• In the first week, we'll focus on introductions, assess students' prior knowledge of English history, and provide background information.
• Week two will delve into the early life of Henry VIII, exploring his first marriage with Catharine of Aragon. We'll examine their struggles to produce a male heir, the significance of a male heir to Henry, and the resulting separation between Henry and Catharine.
• Week three shifts the spotlight to Anne Boleyn's entrance into Henry VIII's life, the decision to break away from the Catholic church, and the annulment of his marriage to Catharine. Additionally, we'll explore the Act of Supremacy, the Treasons Act, and the conflicts that ensued.
• Week four will center on Anne Boleyn's short reign, her downfall, and execution.
• Week five brings us to Henry VIII's quick remarriage to Jane Seymour, the birth of his male heir, and the complications Jane Seymour faced during childbirth.
• In week six, we'll discuss Henry VIII's grief over losing Jane and how his advisors arranged a marriage to Anne of Cleaves.
• Week seven will delve into the annulment between Henry and Anne of Cleaves, along with the friendship that followed.
• Week eight focuses on Catharine Howard, exploring how the king was drawn to her, their marriage, and the betrayal that led to Catharine's execution.
• Week nine delves into Henry's last years and his marriage to Katharine Parr.
• Week ten wraps up the course, discussing Henry's death, his legacy as king, and the fate of the surviving wives.

The class format will be a lecture-style, allowing students to ask questions at any time. The Socratic method will be employed to encourage engagement among students and with the instructor. The course will cover topics such as the Protestant Reformation in England, the imperative of securing Henry’s throne with a male heir, and the impact of Henry VIII's break from the Catholic Church on the reigns of his children.