critical thinking courses

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Critical Thinking Cornell Certificate Program

Overview and courses.

Have you ever known a very intelligent person who made a very bad decision?

Critical problem solving is both a discipline and a skill; one that even very smart people can benefit from learning. Careful thought around decisions can help your teams and organizations thrive. And in today’s age of automation, it’s never been a more essential mindset to develop at every level of a company.

In this certificate program, you will practice a disciplined, systematic approach to problem solving. You will learn how to deeply analyze a problem, assess possible solutions and associated risks, and hone your strategic decision-making skills by following a methodology based on tested actions and sound approaches. Whether you’re interested in preparing for a management role or already lead an execution function, you’ll come away better equipped to confidently tackle any decision large or small, make a compelling business case, and apply influence in your organization in a way that creates the optimal conditions for success.

The courses in this certificate program are required to be completed in the order that they appear.

This program includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature several days of live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore the most pressing leadership topics. Symposium events are held several times throughout the year. Once enrolled in your program, you will receive information about upcoming events.

Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending Symposium sessions is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.

Course list

Problem-solving using evidence and critical thinking.

Have you ever known a very intelligent person who made a very bad decision? If so, you know that having a high IQ does not guarantee that you automatically make critically thoughtful decisions. Critically thoughtful problem-solving is a discipline and a skill—one that allows you to make decisions that are the product of careful thought, and the results of those decisions help your team and organization thrive.

In this course you will practice a disciplined, systematic approach to problem solving that helps ensure that your analysis of a problem is comprehensive, is based on quality, credible evidence, and takes full and fair account of the most probable counterarguments and risks. The result of this technique is a thoroughly defensible assessment of what the problem is, what is causing it, and the most effective plan of action to address it. Finally, you will identify and frame a problem by assessing its context and develop a well-reasoned and implementable solution that addresses the underlying causes.

Making a Convincing Case for Your Solution

When trying to persuade someone, the tendency is to begin in advocacy mode—for example: “Here's something I want you to agree to.” Most people do not react positively to the feeling of being sold something. The usual reaction is to literally or figuratively start backing up. To make a convincing case, it is more effective to engage with the decision maker as a partner in problem-solving. This makes your counterpart feel less like someone is trying to get them to buy something and more like you are working together to bring about an outcome that is desirable to both parties. Begin by asking yourself: “What is the problem you and the decision maker are solving together?”

By the end of this course, you will have learned how to deeply analyze a problem, possible solutions, and the associated risks as well as the most persuasive and efficient ways of presenting your proposal.

You are required to have completed the following course or have equivalent experience before taking this course:

• Solve Problems Using Evidence and Critical Thinking

Strategic Decision Making

The ability to make effective and timely decisions is an essential skill for successful executives. Mastery of this skill influences all aspects of day-to-day operations as well as strategic planning. In this course, developed by Professor Robert Bloomfield, Ph.D. of Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management, you will hone your decision-making skills by following a methodology based on tested actions and sound organizational approaches. You will leave this course better equipped to confidently tackle any decision large or small, and you'll do so in a way that creates the optimal conditions for success.

Navigating Power Relationships

Leaders at every level need to be able to execute on their ideas. In virtually every case, this means that leaders need to be able to persuade others to join in this execution. In order to do so, understanding how to create and utilize power in an organization is critical.

In this course, developed by Professor Glen Dowell, Ph.D., of Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management, students will focus on their personal relationship with power as well as how power works in their organization and social network.

Project Management Institute (PMI ® ) Continuing Certification : Participants who successfully complete this course will receive 6 Professional Development Units (PDUs) from PMI ® . Please contact PMI ® for details about professional project management certification or recertification.

Interpreting the Behavior of Others

Applying strategic influence.

Being able to influence others is the most fundamental characteristic of an effective leader, but many people in positions of power don't know specifically how they are influencing others' behavior in positive directions. They let it happen by chance or use their formal authority—getting people to do things because “the boss said so.” But as leaders gets promoted within their organization, using formal authority becomes less effective as they not only need to influence subordinates, but also peers, external stakeholders, and superiors.  In this course, Professor Filipowicz explores the three complementary levels of influence. First, you will explore heuristics, or rules of thumb, that people use in order to make decisions. Next, you will learn how to influence through reciprocity by uncovering what the person you want to influence wants and needs. Lastly, you will learn how to alter the social and physical environment in order to get the change in behavior you want. By the end of this course, you'll have the skills to consistently draw out the desired behaviors from your team and from those around you. 

Leadership Symposium   LIVE

Symposium sessions feature three days of live, highly interactive virtual Zoom sessions that will explore today’s most pressing topics. The Leadership Symposium offers you a unique opportunity to engage in real-time conversations with peers and experts from the Cornell community and beyond. Using the context of your own experiences, you will take part in reflections and small-group discussions to build on the skills and knowledge you have gained from your courses.

Join us for the next Symposium in which we’ll discuss the ways that leaders across industries have continued engaging their teams over the past two years while pivoting in strategic ways. You will support your coursework by applying your knowledge and experiences to relevant topics for leaders. Throughout this Symposium, you will examine different areas of leadership, including innovation, strategy, and engagement. By participating in relevant and engaging discussions, you will discover a variety of perspectives and build connections with your fellow participants from various industries.

Upcoming Symposium: June 4-6, 2024 from 11am – 1pm ET

All sessions are held on Zoom.

Future dates are subject to change. You may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending Symposium sessions is not required to successfully complete any certificate program. Once enrolled in your courses, you will receive information about upcoming events. Accessibility accommodations will be available upon request.

How It Works

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Faculty Authors

• Certificates Authored

Risa Mish is professor of practice of management at the Johnson Graduate School of Management. She designed and teaches the MBA Core course in Critical and Strategic Thinking, in addition to teaching courses in leadership and serving as faculty co-director of the Johnson Leadership Fellows program.

She has been the recipient of the MBA Core Faculty Teaching Award, selected by the residential program MBA class to honor the teacher who “best fosters learning through lecture, discussion and course work in the required core curriculum”; the Apple Award for Teaching Excellence, selected by the MBA graduating classes to honor a faculty member who “exemplifies outstanding leadership and enduring educational influence”; the “Best Teacher Award”, selected by the graduating class of the Cornell-Tsinghua dual degree MBA/FMBA program offered by Johnson at Cornell and the PBC School of Finance at Tsinghua University; the Stephen Russell Distinguished Teaching Award, selected by the five-year MBA reunion class to honor a faculty member whose “teaching and example have continued to influence graduates five years into their post-MBA careers”; and the Globe Award for Teaching Excellence, selected by the Executive MBA graduating class to honor a faculty member who “demonstrates a command of subject matter and also possesses the creativity, dedication, and enthusiasm essential to meet the unique challenges of an EMBA education.”

Mish serves as a keynote speaker and workshop leader at global, national, and regional conferences for corporations and trade associations in the consumer products, financial services, health care, high tech, media, and manufacturing industries, on a variety of topics, including critical thinking and problem solving, persuasion and influence, and motivating optimal employee performance. Before returning to Cornell, Mish was a partner in the New York City law firm of Collazo Carling & Mish LLP (now Collazo Florentino & Keil LLP), where she represented management clients on a wide range of labor and employment law matters, including defense of employment discrimination claims in federal and state courts and administrative agencies, and in labor arbitrations and negotiations under collective bargaining agreements. Prior to CC&M, Mish was a labor and employment law associate with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York City, where she represented Fortune 500 clients in the financial services, consumer products, and manufacturing industries. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and state and federal courts in New York and Massachusetts.

Mish is a member of the board of directors of SmithBucklin Corporation, the world’s largest trade association management company, headquartered in Chicago and TheraCare Corporation, headquartered in New York City. She formerly served as a Trustee of the Tompkins County Public Library, Vice Chair of the board of directors of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County, and member of the board of directors of the United Way of Tompkins County.

• Omnichannel Leadership Program
• Corporate Communication
• Intrapreneurship
• Management 360

Critical Thinking

• Performance Leadership
• Executive Leadership
• Change Management

Glen Dowell is an Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at the Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University. He researches in the area of corporate sustainability, with a focus on firm environmental performance. Recent projects have investigated the effect of local demographic factors on changes in pollution levels, the role of corporate merger and acquisition in facilitating changes in facility environmental performance, and the relative influence of financial return and disruption on the commercial adoption of energy savings initiatives.

