About this Course

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Journey of the Universe weaves together the discoveries of the evolutionary sciences together with humanities such as history, philosophy, art, and religion.  The course draws on the Emmy-award winning film, Journey of the Universe, and the book from Yale University Press. 
Journey explores cosmic evolution as a creative process based on connection, interdependence, and emergence.  It examines a range of dynamic interactions in the unfolding of galaxies, Earth, life, and human communities. It investigates ways in which we understand evolutionary processes and the implications for humans and our ecological future.  

The Journey course, thus, is based on a new integration that is emerging from the dialogue of the sciences and humanities. Journey tells the story of evolution as an epic narrative, rather than as a series of facts separated by scientific disciplines. This changes our perception so that we begin to see ourselves as an integral part of this narrative. By situating ourselves within this story we can better appreciate the complexity and beauty of processes such as self-organizing dynamics, natural selection, emergence, symbiosis, and co-evolution. As we discover these intricate processes of evolution, we awaken to the beauty and complexity of our natural environment at this critical juncture in our planetary history.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Approx. 24 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Approx. 24 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.83/5 (53 Ratings)

John Grim

Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Scholar

Yale School of the Environment

35,709 Learners

13 Courses

Mary Evelyn Tucker

Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Scholar

Yale School of the Environment

35,709 Learners

13 Courses

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(6,081 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Welcome to Journey of the Universe: The Unfolding Life

1 hour to complete

1 video (Total 11 min), 5 readings

5 hours to complete

Introduction - Beginning of the Universe

5 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 90 min), 5 readings, 2 quizzes

5 videos

Tucker, “Living Within a Universe Story”16mTucker, “Ethics in an Age of Extinction”11mMeet Brian Swimme1mJourney of the Universe (full film)56mThe new cosmology — sketched out via Einstein — as a fundamental Copernican-type turning point4m

5 readings

Journey of the Universe Book: Chapter 1: Beginning of the Universe30m"The New Story," by Thomas Berry30mScientific Summary, by Matthew Riley and Brian Thomas Swimme: Beginning of the Universe5mFamiliarize yourself with the Journey website30m“Space Ripples Reveal Big Bang’s Smoking Gun”, by Dennis Overbye15m

2 practice exercises

Living Within a Universe Story30mIntroduction - Beginning of the Universe30m

Week2

Week 2

4 hours to complete

The Formation of Galaxies and Stars

4 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 20 min), 6 readings, 3 quizzes

5 videos

Journey of the Universe Film: Scene 1: Introduction3mJourney of the Universe Film: Scene 2: Beginning of the Universe4mJourney of the Universe Film: Scene 3a: Galaxies Forming1mJourney of the Universe Film: Scene 3b: The Emanating Brilliance of Stars.3mThe Omnicentric Nature of Cosmic Expansion6m

6 readings

Journey of the Universe Book: Chapter 2: Galaxies Forming30mAmerican Museum of Natural History, NYC - Cosmology20mScientific Summary, by Matthew Riley and Brian Thomas Swimme: The Formation of Galaxies5mJourney of the Universe Book: Chapter 3: The Emanating Brilliance of Stars30mShort film, “Powers of Ten,” by Eames Office9mScientific Summary, by Matthew Riley and Brian Thomas Swimme: The Emanating Brialliance of Stars5m

3 practice exercises

Galaxies Forming30mThe Emanating Brilliance of Stars30mThe Formation of Galaxies and Stars30m

Week3

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Our Solar System and Life’s Emergence

3 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 15 min), 5 readings, 3 quizzes

3 videos

Journey of the Universe Film: Scene 4: Birth of the Solar System3mJourney of the Universe Film: Scene 5: Life’s Emergence5mPlate Tectonics as Balanced Turbulence in Mars and Jupiter5m

5 readings

Journey of the Universe Book: Chapter 4: Birth of the Solar System30mScientific Summary, by Matthew Riley and Brian Thomas Swimme: Our Solar System5mScales of the Universe, American Museum of Natural History, NYC20mJourney of the Universe Book: Chapter 5: Life’s Emergence30mScientific Summary, by Matthew Riley and Brian Thomas Swimme: Life’s Emergence5m

