The four six-week courses, which weave the discoveries of evolutionary science with the humanities — such as history, philosophy, art, and religion — are the School’s first MOOCs and the first online “specialization” offered by Yale University.

Offered under the theme, “Journey of the Universe: A Story for our Times,” the specialization is taught by Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, senior lecturers and research scholars at F&ES and the Yale Divinity School. Tucker and Grim co-produced the 2011 Emmy Award-winning film, “Journey of the Universe,” which premiered at F&ES and was broadcast on PBS. The film and the book, published by Yale University Press, provide the source material and inspiration for the online courses. (Tucker co-authored the script and the book with evolutionary cosmologist, Brian Thomas Swimme.) A series of interviews Tucker conducted with scientists, historians, and environmentalists — called “Journey Conversations” — is also a rich resource for the classes.

These courses will be offered throughout the academic year.
 
Enrollment is now open to anyone.

A third course, “The Worldview of Thomas Berry: The Flourishing of the Earth Community,” examines the insights of the late cultural historian Thomas Berry (1914-2009). Berry, who called for a “new story” that would situate humans in a dynamic evolving universe, provided a basis for a broader appreciation of ecology and a more comprehensive environmental ethics.
 
For those wishing to complete the specialization for a certificate, the series culminates with a capstone course that encourages students to integrate their learning in a final project. This project could involve natural and social sciences (ecological problem-solving or policymaking), environmental humanities (arts and literature), or education (curriculum planning).
 
“As environmental and social issues press upon us, the question is how we can align our ecological work with the dynamic forces of ecosystems arising out of an immense evolutionary process,” Tucker said. “This alignment has the potential for evoking the energy for change in areas such as restoration ecology for example.”