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Here are some courses which contain subject matter relating to Tolkien.
(Thanks to Laura (Southfarthing) and Lynnette Porter amongst others)
An online, accredited MA level course offered by UWIC (University of Wales Institute, Cardiff).
10 Units, taught during 10 consecutive weeks. Written, audio and video lectures. Access to an up-to-date Electronic Library.
20 credits at MA level on completion of the course assessment.
For more information see: http://www.fantasytolkien.co.uk/ or contact courses@fantasytolkien.co.uk.
They offer Saturday Study Days and do lots of courses that tie in directly or indirectly with Tolkien. For example, in May Elizabeth Solopova gave a talk based on her recent book The Keys of Middle-earth. There have been other days devoted to all sorts of Anglo-Saxon studies. Most are run by Dr. Sam Newton of UEA.
More information can be found on their website www.wuffingeducation.co.uk, by email cliff@wuffingeducation.co.uk or telephone 01394 386 498
Taught by Prof. Nick Groom at Exeter University. N.Groom@exeter.ac.uk
The module is a third-year option which has run for the past two years. It will not be running next year, but will be running again after that - with weekly lectures as well as seminars.
More details on Tolkien: Scholar, Critic, Writer.
The fantasy world of Gollum, Gandalf and Frodo has been introduced to and absorbed by a new generation, following the hugely successful trilogy of The Lord of the Rings films. On this highly enjoyable new course, you will find out more about the mythological world of Middle Earth, as we explore the scholarship and literary themes of JRR Tolkien. In addition to The Lord of the Rings, we shall consider the unfinished work The Silmarillion, and the recently published Children of Hurin, as well as his literary essays on fairy stories and Beowulf. This promises to be a fascinating and popular insight into one of the 20th century's most influential writers on myth and fantasy.
Colin has written successful popular guides to Middle Earth (Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings). He has appeared as a commentator on a number of documentaries, including extended version DVD sets of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, and the Sony DVD Ringers, about Tolkien fandom and the impact of Tolkien on popular culture.
Tutor: Colin Duriez
Week one (July 23-27)
Afternoons (1.45-4.45)
Course number: 07SP31
An online course, open to students and adult learners all over the world. The course focuses on J.R.R. Tolkien's mythology, from his earliest works to The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. It explores Tolkien's mythological and cultural sources, and also looks at Tolkien's languages, cultures and the adaptations of his works.
Lecturer: Dr Dimitra Fimi
University: UWIC (University of Wales Institute, Cardiff)
For more details see: http://www3.uwic.ac.uk/English/education/Enterprise/courses/tolkien/Pages/Home.aspx
Enrol online at: http://www3.uwic.ac.uk/english/education/enterprise/courses/pages/tolkienfantasy.aspx
For a list of F.A.Q. see: http://www3.uwic.ac.uk/English/education/Enterprise/courses/Pages/FAQs.aspx
Or contact: dfimi@uwic.ac.uk
An online course, open to students and adult learners all over the world. The course explores the history and evolution of fantasy literature from its Victorian and Edwardian roots (the work of William Morris, George MacDonald, and the mythology of childhood developed by Charles Kingsley and J.M. Barrie) to the seminar work of J.R.R. Tolkien, Tolkien's legacy (C.S. Lewis Narnia books, and Terry Brooks and Stephen Donaldson's work) and the best works of American fantasy (including Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz and Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea series). The course also includes modern works of fantasy like K.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.
Lecturer: Dr Dimitra Fimi
University: UWIC (University of Wales Institute, Cardiff)
For more details see: http://www3.uwic.ac.uk/English/education/Enterprise/courses/fantasy/Pages/Home.aspx
Enrol online at: http://www3.uwic.ac.uk/english/education/enterprise/courses/pages/tolkienfantasy.aspx
For a list of F.A.Q. see: http://www3.uwic.ac.uk/English/education/Enterprise/courses/Pages/FAQs.aspx
Bethel University, College of Arts & Sciences - course code: GES414P, 3 credits.
An exploration of the theological issues raised by J.R.R. Tolkien's "Middle
Earth" writings. Theological themes such as evil, salvation, power will be
discussed, with an emphasis placed on choices the characters in the story
make with regard to those themes. Attention will also be given to
philosophical and literary assumptions/methodologies employed by the author.
