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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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:
1 place 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:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
David Halliwell
Course code:
Q00016180
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £74.00

History: Trade, Empire and Migration in Nineteenth Century Britain

By the second half of the nineteenth century, as a result of an industrial revolution and the growth of trade and Empire, Britain had become 'the workshop of the world’, importing raw materials and exporting manufactured goods across the globe. Alongside these developments were great movements of people – emigration to other countries in search of a better life, internal migration from Scotland and Ireland to England, migration from countryside to towns in search of work, and immigration into Britain from European countries such as Russia, Germany and Italy. Our course will examine the connections between Britain’s trade, its empire and the migration of people in the nineteenth century.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 24/09/2024 -
Tue 12/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 11:30am
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
George O'Reilly
Course code:
Q00018727
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

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

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Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Archaeology: Archaeology of Castles in Northern England and North Wales

Uncover the history and architectural significance of castles in Northern England and North Wales with this archaeological course. Ideal for history buffs and archaeology enthusiasts alike.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 01/10/2024 -
Wed 06/11/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Michael Nevell
Course code:
Q00016678
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

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:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

History: The 12th Century Civil War for the Crown of England

This course looks at the troubled years after 1140, when England was ravaged by civil war and had two rival monarchs: the Empress Matilda, the daughter of King Henry I and her cousin, King Stephen. The Empress spent 17 years trying to secure her birthright. These years were called ‘The Anarchy’ by historians because of the destruction wreaked by both sides on villages and towns across southern England and the breakdown of law and order. The course explores the reasons why William Adelin’s sister, the Empress Matilda never achieved the Crown.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 08/10/2024 -
Tue 19/11/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Michael Long
Course code:
Q00017706
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
3 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80

History: Artists at War

How art has been employed by belligerent countries in the First and Second World Wars, but also to represent war, often patriotically, over many centuries. We’ll look at a range of different examples from western countries to show the different approaches to art depicting war and its effects and how sometimes this has been directed by governments, not always simply for propaganda purposes.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 08/10/2024 -
Tue 05/11/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
David Price
Course code:
Q00018312
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Carbon Literacy - October 2024

To attend this partnership course, you will have to register via EVENTBRITE Carbon Literacy – October 2024 ticket at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/carbon-literacy-october-2024-tickets-880713998277?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1 as well as via WEA. You will have to make a payment via EVENTBRITE and cannot proceed with the course if you have not done both. Carbon Literacy is a term used to describe an awareness of climate change, and the climate impacts of humankind’s everyday actions. This course is designed specifically for charities and social enterprises working in public leisure and culture and gives you the knowledge and tools available to take impactful climate action.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 09/10/2024 -
Wed 16/10/2024
Times:
9:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Lee Armon
Course code:
Q00015293
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available

History: Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot

On this two session course, we will look into the background to the Gunpowder Plot and what the plotters hoped to achieve. Some disaffected Catholics felt it necessary to attempt to assassinate King James I because of the continuing religious conflict in England. In the two sessions of this course we will focus on Guy Fawkes and how he came to have the responsibility for carrying out the operation to blow up the parliament chamber, as well as the involvement of some of the other people behind the plot, including Robert Catesby, generally regarded as the main instigator. We will also consider some of the consequences of the plot's failure and the deaths of most of the conspirators, and why some aspects of the story remain unexplained.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 30/10/2024 -
Wed 06/11/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
David Price
Course code:
Q00018313
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £14.80