Courses
Humanities Courses
Explore ideas that shape culture, society, and how we understand the world.
Humanities courses at WEA Sydney bring together philosophy, politics, society, literature, science, and culture to explore the ideas that shape human experience. With a mix of short talks, discussion-based classes, and in-depth courses, this category encourages curiosity, reflection, and critical thinking across a wide range of topics.
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Philosophy Club: Revolutions of Mind and World
Philosophy Club: Revolutions of Mind and World
<p>This 10‑week Philosophy Club continues to explore the theme of revolutions across major cultural, political, technological, and environmental domains through a range of philosophical lenses. Each
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Modern China: From Declining Empire to Global Power
Modern China: From Declining Empire to Global Power
<p>This course surveys China’s transformation from late Qing reforms at the turn of the 20th century to its rise as a global power at the beginning of the 21st. It examines historical shifts,
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The Odyssey: An enduring story, a new film, a new translation
The Odyssey: An enduring story, a new film, a new translation
<p>In an examination of Homer’s Odyssey we unravel questions about the flawed hero Odysseus, the epic’s “author” and the cultural contexts and modes of the story’s telling and transmission over the
...The Odyssey: An enduring story, a new film, a new translation
<p>In an examination of Homer’s Odyssey we unravel questions about the flawed hero Odysseus, the epic’s “author” and the cultural contexts and modes of the story’s telling and transmission over the
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The Australian Constitution - It's Worth Talking About
The Australian Constitution - It's Worth Talking About
<p><em>"Britain has no written constitution - the Americans are obsessed with theirs"</em>. The Australian Constitution fundamentally shapes our government and politics and hence has an impact on all
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Understanding Australian Law: How the System Works
Understanding Australian Law: How the System Works
<p>Ever wondered how Australia’s legal system actually works? This course provides a clear and accessible introduction to the principles that underpin law in a democratic society.</p>
<p>We explore
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In Search of Terra Australis
In Search of Terra Australis
<p>Trace the long search for Terra Australis through the maps that imagined, hinted at and eventually recorded Australia. This course follows the cartographic and exploratory journeys of the
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In Search of Terra Australis
<p>Trace the long search for Terra Australis through the maps that imagined, hinted at and eventually recorded Australia. This course follows the cartographic and exploratory journeys of the
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Sarajevo 1914: The Assassination That Changed the World
Sarajevo 1914: The Assassination That Changed the World
<p>Explore how the 1914 assassination in Sarajevo set off a chain reaction that reshaped the modern world. This course traces how that moment contributed to World War I and its far-reaching
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Set Adrift: Living in a Multipolar World
Set Adrift: Living in a Multipolar World
<p>The global balance of power is shifting, and many old assumptions no longer hold. This timely course explores the move from a largely Western-led order towards a more multipolar world shaped by
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DNA: Decoded
DNA: Decoded
<p>Our knowledge of life has been revolutionised by the finding that DNA is the molecule that carries the genetic information that determines the characteristics of any organism. This course will
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A Dress for Every Decade: Mapping the 20th Century
A Dress for Every Decade: Mapping the 20th Century
<p>The 20th century brought extraordinary social, cultural and technological change, and fashion recorded it all. This course uses key looks from each decade to explore how Western dress responded to
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A Dress for Every Decade: Mapping the 20th Century
<p>The 20th century brought extraordinary social, cultural and technological change, and fashion recorded it all. This course uses key looks from each decade to explore how Western dress responded to
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