Professor Dowell’s research has been published in Management Science, Organization Studies, Advances in Strategic Management, Strategic Management Journal, Organization Science, Journal of Management, Industrial and Corporate Change, Journal of Business Ethics, and Administrative Science Quarterly. He is senior editor at Organization Science and co-editor of Strategic Organization, is on the editorial boards of Strategic Management Journal and Administrative Science Quarterly, and represents Cornell on the board of the Alliance for Research in Corporate Sustainability (ARCS). He is also the Division Chair for the Organizations and Natural Environment Division of the Academy of Management.

Professor Dowell teaches Sustainable Global Enterprise and Critical and Strategic Thinking. He is a faculty affiliate for the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise and a faculty fellow at the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future.

• Sustainable Business
• Hotel Management and Owner Relations
• Strategic Healthcare Leadership
• Executive Healthcare Leadership

Since coming to the Johnson Graduate School of Management in 1991, Robert J. Bloomfield has used laboratory experiments to study financial markets and investor behavior. He has also published in all major business disciplines, including finance, accounting, marketing, organizational behavior, and operations research. Professor Bloomfield served as director of the Financial Accounting Standards Research Initiative (FASRI), an activity of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and is an editor of a special issue of Journal of Accounting Research dedicated to Registered Reports of empirical research. Professor Bloomfield has recently taken on editorship of Journal of Financial Reporting, which is pioneering an innovative editorial process intended to broaden the range of research methods used in accounting, improve the quality of research execution, and encourage the honest reporting of findings.

• Management Accounting for Leaders
• Management Accounting

Allan Filipowicz is clinical professor of management and organizations at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Professor Filipowicz’s research focuses on how emotions drive or impede leadership effectiveness, at both the intrapersonal and interpersonal levels. Within this domain, he studies the relationship between emotions and risky decision making; the influence of humor on both leadership and negotiation effectiveness; the impact of emotional transitions in negotiations; and the relationship between genes, chronotype (morningness–eveningness) and performance. His work has been published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, Journal of Operations Management, International Journal of Forecasting, Creativity Research Journal, Journal of Circadian Rhythms, and Scientific Reports.

Professor Filipowicz teaches Managing and Leading Organizations (recently winning a Best Core Faculty Award), Negotiations, Executive Leadership and Development, Leading Teams, and Critical and Strategic Thinking. He has taught executives across the globe, from Singapore to Europe to the US, with recent clients including Medtronic, Bayer, Google, Pernod Ricard, and Harley-Davidson. Professor Filipowicz received his PhD from Harvard University. He holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in International Affairs from the University of Pennsylvania, and degrees in electrical engineering (MEng, BS) and economics (BA) from Cornell University. His professional experience includes banking (Bankers Trust, New York) and consulting, including running his own boutique consulting firm and four years with The Boston Consulting Group in Paris.

• Adaptive Healthcare Strategy
• Negotiation Mastery
• Psychology of Leadership

Key Course Takeaways

• Respond decisively and consistently when faced with situations that require a decision
• Assess the context of the problem
• Summarize your analysis of the problem
• Analyze potential solutions from multiple perspectives
• Build a compelling business case for your solution
• Improve your ability to exercise influence in your organization and activate your network to achieve goals
• Establish responsibilities and accountabilities to ensure effective follow-through on decisions made

Download a Brochure

What You'll Earn

• Critical Thinking Certificate from Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management
• 60 Professional Development Hours (6 CEUs)
• 38 Professional Development Units (PDUs) toward PMI recertification
• 30 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification
• 30 Credit hours towards HRCI recertification

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Who should enroll.

• C-level executives, VPs, managers
• Industry leaders with 2-10+ years experience
• Mid-level professionals looking to move into leadership roles
• Engineers and designers leading projects
• Consultants or analysts
• Anyone whose work involves devising, proposing, and defending evidence-based solutions

“eCornell puts you in control of your education entrepreneurship. It allows you to choose what you need to learn and how you need to learn it at the right time.”

Request information now by completing the form below..

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How To Think Clearly With The Top 11 Best Online Critical Thinking Courses & Classes [Free Guide]

Looking for a game-changer in the way you think about the world around you? Well, you’re exactly where you need to be to get started!

In this guide, I cover some of the best online critical thinking courses for developing your skills. With courses ranging from under an hour in length to 16-week programs, there’s something for everyone.  

Also, all of these online courses will equip you with the tools and techniques you need to become a great critical thinker, so let’s get into them!

Table of Contents

Top 11 Best Online Critical Thinking Courses & Classes 2024

1.  how to think differently & critically (skillshare).

In 7 easy steps, this online critical thinking course, for beginners and advanced thinkers alike, will help you see the world differently by examining different perspectives and using logic and critical reasoning to expand your mind. 

Troye Bates is your instructor for this course online class, who writes a popular online blog on brain-training, and began teaching several years ago, sparked by his passion for enhancing our mental capabilities.

Through the 7-step process, students learn how to become a mental master of critical thinking, logic, and reasoning, strategy, abundance, big-picture thinking, reflecting before they act, and tons more!

Global online learning platform Skillshare is where you will find this online course.   There are over 29,000 other courses available on the platform and you even get a 1-month free trial!   Overall, this is one of the best critical thinking classes you can find online!

• 10 video lessons
• 1 hour and 26 minutes of content
• 271 students have taken the course
• Suited to all levels

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

2.  Critical Thinking: How to Find Out What Really Works (Skillshare)

Keen to level-up your critical thinking skills at work, school, or in day-to-day life? Critical thinking is an essential life skill, and this online course teaches you key strategies to make better life decisions.  

Andre Klapper , Ph.D., is your teacher, who is a researcher, psychologist, and neuroscientist with decades of experience in working with the mind and understanding cognitive processes. This is also 1 of 9 courses Andre currently has on Skillshare.

Spread across 14 lessons over 1-hour, students will learn the reasoning fallacy, everyday examples, how to eliminate alternative explanations, how to rule out coincidences, how to draw conclusions efficiently, the scientific thinking blueprint, and tons more!

Currently, you can find this online course hosted on the global online learning platform, Skillshare. There are over 29,000 other courses available on the platform, plus you get a 1-month free trial as a new user! Overall, this is a great introductory class to enroll in.

• 14 video lessons
• 1 hour and 11 minutes
• 211 students have taken the course
• Suited to beginners

3.  Welcome to critical thinking (LinkedIn Learning)

Learn how to make more thoughtful and effective decisions in every area of your life with this online critical-thinking course designed to challenge and expand your current level of thinking.   Clocking in at an hour, this introductory critical thinking course is just the right length to get some learning in on your commute or while out for a run!

Leading this online course is   Mike Figliuolo , the Managing Director of Thought LEADERS LLC, and an author at LinkedIn Learning. Mike is also a nationally renowned speaker, blogger, author, and teacher.

Throughout the course’s one-hour running time, students explore a series of techniques to assist with developing critical thinking skills by sharing how to redefine problems and use specific strategies such as the ‘5 Whys’, the ‘7 So Whats’, and the 80/20 rule.

You can find this online critical thinking course hosted on LinkedIn Learning, offering over 150,000 courses on a range of topics, all available to students worldwide! The expert teaching and quality content make this a not-to-miss online course!

• Approx. 1 hour of content
• Downloadable on Apple and GooglePlay for offline learning
• 312,745 people have viewed the course

Visit LinkedIn.con

4.  Critical Thinking In The Workplace (Skillshare)

Next up on my list is a critical-thinking course designed specifically for the workplace. Whether you’re looking to enhance your own skills, or you’re a manager or CEO aiming to increase staff productivity,   this short 50-minute course is highly recommended.

Katie Hall is your instructor, a representative of Talent Zoom, which is a company that helps businesses identify their unique workplace talents. Katie also has 3 courses on Skillshare and is dedicated to helping people succeed in their professional lives.

Some of the many topics covered in this online critical thinking course include the foundations of critical thinking, as well as understanding left, right, whole-brain thinking, consistency of ideas, building an explanation, active listening, and tons more!

For those interested, this online course is hosted on the global online learning platform, Skillshare. There are over 29,000 other courses available on the platform, plus a 1-month free trial! Overall, this is one of the best online critical thinking classes out there!

