first approach where you create applications and websites by guiding AI tools instead…

Negotiating well is critical to success in any field. We negotiate on a daily basis at work, at home, and elsewhere. Yet, too often, people lacking strong negotiation skills damage relationships and reach suboptimal outcomes. This interactive course will…

How do you deliver a presentation or a short pitch in an assertive, convincing, and captivating way? Would you like to improve the impact of your message, whether you’re raising money for a startup or pitching an idea, product, or service to clients,…

Are you ready to strengthen your communication skills and speak with greater confidence? Communication is shaped by our identities, life experiences, and the social contexts we inhabit. While effective communication comes easily to some, for many it is a…

In this course, students will explore cadaver specimens and digital technologies used by Stanford medical students as they prepare for careers in the health sciences and by surgeons in the treatment and care of patients. Though cadaver specimens are the…

Recipes matter, but this course invites you to cook intuitively, letting ingredients lead the way. Discover confidence and joy in the kitchen using a simple framework built on seven core elements that form the foundation of cooking—fat, acid, salt, heat,…

Creativity is an invaluable tool. It enriches our lives, sharpens curiosity, fosters mindfulness, and deepens our engagement with the world. Every one of us can harness it, yet so many of us have been taught to push it aside to make room for things deemed…

The most innovative thinkers in business and life don’t wait for inspiration—they create the conditions for original ideas to thrive. This interactive, research-informed course introduces improvisation techniques used to fuel creativity at places like IDEO,…

What story is more consequential than your own life? As we move quickly through daily routines, we rarely pause to recognize their significance. This course invites you to photograph your life with intention, framing the moments that give it meaning. By…

Creating a video is a powerful artistic expression of your passion—who doesn’t want their videos to shine and captivate an audience? Geared toward novices, this course will guide you through the essentials of planning your video, including crafting a script,…

This intensive, hands-on bootcamp equips professionals and aspiring project leaders with the skills and frameworks to plan, execute, and deliver projects with confidence. Participants gain a clear understanding of the project lifecycle and learn to translate…

A product fails. Confidential data leaks. A leader comes under public scrutiny. In moments like these, how leaders communicate determines whether trust is lost or earned. This interactive workshop examines the strategy and practice of crisis communication and…

Thinking on your feet is now mandatory in the workplace. In this interactive, improvisation-based communication course, you will learn skills for handling the unexpected with calm, grace, inclusiveness, and humor. You will increase your agility and grow your…

Engaging in creative activity lightens our hearts, helps us make peace with our experiences, and reminds us how to play. Creative writing is especially accessible; it requires no special equipment and can be done anytime. But many of us either internalize…

AI agents are beginning to reshape the workplace, taking on tasks such as research, travel coordination, and customer support. This course introduces professionals to the core ideas behind autonomous systems and explores how AI agents can be deployed…

While stress may seem unavoidable, understanding its nuances can empower you to leverage it for success rather than let it sabotage your well-being. This course teaches you to examine stress as a "double agent" that sometimes acts as a motivator to enhance…