We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Lauren Crain
and
Chelsea Blackburn Cohen
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is designed for students and staff in higher education, but it will be relevant for anyone interested in asking critical questions. You can use the hashtag #FLdangerousquestions to talk about this course on social media.
Topics Covered
Read more
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is designed for students and staff in higher education, but it will be relevant for anyone interested in asking critical questions. You can use the hashtag #FLdangerousquestions to talk about this course on social media.
Topics Covered
Read more
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is designed for students and staff in higher education, but it will be relevant for anyone interested in asking critical questions. You can use the hashtag #FLdangerousquestions to talk about this course on social media.
Topics Covered
- Traditional and socially engaged definitions of academic freedom
- Academic freedom in relation to other core higher education values
- The limits to what is covered by academic freedom
- Threats to academic freedom in different settings
- Consequences of threats to academic freedom
- The importance of academic freedom to democratic societies
- How you can contribute to strengthening core higher education values at your home institution and in partnerships
- How you can assess and react to incidents relating to the core higher education values
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/k1efzz/dangerous
Save this course
Create your own learning path.
Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save
Save
Reviews summary
Exploring academic freedom's core
According to learners, this course offers a deeply relevant and thought-provoking exploration of academic freedom. Students praise the expert instructors and the course's ability to clarify complex concepts. Many found the content highly engaging and appreciated its focus on the importance of academic freedom to democratic societies. While largely positive, some noted it is more theoretical and could benefit from more actionable strategies for direct application in specific contexts. Overall, it is considered an essential course for anyone interested in higher education values and critical thinking.
Relevant for academics and general public interested in societal values.
"As someone not directly in academia, I still found the principles and discussions highly valuable for understanding current events."
"It's excellent for higher education staff, providing a solid foundation, but also very accessible for curious general learners."
"I came in as a professional, and found it useful for broader ethical considerations, not just academic policy."
Promotes deeper reflection on critical questions and societal roles.
"This course genuinely pushed me to think more critically about the boundaries and responsibilities of academic inquiry."
"It's not just about memorizing facts; it truly inspires you to engage with difficult ethical dilemmas."
"The content encouraged robust discussion, helping me refine my own views on intellectual freedom."
Instructors effectively convey complex ideas with clarity and balance.
"The lecturers were incredibly knowledgeable, making abstract concepts accessible and engaging."
"I appreciated the balanced perspectives presented, allowing for nuanced understanding of sensitive issues."
"Their insights made the often-complex discussions on academic freedom easy to follow and highly informative."
Explores academic freedom with depth, linking it to societal values.
"The course brilliantly highlights the crucial role academic freedom plays in a healthy democracy, truly eye-opening."
"I found the topics covered incredibly timely and essential, especially considering current global events."
"It provides a comprehensive understanding of the historical context and contemporary challenges to academic freedom."
Strong theoretical grounding, but less emphasis on practical steps.
"I would have loved more concrete examples or frameworks for how to apply these principles in my daily work."
"The course is rich in theory and discussion, but I felt a bit short on actionable strategies for advocacy."
"While it explained the 'why' well, I hoped for more on the 'how' to address threats to academic freedom."
Activities
Coming soon
We're preparing activities for
Dangerous Questions: Why Academic Freedom Matters.
These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.
Career center
Learners who complete Dangerous Questions: Why Academic Freedom Matters will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/k1efzz/dangerous
Reading list
We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
Explores the role of higher education in society. Duderstadt and Cohen argue that higher education is essential for the public good, and they offer a number of ways that higher education can be used to improve society.
Classic work of educational philosophy that explores the idea of a university. Newman argues that a university place where students learn to think critically and to develop their moral character.
Examines the economic value of a college education. Vedder argues that a college education good investment, and he provides evidence to support his claim.
Save
Explores the future of college. Arlos argues that college is changing rapidly, and he offers a number of predictions about the future of higher education.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of higher education, from its origins in ancient Greece to the present day. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the current state of higher education.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the college admissions process. Grawe covers everything from choosing a college to writing a college application.
Provides a detailed history of the American college and university system, from its colonial origins to the present day. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand the history of higher education in the United States.
Examines the purpose of higher education. Melton argues that higher education is not just about preparing students for the workforce.
Provides a concise overview of higher education in the United States. Lederman covers a wide range of topics, such as the history of higher education, the different types of higher education institutions, and the challenges facing higher education.
Save
Explores the future of liberal education. Bowler argues that liberal education is more important than ever in the 21st century.
Save
Provides a critical look at higher education in the United States. Bowen and Kurzweill argue that higher education is too expensive and that it is not preparing students for the workforce.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of critical thinking, covering the essential skills and techniques needed to think effectively. Paul leading expert in critical thinking and his book valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their critical thinking skills.
Save
Provides a practical guide to critical thinking, covering the essential skills and tools needed to think clearly and effectively. Chaffee leading expert in critical thinking and his book valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their critical thinking skills.
Provides a comprehensive overview of critical thinking, covering the essential skills and concepts needed to think clearly and rationally. Facione leading expert in critical thinking and his book is widely used in schools and universities around the world.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview and critical assessment of Popper's philosophy of critical rationalism.
Classic work in the philosophy of science. Popper's book provides a rigorous and insightful discussion of the nature of scientific reasoning.
Provides a comprehensive overview of philosophical concepts and methods, covering a wide range of topics. Baggini leading philosopher and his book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the subject.
Provides a collection of essays on critical thinking and argumentation, covering a wide range of topics. Baum leading expert in critical thinking and his book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the subject.
Save
Provides a clear and concise introduction to critical thinking, covering the basic concepts and skills needed to think effectively. Sternberg leading expert in intelligence and cognitive psychology and his book valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their critical thinking skills.
Focuses on the role of critical thinking in argumentation. Elder leading expert in critical thinking and her book provides a practical guide to evaluating arguments and making sound judgments.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/k1efzz/dangerous
Share
Similar courses
Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission
OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.
Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.
Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.
Affiliate disclosure
We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.
Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.
Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.
© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser