Oxford Seminars

With more than 1,000 years of history, Oxford is the perfect setting in which to go beyond conventional textbooks and explore the many ways history’s secrets can be uncovered—examining archeological remains, forgotten manuscripts, clues in paintings and statues, architectural detail,...

From its beginning in the 11th century, Oxford has been a center of philosophical inquiry and teaching. How was the universe formed and what is humankind’s place in it? What values should we live by and how do we discover...

In “the city of dreaming spires,” as the poet Matthew Arnold called it, this seminar looks at a range of major writers inspired by Oxford, including Shakespeare, Sidney, Johnson, Shelley, Wordsworth, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, T. S. Eliot, Lewis Carroll,...

For the absolute beginner as well as the experienced debater, this seminar focuses on every aspect of public speaking from voice, posture, and projection to research and argumentation. Students practice speaking every day and gain exposure to extemporaneous speaking and...

Drawing on Oxford as a center of medical and scientific research, as well as ethics and moral philosophy, this seminar investigates the many dimensions of human interaction with the biological world. Topics include genetic testing and modification, animal research, cross-species...

In this seminar, lay the groundwork for a better understanding of the state of global diplomacy through lectures, thought-provoking discussions, and interactive exercises. Whether it’s human rights, commerce and trade, human migration, climate change, or cybersecurity, world leaders are constantly...

In this discussion-based seminar, dive into a timeline of major world events and wars through guided readings, engaging discussions, field visits, and guest speakers. Examine historical and political conditions that led to many world wars, and how the outcome of...

The principles of psychology permeate our lives every day, often in ways we don’t realize. How do we decide what to do? How much of who you are is determined by your family, your gender identity, or your friends? Understanding...

Led by a practicing doctor or professor of medicine, this seminar introduces students to every aspect of medicine, from the science prerequisites in the pre-med major, to the systems of the body and how they correlate to the various specializations...

In this seminar, explore legal principles to better understand why laws exist, their place in our social world, and the state’s role in defining what may be ambiguous or evolving doctrine. Examine the different forms of constitutional governments, and apply...