Institute For the Study of Western Civilization

Specialties

Evening classes covering the Art, Literature, History, and Intellectual Development of Western Civilization. Join a fun and stimulating learning environment full of curious, like-​minded students of western art, history, literature and languages. Summer classes start soon! Call the Institute to enroll. Visit our website.

History

Established in 2003.

The Institute sprang from a desire to teach the great ideas, great books, and great minds of Western Civilization in order to improve individual and collective understanding of why we are the way we are, of how we got here, and to share the joy of rediscovering the many tremendous achievements of western culture down through the millennia. The fun began when classes were taught at the UCSC Extension facilities for several years, and we opened our doors at our present location in 2003.

Meet the Business Owner

William F.

Business Owner

WILLIAM FREDLUND obtained his BA and his MA from UCLA where he specialized in European history and Art history. After independent study in Europe, Dr. Fredlund came to Stanford University to pursue graduate study in history and humanities where he specialized in Renaissance Italy and completed a Ph.D. in both history and humanities. Dr. Fredlund studied in Italy on a Fulbright Fellowship where he began work on his book about Renaissance Italy. While living in Italy, he lectured extensively in Florence for American university programs such as those of UCLA and University of Michigan, as well as for University of Florence. In the United States, Dr. Fredlund has taught for UCLA, Stanford, and UCSC-​Extension.