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“The everlasting universe of things flows through the mind, and rolls its rapid waves, now dark—now glittering—now reflecting gloom—now lending splendour, where from secret springs the source of human thought its tribute brings…” The sublime opening of Percy…
William Dement, known as the “father of sleep medicine,” offered the world’s first “Sleep and Dreams” course at Stanford in 1971. Upon his death, the course was renamed “Dement’s Sleep and Dreams” by Rafael Pelayo. The content of that course serves as the…
The personal essay allows us to take small moments and use them as a portal into deep questions of human experience. In this course, we will approach the personal essay the way painters approach their discipline: first analyzing, then “copying” our forebears.…
These days, readers are craving fantasy, horror, and dystopian novels not just to escape but to confront and illuminate the deepest questions of our time. This course invites you to indulge your imagination and write a speculative novel of your own.…
Once a novel is underway, new craft challenges emerge. After the story launches, authors must sustain narrative momentum, manage subplots, deepen character arcs, and shape the larger architecture of the story. Whether you're 20 or 200 pages into your novel,…
This course is not open to the public, but rather by admission only. For more information on the Writing Certificate Program and its application process, please click here . This first course in the OWC series introduces the fundamentals of novel design.…
This course is not open to the public, but rather by admission only. For more information on the Writing Certificate Program and its application process, please click here . This first course in the OWC series introduces the fundamentals of novel design.…
This course is not open to the public, but rather by admission only. For more information on the Writing Certificate Program and its application process, please click here . In this course, we will continue to build on the foundational elements of…
From love and friendship to art and food, this course will make interesting topics accessible to students with a basic background in Spanish. Aided by scaffolded instruction, which progresses from more familiar to newer material, students will discuss…
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…
This course is not open to the public, but rather by admission only. For more information on the Writing Certificate Program and its application process, please click here . It is time to envision your memoir’s ending, which will provide a clear sense of…
This course is not open to the public, but rather by admission only. For more information on the Writing Certificate Program and its application process, please click here . In this course, we will continue to build on the foundational elements of…
Ever since Sarah Koenig’s breakout investigative podcast Serial demonstrated the power and reach of the medium, everyone from Rachel Maddow and Michelle Obama to Rich Roll and DJ Akademiks has joined the podcast bandwagon. Podcasting is a democratic art…
Euripides was the 5th-century BCE tragedian most beloved by the Athenians, yet they rebuffed him again and again. He was invited to compete for the annual prize for tragedy on more than 20 occasions but won the prize a mere handful of times. His plays…
This course is no longer being offered. However, a new MLA-style course has taken its place: " American Wilderness and Its Discontents ." We hope you'll join us! ABOUT THIS MLA-STYLE COURSE: This course is open to students who have not previously enrolled in…
The fine art market is a fascinating $1.7 trillion industry where economics, culture, and perception intersect in unusual ways. Prices are often secretive, regulation is limited, and questions of authenticity and cultural prestige shape value. This course…
Writing groups are essential to most writers, providing structure, deadlines, and thoughtful feedback. Fiction Club brings together short story writers and novelists to trade pages and engage in lively literary conversation in a supportive, generative…
Flash fiction—very short stories that range from 500 to 1,000 words—invites playfulness and experimentation. And yet the fundamentals of fiction writing still hold. In this course, we will touch upon characterization, dialogue, point of view, momentum, and…
Our health hinges on the functioning of factors invisible to the human eye. Just one change to our genetic code or one virus thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair can mean the difference between health and sickness. In this course, we will…
Have you always wanted to play guitar but worried it would be too hard to learn? This course makes guitar playing approachable and fun. At a comfortable pace, students will learn basic chords and right-hand accompaniment patterns and apply them to easy folk…
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Americans are navigating a rapidly changing political and technological landscape shaped by artificial intelligence, global instability, shifting media ecosystems, and growing generational divides. This timely speaker…
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Americans are navigating a rapidly changing political and technological landscape shaped by artificial intelligence, global instability, shifting media ecosystems, and growing generational divides. This timely speaker…
Whether you're curious about the basics of AI or eager to understand why it's becoming essential across every industry, this hands-on introduction will give you the knowledge and confidence to engage with AI meaningfully. You’ll explore foundational…
Whether you're curious about the basics of AI or eager to understand why it's becoming essential across every industry, this hands-on introduction will give you the knowledge and confidence to engage with AI meaningfully. You’ll explore foundational…
Designed for those with no prior experience, this course introduces the fundamentals of programming through Python, one of today’s most widely used languages. As AI tools make it easier to generate code, understanding how programs actually work has become…
