OpenRICE is an initiative by the Glasscock School to offer relevant and timely expertise and insight, free and online, to the Houston community and beyond. Reflective of the wide-ranging nature of our educational programs, these single session experiences will help Houstonians gain a greater understanding of a multitude of topics during an era of dramatic transformation, and serve as an educational supplement and primer for further thought and deeper study.
Learn more about the Glasscock School’s OpenRICE Initiative.
Center for College Readiness
Programs for educators in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Dual Credit Certification and College Access Counseling
Online Offerings Include:
AP Summer Institute
The AP® Summer Institute at Rice University offers challenging AP professional development courses that address advanced topics in AP.
AP Preparedness Summer Workshops
The Summer AP Preparedness Workshops (formerly Pre-AP® Summer Workshops) are designed for high school teachers seeking foundational skills necessary to prepare students for success in secondary advanced academics.
Middle School Institute
The Middle School Institute is designed for middle school teachers seeking foundational skills necessary to prepare students for success in secondary advanced academics.
College Access Counseling Certificate
This online certificate program is specifically designed to increase an individual’s knowledge and improve their capacity to assist students in navigating the pathway to college.
College Match
The course provides counselors with an understanding of college match and the dangers of undermatch.
Financing College: Navigating the Pathways
This online course covers the essentials of financial aid, guiding college access counselors through financial aid applications and financial planning tools.
Fundamentals of College Counseling
An online program to provide a holistic, core curriculum to teach the critical skills of effective college counseling.
Letters of Recommendation
This online course offers educators knowledge on how to best advise students, so that they can secure the most effective letters of recommendation.
The Role of the College Access Counselor
Explore methods and strategies for working with students and their families to guide them through the college search process in this online course.
Undergraduate Admissions Process
This online course explains the factors that go into the "holistic review" process of highly selective colleges and universities in the United States.
Counseling Aspiring First Generation College Students
In this online course, you will explore the social, emotional and cultural barriers aspiring first generation college students face and must overcome in order to achieve success in their transition from high school to college.
Learn more about the Glasscock School’s Center for College Readiness department.
Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership
Professional education and leadership training for those who support the work of nonprofit organizations.
Upcoming Online Offerings Include:
Comprehensive Annual Giving
Annual giving programs are the foundation of all fundraising plans. They secure unrestricted funds, acquire new donors and maintain donor commitment to the organization. Learn the strategies used to develop an annual development plan.
Donor Relations: Maintaining Strong Relationships with Your Donors
In this online course geared toward fundraising professionals, executive directors, development chairs and board members, learn practical and actionable best practices in donor relations.
Emergency Succession Workshop
This hands-on workshop equips nonprofit organizations with the processes, practices and tools they need to ensure continuity of operations and programming while they make longer-term plans to manage an absence or transition.
Essentials of Gift Administration
This online course provides operational staff and fundraising leaders an overview of the principles of gift administration.
Framework for Succession Planning
This overview session, designed for board members and executive staff, lays the groundwork for successful succession planning.
Fundamentals of Constituent Relationship Management
This online course covers the core concepts of constituent relationship management and analyzes which data elements, performance metrics, analyses, reports and processes are needed to implement this approach.
Fundraising Analytics: Leveraging the Power of Data
In this online course, you are introduced to the latest fundraising analytics and tools to build a sound data-driven foundation.
Major Gifts
This course is designed to impart the fundamentals required for success in major gifts fundraising.
Managing a Development Team
This course teaches managers of development teams how to think differently and to succeed in helping their staff reach their full potential.
Measuring Digital Marketing Success
This course teaches you the details of measuring success in the ever-changing social media marketing platforms and organizing data through the basics of Evernote, a tool that assists your team in communicating and sharing feedback.
Planned Giving: The Essentials
This class explores the correlation of the economy and fundraising as well as the appropriate avenue for each vehicle used in gift planning.
Planned Succession Workshop
Designed for board members and key staff to attend, ideally together, this interactive workshop walks through the elements of succession planning.