• 50 minutes of content
• 429 students have taken the course
• 2 downloadable resources

5.  Critical Thinking for Better Judgment and Decision-Making (Skillshare)

Did you know that having solid critical-thinking skills leads to better decision-making and a higher quality of life as a result? This online course empowers you to make the right decisions for your life by teaching you objective and rational analysis techniques to apply to any situation you might find yourself in.  

Taught by Becki Saltzman , this class is expertly led in short-format video lectures. Becki is an author, speaker, and founder of the Applied Curiosity Lab. She is focused on teaching skills to companies to improve their operations, and how their teams innovate, tackle challenges, and respond to change.

Each module of this critical thinking course covers topics such as the foundational aspect of critical thinking, how to minimize bad judgment, improving vision quality, and creating a culture of curiosity.  

Hosted on LinkedIn Learning, you can access this course and then choose from more than 150,000 others taught by industry experts once you’ve completed it! Definitely a recommended short class that you can access from anywhere.

• Approx. 55 minutes of content
• 78,641 people have viewed the course
• Suited to advanced level

6.  Master Cognitive Biases and Improve Your Critical Thinking (Udemy)

My next standout pick is an online critical-thinking course to fast-track your mental upgrade. Master your understanding of cognitive biases and learn the most effective strategies to improve the quality of your thinking in just under 2.5 hours!

Kevin DeLaplante Ph.D. is your course instructor, who is a philosopher and the founder of the Critical Thinker Academy. Kevin has taught more than 62,000 students in his 4 online courses on Udemy and works with groups, universities, and in 1-1 coaching for improving critical thinking.

In over 50 von-demand video lectures, students are guided through an explanation of cognitive bias is and how it relates to critical thinking. Lessons include confirmation bias, pattern-seeking, hindsight bias, and the anchoring effect, ending with some helpful strategies for debasing ideas.

Udemy is where you can access this critical thinking course, a great online course platform that offers its students over 150,000 on-demand online courses from beginner to advanced level!

• 50 video lectures
• 2 hours and 26 minutes of content
• Lifetime access
• Certificate of Completion
• 4.4/5 from 4,812 ratings
• 13,803 students have taken the course

Visit Udemy.com

7.  Teaching Critical Thinking through Art with the National Gallery of Art (edX)

Are you an artist or an art enthusiast? Next up is a specialist online course examining critical thinking through an artistic lens.   You’ll learn how to strengthen your thinking and facilitate meaningful conversations by applying artistic critical-thinking techniques.

As for your instructor, this online critical thinking course is offered by The Smithsonian Institute with Julie Carmean , the Museum Educator and Coordinator of Professional Development at The National Gallery of Art in Washington, United States, as your leading you.

Through 4 content units, which will take up to 20 hours to complete via self-paced learning, students investigate thinking routines, observing and describing tactics, reasoning with evidence, and questioning and investigating, receiving downloadable artful thinking lesson plans as a bonus!

You can find this online critical thinking course can be found on the nonprofit education platform edX, founded by Harvard and MIT, and offering courses form the leading worldwide universities to more than 20 million students! This particular course is one of the best online critical thinking classes I’ve found.

• 18,073 students have enrolled
• Takes 16 weeks to complete
• 3-4 hours a week of work
• Great for all levels

Visit edX.org

8.  Master your Decision-Making, and Critical Thinking Skills (Udemy)

Are you looking for a comprehensive online course to improve your decision-making? You can work towards mastering good decision-making in this 4-hour online critical-thinking course that comes highly recommended with a 4.4/5 rating!  

Your course instructor is Sivakami S , an experienced business leader and research/doctoral scholar who has taught over 20,000 students in his 12 online courses on Udemy. With nearly 2 decades of experience, she has led many initiatives in large corporations such as Verizon and Microsoft.

Spanning 45 video lectures presented in just over 4 hours, students learn how humans think, judge, and decide key cognitive biases, irrationality versus rationality, de-biasing techniques, logical fallacies, and so much more.  

Head to Udemy to check this course out, a global online learning platform that offers more than 150,000 on-demand courses on a whole range of topics no matter your level! Overall, this online course is a great deep-dive into critical-thinking!.

• 45 video lectures
• 4 hours and 3 minutes of content
• 4.4/5 from 1,183 ratings
• 5,129 students have taken the course
• 15 downloadable resources

9. Philosophy and Critical Thinking (edX)

Another online critical thinking course that I’m excited to show you is a totally free, university-led offering for anyone who wants to improve their critical thinking skills. Over a period of 6 weeks, students learn how to use philosophical inquiry to improve your personal and professional decision-making.  

Two instructors share the teaching of this online course, Professor Deborah Brown and Dr. Peter Ellerton , both lecturers and Directors of the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project who  

Students are led through critical thinking content that teaches them how to identify, analyze, and construct cogent arguments, and how to think of solutions to the central philosophical problems. There is also an option to add a verified certificate for an extra fee, for students looking for this proof of completion of the course.

edX hosts this online critical thinking course,   offering more than 20 million students incredible access to online courses at leading universities across the globe. Plus, as a nonprofit, it’s totally free! Overall, a high-quality course for anyone wanting to develop critical thinking.  

• 95,967 students have enrolled
• 6 weeks long
• 1-4 hours of work per week

10.  Critical Thinking (Udemy)

If you’re keen to study an online critical thinking course that’s both broad and detailed, this could be the one for you! In just 3 hours, you’ll have a greater grasp of logic and reasoning to apply to every area of your life.

Presented by Joss Colchester of Systems Innovation , an eLearning platform that is focused on complex systems and system change, this course is an entry into this subject. This course is led in an accessible way, making complex ideas feel easy to understand.

Joss takes students through course content covering cognition, including evolutionary psychology, as well as informal and formal logic examples and explanations, the different types of reasoning, the elements of reasoning, and argumentation rules and strategies.

One of the best online critical thinking courses around, you can find it on Udemy, which offers its students over 150,000 on-demand online courses on critical thinking and more, from beginner to advanced level!

• 21 video lectures
• 3 hours and 5 minutes of content
• 4.3/5 from 118 ratings
• 427 students have taken the course

11. Introduction to Critical Thinking (Udemy)

If you’re a critical-thinking newbie looking to get your decision-making off to a good start, this is a brilliant beginner’s course to help you process information and make thoughtful decisions.  

Teaching duo Gorden Bonne t and Carol Bloomgarden are your instructors. Golden is the author of the blog Skeptophilio, which looks at science and media through a skeptical lens. He is also a novelist and teacher of critical thinking, and various other science topics. Carol is Gorden’s wife, and she is responsible for the video production and graphic design at Skeptophilia. They both lead this course with patience and passion.

Throughout 39 on-demand video lectures, students will explore the fundamentals of critical thinking, skepticism, learn how to recognize fallacies in the media, identify questionable statistics, construct arguments, and know when scientific terms are not being used correctly.

Udemy is where you will find this critical thinking hosted, a great online course platform which offers its students over 150,000 on-demand online courses from beginner to advanced level!

Udemy was founded in 2010 and has risen to the forefront of online learning in just a decade, to become the leader in skill-based and professional online education. To learn more, also check out my other posts on NLP and CBT !

• 39 video lectures
• 1 hour and 19 minutes of content
• Course: Introduction to Critical Thinking
• 4.5/5 from 34 ratings
• 46 students have taken the course

My name is Lewis Keegan and I am the writer and editor of SkillScouter.com. I'm extremely passionate about online education and what it can do for those to better their lives. I spend most of my time blogging, hiking, and drinking coffee. I also have a Bachelor's Degree in Education and Teaching.

Course details

An introduction to critical thinking.

This is an In-person course which requires your attendance to the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.

In print, online and in conversation, we frequently encounter conflicting views on important issues: from climate change, vaccinations and current political events to economic policy, healthy lifestyles and parenting. It can be difficult to know how to make up one’s own mind when confronted with such diverse viewpoints.

This course teaches you how to critically engage with different points of view. You are given some guidelines that will help you decide to what extent to trust the person, organisation, website or publication defending a certain position. You are also shown how to assess others’ views and arrive at your own point of view through reasoning. We discuss examples of both reasoning about facts and the reasoning required in making practical decisions. We distinguish risky inferences with probable conclusions from risk-free inferences with certain conclusions. You are shown how to spot and avoid common mistakes in reasoning. 

