Discover our role as humans in the Earth community. Explore the unfolding of the universe, Earth, & humans by drawing upon science & the humanities.

4.7

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346 ratings

John Grim +1 more instructor

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Journey of the Universe: A Story for Our Times SpecializationYale University

What you will learn

Demonstrate an understanding of the unfolding of the universe, Earth, and humans by drawing upon both science and the humanities.

Understand what cosmological events contribute to our existence.

Assess the history & development of cosmological thought as it has unfolded over time & as it spans multiple disciplines in science & humanities.

About this Specialization

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Use the links below to audit the courses at no cost*: Course 1: Journey of the Universe: The Unfolding of Life Course 2: Journey of the Universe: Weaving Knowledge and Action Course 3: The Worldview of Thomas Berry: The Flourishing of the Earth Community Journey of the Universe: A Story for Our Times is a course series created by senior research scholars at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim. The courses weave the discoveries of the evolutionary sciences together with the humanities such as history, philosophy, art, and religion. The courses in this Specialization draw on the Emmy-award winning film, Journey of the Universe, the book from Yale University Press, and a series of 20 interviews with scientists and environmentalists, titled Journey Conversations. Each week there will be a brief commentary by Brian Thomas Swimme, co-author of the Journey book. *Auditing is available only to those who are logged in to a preexisting Coursera account. In order to audit these courses at no cost, please first log in to Coursera or sign up for free. After logging into Coursera, click on the course's "Enroll for Free" button, then select "Audit this course" at the bottom of the dialogue box.

Applied Learning Project

As part of the Specialization, we investigate the life of Thomas Berry, a historian of world religions known for articulating a “new story” of the universe that explores the implications of the evolutionary sciences and cultural traditions for creating a flourishing future.

Learner Career Outcomes

50%

Started a new career after completing this specialization.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

No prior experience required.

Approximately 5 months to complete

Suggested pace of 5 hours/week

English

Subtitles: English, Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, Spanish

Learner Career Outcomes

50%

Started a new career after completing this specialization.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

No prior experience required.

Approximately 5 months to complete

Suggested pace of 5 hours/week

English

Subtitles: English, Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, Spanish

How the Specialization Works

Take Courses

A Coursera Specialization is a series of courses that helps you master a skill. To begin, enroll in the Specialization directly, or review its courses and choose the one you'd like to start with. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. It’s okay to complete just one course — you can pause your learning or end your subscription at any time. Visit your learner dashboard to track your course enrollments and your progress.

Hands-on Project

Every Specialization includes a hands-on project. You'll need to successfully finish the project(s) to complete the Specialization and earn your certificate. If the Specialization includes a separate course for the hands-on project, you'll need to finish each of the other courses before you can start it.

Earn a Certificate

When you finish every course and complete the hands-on project, you'll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and your professional network.

There are 3 Courses in this Specialization

Course1

Course 1

Journey of the Universe: The Unfolding of Life

4.7

stars

381 ratings

•

105 reviews

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.

Course2

Course 2

Journey Conversations: Weaving Knowledge and Action

4.8

stars

141 ratings

•

31 reviews

Journey of the Universe weaves together the discoveries of the evolutionary sciences together with humanities such as history, philosophy, art, and religion. This course draws on the Journey of the Universe Conversations, a series of 20 interviews with scientists and environmentalists. The first 10 interviews are with scientists and historians who deepen our understanding of the evolutionary process of universe, Earth, and humans. The second 10 interviews are with environmentalists, teachers, and artists who explore the connections between the universe story and the practices for a flourishing Earth community.

Course3

Course 3

The Worldview of Thomas Berry: The Flourishing of the Earth Community

4.7

stars

118 ratings

•

31 reviews

Thomas Berry (1914-2009) was a historian of world religions and an early voice awakening moral sensibilities to the environmental crisis. He is known for articulating a “new story” of the universe that explores the implications of the evolutionary sciences and cultural traditions for creating a flourishing future.

This course investigates Berry’s life and thought in relation to the Journey of the Universe project. It draws on his books, articles, and recorded lectures to examine such ideas as: the New Story, the Great Work, and the emerging Ecozoic era. The course explores Berry’s insights into cosmology as a context for locating the human in a dynamic unfolding universe and thus participating in the creative work of our times. In particular, we will examine Berry’s reflections on renewal and reform in the areas of ecology, economics, education, spirituality, and the arts. Course Rationale: Thomas Berry was an original, creative, and comprehensive thinker, especially regarding the critical nature of our global environmental crisis. His intellectual importance resides in his response to the ecological crisis by bringing together the humanities and science in an evolutionary narrative. In addition, he articulated the need for the moral participation of the world religions in addressing environmental issues. He came to this realization largely through his study of cosmologies embedded within religious traditions. Sensing the significance of these stories as “functional cosmologies” he explored the widespread influence that these stories transmitted through a tradition, for example, in rituals, ethics, and subsistence practices.

Instructors

John Grim

Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Scholar

Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies

28,031 Learners

7 Courses

Mary Evelyn Tucker

Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Scholar

Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies

28,031 Learners

7 Courses

Offered by

Yale University

For more than 300 years, Yale University has inspired the minds that inspire the world. Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale brings people and ideas together for positive impact around the globe. A research university that focuses on students and encourages learning as an essential way of life, Yale is a place for connection, creativity, and innovation among cultures and across disciplines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the refund policy?
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Can I just enroll in a single course?
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.
Can I take the course for free?
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. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.
Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
How long does it take to complete the Specialization?
There are 3 six week courses.
Students are expected to complete 2 hours of viewing online lectures and videos 2 hours of reading books and articles per week.
What background knowledge is necessary?
These courses are introductory and aimed at an educated public, ranging from those with college education to those without.
No prerequisite knowledge is needed - just an openness to learn about the complex development of the universe, Earth, and life. Within this epic story we will explore the role of humans given our present social and ecological challenges.
Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?
It is strongly recommended that you take the two courses on Journey of the Universe: The Unfolding of Life and Journey Conversations: Weaving Knowledge and Action followed by The Worldview of Thomas Berry: The Flourishing of the Earth Community.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?
No university credit is offered for completing this Specialization.
What will I be able to do upon completing the Specialization?
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Understand and demonstrate understanding of the unfolding of the universe, Earth, and humans by drawing upon both science and the humanities.
2. Be able to recall, and to critically assess, the history and development of cosmological thought both as it has unfolded over time and also as it spans multiple disciplines in the sciences and humanities.
3. Integrate the ideas found in the film, book, and Educational Series / Conversations with other areas of knowledge.
4. Apply the methodologies and concepts learned in this course to environmental and social problems in creative, pragmatic ways.
5. Engage critically with the concepts presented through this course in academic writing and research.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.