Ivy League Curtain Opened

Dec. 15, 2007 — -- Didn't have the grades or the extracurriculars for Yale? Don't worry.

Now anyone with a computer can attend class at Yale University by accessing "Open Yale Courses" — seven full-semester liberal arts classes available free on Yale's Web site.

The Web site offers video recordings of liberal arts lectures in subjects including philosophy, poetry and astronomy, along with full transcripts, course descriptions, tests and homework.

Professor Diana E.E. Kleiner coordinates the program and envisions high school students, international students and lifelong learners ready to claim an ivy-league-level education.

"I can imagine that 'took courses at Yale' is going to be a line on a lot of people's resumes," said Kleiner.

Embracing the spirit of free sites like YouTube, Yale encourages other universities to reuse and retransmit lectures and materials. Already, universities as far away as Bahrain and India have decided to integrate the "Open Yale Courses" into their curriculums.

Though people may mention the classes on resumes of the future, no credit will be given and no transcripts will be available. And as professor Paul Bloom makes sure to note, none of the homework or tests will be graded by anyone on the Yale faculty.

"If you're a diligent sort, maybe obsessive, you can watch the lectures, take the exams and see how you do," joked Bloom, who taught Introduction to Psychology in front of the cameras during the spring semester of 2006. "I hope they don't send me stuff I'm supposed to grade."

Another professor virtual students can meet is Shelly Kagan, who teaches a philosophy course on death. He is known on campus for sitting cross-legged on his desk to lecture and occasionally vaulting from the desk if inspired.

Kagan, who said teaching is an "intellectual performance," looks forward to teaching a broader audience.

"There's a real limit to how many people can be exposed to the faculty here in the direct one-on-one classroom situation," said Kagan.