No previous knowledge of critical thinking or logic is needed. This course will be enjoyed by those who relish the challenge of thinking rationally and learning new skills. The skills and concepts taught will also be useful when studying other areas of philosophy.

Programme details

Term Starts:  23rd April 2024

Week 1: What is critical thinking? What is the difference between reasoning and other ways of forming beliefs?

Week 2: What is a logical argument? How do arguments differ from conditionals, explanations and rhetoric?

Week 3: Certainty versus probability: the distinction between deductive and inductive reasoning.

Week 4: Deductive validity and logical form. 

Week 5: When do arguments rely on hidden premises? A closer look at probability. 

Week 6: Inductive generalisations: Reasoning from samples. 

Week 7: Reasoning about causes and inference to the best explanation.

Week 8: Practical reasoning: Reasoning about what to do.

Week 9: When is it appropriate to believe what others tell you? What is the significance of expertise?

Week 10: Putting it all together: We analyse and assess longer passages of reasoning.

Recommended reading

All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.

There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.

Availability of titles on the reading list (below) can be checked on SOLO , the library catalogue.

Preparatory reading

• Critical Reasoning: A Romp Through the Foothills of Logic for Complete Beginners / Talbot, M
• Critical Thinking : An Introduction to Reasoning Well / Watson, J C and Arp R

Recommended Reading List

Digital Certification

To complete the course and receive a certificate, you will be required to attend at least 80% of the classes on the course and pass your final assignment. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Dr Andrea Lechler

Andrea Lechler holds a degree in Computational Linguistics, an MSc in Artificial Intelligence, and an MA and PhD in Philosophy. She has extensive experience of teaching philosophy for OUDCE and other institutions. Her website is www.andrealechler.com. 

Course aims

To help students improve their critical thinking skills.    

Course Objectives:

• To help students reflect on how people reason and how they try to persuade others of their views.
• To make students familiar with the principles underlying different types of good reasoning as well as common mistakes in reasoning.
• To present some guidelines for identifying trustworthy sources of information.

Teaching methods

The tutor will present the course content in an interactive way using plenty of examples and exercises. Students are encouraged to ask questions and participate in class discussions and group work. To consolidate their understanding of the subject they will be assigned further exercises as homework.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

• be able to pick out and analyse passages of reasoning in texts and conversations
• understand the most important ways of assessing the cogency of such reasoning
• know how to assess the trustworthiness of possible sources of information.

Assessment methods

Assessment is based on a set of exercises similar to those discussed in class. One set of homework exercises can be submitted as a practice assignment.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an  enrolment form (Word)  or  enrolment form (Pdf) .

Level and demands

Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support

Critical thinking definition

Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.

Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.

Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.

However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.

People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:

• Developing technical and problem-solving skills
• Engaging in more active listening
• Actively questioning their assumptions and beliefs
• Seeking out more diversity of thought
• Opening up their curiosity in an intellectual way etc.

Is critical thinking useful in writing?

Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:

• What information should be included?
• Which information resources should the author look to?
• What degree of technical knowledge should the report assume its audience has?
• What is the most effective way to show information?
• How should the report be organized?
• How should it be designed?
• What tone and level of language difficulty should the document have?

Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?

Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.

Are there any services that can help me use more critical thinking?

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Scenario-based learning 101

Easily scale your video production in 120+ languages.

Learning through dull documents or PowerPoints can be as ineffective and tedious as running on a treadmill..

However, scenario-based learning, especially with some interactivity, saves learning and corporate training from becoming a snoozefest. 82% of employees prefer learning from interactive videos over non-interactive ones because they hold their attention better.

In this post:

• We explore what scenario-based learning is as opposed to traditional learning experiences.
• Why it’s a favorite instructional strategy. 
• We give you practical insights and examples of text, audio, and video scenario-based learning for inspiration.

What is scenario-based learning?

Scenario-based learning (SBL) is a strategy that walks learners through a storyline where they make decisions, training their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. SBL requires that you think on your feet, make decisions, and see how your choices play out in a given context. In short, scenario-based learning is all about active learning .

Practical scenarios adapt to various needs, from tech to leadership and soft skills training across industries. Here are three quick scenario-based learning examples that prove it:

A basic scenario-based learning model for decision-making:

“You’re a marketing manager at a tech startup. Your budget for the quarter is $100,000, and you must allocate it between social media advertising, traditional media, and influencer partnerships. Explain: How will you allocate it and why? How will you measure success? What are the potential risks, and how do you plan to mitigate them?”

A more complex scenario using text, images, and audio:

A skills practice simulation game with built-in videos and branches:

Why is scenario-based learning so effective?

Implementing a scenario-based learning strategy allows students to practice skills in a safe environment with real-world challenges but no pressure. Learner engagement and satisfaction are highest with SBL compared to other methods like grade point averages or project-based learning, a study found.

Experiential learning keeps you hooked. It’s adaptable, makes the learning process fun, and makes you use your imagination.

Students who imagine a procedure or concept learn better and score higher on test results than those who just studied the same procedure or concept. Researchers call it the imagination effect .

Scenario-based learning is a type of educational gamification. Game elements are highly motivational for learners. Students say learning experiences with game elements motivate them more ( 67.7% ) and improve their results (by nearly 35% )!

Whether for compliance training , leadership development, or technical skill enhancement, SBL can create customizable scenarios that meet diverse learning needs. Plus, the quick feedback that scenarios often provide can boost employee engagement nearly fourfold.

Scenario-based learning examples and types

A scenario is a mini-adventure in which you learn by making choices, observing the learning outcomes, and adjusting your approach. Below, you’ll find different types of scenario-based learning with examples you can adapt for your own strategy.

Scenario-based learning type 1: Problem-solving

The goal of problem-solving scenarios is to help learners identify, analyze, and solve complex problems. Here’s an example of problem-focused scenario-based learning. It gives a frame with a question, users select an answer, and realistic feedback is instant, like in the video below:

Scenario-based learning type 2: Decision-making

Decision-making scenarios train learners to analyze information, weigh options, and consider consequences to make informed decisions.

“Connect with Haji Kamal” is a great example of decision-making scenario-based learning. It turns you into a US Army sergeant in Afghanistan who must advise a young lieutenant on making a good impression on a Pashtun leader. The script navigates cultural nuances, strategic communication, and military diplomacy.

Scenario-based learning type 3: Critical thinking

This type of online training presents scenarios that require evaluating information, arguments, and different perspectives to form reasoned judgments and improve critical thinking skills. 

A scenario-based learning experience in this category is Hana Feels:

Scenario-based learning type 4: Skill application

Scenario-based learning can be very useful by providing a practical context for learners to apply technical skills. Smartbuilder creates such experiences, one of which was specifically designed for hardware/device training.

Single, double, and triple-loop scenario-based learning

Aside from the “learning objectives” classification above, scenarios differ by complexity. While anything with choices can be branching scenario-based learning, we also have single-loop, double-loop, and triple-loop learning scenarios on an axis from the simplest to the most complex scenarios.

Tamarack Institute presents these scenarios inspired by Professor Brenda Zimmerman's classification of problems as Simple/Complicated/Complex:

To better understand these scenarios, check out this tool by the Tamarack Institute .

How to create scenario-based learning videos

Viewers recall 95% of a video’s message vs. only 10% from text, which makes video the most effective form of scenario-based learning. While there are many ways to create scenario-based instructional videos, the simplest, fastest, and easiest method, even for non-techies, is with an AI video maker.

Synthesia is an AI-powered text-to-video tool you can use in your web browser. It includes pre-defined video templates, customizable and diverse AI avatars (digital doubles of real actors), and text-to-speech in 130+ languages. This short video shows how it works:

This tool has a built-in AI script generator and can turn text into a talking-head video in minutes. Instead of a stock avatar, you can clone someone with authority at your company and make the video more relevant and relatable.

When using Synthesia to create scenario-based learning videos, develop on-screen dialogues between two or more avatars. These dialogues will simulate real-life scenarios and make your content more engaging regardless of complexity:

With the Dialogue feature, you can add multiple avatars in a scene, assign each one a unique voice, and even create multi-language scenes. Your scenario-based learning will become more dynamic and facilitate multilingual accessibility.

Multilingual accessibility is a great asset for sharing knowledge and training diverse employees. 66% of the world’s population is bilingual or multilingual, but 40% don’t have access to education in a language they speak or understand. 

How to create a training module on active listening

With the Dialogue feature, you can set up a scene where one avatar plays a manager, and another is an employee. The manager's avatar explains a complex concept, and the employee demonstrates active listening skills. This visual and interactive approach helps learners grasp the nuances of effective communication, making the training more impactful.

Here’s a ‎ template you can customize to create your video and model whatever dialogue you need:

How to create a customer service training video

With the Dialogue feature, you can create a scene with an avatar as a customer service representative and another as a customer. You can simulate various customer interactions, showing effective strategies for de-escalation and problem-solving.

Because Synthesia integrates with authoring and eLearning tools like Easygenerator and Articulate 360 , it can create interactive video courses with branching scenarios and rapid feedback:

This sales simulation video introduced a fully interactive course created in Articulate 360 that you can take here .

How to use scenario-based learning

To make the most of scenario-based learning, plan it carefully. Designing scenarios that meet your learners' needs and expectations requires the following steps:

Step 1: Identify your audience and their learning objectives . Knowing what learners need to achieve by the end of the scenario helps design relevant and targeted scenarios.

Step 2: Design realistic scenarios. To fully engage learners with the situation, scenarios must be detailed and lifelike, reflecting the challenges they will likely face in their roles.

Step 3: Incorporate interactive elements. Interactive content with branching decisions, simulations, or role-plays increases audience engagement by 52.6% .

Step 4: Provide constructive feedback. Immediate, constructive, specific, and actionable feedback helps learners understand the implications of their choices.

Step 5: Evaluate and iterate. To keep training relevant and impactful, continuously assess its effectiveness and adjust based on learner feedback and performance.

Choose the best scenario-based learning software

Instructional designers develop scenario-based learning resources with software that can build multiple paths. Creating a problem-solving environment is like crafting a path in a forest, where learners can choose to go left or right, and each choice leads to a different adventure.

These tools should:

• Be easy to use.
• Provide interactions like simple and multiple choice questions, forms, etc., that you can customize.
• Let you add visuals like pictures or videos and even voiceovers.
• Give options to implement feedback.

You’ve seen how helpful an AI video maker like Synthesia is for scenario-based online learning. You also know you can upload your AI videos into authoring tools like Easygenerator and Articulate 360 to add interactions and feedback. So, check out Synthesia’s 35+ integrations to discover some more helpful authoring tools!

If you’re into PowerPoint, check out the iSpring Suite that integrates with it. This tool is beginner-friendly and makes scenario-based learning as easy as making slides.

Alternatively, you can explore BranchTrack, which is super decision-focused and like drawing stories on a napkin, or Twine, a free storytelling tool.

Create scenario-based videos with engaging dialogues

Dialogues are at the heart of active learning. They bring scenarios to life and make learning more engaging and relatable for the viewer.

You've seen a few jaw-dropping scenario-based learning examples that prove amazing scenarios can be created even without virtual reality technology. Are you ready to create your own scenario-based learning programs with realistic work challenges that keep your learners engaged?

Try out Synthesia's dialogue feature to easily create interactive eLearning videos . AI video production can save you 90% time as it did for Zoom with their interactive sales course “Deal Detective.”

Frequently asked questions

What is an example of scenario-based elearning.

Problem-solving scenario: You’re an IT technician and must resolve a network outage affecting your company's main office. Analyze the various potential causes like hardware failure, software issues, or external cyber-attacks.

Why is scenario-based training effective?

Scenario-based training involves learners in real-life situations. They enhance engagement, improve problem-solving skills, and make theoretical knowledge practical. Thus, they lead to better retention and readiness for actual work challenges.

How is PBL different from scenario-based learning?

Project-based learning (PBL) focuses on completing projects over time and fosters broader skills. Scenario-based learning involves short, immersive scenarios that target specific decisions or actions in defined contexts.

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Advanced Life Support Review r.21

The Advanced Life Support (ALS) provides healthcare providers the knowledge and skills necessary to assess recognize and care for adult patients experiencing life threatening medical emergencies. Consistent with the American Red Cross Focused Updates and Guidelines 2020 the ALS course emphasizes providing high-quality care and integrating psychomotor skills with critical thinking and problem solving to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. This is an attenuated review course.

Equipment Terms & Conditions

Local classes held at convenient locations and times Participate in hands-on training Provides full certification Learn from experienced instructors

Classroom / Skills Check

• Local in-person training
• Learn from experienced instructors
• Convenient locations and times for instructor-led skills check
• Satisfies OSHA workplace safety certification requirements

Certification

Red Cross courses offer Digital Certification, an online version of a Red Cross certificate, which provides anytime, anywhere access to student training history and course certificates. Digital certificates can be viewed, printed or shared online and can be accessed anytime through your Red Cross Account. Each certificate includes a unique ID and a QR code which meets employment requirements and allows employers to easily confirm your certificate is valid. There is no need to carry your printed certificate around anymore!

Once training has been successfully completed, students may also request healthcare continuing education credit. The American Red Cross is an accredited provider of continuing education by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education. For additional information on receiving continuing education credit go to www.redcross.org/CAPCE .

It is incumbent upon the healthcare professional to verify that the accredited continuing education credit provided by the American Red Cross meets the requirements of specific professional and licensing bodies.

The content of these reviews regarding the quality and value of this course is based on data collected across all American Red Cross classes with this title and does not reflect ratings of any specific instructor or provider.

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25 Best Universities In Moscow For International Students 2024

Moscow is surely one of the places you should be considering if you’re looking to study in Russia . This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 59 universities and colleges in Moscow, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 59 universities in Moscow , RUDN University and Moscow State University are the top-performing schools in Moscow. This list covers both public and private institutions in Moscow.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Moscow. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Moscow.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Moscow?

Applying to the universities in Moscow involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Moscow to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Moscow?

Tuition fees at Moscow’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 0 RUB to 730,000 RUB , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 0 RUB to 870,000 RUB. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Moscow !

As we cover the best universities in Moscow for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Moscow for International Students

1 rudn university.

RUDN University is one of the best universities in the capital city of Russia and is known as The People’s Friendship University of Russia. This higher education institution is mostly known for the high number of international students attracted to this university’s high ranking. The university is ranked among the world’s top 500 universities, which speaks volumes about the level of study this university provides.

2 Moscow State University

Moscow State University is one of the largest public universities in Moscow, Russia. This university is the cornerstone of formal higher education, and it provides education to close to 40,000 students. Some of the most attended programs are in the fields of economics, politics, and finance, where students gain real-world experience that may help them in their careers.

3 National Research Nuclear University MEPhI

The National Research Nuclear University MEPhI is one of the world’s most prestigious universities in its field and the perfect place for candidates that would like to specialize in nuclear technology. It focuses on fostering innovation, creativity, and internationalization. The university is known for its wide and highly specialized degree offer and its outstanding research performance. It has multiple institutes that develop studies in areas like nanoengineering, cyber-physical systems, and plasma technologies. These projects are completed in state-of-the-art facilities that include a research nuclear reactor and an accelerator.

4 National Research University Higher School of Economics

The National Research University Higher School of Economics, or otherwise known as HSE University, is one of the best universities of higher education in the capital city of Russia. This institution has one of the largest campuses in the country that houses approximately 50,000 students and can provide them with all the necessary equipment for them to have the best possible experience.

5 National University of Science and Technology MISIS

The National University of Science and Technology MISIS started as a mining academy and then became a steel institute. Over time, it expanded its course offer and modernized its facilities, but it’s still widely known for its programs in metallurgy and mining. Nowadays, the university has six campuses, 8 academic colleges, and multiple research institutes. They also have cutting-edge specialized laboratories in fields such as nanomaterials, cryoelectronic systems, biophysics, casting technologies, and much more!

6 I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University

I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University or usually referred to as Sechenov University was founded in 1758, making it the oldest medical school in Russia. It was initially the medical faculty of the Imperial Moscow University and eventually became independent in 1930. At present, the university has more than 18,000 total enrollment and offers undergraduate to Ph.D. programs in Medicine, Sciences, and Professional Education.

