Learning about the world around us

Here at the WEA we offer a huge range of humanities and science courses, with something for everyone.  

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If you’re interested in the natural world, our geography and environment courses are the perfect choice. Our packed curriculum explores some of the biggest issues facing society, such as climate change and the fight against the destruction of some of Earth’s most precious resources. The option to learn in person or online means that our geography courses can whisk you away to a far-flung corner of the globe, all without you ever having to leave your own home. 

Studying a science

If you choose to take one of our psychology courses you’ll be immersed in the study of the human mind. With options to learn about memory and identity, you’ll get the chance to explore and debate some of the most famous psychological experiments.  

There’s also Sociology too, a subject that focuses on human behaviour, interaction, and relationships. If you’d like to explore some of the biggest questions in life, then our philosophy courses are for you. Small class sizes mean that you’ll get to discuss and debate in a supportive environment, all with an experienced tutor on hand.  

Attend a Humanities and Science course near you  

Whether you choose to learn from the comfort of your own home or opted for face-to-face learning at a local community venue, you’ll be taught by a talented tutor who is an expert in their subject. Our learning experience sets us apart from other providers, with learners regularly highlighting the difference that an encouraging environment makes. 

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History: The English Renaissance

This course will introduce a fascinating period of English history, during which poetry, prose and the arts produced some of the touchstones of British culture. We will explore a range of poetry including Thomas Wyatt’s, love poetry, Ralegh’s verse, Edmund Spenser’s homage to Elizabeth I, John Donne’s astonishing poems of love and divinity, and Milton’s early poems; playwrights, Shakespeare and Marlowe, and prose writers such as Tyndale and his translations from the Bible, Cranmer’s Book of Common Prayer and extracts from the King James’ Bible. Additional context for the period will be provided from paintings, contemporary documents and letters. All texts will be provided on Canvas.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 17/09/2024 -
Tue 26/11/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00017453
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
4 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Care 2: Introduction to Chakras

All our Care2 courses are completely free for unpaid carers (or those who have previously been carers). You do not need to receive a carer's allowance to qualify. If you are unsure, please contact our call centre advisors who will be able to assist you. Join me on this relaxed and informative course where we will look at the intriguing world of Chakras. Week by week we will explore the crown, third eye, throat, heart, solar plexus, sacral and root chakra. This course is designed to elevate your awareness and knowledge of how you can use holistic therapy to enhance your life and wellbeing. We will cover both the practical and theoretical application of how to work with these amazing energy centres. Chakra centres correspond to each nerve bundle and the major organs of the body. With a deeper understanding of how each one relates to our emotions, health and general wellbeing it is possible to live a more balanced and happier lifestyle. Each chakra has its own unique profile, including the right food to eat, mantra to use, emotional expression, vibration and colour. You will learn a range of ways of how we can help balance the chakras through a deeper understanding of this fascinating subject. You will not need to purchase anything for this course and no prior knowledge is needed. We will also cover aromatherapy oils, crystals, the sound mantras and the associated body part that links in with this subject.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 17/09/2024 -
Tue 17/09/2024
Times:
11:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Georgia Daniel
Course code:
Q00018556
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £5.55

Astronomy: Astronomy in the Autumn

Longer, darker evenings of Autumn provide the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the night sky. We will concentrate on some of the objects (stars and planets) that can be seen over the autumn with the unaided eye. You will be given guidance on how to observe them. Astronomy is a very dynamic subject, and we will consider news stories of note. The course is for beginners/those with some experience and targetted observing challenges will be set. You will be encouraged to undertake independent research (via ‘mini-projects’) and, if you are willing, share with class members. Weekly knowledge quizzes will be set so that you can see your progress.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 19/09/2024 -
Thu 28/11/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Ann Bonell
Course code:
Q00017670
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
5 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £55.50

History: The House of Lancaster

The emergence of the House of Lancaster could have led to a major decline of the English realm, yet it achieved its greatest success against the old enemy of France. A consideration of the later reign of Richard II will be made, and what particular factors ultimately led to his overthrow. We will then go on to provide a major analysis of the reign of Henry IV, dealing with the various problems and rebellions faced by the English and how he in turn was able to contain those problems. This course will analyse the course of those events.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 19/09/2024 -
Thu 12/12/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Gary Slator
Course code:
Q00018320
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.80

