It’s a new year, and a great time to learn something new by taking a free open online course from Duke University. These six courses start in January and are excellent opportunities to enrich your education, career, or life with knowledge from Duke’s outstanding faculty.

Introduction to Genetics and Evolution – Mohamed Noor

Start date: Jan. 2

A whirlwind introduction to evolution and genetics, from basic principles to current applications, including how disease genes are mapped, areas or research in evolutionary genetics, and how we leverage evolutionary concepts to aid humanity.

Student review: Dr. Noor is a wonderful instructor with a great sense of humor. He knows how to make complicated topics comprehensible. I can’t find enough adjectives to describe how much I enjoyed this class.
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Medical Neuroscience – Len White

Start date: Jan. 5

Designed for first-year students in graduate-level health professional programs, this course explores the organization and physiology of the human central nervous system.

Student review: Every minute I’ve spent in this course, has been probably the best moments of knowledge-gaining I have had, perhaps, in all my years as a medical student in a third-world country.
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Think Again: How to Reason and Argue – Walter Sinnott-Armstrong; Ram Neta (UNC-CH)

Start date: Jan. 5

Reasoning is important. This course will teach you how to do it well (and maybe win a few more arguments, too). Part of the Reasoning, Data Analysis and Writing Specialization.

Student review: I’d like to thank both professors for the course. It was fun, instructive, and I loved the input from people from all over the world, with their different views and backgrounds.
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Image and Video Processing: From Mars to Hollywood with a Stop at the Hospital – Guillermo Sapiro

Start date: Jan. 5

Learn about the technologies behind a wide array of digital images and video, such as mobile phone pictures, images transmitted from Mars, Hollywood films, and medical imaging.

Student review: The lectures and demonstrations were very well planned and easy to follow. I work with a company who is involved in video streaming and compression technology and I wish this class would have been available sooner as it has help me immensely at work.
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Visual Perception and the Brain – Dale Purves

Start date: Jan. 26

Discover how what we see is generated by the visual system, and what visual perception indicates about how the brain works. Part of the Perception, Action, and the Brain Specialization.

Student review: Professor Purves conveyed his knowledge of the field well. This was not something I would have had exposure to if not for this course. The course demonstrates the great educational value of utilizing the internet to spread knowledge throughout the world.
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New! The Challenges of Global Health – David Boyd

Start date: Jan. 26

This introduction to the key challenges, issues, and concepts of global health is the first step in understanding the role we all play as global citizens to create better health outcomes in the world.
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