A sketchbook is more than a place for quick drawings; it’s a creative engine, a personal record, and an art form in itself. Whether you’re an artist or curious beginner, this course will show you how to make sketchbooking a regular and rewarding part of your…
Being a great communicator opens doors to opportunities and empowers success in all aspects of life. Different situations, however, require different skills. The way you build rapport with a new colleague differs from how you persuade someone to see your…
How does Grace Paley write dinner table chatter in which we seem to hear every voice simultaneously? How do playwrights like David Mamet and Sarah Ruhl create distinctive styles of spoken English that still sound like people we know? What can we learn from…
Close analytic reading is one of the best ways to improve your fiction. It sharpens your eye for the hidden moves beneath the surface of a story, giving you tools to apply to your own pages. Each week we'll discuss a single story in depth, followed by a brief…
Have you ever wanted to try hip hop dance but felt nervous to give it a go? Here’s a chance to learn one of the world’s most popular dance forms effortlessly with a renowned teacher and choreographer. Hip hop dance is not just a form of movement; it is deeply…
Few writers capture the exhilaration and irrationality of young love better than William Shakespeare. In the mid-1590s, he wrote two plays that explore the same emotional terrain in strikingly different ways: the tragic passion of Romeo and Juliet , with its…
Imagine having the ability to turn “good” genes on and “bad” genes off through simple, science-based lifestyle choices. The emerging field of epigenetics reveals that genes aren't a fixed destiny—you have the power to influence them. This course is a study of…
At 17, Bob Weir dropped out of high school to join a band. He began as its least accomplished musician; within a decade, he had become one of its central creative forces. Often overshadowed by Jerry Garcia, Weir shaped the sound and evolution of the Grateful…
Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly across many domains, including science, business, and public policy. This course offers a data-driven introduction to how AI is evolving globally, grounded in insights from the AI Index report, Stanford HAI’s…
It has never been easier to build an impressive AI prototype. But a compelling demo is one thing; successfully implementing AI inside a real organization is another. Once these systems meet messy enterprise data, operational constraints, security scrutiny,…
Generative AI is evolving from a tool that responds to prompts into systems that can pursue goals, make plans, use tools, and act across workflows. This introductory course examines the ideas behind this shift and what it means for the future of professional…
Have you tried to meditate but haven’t found a practice that works for you? Meditation is widely recommended for its ability to sharpen attention, ease stress, and support mental clarity. Yet figuring it out and fitting it in can feel harder than it sounds.…
Observing the world closely is the first step to capturing it on paper. This hands-on course introduces the fundamentals of observational drawing with a focus on both natural and built landscapes. We’ll begin with core techniques—one- and two-point…
Most startup ideas don't fail in the market—they fail long before, in the gap between initial excitement and honest scrutiny. This course closes that gap. Drawing on behavioral research, innovation theory, and battle-tested startup methodology, you’ll build a…
Generative AI is transforming how information is created, discovered, and consumed. As search engines evolve into conversational assistants and answer engines, traditional search engine optimization (SEO) is expanding into generative engine optimization…
At its heart, ballet is movement, music, and joy in motion. This course offers an introduction to one of the most elegant and time-honored forms of dance. Designed for beginners and taught by a lecturer from Stanford’s Department of Theater & Performance…
Coordinating nutrition with exercise dramatically improves weight loss, health (including immune strength), and fitness. This course examines how nutrition for performance addresses delaying fatigue, driving adaptation, and speeding recovery. Delaying fatigue…
Across a career of 65 years, Paul Simon has taken American popular music outside of its traditional confines and set it in dialogue with other musical traditions from around the world. In this course, we will study Simon’s work and development, beginning with…
Robotics is moving beyond research labs and factory floors into hospitals, oceans, farms, construction sites, warehouses, classrooms, and the arts. The question is no longer whether robots will shape the future, but how. Steve Cousins, executive director of…
Art has never been created for "the ages." Paintings we now regard as timeless masterpieces were created for viewers from the artist's own time and circumstances. Consequently, much of their embedded meaning is often lost on today's audiences. This course…
Have you imagined retiring years earlier than most—shifting your “go-go” years from your 60s to your 40s or finally pursuing long-delayed passion projects? In this course, you’ll learn how to define your ideal retirement age and calculate exactly what’s…
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…
Artificial Intelligence is filled with technical terms like “parameters,” “cost functions,” and “context window.” These words can seem like things only a machine would understand. Yet AI can be reduced to a handful of foundational principles and concepts that…
Artificial intelligence is becoming deeply embedded in cloud platforms, data centers, energy systems, and other mission-critical infrastructure, often outpacing organizations’ ability to assess and manage risk. As automation expands, so do hidden…
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…