catherineproject.org

What It Is

Catherine Project is a learning community built around reading and discussing “great books,” founded in 2020. Its core offering is not traditional online courses, but small seminars, reading groups, and topic-based tutorials conducted via Zoom and other video conferencing tools. According to the website, it has offered more than 950 courses to date, serving over 6,500 readers from more than 50 countries, with around 1,300 readers participating each term.

Core Courses and Format

The curriculum focuses on the humanities and the reading of classic texts, while also including subject tutorials in areas such as ancient languages, mathematics, and writing. The learning style emphasizes open-ended dialogue, similar to Socratic seminars: participants raise genuine questions about the text, listen to others, and respond, rather than passively listening to a teacher’s structured lecture. Aside from topic-based tutorials, courses are generally not lecture-based, and the program discourages reliance on secondary sources or AI for preparation. All participants are required to keep their cameras on during meetings.

Pricing, Language, and Certificates

The project explicitly charges no tuition or fees, relying instead on donations, small grants, and volunteers, making it extremely cost-effective. However, it is also clearly not a degree or career-training program: there are no grades or credits, and the website does not mention certificates. Instruction is primarily in English, with occasional courses in other languages, especially Spanish; availability should be checked in the current course catalog.

Instructors and Institutional Background

Founder Zena Hitz previously studied and taught at St. John’s College, and the project’s philosophy is clearly close to the Great Books tradition: centered on classic texts, shared discussion, and free inquiry. Courses are supported by volunteer tutors and group leaders, but the project emphasizes “what you read” over “who you study with,” and applicants generally cannot choose their tutor or fellow group members.

Pros, Cons, and Who It’s For

Its strengths are that it is free, open globally, and focused on deep reading. It is suitable for adult learners aged 16 and above who have the reading ability and self-motivation to participate, especially enthusiasts of humanities classics. The limitations are that courses are often oversubscribed, requiring applicants to submit a statement of interest and wait for placement. It is not a good fit for those looking for recorded lectures, career certificates, clear point-by-point explanations, or a casual book-club experience.

Access from China and Alternatives

The website does not provide clear information about access from mainland China, payment, or time-zone arrangements. Since most courses take place on Zoom, actual connectivity may depend on the user’s network environment. Applicants are advised to test access to the website, email, and Zoom before applying. Alternatives include local classic-reading groups, university open courses, and humanities courses on Coursera and edX.