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For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
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Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Care 2: Introduction to Relaxation for Wellbeing

All our Care2 courses are completely free for unpaid carers (or those who have previously been carers). You do not need to receive a carer's allowance to qualify. If you are unsure, please contact our call centre advisors who will be able to assist you. Leading a busy life leaves little room for calm and relaxation. This can make it hard for us to wind down and enjoy the present. But finding these moments of calm is essential for our emotional well-being and mental health. This short course will introduce you to a range of simple and accessible relaxation techniques that will help you to learn to slow down and relive tension. The session is practice based; you will be guided to participate in a series of relaxation practices that will support you to progressively relax. We will focus on calming breathing techniques, gentle mindful movements to relieve tension and guided Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation of both mind and body).

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 19/09/2024 -
Thu 19/09/2024
Times:
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Bailey
Course code:
Q00018562
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Philosophy: Reasons, Explanations and Justifications

When people ask why someone does something (for example why they lie) or what the reason for something is (for example for flooding or increased support for a political movement,) what exactly are they asking ? This course introduces you to three philosophical answers to this question. The first is to distinguish types of reason – ‘explanatory’, ‘motivating’, and ‘normative’. The second consists in pointing out that there are different reasons for accepting a statement as valid – truth, rightness (e.g. moral), and truthfulness. The third is to specify criteria for what creates or maintains moral or political justification. The course is intended to help you think more clearly about the ‘why question’ and to bring useful insights to what can be contentious topics.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 23/09/2024 -
Mon 25/11/2024
Times:
9:00am - 11:00am
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Bettina Lange
Course code:
Q00017669
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
6 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£59.20

History: Antisemitism from the birth of Christianity to the Final Solution

We will study the mutating virus of anti-semitism, through an exploration of the ancient template shaped by Christianity and examine key explosions of anti-Jewish violence and prejudice which Hitler was able to exploit, tragically culminating in the Final Solution. Through discussion and debate we will also spend time as a group examining contemporary Holocaust denial, distortion and conspiracy theories. Finally we will look at the current antisemitism accusations within the Labour party and its impact

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 23/09/2024 -
Mon 25/11/2024
Times:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
David Halliwell
Course code:
Q00016180
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
6 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

History: Ancient Egypt: Decorated Tombs of Thebes

In this course suitable for newcomers to the subject as well as those with previous experience, we will be studying ancient Egyptian art through the decorated tombs of ancient Thebes (modern-day Luxor). Through a series of visually rich sessions a wide range of tomb scenes will be studied with a focus on both understanding what these scenes represent while also considering aspects of style and purpose. We will see how scenes can be replicated or adapted across tombs as well as less typical tomb scenes potentially representing the agency of the tomb owner.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 25/09/2024 -
Wed 23/10/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
John Billman
Course code:
Q00017284
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Care 2: Relaxation techniques for stress management)

All our Care2 courses are completely free for unpaid carers (or those who have previously been carers). You do not need to receive a carer's allowance to qualify. If you are unsure, please contact our call centre advisors who will be able to assist you. Modern society is often fast - paced causing many of us to feel overwhelmed and stressed, learning to relax is an effective tool to support stress management. This course is suitable for anyone - if you want to learn how to really relax, this course is ideal for you, and you are encouraged to join. You will learn to recognise how simple relaxation techniques can help you to relieve your own symptoms of stress. You will be guided through the practice of calming breathing techniques and gentle movements that ease tension in the body. Each session will end with a guided Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation practice) that will encourage deep rest of both mind and body.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 26/09/2024 -
Thu 03/10/2024
Times:
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Bailey
Course code:
Q00018563
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

History: The Decline of the Ottoman Empire 1800-1892

The once mighty Ottoman Empire lost some of its lustre during the 18th Century. After its armies reached the walls of Vienna in 1683 the boundaries of the Sublime Porte contracted in a series of military, diplomatic and economic reverses. This course considers the ways in which the Ottomans responded to a changing world in the 19th century, seeking to preserve their position within it. We examine questions of politics, religion, language, culture and economics whilst all the while having an eye towards the consequences for the region, Europe and the world then and now

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 07/10/2024 -
Mon 09/12/2024
Times:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00017426
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00