Tufts University has joined MIT in offering the world free access to certain course content online. Tufts OpenCourseWare (OCW) seeks to capitalize on the potential of the internet to eliminate borders and geographic distance as obstacles to the instantaneous exchange of knowledge and new ideas. Unlike distance learning programs that charge tuition, provide formal instruction and limit participation, OpenCourseWare offers all course materials free to everyone with online access. Educators from around the world may upgrade their classes; students may enhance their coursework or pursue self study; the general public may glimpse the depth and breadth of what leading universities are offering and benefit from reading lists and lectures.

OCW does not require any registration and is not a degree-granting or certificate-granting activity. It is instead an effort to share knowledge and make the best educational use of the Internet's potential. The project has already been embraced by students and educators around the globe, many of whom are from areas where educational resources are scarce or difficult to access.

Much of the course material from the health sciences schools is housed in the Tufts University Sciences Knowledgebase (TUSK) and was transformed into OCW format by TUSK staff. This website represents only a sampling of Tufts course materials online. The initial course offerings represent the contributions Tufts and its faculty can make to the project's global reach by focusing on both life sciences and courses with an international component.

While Tufts OCW faculty pride themselves on providing the most comprehensive course content possible, in some cases the full complement of OCW course materials may not appear online due to copyright and other intellectual property issues. This is particularly true of health sciences courses where professors often draw on a wealth of sources, making it difficult to gain all the approvals and releases needed to include everything in a publicly available site. However, users should find bibliographies and syllabi a fertile resource for information.

For more information go to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the HELP page or contact us.

Visit other Opencourseware sites from around the world.