Prospect Research and Analysis
Topics covered in this online course include a review of specific techniques to identify prospective donors and research strategies for individuals.
Social Media Content and Communication
TThis course teaches the details of highly engaged social media posts, how to organize engaging content for your target audience and which topics will give your page the reach it needs to stay relevant in the "noise."
The Art of Fundraising: Advanced Principles and Practices
Created for fundraising professionals with three to five years of experience, this course increases your understanding of issues common to those in fundraising leadership.
Online Offerings
Learn more about the Glasscock School’s Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership department.
Community Learning & Engagement
Our Community Learning & Engagement fall line-up includes short, non-credit courses designed for adult learners. Explore arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, creative writing, photography, studio art, mind-body practices and many other subjects all online from the safety of your home. And because our fall courses are online, this is the perfect opportunity to share an experience with friends and family members wherever they may live, or even connect with new people with whom you share interests.
Our Fall 2020 line-up includes both synchronous online classes (in real time with some interaction) and on-demand (recorded) online classes. The Glasscock School’s e-learning team—which has developed and implemented hundreds of online courses— collaborates with our program staff to support our students and instructors during these courses. Our online classes are designed to be content-rich, engaging and easy to access. We look forward to welcoming you to our virtual classrooms this fall!
Available Fall offerings
Interested in exploring our diverse course offerings? Consider our Midweek Medley sampler series class.
Arts
Broadway Pulitzer Prize Winners
Celebrate 10 Pulitzer prize-winning musicals with former professional actress, singer and director Debra Dickinson as your guide.
Designing, Building and Remodeling Your Dream Home
Learn about the process of home design, new construction and remodeling with tools to help you manage your project and assess the professionals involved.
How Classical Music Is Created: The Composer’s Palette
Explore the creation of classical music, with insights from leading contemporary classical composers and musicians as well as historical accounts of great masters.
Studio Art Courses
Drawing Fundamentals
Learn or relearn the fundamentals of drawing in this class for beginning and intermediate artists.
Painting Portraits of People and Pets
Create compelling portraits that capture the essence of people and pets with professional painter Laura Spector. Designed for students who have taken an introductory painting course.
Sketching from Museums Around the World
Sketch from the world’s most venerated collections in this online drawing course. All levels welcome.
Photography Courses
Advanced Photography Workshop With Peter Brown
Experienced photographers grow creatively by offering and receiving critiques on independent projects in a supportive environment.
The Basics of Photography
Learn the technical and artistic aspects of basic photography in this introductory course, with weekly assignments and critiques.
Introduction to iPhone Photography
This course covers the basics of the iPhone® camera, the art and science of photography and strategies for taking better photographs.
Making Extraordinary Photos of Everyday Life
Learn to capture more compelling images of everyday life.
Humanities
An Introduction to Latin America: History, Politics and Culture
Examine six keys to understanding the history, politics and culture of Latin America, including Brazil and the U.S. Latinx communities.
Houston History in the 1920s–1970s: Opportunity and Upheaval
Consider Houston’s dramatic social transformation from the labor movement to the civil rights struggle and the Vietnam era.
Medieval British History
From the search for King Arthur to the flowering of the Middle Ages, to the Battle of Agincourt, Dr. Newell Boyd guides you through medieval British history.
Origins of Islam
Deepen your understanding of Islamic political, religious, institutional and cultural traditions in this sweeping introduction to Islam.
Six Religions of the East
Learn about the origins, ideas and practices of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism.
World War I: A Military History
Military historian John Bradley explores the precursors, campaigns and legacy of World War I, “the war to end all wars.”
Creative Writing Course
Introduction to Creative Writing
In this workshop, beginners and more established writers explore and practice the three major genres of creative writing: fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction.
Science, Technology & Health
Astrobiology and the Quest for Life in the Universe
Explore the emerging field of astrobiology, harnessing contemporary science to address age-old questions about whether and where life might exist on other planets.