7 Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

The Plekhanov Russian University of Economics is a public university with over a century’s history of world-class economics and management education. Programs at the university are strongly focused on practical learning and provide opportunities for students to gain professional and international experience with its numerous partner employers around the world. The university also conducts several initiatives and projects that aim to address different educational, industrial, and social issues. 

8 Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration is a very young institution of higher education located in the capital city of Russia. This university has grown in popularity in the region, and it now has over 46,000 students studying in various fields. Despite its youth, this university is ranked among the top 801 universities in the world by the prestigious QS World University Rankings.

9 Bauman University

Bauman University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Russia. It specializes in education and research in applied sciences and engineering. The university boasts excellent programs for all levels of higher education and is home to some of the most advanced scientific laboratories and facilities in the country.

10 Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation

Ranked among the best universities in Russia and the world, the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation is a specialized institution that aims at contributing to the country’s economic development and financial transformation. This is a prestigious university known for being the educational home of many important Russian figures including prominent politicians, millionaires, and CEOs of important companies. It focuses on providing hands-on learning and encouraging critical thinking by using methods like case studies, discussions, and financial projects. It also has partnerships with governmental bodies and major businesses in order to offer workshops, academic collaborations, and internship opportunities.

11 N.R.U. Moscow Power Engineering Institute

N.R.U. Moscow Power Engineering Institute is a public technical university in Moscow with a prominent reputation for producing outstanding scientists and engineers for more than 90. It is also one of the most sought-after universities for aspiring engineers from around the world. The university also has numerous cooperation agreements with foreign universities and companies for its students and faculty to participate in different international programs and activities. 

12 Moscow State Pedagogical University

Moscow State Pedagogical University is a Russian higher education institute that offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs. It was established as the Women’s Courses of Higher Education in 1872 and underwent a transformative journey to what it is now. The university is well-recognized with International Partners across the globe, such as the University College of Teacher Education Vienna in Austria, the University of Pardubice in the Czech Republic, and the CY Cergy Paris University in France. Accessibility is a forefront advocacy with dedicated institutes for it, such as the Center for Student Disability Services and Psychological Assistance Center.

13 Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia

The Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia is the largest institution that offers education, training, and research in chemical technology in the country. The university was established in 1898 and is dedicated to raising future engineers and specialists who can formulate solutions to the most pressing scientific, industrial, and societal problems. It is also the alma mater of several notable individuals with significant contributions to different branches of science and chemistry.  

14 Russian National Research Medical University

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (RSMU) is a private university specializing in medicine located in Moscow, Russia. It was founded in 1906 as the Higher Medical Course for Women. Among the programs available at the university are general medicine, pediatrics, biochemistry, dentistry, pharmacy, social work, psychology, neuroscience, and radiology.

15 Moscow State Institute of International Relations

The Moscow State Institute of International Relations is one of the most prestigious and elite universities in Russia and the world, making it the perfect place for studying anything related to diplomacy, economics, international affairs, or languages. This institution strives for internationalization, which is why it has partnerships with multiple universities worldwide with which it offers dozens of double and triple degrees. It has different research institutes that develop studies in diplomacy, governance, energy policy, and global matters. Additionally, it constantly collaborates with international organizations and local governmental bodies.

16 Moscow Aviation Institute

Moscow Aviation Institute is an aviation school that offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Postgraduate level programs. Both the Russian and English languages are used as mediums of instruction. Aside from these university programs, Pre-university and Professional training programs are also offered. Nine dormitory options filled with quality service facilities are present for student residents. Three Metro stations are also near the campus, providing sufficient access for students with no personal vehicles.

17 Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas

The Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas is a specialized institution of higher education. This institution mostly focuses on developments in the field of oil and gas extraction and the safety of this direction. The main attraction for students is the affordable tuition prices for top-of-the-crop programs that are taught by experts in the relevant fields.

18 Russian State Social University

The Russian State Social University is a distinguished university in the country of Russia because it provides all levels of study to both domestic and international students with the opportunity to gain various financial aid through university or state-funded scholarships. This university is located in Moscow and was founded in 1991, but it is making its way slowly toward the ranking of the best universities in Russia.

19 Moscow Polytechnic University

Established in 1865, Moscow Polytechnic University, or Moscow Poly, is one of Russia’s educational institutions that provide technology-related programs. Currently, they deliver education to more than 16,000 local and international students. As they provide top-quality education and research in various fields, they also have various activities on campus to foster diversity.

20 Synergy University

Synergy University was established in 1988 and is one of the top business schools in Russia. The university’s programs are focused on providing strong fundamental knowledge of different principles, theories, and concepts and combining it with experiential learning to develop its students’ skill sets, thereby preparing them for the professional world. Synergy University has a student population of over 65,000 and has international campuses and branches in Dubai, London, United Arab Emirates, and New York.

21 National Research University of Electronic Technology

The National Research University of Electronic Technology is a public university that offers undergraduate and graduate-level education. In total, there are 40 Bachelor’s programs and 42 Master’s programs. It was founded in 1965 and was only officially renamed to its current title in 2011. Annual enrolment is estimated to be 4500 students, and over 600 academic staff are present to handle them. Not only do other universities partner with the National Research University of Electronic Technology, but over 131 corporations also cooperate with it.

22 Russian State University of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism

Russian State University of Physical Culture, Sport, and Tourism is a leading sports university in Russia. It was established in 1918 and is known for producing over 200 outstanding athletes that have made their marks in prestigious international competitions such as the Olympics. The academic and research programs at the university are conducted by highly qualified and reputable coaches, experts, and scientists to further enhance athlete training and prepare future sports champions and professionals. 

23 Moscow City Teachers’ Training University

Moscow City Teachers’ Training University is a public university in Moscow, Russia. The Ministry of Education established it in 1995 as a pedagogical university, with only 1300 students in its first year. The university currently has over 18,000 students and offers degree programs in the humanities, natural sciences, sports technology, law, business, and language studies.

24 New Economic School

The New Economic School (NES) is a private institution located in Moscow that focuses on teaching and research in the field of economics. It takes pride in having a faculty made up of established professionals from the field, most of them holding a Ph.D. NES aims to train students who will be able to make valuable contributions to the growth of Russian society and business.

25 State University of Management

The State University of Management has been a frontrunner in providing management education in Russia for over 100 years. The university offers practice-oriented management education and training in different specializations such as business informatics, hotel management, and advertising. The State University of Management also conducts intensive research and innovative projects aimed at improving its academic programs and responding to the needs of the country’s economy. 

We know that choosing your dream school in Moscow not an easy task. After all, you need to consider other factors like the cost of your education, school background, and population, as it can be overwhelming on your part.

So, to help you out further in weighing your school options for studying in Moscow , make sure to visit our list of the best public and private universities in Moscow! These articles will surely help you in deciding your next study destination!

Critical And Creative Thinking Community Site

Graduate program in critical and creative thinking, university of massachusetts boston, newsletter – april 2024.

3 April 2024

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Student Matters

Registration is open to current students for summer and fall 2024 courses.

CCT summer courses are offered as 6-week intensives and are open to prospective students and non-degree students as well as current students. This year’s courses have strong themes of personal and professional development focused on developing creative practices in work and life settings. The Seminar in Critical Thinking (first half of summer) addresses the “Design for Living Complexities” and how we develop ourselves, our practices, and our communities in the face of change. The Seminar in Creativity (second half of summer) emphasizes “Creative Realization”, and how we, as reflective practitioners, bring our own good ideas and visions to life.

• CrCrTh 611, Seminar in Critical Thinking (Theme: Design for Living Complexities) ; May 28-July 11, 2024; online only, with meetings on Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:00-8:00pm ET (all students: register for class #2950)

CrCrTh 611 theme for summer 2024: “Design for Living Complexities”. In this seminar, students embark on an exploration at the intersection of design thinking, systems thinking, and critical thinking to tackle complex issues and challenges. Through a dynamic and collaborative approach synthesizing these three disciplines, students delve into rigorous analysis and dialogue to expand their perspectives on intervention strategies and change-making. A unique aspect of the course is that students choose the problems and issues they wish to explore, ensuring the relevance of the course to their experiences and aspirations. Prompted by the course content, they then experiment with developing intervention and change frameworks based on their chosen case studies. The methodology empowers them to tailor their approach to the specific challenges they are passionate about addressing. By applying these personalized frameworks, students can identify strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots in their thought processes, develop innovative solutions, and cultivate lifelong critical thinking and reflective practice habits.

