Online Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
Online Course Schedule for Fall 2025
Thank you for your interest in Georgetown's Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. Please note that our degree completion program is fully online. Learn more about the program and how to apply.
Sex and Power in Mythology
Focusing primarily on Greco-Roman mythologies, this class explores the metamorphoses, societal transitions, and political upheavals found in mythology, which always depend on shifting relationships between sex and power. We will read Greco-Roman texts in conversation with other mythologies, pop culture, and contemporary discussions of how sex and power shape civilizations. Note: Contains graphic sexual and violent material, please read syllabus prior to joining course
Note: *Only for BLS students using the Coursera platform
- Course #: BLHV-1030-130
- CRN: 45928
- Instructor: Moore, C.
- Dates: Aug 27 – Dec 20, 2025
Artificial Intelligence
Are you curious about artificial intelligence but unsure where to begin? Artificial Intelligence is the perfect starting point, and no technical or programming background is required. This course provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to AI and its growing impact on everyday life. From smart assistants and facial recognition to personalized recommendations and autonomous vehicles, AI is transforming industries—and this course will help you understand how, why, and what it means for the future. Designed for students from all academic and professional backgrounds, the course focuses on building conceptual understanding through thoughtfully curated readings, discussions, self-paced assignments, and collaborative team projects. Whether you're looking to understand AI's relevance in your industry, thinking about a future career in tech, or simply want to be a more informed citizen in a digital world, this course will give you the tools to engage with AI confidently and critically.
Note: *Only for BLS students using the Coursera platform
- Course #: BLHV-2303-130
- CRN: 45970
- Instructor: Estrada, D.
- Dates: Aug 27 – Dec 20, 2025
Comparative Political Systems
This course offers a broad introduction to comparative politics, the subfield of political science concerned mainly with political ideas, institutions, and behavior within states. The course examines such themes as the origins and functions of states, formal institutions such as legislatures and executives, the variety and impact of electoral systems, the nature of democracy and autocracy, internal and external challenges to political order, and the impact of international and domestic factors on state performance. Discussions of theoretical and cross-regional issues will be accompanied by the treatment of individual countries and contexts. This course counts for the Comparative Government distribution requirement. The course is taught by Dr. Manuel, a research fellow at the Berkley Center and an affiliated professor in both the Department of Government and the McCourt School of Public Policy. Manuel has published twelve books and numerous peer reviewed articles. His scholarship has contributed to democratization literature in Portugal, with a focus on religion and politics.
Note: *Only for BLS students using the Coursera platform
- Course #: BLHV-2103-130
- CRN: 45931
- Instructor: Manuel, P.
- Dates: Aug 27 – Dec 20, 2025
Cybersecurity Risk Management
This course will discuss Cybersecurity Risk Management.
Note: *Only for BLS students using the Coursera platform
- Course #: BLHV-2304-130
- CRN: 47917
- Instructor: Lemieux, F.
- Dates: Aug 27 – Dec 20, 2025
Female Rulers - Antiq to Today
Female rulers have existed since antiquity, and many have left lasting legacies that have been kept alive through iconic television series and films. While at times they may have done little to advance female rights, they nevertheless pushed the boundaries of what was socially acceptable for women at their time, all while navigating complex power dynamics, obstacles, and salacious scandals. In this course, we will explore what female leadership looks like, what challenges these rulers faced, and how they navigated a social, political, and military landscape dominated by men. We will analyze why we remain fascinated by their reigns today, and how their legacies still impact our modern world.
Note: *Only for BLS students using the Coursera platform
- Course #: BLHV-1009-130
- CRN: 45926
- Instructor: Gomez, J.
- Dates: Aug 27 – Dec 20, 2025
Financial Management
This course introduces the theory and practice of corporate financial management and the application of financial management techniques to business decision-making. Topics include financial statement analysis, financial ratio analysis, the time value of money, risk and return, capital budgeting, cost of capital, sources and uses of financing, and international markets. Students will learn about data security standards, the importance of data anonymization and methods to identify and prevent insider threats.
Note: *Only for BLS students using the Coursera platform
- Course #: BLHV-2004-130
- CRN: 47922
- Instructor: O'Connor, C.
- Dates: Aug 27 – Dec 20, 2025
Intro International Relations
This course provides students with a basic framework for understanding the nature of contemporary international relations. The first part covers the intellectual traditions and classical theories used for examining the international system (realism, liberalism, radicalism, behavioralism). The second part looks at enduring issues in global security; great power competition, globalization, the problem of war, terrorism, and the emerging crises of environmental change and natural resource depletion. Throughout the course, we will take time to discuss the ethical dilemmas we confront when theory meets real world developments. Upon completion, students should be able to identify key concepts, actors, and issues in the modern interstate system and be prepared for advanced coursework in the field of international relations.
