## Site news

New Course: Introduction to Higher Mathematics!

See our new "mathematics curriculum in a box"! Requiring only precalculus as a prerequisite, our new "Introduction to Higher Mathematics" course is a friendly introduction to concepts in set theory, proofs, number theory, abstract algebra, and real analysis, and provides the foundations of ...

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New Course: Positive Psychology in the Workplace!

Whether you're an employee or an entrepreneur, you'll appreciate our new course on positive psychology in the workplace, taught by Dr. Orin Davis. Learn how to build a productive, soothing work environment, effectively utilize social capital to get things done, positively deal with stress in the workplace, and cultivate an enjoyable work experience for employer and employee alike.

New Course: The Computational Core of Social Cognition

Check out our new course, The Computational Core of Social Cognition, taught by John Bolender:

"The varieties of potential social structures are infinite.  For any natural language, the number of potential sentences is also infinite.  In both cases, this suggests a computational operation in which...

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## Available courses

### Introduction to Higher Mathematics

A "mathematics curriculum in a box": An accelerated but friendly introduction to higher mathematics topics in calculus, linear algebra, set theory, proofs, logic, number theory, abstract algebra, and real analysis. Precalculus is the only prerequisite. Strongly recommended for students considering a major in mathematics or a mathematical discipline such as computer science.

### The Computational Core of Social Cognition

The varieties of potential social structures are infinite.  For any natural language, the number of potential sentences is also infinite.  In both cases, this suggests a computational operation in which atomic mental symbols compose to form complex molecular representations.  This raises a number of questions.  Is the computational component of interpersonal cognition an offshoot of language?  Is language an offshoot of interpersonal cognition?  Without thinking in language, are non-human animals using a computational system to build their social structures?  Does one have to say that the mind is literally computational in order to account for infinite variety in language or interpersonal cognition?  Could the infinity of language and social structure exist on a wholly abstract level, like numbers, a level which the mind simply grasps?  What does it mean for the mind to “grasp” something abstract?  Integers also form an infinite set.  How is mathematical cognition relation to social and language cognition?

### Data Structures and Algorithms

Roughly 20-30 donated Data Structures and Algorithms slides, assignments, labs, and materials, previously prepared by the instructor for a 14-week twice-weekly format. (Note that these materials may refer to this previous class and the dates that the class was held. These references may be safely disregarded).

Audio annotations will be posted lecture-by-lecture as time permits.

This course is free. Assignments will be graded only on request. Suggested prerequisites include an understanding of basic Java or C++ programming and basic familiarity with discrete mathematics.

### Positive Psychology in the Workplace

Whether you're an employee or an entrepreneur, you'll appreciate our new course on positive psychology in the workplace, taught by Dr. Orin Davis. Learn how to build a productive, soothing work environment, effectively utilize social capital to get things done, positively deal with stress in the workplace, and cultivate an enjoyable work experience for employer and employee alike.

The start date of the course is December 15, 2012!

### Introduction to the Creative Economy

"The MFA is the new MBA." So said Daniel Pink in a "A Whole New Mind - Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the World." Creativity and innovation are driving a great deal of global economic development. In fact, the Council on Competitiveness has announced that "Innovation will be the single most important factor in determining America’s success through the 21st century." So, to paraphrase the famous commercial from the California Milk Processor Board, "Got creativity?" This class will help students assess and develop their own creative abilities and expose them to multiple tools and techniques to enhance their personal and professional creativity. We will explore the role of creativity in the American experience and how it is a driver for economic development. We will investigate a strategy framework for thinking creatively about innovation. We will look at creative innovators in the arts, commerce, government and social change. Students will be asked to investigate and report on one creative innovator for this class.

Start date March 7, 2011. This course is free, but donations are strongly encouraged.

### Code Like a Rockstar

Do you have a background in software engineering or web development? Develop your craft into something truly recession-proof and land the top jobs in the field. Learn to Code Like a Rockstar!

Taught by a successful Google Software Engineer and Computer Science Ph. D., this 5-session online masterclass will teach you expert-level coding techniques and practices which will get your code noticed by companies such as Facebook, Google, Apple, and Microsoft. Acquired over years of writing amazingly stable software at unimaginable scale and complexity, the tips in this course go well beyond the techniques taught in a typical software engineering program.

Start: January 7, 2012
Duration: 5 weeks of 2-hour discussions, 3 programming assignments.
Course Fee: $175 for a limited time, ordinarily$200
Prerequisites: Knowledge of a programming language and facility with basic development tools, such as a compiler and a debugger.

Certificates will be provided upon successful completion of the course. You may preview the course as a guest prior to the start date, but must be enrolled to view the lectures, assignments, or discussions.

### How to Learn Everything: Learning Skills for Becoming a 21st Century Renaissance Person

A talk (not a complete course) given on learning, creativity, time management, and the lives of historical polymaths, with a focus on how to apply these lessons from the past to the universal pursuit of knowledge in the present.

Given online and in selected areas within the United States. Complete list of locations TBA.

The talk is now available online.

### Upcoming: Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking

Learn everything from how to interpret a contract to truly understanding what a given statistic means in this 14 week critical thinking course.