• CrCrTh 612, Seminar in Creativity (Theme: Creative Realization of Ideas); July 15-August 22, 2024; online only, with meetings on Thursdays, 6:00-9:00pm ET (all students: register for class #2951)

CrCrTh 612 theme for summer 2024: “Creative Realization of Ideas”. The course is directed to center the student on framing the question: ‘What do you want to create for yourself (and/or for your students?)’ – and then actualizing the product, in real life. Instructor Ben Schwendener facilitates dialogue and discussion of elements and structure used in the creative process of each of the individual class participants and in the unique products themselves.

Fall 2024 courses (see here for descriptions):

• CrCrTh 601 Critical Thinking (Tuesdays, 7:00-9:45pm)
• CrCrTh 618 Creative Thinking, Collaboration, and Organizational Change (Tuesdays, 4:00-6:45pm)
• CrCrTh 655 Metacognition (Thursdays, 4:00-6:45pm)
• CrCrTh 692 Processes of Research and Engagement (Wednesdays, 4:00-6:45pm)

Reflective Practice Mini-Workshop: Contemplative Writing Through Listening Hosted by the Graduate Program in Critical and Creative Thinking, UMass Boston Monday, April 8, 7:00-8:30pm ET, online in Zoom Free and open to all. RSVP here to receive the Zoom login information. For more information, see the full description . Writing is more than just the words on the page and becomes a foundational activity that reflective practitioners can use to observe their thoughts and hear themselves as they interpret their experiences. One of the possibilities of writing is that it allows us to listen deeply to ourselves and not only engage in the creative act but also bear witness to our voice and bring us mindful and nonjudgemental awareness of ourselves. In this workshop, we will practice reflective writing through deliberate listening, exploring the “sound” of voice (ourselves and others). The workshop will briefly introduce to approaches to how we can be attentive to our listening in order to help us get the words flowing, inspired by two perspectives, 1) reflective writing as inquiry, and 2) Metcalf and Simon’s concept of proprioceptive writing. Participants will get a chance to try some approaches that draw upon these perspectives as we reflect on our own experiences, curiosities, and examinations of what is happening in our thinking. All are welcome, and we invite you to join us as we learn from each other and continue to build our reflective practice.

Alum, Student, and CCT Associates Notables

CCT students, alums, and associates are encouraged to send items about accomplishments, new publications, or offerings to the Critical and Creative Thinking community to be included in future newsletters. Please email [email protected].

Fall 2024 Capra Course: The Systems View of Life Registrations for the Fall 2024 Capra Course are now open! Join the growing community of systems thinkers learning about and applying systems thinking in their lives, occupations, and communities. In this 12-week course, you will have the unique opportunity to interact with Fritjof Capra and to join one of the many study groups in different languages (offered by dedicated volunteer alumni). Once you complete the course, you will become part of the alumni community, where you will be invited to quarterly gatherings with Fritjof and will have access to past recordings and many more resources. For more information and registration costs, see the website.

Capra Course

Fostering Collective Efficacy – 2024 Institutes June 18, 2024 – Virtual Institute (Zoom), 9:00am – 2:00pm Central Time October 24-25, 2024 – in-person Institute (New Orleans), 9:00am – 3:30pm Central Time When team members share a sense of collective efficacy it results in greater professional well-being, resilience, and impact. Participants will develop deeper understandings about collective efficacy, the positive consequences associated with it, and the sources that shape a team’s beliefs about what they are capable of accomplishing. Since ‘Collective Efficacy’ topped John Hattie’s Visible Learning list of factors that matter the most in raising student achievement, educators and school leaders are asking themselves: How can we foster a sense of collective efficacy? In this session, participants will consider how to harness the power of teams by identifying the conditions that help to enable collective efficacy in schools. For more information and registration details, see the websites for the virtual event and the in-pserson event. https://www.firsteducation-us.com/fostering-ce-institute https://www.firsteducation-us.com/fostering-ce

Problem-Based Learning Workshop June 3-7, 2024, hosted by the Institute for Transforming University Education (University of Delaware) The PBL 2024 Summer workshop will be held virtually and will feature synchronous meetings over five days: June 3rd–June 7th, 2024. If you’ve ever been interested in exploring how to integrate problem-based learning into your classroom, this is a great opportunity for you to learn from expert practitioners. We will walk you through the steps to develop engaging problems for your discipline. You will experience various kinds of approaches to PBL and learn how to set up your classes to successfully integrate this type of learning. Our program is designed for new and current practitioners of PBL, and while we focus on college/university level education in all disciplines, we would also welcome K–12 teachers. For more information and registration details, see the website.

Foundations of Philosophical Enquiry course Hosted by The Philosophy Foundation April 6-7, 2024 onsite in London October 26-27, 2024 virtual course Foundations of Philosophical Enquiry is TPF’s flagship course. In it, you will learn a unique method of communicating and teaching philosophy in schools (PhiE) and other educational settings. PhiE is internationally recognised and critically acclaimed as a unique pedagogical method that creates exceptional results in the classroom and beyond. Foundations is ideal for teachers, philosophy students, and anyone wanting to manage conversations and conflict more strategically. See the website for more details and to register. https://www.philosophy-foundation.org/shop/145/foundations-of-philosophical-enquiry-in-person

2024 Culturize Conferences June 12-13 (Chicago), July 31-Aug. 1 (LaCrosse, WI), August 7-8 (Detroit Lakes, MN) Unlike other conferences that have people telling educators what to do, this conference focuses on providing perspectives on what educators can do through the framework of Culturize, by Jimmy Casas. Using these transformational pillars of behavior, showcased below, each of the sessions will apply perspectives on how to meet the 4 Core Values of the Culturize framework and put them into action in your schools. See the website for details. https://www.firsteducation-us.com/culturize-institute?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CULTURIZE!%20%20You%27ve%20read%20the%20book,%20now%20experience%20the%20event!%20-%2013346749

International Transformative Learning Conference (ITLC) September 11-13, 2024, at the University of Siena in Italy For more information about the conference, submitting proposals, and schedules, see the website .

Teaching Professor Conference June 7-9, 2024, New Orleans, LA. Extensive sessions and opportunities to connect around many areas related to teaching in higher education. For extensive details about the conference and registration, see the website .

Opportunities and Resources

• CFP: 2024 Mentoring Conference Call for Proposals. The Call for Proposals for the 17th Annual Mentoring Conference: “Inclusive Developmental Networks: Building Transformative Communities Through Effective Mentoring” is now available to the public, and we need your submissions! Our Conference will occur from Monday, October 21 through Friday, October 25, 2024, in the Student Union Building at the University of New Mexico, Main Campus, Albuquerque, NM. The Mentoring Institute is welcoming proposals from faculty, students, researchers, professionals, and practitioners interested in the scholarship of mentoring, coaching, supervision, and leadership from businesses, corporations, non-profit and NGO organizations, governmental agencies, K-12, and institutions of higher education from all disciplines and professions. See the website for full details and proposal requirements. https://mentor.unm.edu/conference/call-for-proposals
• Sage Campus course materials on Fact-Checking Sources https://learningresources.sagepub.com/campus/information-literacy/fact-checking-sources
• Kempner Institute (Harvard University): Study of Natural and Artificial Intelligence https://www.harvard.edu/kempner-institute/

Food for Thought

• Empowering Students to Own the Assessment Process (John Spencer)
• End of Rationality: The politics of mental pathology (Columbia DC)
• Creativity in Science (Tools of Science)
• Understanding Implicit Bias: Insights & Innovations (Daedalus)
• Have we created a society that’s too complex to survive? (Big Think)
• Entropy: The Hidden Force That Complicates Life (Farnam Street)
• Courage and Creativity: Natural Allies of the Human Spirit (The Creativity Post)
• How Anxiety Harms Creativity (And What to Do About It) (Psychology Today)
• Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards (Nikon)

Research / New Publications:

• Lahman, An Introduction to Qualitative Research: Becoming Culturally Responsive
• Atwater, The Confidence Map: Charting a Path from Chaos to Clarity
• Weber-Boer, Wastl, and Bridges, Reimagining the recipe for research and innovation: the secret sauce of social science
• Weimer, Helping Students Learn: Resources, Tools, and Activities for College Educators
• Braingle’s Best Riddles, as determined by readers

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Russia’s limits on critical thinking are hitting its academic performance

Stricter political and administrative controls on what can be said have led to the creation of a pioneering ‘free university’, say katarzyna kaczmarska and dmitry dubrovsky.