The Nature and Geology of U.S. National Parks
Geologist Cin-Ty Lee leads an exciting virtual tour of seven great U.S. national parks: Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, Yellowstone and Big Bend.
The Nutrition Prescription: Disease Prevention and Management
Learn about key nutritional strategies for the prevention and management of the most common diseases afflicting Americans.
Technology, Culture and Society in the Age of COVID-19
Rice University faculty and other experts explore the power of technology harnessed for social good in the age of COVID-19, from disease modeling to contract tracing to online education equity.
Mind-Body Course
Breath: Meditation and Breathing Techniques for Stress and Uncertainty
Experience techniques to enhance physical and emotional resilience and reconnect you with your breath, body, mind and spirit.
Social Sciences
The 2020 Elections: Pandemic, Polarization and the Future of the United States
Join Rice University faculty and other experts to consider how the dual forces of political polarization and the COVID-19 pandemic may affect the 2020 U.S. elections and our future.
Technology, Culture and Society in the Age of COVID-19
Rice University faculty and other experts explore the power of technology harnessed for social good in the age of COVID-19, from disease modeling to contract tracing to online education equity.
The United States’ Green Future: Economy + Environment
Discover a framework to create a green future for the U.S. and world that is both environmentally and economically sustainable.
Personal Finance Courses
Post-Pandemic Retirement Planning: The New Playbook
This course offers strategies to navigate the new realities of retirement planning, investing, income tax and estate planning in an uncertain financial climate.
Understanding and Surviving Financial Panics: Structuring Investment Portfolios
Novice and longtime investors gain insight on structuring bond and stock portfolios and explore the history of financial panics and investment implications of the pandemic and U.S. elections.
Learn more about the Glasscock School’s Community Learning and Engagement department.
The Education Department at Rice University’s Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies offers a comprehensive educational program that integrates work in courses with field-work experience. Programs include Alternative Teacher Certification, Principal Certification and the Master of Arts in Teaching.
Join us for one of our upcoming information sessions to learn more about the programs we offer and how they can further your education, professional growth and career goals. Program faculty and staff will be on hand to present information and answer questions. RSVP required.
Learn more about the Glasscock School’s Education department.
English as a Second Language
The English as a Second Language (ESL) Program at Rice University offers non-native speakers of English the opportunity to improve their language skills in small classes that use an integrated-skills approach.
Online English and Academic Preparation: Certificate Program
Online English and Academic Preparation is a certificate program for students with a high-intermediate to advanced level of English.
Online English Success in the Workplace: Certificate Program
Using an integrated skills approach, these non-credit classes will help students develop fluency and accuracy in English by improving their command of English in the workplace and strengthening their communication skills.
Learn more about the Glasscock School’s English as a Second Language department.
The Rice University Foreign Language Program provides an opportunity for students to learn a new language in small group classes taught by experienced instructors. Classes in eight foreign languages are offered in four sessions each year.
Learn more about the Glasscock School’s Foreign Languages department.
The Graduate Liberal Studies (GLS) program at Rice University is designed for those who crave intellectual challenge at a world-class university. The Master of Liberal Studies (MLS) degree and the Diploma in Liberal Studies (DLS) allow working adults, retirees and other non-traditional university students to examine timeless, timely human questions within the humanities, social sciences and sciences.
We're currently hosting online information sessions for the Master of Liberal Studiess. Join us to learn about the program and meet program administrators. We will provide an overview of the program and admissions process and answer any questions you may have.
Learn more about the Glasscock School’s Graduate Liberal Studies department.
Professional & Corporate Programs
Career advancement opportunities to assist professionals in obtaining new competencies, prepare for a certification exam, improve business and communication skills or earn professional recertification credits.
Upcoming Online Offerings Include:
Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) Certification Education
The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification Education program teaches the core curriculum necessary to meet the educational requirement to sit for the CFP examination, including completion of a financial plan development (capstone) course registered with the CFP Board.
