Humanities and culture courses
Humanities and culture courses. We don’t just teach, we inspire.
Exploring the depths of culture, philosophy and history has never been so accessible. Learn from experts in the field and create an everlasting bond with some of the world’s most impactful reading material. Our comprehensive humanities and culture courses offered at the University of Sydney provide students with unending knowledge that touches our roots while building towards the future.
Don’t be intimidated by our knowledgeable faculty – they know their stuff but they also understand that everyone starts somewhere, which is why we welcome inquiring minds without prejudice. Step up to unleash your inner scholar and get energised by mind-stimulating discourse amongst like-minded peers. Meet friends, form opinions and come out of it with a cultural experience you won’t soon forget!
Sign up now for your very own inspiring experience. We offer groundbreaking opportunities to unlock your intellectual potential, turning everyday people into more thoughtful citizens able to appreciate their pasts and consider their futures more deeply. So say farewell to mundane education and open your world through humanities and culture today!
Featured courses
Meet your facilitators
Craig Barker
Dr Craig Barker is an archaeologist and the Head of Public Engagement and Education for the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney. This includes the Nicholson Collection which houses...
Brian Brennan
Brian Brennan hold a Master’s degree with honours in Classical Studies and a Ph.D in Ancient History. He has specialised in the religious and cultural history of the Later Roman World,...
Robert Gay
After gaining a BA, Dip. Ed. from the University of Sydney, Robert trained as a lyric baritone in London and Munich before turning to the field of music education. He has taught music history...
John Merchant
Dr. John Merchant graduated from the University of Sydney with Honours in Zoology and Psychology. He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Western Sydney. His career has...
Featured Articles
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Psychology. Explore the human mind. Would you like to understand why and how people think, feel and behave the way they do? In this course, we will explain the nature of psychology as a scientific discipline and how it can answer this question, so that psychological knowledge can be applied to everyday life. Topics covered will include the history of psychology, personality theories, learning, child development and intelligence, psychobiology, abnormal psychology and social... View Psychology Course: An Introduction.
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Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. Hannah Arendt wrote some of the most profound philosophy of the twentieth century. Her work is rich and subtle and she engaged critically with the key intellectual ideas of philosophical history, including: What makes humans ‘human’? What makes an ethical life? The nature of evil; How do we forgive the unforgivable? What does it mean to have ‘common sense’? What is the nature of ‘story telling’? Hannah... View Philosophy Course: Hannah Arendt.
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Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. Shakespeare’s plays speak directly to us because of his depth of human understanding and his insights into the human condition. We will explore themes including love, power, revenge, ambition, evil, nobility, truth, and tragedy, through an analysis of Shakespeare’s major characters and themes. We’ll also discuss Shakespeare in the context of his time. His plays reflect the ferment of post reformation... View Philosophy Course: Introduction to Shakespeare.
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Psychology. Explore the human mind. Explore Jung’s conception of the collective unconscious, the archetypes which comprise it and their relationship to dreams and myths. Specific attention will be paid to the archetypes of the Self, Shadow, Anima/Animus, Great Mother, Father, puer aeternus, Divine Child, Hero, Wise Old Woman/Man and the coniunctio. Through awareness of these constellated figures, one is brought into contact with essential human experiences which can offer practical... View Jung and Archetypes Course.
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Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. Ludwig Wittgenstein occupies a unique place in 20th Century philosophy. He brings a depth of understanding and richness of vision unparalleled in the history of modern linguistics, and profoundly influenced all 20th and 21st Centuries development in the connection between language and thought. Ludwig Wittgenstein’s project is very ambitious in scope, he hopes to show the boundary between the thinkable and... View Philosophy Course: Wittgenstein's Life, Language and Thoughts.
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Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. What a century! There are so many towering intellects to choose from it is difficult to decide who has had the most impact on the twentieth and twenty-first century. Marx utterly transformed political theory and political reality; Darwin’s evolutionary theory has affected almost every area of science and social theory; and even if Freud’s theory of the unconscious is objectively a ‘fiction’, it became one... View Philosophy Course: The Fabulous Nineteenth Century.
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Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. The laws of a society embody both its highest ideals and its worst nightmares. This philosophy of law course examines the origins of law and why humans invent laws for themselves. Jurisprudence is the area of philosophy interested in the study of the fundamental concepts underpinning legal systems. We will compare different cultural and historical systems of law, engage in lively discussions on issues... View Philosophy of Law Course: Jurisprudence.
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Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. Storytelling belongs to the history of all humans. This course will explore why we love fiction; the elements which make up a ‘story’; and how the modern novel was invented and developed throughout history. We will begin by discussing the features which constitute a ‘novel’, and the history of it's emergence from other forms of narrative. We will also discuss issues such as: para text and framing devices;... View Philosophy of Fiction Course: The Novel.
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Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. This course explores the ways in which humans embody their ideas, spirits and power relations in built environments. Some issues discussed include: architecture and the ethics of a 'good' society; the role of creativity: imaginary cities of the mind; architecture and the phenomenal body in space; and the fundamental components of architectural design. We will begin with the Roman philosopher Vitruvius.... View Philosophy Course: Philosophy of Architecture.
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Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. Music is one of the oldest forms of human expression; it delights our senses, arouses our emotions, and stimulates our mind. It has also fascinated philosophers since the Ancient Greeks, down to the present. The course will cover: The role of music in history, culture and society; The major philosophers on music; Music and human emotions; Music and the imagination; Music and politics. We will use examples... View Philosophy of Music Course.