Stanford University courses

Building a venture-backed SaaS startup today requires more than just a great product. With global SaaS revenue projected to reach $900 billion by 2030, competition is fierce. This course is designed for both full-time and fractional founders who want to…

Crafting an individual leadership style is essential to earning a seat at the table. From this seat of power, you’ll be able to steer organizational decisions. In this highly interactive workshop, you will learn to address the unique challenges women leaders…

Stanford University proudly presents 'Idea to Book Deal: Develop the Nonfiction Book That Only You Can Write,' a premier course in our Emerging / Needs Review category. This transformative program guides aspiring authors through the entire nonfiction…

What makes an audience lean forward and pay attention? Why do some presentations clarify and persuade while others quickly dissolve into background noise? This course explores how effective speakers capture attention, organize ideas, and move audiences…

Break through writer's block and ignite your imagination in this creativity-boosting course designed to spark fresh ideas for your next story, essay, or book. Through unconventional prompts, close readings of experimental texts, improv for writers sessions,…

India sits at the center of Asia’s shifting power balance, shaping security, technology, and trade across the Indo-Pacific. This course examines how India’s rise as both the world’s largest democracy and a major force in global politics is reshaping the…

Friendship is a practice and doesn’t happen magically on its own. Decades of research show that the single most important factor for a healthier and happier life is good relationships. Yet in our busy, digital world, the difficulty of sustaining close ties…

Persia has one of the world’s longest and most fascinating histories. Too often overlooked in the West, Persia’s rich and complex culture was admired by the ancient Greeks and later by the Byzantines. Its monumental sites include Achaemenid Persepolis,…

Software development is evolving from traditional coding into intuitive collaboration between humans and AI. This course teaches you "vibe coding," where natural conversation becomes your primary programming language for creating applications ranging from…

Calligraphy is visual music—meditative and seismic—capable of conveying personal meaning through letterform, a blend of structure and movement that stretches back thousands of years. In this course, students will learn to write formal calligraphy scripts with…

Why do stock prices fall after a strong earnings report, or rise on seemingly negative news? For many investors, the gap between a company’s fundamentals and its market price can be confusing and frustrating. In this course, you will examine how institutional…

Strong ideas deserve strong delivery. For non-native English speakers, presenting with poise can be especially challenging, but it’s a skill you can master. This course gives you the tools to make your presentations clear, engaging, and persuasive. You’ll…

When designers face a challenge, they stay curious, creative, and open to experimentation. What if you approached periods of transition, uncertainty, or feeling stuck the same way? Drawing on the acclaimed Stanford class and best-selling book Designing Your…

For any artist, the portrait is one of the most compelling subjects imaginable. We yearn to draw people realistically—to capture the “likeness” of our subjects. This course is about looking, seeing, and drawing portraits well. Regardless of your drawing…

You are not overwhelmed because you are incapable. You are overwhelmed because no one taught you how to manage complexity. Many managers are promoted for their expertise, then handed meetings, inboxes, deadlines, and people without a clear operating system.…

Across three quarters, this series traces the making of the modern world through extraordinary cities where empires rose, cultures mingled, and political ambitions reshaped entire regions. The series opens with four capitals that helped shape modern Europe:…

What does a director actually do? Why can two filmmakers start with the same script and end up with completely different movies? This course looks at the art of film direction through the work of distinctive directors, classic and contemporary alike,…

In just a century, Japan transformed from an isolated samurai society into a global powerhouse as it rapidly modernized and embraced industrialization. What drove this dramatic rise, and how did its people adapt to such rapid change? This course traces…

Learn to apply the mental training techniques used by the world’s greatest athletes, performing artists, and business leaders to enhance your performance in all aspects of life. This highly practical course will teach you how to create the optimal mental…

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…

Explore the architectural adaptations and reinventions of the remarkable Leland Stanford Jr. Museum, now the Cantor Arts Center. Built in 1894 as one of the earliest uses of reinforced concrete, the museum fused Victorian monumentality with innovative…

Although AI adoption is widespread, few leaders and organizations have achieved true mastery—leaving a gap between basic tool use and transformational management. This course equips early- to mid-level managers to bridge that gap, enhancing their influence…

This introductory workshop offers a practical guide to the tools and tactics of public relations, from crafting compelling stories to managing reputational risk. Students will learn how to shape messages, interact with journalists, and navigate interviews…

“What is a memory? When an unexpected memory comes calling, who answers?” —Lynda Barry The artist and writer Lynda Barry believes that the membrane between memory and imagination is thin, and so do we. In this weekend retreat, we’ll explore that space, moving…

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. Although cadaver specimens are the…