Note: *Only for BLS students using the Coursera platform
- Course #: BLHV-2100-130
- CRN: 45930
- Instructor: Schlickenmaier, W.
- Dates: Aug 27 – Dec 20, 2025
Intro to Pol & Social Justice
Introduction to Politics and Social Justice explores the political, theoretical, and activist approaches to social justice while considering representations and the larger impact of social justice struggles in the United States and around the world. Through an analysis of colonialism, imperialism, globalization, and social privileges, to name a few, students will learn the importance of applying knowledge from a variety of theoretical and political standpoints. The approach to this course will pay particular attention to issues of power, privilege, and “freedom.”
Note: *Only for BLS students using the Coursera platform
- Course #: BLHV-1029-130
- CRN: 45968
- Instructor: Christopher, E.
- Dates: Aug 27 – Dec 20, 2025
Introduction to Criminology
In this course, we will explore key areas of study within criminology including the nature and extent of crime, theories of criminal behavior, the social and economic roots of crime, and the effectiveness of various approaches to preventing and controlling crime. You will be introduced to the psychology of crime as well as the anomie, social control, social conflict, social disorganization, and routine activity theories. We will also examine contemporary issues related to hate, racism, Violent Extremism, mass violence, and cybercrime from the theoretical lens of criminology. Throughout the semester, you will have the opportunity to discuss the application of core criminology concepts to current social affairs.
Note: *Only for BLS students using the Coursera platform
- Course #: BLHV-1037-130
- CRN: 47916
- Instructor: Lemieux, F.
- Dates: Aug 27 – Dec 20, 2025
Introduction to Public Policy
Public policy-- that is, all the laws, regulations, and guidelines, along with judicial decisions, executive actions, and funding priorities-- shape every aspect of our lives. This introductory course explores this mosaic of rules through the lens of real people trying to make real changes through public policy. Using personally relevant examples, students will analyze how public policy is created, modified, implemented, and evaluated. We will explore 1) the federal and state governments’ overlapping policy responsibilities, 2) the legal system’s checks and balances on the policymaking process, and 3) the role of advocacy, including grassroots activism and nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, in shaping public policy. This course also provides experiential learning of public policy. Students will learn about policymaking in their own communities, observe and analyze policy-making in their own communities and practice creating and communicating evidence-based policy recommendations. Students will also analyze existing advocacy organizations to learn best practices and evaluate real-world strategies for changing public policies. There are no prerequisites for this class; everyone is warmly welcome
Note: *Only for BLS students using the Coursera platform
- Course #: BLHV-1026-130
- CRN: 46048
- Instructor: Collina, S.
- Dates: Aug 27 – Dec 20, 2025
Operations Management
This course provides a general introduction to operations management. Operations management is the science and art of designing and controlling business processes to support an organization’s delivery of goods and services. It is a primary organization function along with marketing and finance. Operations encompass the entire organization including, design, productions, operations, marketing, sales, and customer support. This course seeks to (A) familiarize you with the primary operational challenges and issues that managers encounter, and (B) provide you with terminology, concepts, practices, and tools to address these challenges in order to gain competitive advantage through operations. This course will interest people seeking a career in managing and enhancing business processes. The course should also be of interest to people who manage interfaces between operations and other business functions such as finance, marketing, and human resources. A working knowledge of operations is critical for general managers and entrepreneurs. The course will examine how different business strategies necessitate different business processes, and vice versa, how different operational capabilities support different strategies to achieve competitive advantage. A process view of operations will be used to analyze different key operational dimensions such as quality management, resource management, and supply chain management.
Note: *Only for BLS students using the Coursera platform
- Course #: BLHV-3001-130
- CRN: 45932
- Instructor: Majeed, I.
- Dates: Aug 27 – Dec 20, 2025
Strategy & Strategic Mindset
This course is an introduction to strategy and the strategic mindset for business. We will learn the basics of strategic management, which provides tools to help a business answer the following two questions: Where should we compete? How should we compete? At the same time, we will focus on the fundamentals of game theory, which provides mathematical tools for analyzing strategic environments so as to determine the best strategies. In addition, students will consider strategy from a philosophical point of view, and investigate the epistemology and ethics of competing in strategic environments.
Note: *Only for BLS students using the Coursera platform
- Course #: BLHV-2007-130
- CRN: 45929
- Instructor: Grant, P.
- Dates: Aug 27 – Dec 20, 2025