3 practice exercises

Our Solar System30mLife's Emergence30mOur Solar System and Life’s Emergence30m

Week4

Week 4

4 hours to complete

Living and Dying and the Passion of Animals

4 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 17 min), 6 readings, 3 quizzes

3 videos

Journey of the Universe Film: Scene 6: Learning, Living, and Dying11mJourney of the Universe Film: Scene 7: The Passion of Animals2mDemonstrating the Co-evolution Taking Place in Natural Selection2m

6 readings

Journey of the Universe Book: Chapter 6: Living and Dying30mField Museum, Chicago, Illinois – Evolving Planet10mScientific Summary, by Matthew Riley and Brian Thomas Swimme: Living and Dying5mJourney of the Universe Book: Chapter 7: The Passion of Animals30mHall of Biodiversity, American Museum of Natural History, NYC10mScientific Summary, by Matthew Riley and Brian Thomas Swimme: the Passion of Animals5m

3 practice exercises

Learning, Living, and Dying30mThe Passion of Animals30mLiving and Dying and the Passion of Animals30m

Week5

Week 5

4 hours to complete

From the Origin of the Human to Becoming a Planetary Presence

4 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 18 min), 7 readings, 3 quizzes

3 videos

Journey of the Universe Film: Scene 8: The Origin of the Human4mJourney of the Universe Film: Scene 9: Becoming a Planetary Presence10mThe Neotenic Nature of Flowers and Humans4m

7 readings

Journey of the Universe Book: Chapter 8: The Origin of the Human30mAnne and Bernard Spitzer Hall of Human Origins25m“Being Human,” by Rick Potts, Smithsonian Institution20mScientific Summary, by Matthew Riley and Brian Thomas Swimme: The Origin of the Human10mJourney of the Universe Book: Chapter 9: Becoming a Planetary Presence30mThe Age of Humans: Evolutionary Perspectives on the Anthropocene20mScientific Summary, by Matthew Riley and Brian Thomas Swimme: Becoming a Planetary Presence5m

3 practice exercises

The Origin of the Human30mBecoming a Planetary Presence30mFrom the Origin of the Human to Becoming a Planetary Presence30m

Week6

Week 6

3 hours to complete

Rethinking Matter and Time within the Emerging Earth Community

3 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 60 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

5 videos

Journey of the Universe Film: Scene 10: Emerging Earth Community3mTucker and Grim with Brian Ackerman at Jacob Burns Center (1 of 3)24mTucker and Grim with Brian Ackerman at Jacob Burns Center (2 of 3)13mTucker and Grim with Brian Ackerman at Jacob Burns Center (3 of 3)16mTime As Now Measured in Terms of Cosmological Creativity2m

5 readings

Journey of the Universe Book: Chapter 10: Rethinking Matter and Time30mJourney of the Universe Book: Chapter 11: Emerging Earth Community30mScientific Summary, by Matthew Riley and Brian Thomas Swimme: Rethinking Matter and Time within the Emerging Earth Community5mCalifornia Academy of Sciences25mPost-Course Survey10m

1 practice exercise

Rethinking Matter and Time within the Emerging Earth Community30m

Reviews

4.7

116 reviews

5 stars
81.59%
4 stars
12.83%
3 stars
3.63%
2 stars
0.72%
1 star
1.21%

TOP REVIEWS FROM JOURNEY OF THE UNIVERSE: THE UNFOLDING OF LIFE

by DSMay 4, 2020

Very, very insightful. Best course that I participated in. I simply loved it. And if you (the reader of this review) have any sort of curiosity regarding reasons of existence, this course is for you.

by APFeb 7, 2021

The Quizzes should be reworked since the they can be given and answered easily by option elimination

by TBNov 1, 2022

Very enlightening! Religion and science were interwoven beautifully throughout the course. I now have a much better understanding of our place in the universe!

by KAOct 27, 2016

A profound intellectual journey. Take this course and immerse yourself in the beautiful nature of our universe.

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Journey of the Universe: The Unfolding of Life

About this Course