Prerequisites: Senior standing; GES110 College Writing; Self-Awareness and
Group Interaction (B) course; Theology (C) course; Interpreting Biblical
Themes (J) course; Systems (G) course.
Rutgers University.
Our reading of the trilogy will focus on a single important paradox: though
The Lord of Rings is in some obvious sense a religious work - "Good and
evil are not one thing among elves and another among Men," says Aragorn - it
contains no trace of religious belief, ritual, or theology. The question:
how is a narrative demanding that readers conceive of the world within
'religious' categories able to do so without any overt mention of religion?
Atlantic Baptist University
This course provides an in-depth look at the literary and intellectual
achievements of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as demonstrated in a selection
of their writings, with particular attention to their mutual influence and
common themes. Students will also discuss the authors' works in the context
of 20th century fiction, its themes, and its development as a genre
Kusumita Pedersen will be teaching an Honors Seminar "Tolkien the Mythmaker" at St Francis College, in Brooklyn, New York City, this coming Spring term.
J.R.R. Tolkien scholar Mike Foster will teach a course on The Lord of the Rings author at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, during the coming fall term on Mondays, 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Foster, the North American representative of The Tolkien Society since 1995, taught a course on Tolkien at Illinois Central College in East Peoria from 1978 until 2005.
Residential course, various prices
This course looks at trees and forests in Shakespeare's Forest of Arden, the pre-Raphaelites, Tolkien and J.K.Rowling.
A free course which can be found on the University of Washington Open Learning website
An undergraduate course which can be found on the University of Washington website
Details can be found on the Victoria University of Wellington (NZ) website.
A course offered by the University of Vermont
Details can be found on the ELON University website
Brian Rosebury's course at the University of Central Lancashire.
More details at:
Approaches to Tolkien Course Page
University of Auckland, New Zealand, Stage II English Paper course, run by Professor S. Hollis
Studies The Lord of the Rings with particular reference to Tolkien's use of Celtic, Germanic and Christian myths, and offers an introduction to some of the most formative and influential mythologies of European culture, including the Twilight of the Gods and the Return of King Arthur. Summaries of these myths will be made available to students in the course reader. More information on Tolkien and his Worlds.
A graduate-level (and cont. ed) course online through the University of Denver (University College) on The Hobbit and LOTR. The
course number is MALS 4180: Hobbits and Heroes. The tutor is Jennifer Zukowski
email: jzukowsk@du.edu or check the Denver University website.
A one-year curriculum for students ages 12 to 18. The course includes background on classics such as Beowulf, The Iliad, and the Arthurian Romances, but its focus is on the Lord of the Rings.
Course by: Amelia Harper. For more information see: Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings
By Jane Chance, Professor of English at Rice University. Its purpose is to locate The Lord of the Rings within a broader historical and literary context, this course traces the development of Tolkien's art, from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as a mythology for England, to The Silmarillion, and the shorter works. For more information see: Rice University Website
An internal course at Rutger's University, USA, written and taught by Professor William Dowling. Two of professor Dowling's students have installed an 18-minute recorded selection from one of his lectures -- The Temptation of Galadriel -- on the page for his Rutgers Tolkien course. The selection works with RealPlayer and most other plug-ins.
J. R. R. Tolkien; covering: The Hobbitt, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, "On Fairy Stories", and Tom Shippey, The Road to Middle Earth.
For current information contact:wielgoch@lewisu.edu
Dr. Christopher Wielgos
Assistant Professor, English Department
Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois
For current information on this course contact: Prof Mike Foster, Middlebury College, Vermont.
A class on Tolkien offered in 2003 in which Tolkien's works are evaluated against
the writings of great authors. http://www.crichton.edu/
Crichton College
Memphis
Tennessee
http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/engl401/.
This course can be found at http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/engl401/. It is based at the University of Calgary provides a grammar and several glossed texts.
This course can be found at http://www.georgetown.edu/cball/hwaet/hwaet06.html.
This is a course at the University of Virginia: access to a "Tour of Old English Culture" is restricted, but all can make use of some sentences for pronunciation practice drawn from Mitchell & Robinson's Guide to Old English available at: http://www.engl.virginia.edu/OE/Guide.Readings/Guide.Readings.html.
A page of resources and courses on Old English: http://www.aprendelo.com/rec/resources-in-old-english.html.
