Free Online History (Other) Courses from Top Universities

About this article
Real history enthusiasts want more than the bare facts. They want to know the techniques for writing about history and the methods and theories historians use. Good news - you can learn about these things for free in the courses listed in this article.
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Free History Courses

Here are seven online general History courses offered free by two top universities: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Open University.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT's Open Courseware has a number of free History course materials, but these courses are particularly useful for the budding historian. How to Stage a Revolution examines the cause and nature of revolutions throughout history. Theories and Methods in the Study of History studies 20th century historian writers themselves.

The Open University

The Open University offers several history courses with unique topics of interest. Medicine Transformed: On Access to Health Care is a history course about hospital care, disease patterns and medical response. Finding Information in Arts and History teaches students how to conduct searches for Art and History information quickly and effectively.

Free Online History Courses at a Glance

Course & SchoolProgram LevelFormatAssignmentsQuizzes & ExamsDownloadable
Seminar in Historical Methods course from MITUndergraduateVideosYesNoYes
Theories and Methods in the Study of History course from MITGraduateExternal Reading ResourcesNoNoYes
How to Stage a Revolution course from MITUndergraduateText LessonsYesNoYes
Medicine Transformed: On Access to Healthcare course from Open UniversityIntermediateText LessonsYesNoYes
Finding Information in Arts and History course from Open UniversityBeginnerText LessonsYesNoYes
War Memorials and Commemmoration course from Open UniversityBeginnerText LessonsYesNoYes
Processes of Study in the Arts and Humanities course from Open UniversityBeginnerText LessonsYesNoYes

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Public Admin - Government and Policy
      • Master of Public Admin - Government and Policy
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor of Arts in History for Secondary Education (ITL)
      • Bachelor of Arts in History for Secondary Education (ITL)
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • PHD: History
      • PHD: History
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
      • Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
    Certificate
      • CTG: History
      • CTG: History
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Penn Foster High School

    Program Options

    High School Diploma
      • HS Diploma
      • HS Diploma
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Master's
      • MSPRO - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
      • MSPRO - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
  • University of Maryland Global Campus

  • Stanford, CA

    Stanford University

  • Cambridge, MA

    Harvard University

  • Philadelphia, PA

    University of Pennsylvania

  • Western Governors University

Featured Schools

The schools and programs listed below are popular educational options, and tuition varies based on program and location

Grand Canyon University

  • Master of Public Admin - Government and Policy
  • Bachelor of Arts in History for Secondary Education (ITL)

What is your highest level of education?

Liberty University

  • PHD: History
  • Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
  • CTG: History

What is your highest level of education?

Penn Foster High School

  • HS Diploma

What is your highest level of education?

Purdue Global

  • MSPRO - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity

Which subject are you interested in?

University of Maryland Global Campus