Drone view of south campus

Courses

The Institute for Moravian History and World Heritage Courses

Learn the story of a global faith and culture at your own pace

The Institute for Moravian History and World Heritage offers a growing series of online micro-courses designed to introduce learners everywhere to the history, culture, and global impact of the Moravian Church. Whether you're a student, educator, descendant of Moravian communities, resident of a World Heritage settlement, or simply curious about a tradition that shaped towns on three continents, these self-paced courses offer an accessible entry point into Moravian heritage.

Each micro-course will explore a different facet of the Moravian story from its roots in the Bohemian Reformation, to the distinctive culture, music, and architecture of its settlements, to the missionary movement that carried Moravian influence around the world. New courses will be added over time, building a comprehensive curriculum that reflects the full breadth of Moravian history and its enduring relevance today.

All courses award a certificate of completion. The Institute is also exploring pathways for academic credit for select courses in the future.

Course: Introduction to the Moravian Heritage

The Moravian Church is one of the more fascinating and unusual Christian churches. Although it has never been a large denomination, the Moravian Church has made significant contributions to modern religious history and culture. The settlements they built in the 1700s were peaceful and beautiful havens in an age of rapid social change and conflict. Some of the most famous figures of the modern age, including , George Washington, Anne Bronte, John Wesley, and Johann Wolfgang Goethe visited Moravian settlements and were positively impressed by the Moravian's religious culture, especially their music and warm-hearted piety. The Moravians' courageous mission to indigenous and enslaved people throughout the Atlantic world inspired the Protestant mission movement of the 19th century. Despite its origins in Central Europe, most Moravians today live in Eastern Africa. This course will introduce students to the history, teachings, customs, spirituality, and missions of the Moravian Church. After this course, students will be prepared to go deeper into learning specific aspects of the church.

Topics Covered:

  • Origin and development of the Moravian Church
  • Moravian settlements of the 18th century
  • Moravian missions
  • Moravian Church today
  • Basic Moravian theology and spirituality

To learn more and enroll, click here: Moravian University Marketplace.