Certified Treasury Professional® (CTP)
Prepare for the CTP exam with Rice. Grab your spot early - this online course fills fast.
Coding Boot Camp
Web development is a high-growth career track, and Rice University Coding Boot Camp in Houston teaches you the specialized skills to tap into this rewarding industry. Through a fast-paced, immersive curriculum, you’ll learn the skills needed to become proficient in front-end and back-end technologies.
Data Analytics Boot Camp
Rice University Data Analytics Boot Camp is a 24-week, part-time Data Analytics course covering Advanced Excel, Python, JavaScript (D3.js, Leaflet.js), HTML/CSS, API Interactions, Social Media Mining, SQL, Hadoop, Tableau, Advanced Statistics, Machine Learning, R, Git/GitHub, and more.
Cybersecurity Boot Camp
The 24-week Cybersecurity Boot Camp is a challenging, part-time program that takes a multidisciplinary approach to attain proficiency in IT, networking, and modern information security, throughout the course of 24 intensive weeks.
Design and Deliver High-Impact Presentations
A combination of short readings, mini-lectures, and in-class activities will focus on communication principles such as how to choose a strategy, organize an argument, project confidence, design visuals, and interact with the audience.
Essentials of Human Resources Certificate Program
Recommended for those new to human resources, small business owners and entrepreneurs, equip yourself with critical knowledge to improve your ability to handle challenging human resources issues.
FinTech Boot Camp
Rice University FinTech Boot Camp takes a multidisciplinary approach to finance, fundamental programming, data analysis, and modern tools in cryptocurrency and blockchain.
Fundamentals of Project Management
Designed for business professionals who need a fast tracked and hands-on introduction to project management principles and techniques, learn how to deliver results effectively and consistently by initiating and planning projects, building effective teams, leading teams to execute projects and controlling performance to ensure business value is delivered.
HR Boot Camp
Prepare to sit for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP exam with this short yet comprehensive review course.
Human Resources Management Certificate Program
Earning your SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® credential makes you a recognized expert and leader in the HR field and a valuable asset to your organization, keeping you and your organization more competitive in today's economy.
Leadership Principles Certificate Program
Rice University's Leadership Principles Certificate Program is designed to assist those aspiring to leadership roles reach new levels of success by teaching cutting-edge leadership and management concepts and providing tools and resources for the integration of learning into everyday practice.
Paralegal Graduate Certificate Program
The Paralegal Graduate Certificate program, taught by practicing attorneys, is skills-based, offered in both an evening classroom and online format and includes career search support.
Project Management Professional
Establish yourself as a globally-recognized project manager by earning the most sought-after credential in the profession with Rice University's exam preparation course.
UX/UI Boot Camp
The 24-week UX/UI Boot Camp is a challenging, part-time program that takes a multidisciplinary approach to attain proficiency in design thinking, product management, user interface design, and web design.
Online Offerings
Learn more about the Glasscock School’s Professional & Corporate Programs department.
School Literacy & Culture
Rigorous professional education initiatives for early childhood educators that emphasize early literacy, child development, writing and culture.
Join us for a free, convenient online information session featuring Rice University's Yearlong Programs for early childhood and elementary educators.
Yearlong Mentored Professional Development Programs include:
Learn more about the Glasscock School’s School Literacy & Culture department.
The Glasscock School of Continuing Studies offers numerous college and career readiness and academic enrichment opportunities for students to raise their awareness of the importance of college and to master the skills necessary for their post-secondary careers.
AP Exam Review at Rice - now virtual
This event is aimed toward helping high school students prepare for their AP exams. Students have the opportunity to attend up to two 90-minute review sessions. The AP exam review will be led by experienced AP teachers in a variety of subjects.
AP Exam Review Online
This online course is designed to help students prepare for their AP exams. The AP exam review course is led by experienced AP teachers in a variety of subjects.
Learn more about the Glasscock School’s Student Programs.
