It’s Yale: Definitely Not ‘Easy,’ Just More Convenient
By Belinda Platt
What if you could access Yale's world-renowned education for free, right from your home? Yale’s online courses offer barrier-free access to world-class education. Learners from around the world can learn from a prestigious institution of higher education—no application or tuition required. All you need is an internet connection to get started.
These courses combine the rigor and excellence of Yale’s traditional classrooms with the unique benefits of online learning, ensuring nothing is diluted or overly simplified. If you’re considering exploring our online offerings, here are some key reasons to get excited.
1. Distinguished Faculty
Yale’s online courses are taught by renowned scholars and practitioners, giving learners access to some of the brightest minds in their fields.
• Financial Markets: Taught by Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert Shiller, this course provides an expert’s perspective on global finance.
• The Global Financial Crisis: Co-taught by former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, this course offers firsthand insights from someone instrumental in navigating the 2008 financial crisis.
• The Science of Well-Being: Led by Dr. Laurie Santos, this course is based on Yale’s most popular on-campus class in its 300-year history. Dr. Santos is also a top podcaster and campus celebrity, bringing charisma and actionable insights to her teaching.
2. High Interactivity
Yale ensures that online learning remains dynamic by incorporating tools that engage learners and reinforce understanding.
• Rocket Science for Everyone: Each lesson concludes with a two-question quiz to ensure learners grasp the material they just watched. Research shows that frequent, low-stakes knowledge checks improve retention by encouraging active recall and reinforcing understanding of key concepts.
• Human Anatomy: Courses in this series, including the latest one, "Anatomy of the Head and Spine," offer interactive matching questions that utilize real images of cadavers. This approach provides an exceptional hands-on experience for online learners. Accessing cadavers is often challenging for most students, and high-quality images deliver more detail and accuracy than illustrations, making them invaluable for medical education.
• Connected Leadership: This course will soon offer course completers the chance to meet instructor Peter Boyd on Zoom and be featured on the Connected Leadership podcast. Similar to traditional office hours, this opportunity fosters personal connections with Yale experts.
3. Unique Production Methods
Yale’s online courses stand out because of their creative approaches to teaching, making complex topics more engaging and accessible through media.
• American Contract Law I: This course uses animations to bring precedent-setting legal cases to life, setting the stage for deeper discussions in each lecture.
• Introduction to Psychology: This course features an entirely animated classroom—including an animated version of Professor Paul Bloom—and uses surreal visuals to illustrate key psychological concepts.
• Creating Change through Social Entrepreneurship: Handmade graphics are used throughout to emphasize the DIY spirit of social entrepreneurship, complemented by conversations with experienced changemakers.
Not only is the quality and caliber of these courses on par with learning in a physical classroom, but they also offer additional benefits. Self-paced learning allows you to study from any location at a time and pace that fits your schedule. Whether you choose to log in a few times a week on your lunch break or binge an entire course over the weekend, the freedom is yours! Another perk of learning online is access to a global community of learners with varied experiences and perspectives, allowing you to broaden your understanding by engaging with peers in the discussion forums.
Each course in Yale’s catalog has something special to offer you. Dive in and experience Yale for yourself! The best of Yale’s teaching is just a few clicks away. Start your journey here.
Belinda Platt is the Associate Director for Digital Education at the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning. She collaborates with various Yale schools to develop courses and programs in partnership with the Yale Teaching Studios. Faculty members who are interested in sharing their teaching on a digital platform can reach out to belinda.platt@yale.edu.