Stanford University courses

Tapping into grief can unlock your most powerful writing. Whether you are working on a personal essay about loss, writing a grief memoir, or seeking to deepen the emotional impact of a story or novel, the language of loss will illuminate the darkest and most…

When we think of opera, the European greats come to mind: Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner. While American composers followed European models at first, by the early 20th century, many began forging a new idiom, adapting inherited forms to American subjects.…

Why does the Middle East remain at the center of global headlines more than a century after the fall of the Ottoman Empire? This course explores the key themes and turning points shaping the modern Middle East since World War I, with particular attention to…

Our fast-paced world and the relationships within it can leave us breathless and frustrated. Mindfulness—paying attention to the present moment with curiosity and kindness—helps us slow down, reconnect, and access the inner resources that support discovery,…

Break free from realism and explore the imaginative, conceptual world of abstraction. We will use a variety of strategies—from highly structured plans to wildly spontaneous accidents—to examine what it means to create abstract art. In weekly projects, we will…

Inspired by Stanford’s Art and Anatomy program, this drawing-based course offers a focused study of the human figure through the sculptures of Auguste Rodin. We’ll begin with an introduction to Rodin’s artistic process and the anatomical principles underlying…

Advancing in the workplace often requires navigating dynamics that are uneven by design. From gaps in recognition and support to pay disparities and bias, professional women face a distinct set of challenges as they seek to grow their influence and leadership…

Speaking in a meeting, interview, or formal presentation doesn’t have to feel scripted or stiff. This hands-on workshop offers a practical introduction to effective public speaking, with a focus on delivering well-prepared presentations with confidence and…

Aspiring authors need a clear understanding of how the publishing industry works and how to present themselves and their work professionally. This two-day course offers a practical introduction to the fundamentals of traditional publishing, from creating…

AI and machine learning are reshaping how organizations operate, but for many leaders, it remains difficult to move beyond the hype and see where real value lies. This course gives leaders a framework for understanding how AI can be integrated into an…

This hands-on course is designed to introduce beginners to the fundamental techniques, tools, and principles of watercolor painting. We will start with abstract projects to acquaint students with foundational techniques, progress through botanical studies and…

The relationship between global warming and fossil fuel emissions is well known, but the complexities of Earth’s climate system can make it difficult to grasp the full scope of its impacts. How do we predict future changes? What will the planet look like in…

Subplots are the key to maintaining urgency in the middle of any novel or memoir, and yet many writers have no real understanding of how to handle subplot, just hoping for the best as they stumble forward. This course will show you how subplots can be…

After 40, many women find themselves asking: Is this all there is? Midlife can feel disorienting, with career shifts, changing relationships, evolving identity, and the realities of perimenopause and menopause. Yet, midlife is an opportunity, not a crisis.…

Chocolate evokes images of rich desserts, steaming bowls of hot cocoa, and artistic displays of delicious truffles. This “food of the gods” is one of the world’s most beloved treats—but it is also a vital commodity for more than 5 million cacao producers and…

Leaders face defining tests every day as they guide teams through uncertainty and make consequential decisions with imperfect information. In these situations, the unconscious mind often outpaces conscious reasoning, narrowing perception and shaping influence…

This six-lecture series will bring to life the three Katherines, two Annes, and one Jane who, from 1509 to 1547, kept Henry VIII on his toes. “Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived,” as the rhyme goes, tritely labels the outcome of each…

AI tools now shape everyday decisions, from drafting emails and generating code to moderating content and delivering customer support. As these systems become embedded in professional and public life, questions of accountability, trust, and responsible use…

What happens when we focus on what is right with people rather than fixating on what is wrong with them? This question inspired decades of research and the CliftonStrengths assessment, which measures natural patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Gallup…

Today's audiences have short attention spans, rely on compelling visuals, and want to be presented with focused, efficient, and relevant information. Presentations must also succeed in a variety of settings, including face-to-face, virtual, or a combination…

One of the best ways to become a skilled writer is to become a skilled reader. In this immersive seminar, you will learn to read—not as a critic but as a craftsperson. This course will teach you how to x-ray any piece of writing, from its design to its prose,…

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…