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Recent months have seen heated debates in Russia about the limits of faculty and students’ rights to undertake public speaking and engage in political activism.

Lecturers at the prestigious  Higher School of Economics  (HSE), once considered Russia’s most liberal university, have spent the summer worrying that their criticisms of the political status quo might put an end to their teaching careers.

A master’s programme was apparently shut down when the university’s management realised that Yegor Zhukov – a prominent blogger and participant in the 2019 protests against fraudulent practices in the elections for the Moscow city parliament – was among the newly admitted cohort. He was also badly  beaten  just hours after he posted a video on YouTube explaining that he had been enrolled and then, less than two hours later, was crossed off a list of students admitted.

It has proved contentious for scholars to speak out in public and for students to engage in political activity at least since the 2019 protests. Zhukov was an undergraduate at the HSE when he was  arrested  following an unsanctioned opposition rally that summer. This led many fellow students, staff and alumni to express solidarity. However, though the management initially supported calls for Zhukov’s release, it later shifted to a policy seemingly designed to avoid future clashes with the state authorities.

In 2020, the university introduced new  internal regulations  requiring staff and students to refrain from using their university affiliations in public statements that could trigger “negative social reactions and/or have negative reputational consequences for the university”. Though these regulations are careful to emphasise that there are no restrictions on academics speaking out about their “research results” and matters of “professional competence”, keeping within the guidelines is likely to be difficult, particularly for those researching current social or political developments in Russia. This attempt to establish a boundary between “legitimate” academic research and “unacceptable” participation in public debate amounts to another way of silencing critically minded scholars.

After the journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva was  found guilty  in July of “justifying terrorism” when she dared to ask about the connection between the repressive political regime in Russia and a suicide bomb outside the Federal Security Service office in Arkhangelsk, several HSE employees produced a paper citing values such as “academic ethics” to delegitimise debate about terrorism and its causes. A few scholars  responded  by pointing out that such a stance could close down research into social phenomena such as terrorism, state terror, revolution and liberation movements.

The HSE has also decided not to extend the contracts of a number of academics for the coming academic year. Though the university’s management has defended its decision on grounds of efficiency and necessary restructuring, those adversely affected argue that the dismissals were motivated by an urge to get rid of those who were most  outspoken  and critical of the political system in Russia, including the abruptly amended  constitution .

The British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies (BASEES) published a  letter  this July in which the president shared his unease “about the integrity of the process by which decisions over continuing employment and terminations of contracts are taken” and emphasised that these developments undermine the HSE’s position as a close partner for scholars and universities in the UK. And Russia’s  University Solidarity  trade union  called for  a protest (using a hashtag translating as “you can’t shut us up”) against measures to punish scholars and students for their outspokenness.

Then, in late August, a group of scholars, including those whose contracts at HSE have not been renewed, issued a  manifesto  announcing the establishment of Russia’s first Free University and stating that one of their main goals is to free lecturers from excessive administrative pressures (among which they mean to include the pressure not to speak out).

Among the group is Gasan Guseynov, whose social media post last year criticising abuses of the Russian language by journalists and politicians  prompted  HSE management to look into whether it “violated academic ethics in public speaking”. This led to a committee’s  recommending  that Guseynov make a public apology for the “deliberate dissemination of ill-considered and irresponsible statements that have caused damage to the university’s reputation”.

All of this took place against a background of Russian universities failing to achieve the planned leap in international rankings; more and more insecure  employment contracts ; and  legislation  requiring that education in schools and universities should include not only knowledge and skills, but also spiritual and moral values.

A recent  analysis  of the obstacles to scientific progress in Russia concludes that research managers do not prioritise the creation of the kind of new scientific knowledge likely to be recognised by the international academic community. This study was authored by people close to Alexei Kudrin, who represents the liberal-leaning wing within the ruling elite.

What even this group fails to mention, however, is that the problem does not reside so much in management structures as in a political system that crushes creativity and punishes critical thinking and activism.

Katarzyna Kaczmarska is lecturer in politics and international relations at the University of Edinburgh . Dmitry Dubrovsky is an associate research fellow at the Centre for Independent Social Research  in Russia.

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Do college majors matter not as much as you think.

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Students in a lecture hall.

It might be the most common question college students get: “What’s your major?”

While it may be a great conversation starter on campus, the question isn’t that effective in predicting someone’s job choice—certainly not a full career trajectory. The better we understand that, the better equipped we’ll be to help students with the bigger questions they face at the starting line of adulthood.

David Gwyn knows this. One year after graduating from college with an English degree, he convinced JPMorgan Chase, the country’s largest investment bank , to hire him as a financial analyst.

“I knew there was value in getting an English degree, being able to take complex ideas and make them clearer,” said Gwyn, who has a bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. “I think the hardest part is convincing other people of that.”

He had to prove his value—selling the communications skills that underlie his college major.

“With a finance degree, you might have an understanding of the system, but they’ll teach you that anyway,” Gwyn said. “It’s the difference between having a specific skill set and having a general understanding that you can apply to the job.”

Gwyn wrote about his journey from English major to financial analyst a couple of years ago, describing how he prepared for the critical job interviews with Chase and what he learned—including tips for other job-seekers schooled in the humanities.

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“I’ve found that if you position yourself correctly, an English major is actually one of the most malleable areas of study,” he wrote on the Medium website. “And if you understand that and can articulate it, you’re one step closer to success in pretty much any field.”

Stories like this should encourage students who are wondering how to apply their college learning. Increasingly, in a world where technology fills the roles once occupied by people, we’ll see the importance of agile problem-solving, communications, and critical thinking. That’s the work that only humans can do, as I explored in my most recent book , “Human Work in the Age of Smart Machines.”

For example, in some professional fields—medicine, engineering, law, and accounting—it’s easy to see the path to a job. But not always: A study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that fewer than one in three college graduates work in their field of study. Other sources put the figure higher, but still only 46 percent.

And some of the country’s best-known business leaders can attest to the enduring value of humanities degrees, including Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, and Andrea Jung, former CEO of Avon Products. All pursued liberal arts degrees.

Gwyn, meanwhile, has changed course again. After two years in banking, he left to earn a master’s degree in English literature from Rutgers University and turned to education. He now teaches middle school in a Philadelphia suburb and has a podcast devoted to authors of suspense fiction.

David Gwyn in his classroom.

One of his former colleagues, Spencer Liddic, was with JPMorgan Chase for six years. Liddic was a finance major in college, but he agrees with Gwyn on the underlying skills needed for success.

“I learned nearly my entire role while training with JPMorgan—not while I was in college,” Liddic said. “If you have an aptitude for learning, you can learn nearly any entry-level job with on-the-job training, with little to no background on the subject.”

Liddic was an operations analyst at the time and today owns a real estate investment company in of Scranton, Pa. He agreed that being able to relate to others—sometimes harder than it sounds—is key to success in many fields.

“This is a large part of an entry-level finance job, where you are communicating daily with not only your colleagues but with clients of the company,” he said. “Being able to effectively and efficiently communicate is as important a skill as you can have."

Timing and even luck can influence a job search, but a recent study commissioned by the Modern Language Association, a professional association for scholars of language and literature, found that English majors are holding their own.

“Contrary to popular belief, career outcomes for English majors are similar to those of all graduates,” the study said. “Data from the National Humanities Alliance shows that in 2018, the unemployment rate was 2.17% for all college graduates and 2.3% for English majors. The median career peak annual earnings for all college graduates in 2018 was $78,000; for English majors, it was $76,000.”

A report from the American Association of Colleges and Universities found that while humanities and social science BA grads lag others in salaries for the first few years after graduating, on average, they catch and often exceed them later on.

There are no guarantees in life, including higher education, and no report will take the place of smart job-hunting practices, including the ones Gwyn wrote about. So, what does an investment analyst turned middle school English teacher tell his students?

“I tell them I'm teaching skills that are transferable to whatever job you get,” Gwyn said. “I don't just teach the curriculum; I teach the skills.”

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