The best way to build AI products isn’t to spend months in development—it’s to prototype rapidly, test early, and iterate often. This course teaches professionals how to turn AI ideas into working prototypes that solve real business challenges. Students will…

This course is designed for students of all levels who want to enrich their daily lives through a creative art practice. Unlike a traditional art studio course, this five-week intensive guides students through daily exercises that focus on spending more time…

As AI lowers the cost of building software, technical execution alone is becoming less of a competitive advantage. Increasingly, the organizations that stand out are those that understand their market clearly, make sharper strategic choices, and articulate a…

One by one, sentences either quicken our pulse or lie there limp, fill us with tension or leave us flat. Whether you’re a novice or a novelist, writing an email or an epic, sentence craft is the key to stronger writing. In this course, we’ll first explore…

When a movie wins Best Picture, the Oscar goes to the producer. Why? What does a producer actually do? Often behind the scenes, producers guide projects from the first glimmer of an idea through financing, production, and distribution before they ultimately…

What if the key to understanding a work of art lies not in what it depicts, but in what it’s made of? This course explores artworks in which medium and message are inseparable—where artists deliberately choose materials to carry meaning. Each session focuses…

In a rapidly shifting world, anticipating change—rather than simply reacting—offers a creative and strategic edge. Whether you’re designing products, shaping strategy, or driving innovation, thinking beyond the present helps you make smarter decisions by…

Buried beneath centuries of sand and salt water, shipwrecks are time capsules preserving worlds of trade, empire, and catastrophe that might otherwise be lost to history. This course explores six extraordinary wrecks and the societies they once served,…

Autumn is a time when gardens and markets overflow with produce that will soon disappear until next year. Fermentation offers a way to preserve those fleeting flavors while transforming them into something richer and more complex. This course explores the…

AI is reshaping industries, but driving real organizational value doesn’t require coding expertise or a data science degree. This course equips professionals to harness AI through no-code tools and approaches, focusing on strategy, ethics, and measurable…

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…

AI is now writing clinical notes from doctor-patient conversations, drafting replies to patient portal messages, reading X-rays and other medical images, and spotting early signs of sepsis in the ICU. AI's capability is no longer in doubt. But a technical…

This hands-on course is designed to introduce beginners to the art of watercolor painting through the vibrant colors and forms of seasonal fruits, vegetables, and edible flowers. Students will explore fundamental watercolor techniques such as wet-on-wet…

When you master high-performance habits, you gain a critical edge—not just in productivity, but in your ability to lead, influence, and grow within your organization. Designed for ambitious professionals and rising managers, this course helps you build the…

Can you write a novel in just a month? Best-selling authors Sara Gruen and Hugh Howey are proof that you can. With determination and the support of this course, so can you. For November, a.k.a. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), we will form a…

Today’s digital cameras, including mobile devices, offer a world of creative image-making opportunities, but their potential is realized only when you know how to use them effectively. This course will address the three fundamental aspects of compelling…

How can spirituality help us cultivate resilience, equanimity, and balance in pursuit of a life well-lived? This course will help students explore a range of contemplative practices—accessible and easily woven into daily life—including mindfulness meditation…

Basketball can look fast and chaotic from the stands or the couch, but beneath every possession lies an intricate series of calculated decisions, adjustments, and tactical battles. Timed for the start of basketball season, this focused new edition of…

Basketball can look fast and chaotic from the stands or the couch, but beneath every possession lies an intricate series of calculated decisions, adjustments, and tactical battles. Timed for the start of basketball season, this focused new edition of…

Join us for a new season of the Stanford Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series featuring fresh insights into history, science, politics, and culture. Historian Dan Edelstein opens the series by exploring the history of revolution, asking how an idea once seen…

Imagine observing and drawing a bird through the eyes of a scientist and an artist at the same time: every detail tells a story of anatomy and vitality. Led by educator and bird artist John Muir Laws, author of The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds , this…

Speaking in a meeting, interview, or formal presentation doesn’t have to feel scripted or stiff. This course offers a practical introduction to public speaking, focused on delivering well-prepared presentations with confidence, clarity, and natural presence.…

Genius is often treated as a mystery, a rare gift bestowed on a select few. But what if extraordinary achievement emerges through psychological processes we can examine and understand? This course explores how highly creative lives take shape across science,…

A compelling pitch opens doors because people don’t just remember facts—they remember how you made them feel. Knowing how to tell your story not only helps you sell your message, but also makes it unforgettable. Led by the former Stanford Storytelling Project…

Whether you’ve long meant to make time for writing in your life or have only recently begun considering it, this course will offer a supportive environment where we’ll set perfectionism aside and focus on writing without constraining expectations. You’ll…