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Trace key milestones in medicine from the late 18th century to today, beginning with Edward Jenner’s pioneering use of the smallpox vaccine. We will explore over two centuries of transformative developments and the remarkable figures behind them—advances that have shaped both clinical care and public health. Special focus will be given to scientific breakthroughs and systemic reforms that dramatically improved lifespans and health outcomes over the past 150 years, particularly in advanced economies. Through this lens, we will gain a deeper appreciation for the interplay between medical innovation and societal well-being, and how that partnership continues to evolve.
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Instructor: Gordon Josephson
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/14/2026 - 2/18/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: W
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Virtue theory is an ethical approach that emphasizes character over action—focusing not just on doing good, but on being good. What are the qualities of a virtuous person? This question has deep roots across cultures, explored by thinkers such as Aristotle, Jesus, the Buddha, and Confucius, as well as by modern scholars. We will examine core virtues such as sincerity, honesty, courage, compassion, respect, and love. We will explore how these qualities have been understood across traditions and identify ways to nurture them in daily life. The full series may be taught as two separate courses.
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Instructor: David Smith
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/14/2026 - 2/18/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: W
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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When we think of the Holocaust, we recall the horrors perpetrated by evildoers. Even in humanity’s darkest hours, courageous individuals risked everything to save lives. This course sheds light on these little-known rescuers—ordinary people who defied laws, resisted hate, and acted with moral clarity and compassion. Through their uplifting stories, we will explore why these heroes remain largely unknown and what their actions reveal about human goodness. This course offers powerful reminders of resilience, morality, and hope.
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Instructor: Howard Kerner
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/14/2026 - 2/18/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: W
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Discover how film music enhances storytelling, sets mood and place, defines character, and blends styles—jazz, classical, pop—into powerful cinematic impressions. Beginning with The Jazz Singer (1927), we will trace the evolution of the film score and examine how composers shape emotion across genres, from drama and romance to science fiction and westerns—including the James Bond franchise. We will learn about influential composers such as Max Steiner, Bernard Herrmann, Elmer Bernstein, Henry Mancini, Ennio Morricone, Quincy Jones, John Williams, and others who helped define the sound of modern film. Celebrate the artistry of film music and its lasting emotional impact.
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Instructor: Michael Agron
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/14/2026 - 2/18/2026
Times: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: W
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) quietly influences much of our daily lives, from modern conveniences to life-shaping decisions—often without our awareness. This accessible, non-technical course explores the ideas behind today’s AI systems and the possibilities of what may come next. Through six case studies, we will examine how computational decision-making works, discuss the ethics of delegating choices to machines, and consider the real-world impacts of these technologies. We will engage in thoughtful discussions about the benefits and concerns of AI, gaining a deeper understanding of how it operates and how it affects everything from personal experiences to social systems.
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Instructor: Eliot Bethke
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/15/2026 - 2/19/2026
Times: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Th
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Immigration has long been one of the most complex and contentious issues in US history. We will explore how immigration policy has evolved over time and how the current system is designed to function. We will examine key historical shifts that inform today’s debates and consider enduring questions: Who is allowed to live in the US? How many people can the country support? What are our international obligations? Through a mix of historical context and contemporary analysis, we will engage in thoughtful, constructive conversations about the challenges and possibilities facing US immigration policy today.
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Instructor: Michele Waslin
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/16/2026 - 2/20/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: F
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Explore the American Revolution within a global context. We will investigate the geopolitical forces that shaped its origins and the far-reaching consequences of the US break with Britain. Rather than viewing the Revolution as a purely domestic uprising, we will examine it as part of a larger imperial struggle among European powers for global dominance. Each session spotlights a different group—Germans, French, Spaniards, South Asians, Prussians, and others—placing their experiences at the center of dramatic narratives about the unraveling of the British Empire and the birth of a new nation. Together, we will consider how reframing the American Revolution on a global stage changes our understanding of its causes, course, and legacy.
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Instructor: Rick Bell
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/17/2026 - 2/21/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Sa
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Explore the noir novel through three influential works: We begin with The Maltese Falcon (1929) by Dashiell Hammett and The Big Sleep (1939) by Raymond Chandler—both foundational texts of the genre. Their hardboiled detectives, Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe, navigate the shadowy world of American crime, filled with gangsters, grifters, and femme fatales. Film clips from classic adaptations will illustrate how this literary form helped shape film noir. We will conclude with Sara Paretsky’s Indemnity Only (1982), a bold feminist reimagining of the genre. Paretsky redefines noir by upending traditional gender roles and giving voice to a new kind of detective hero.
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Instructor: Peter Kaye
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/20/2026 - 2/24/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Tu
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Explore the origins and evolution of American conservation through the lens of environmental history. We will examine key figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and George Washington Carver, along with lesser-known voices like Genevieve Jones and Harriet Hemenway. We will consider how conservation took shape not only in iconic landscapes like Yellowstone and Yosemite, but also in cotton fields, urban centers, and Native lands. Together we will investigate how industrialization, urbanization, and scientific thought shaped the movement—and how conservation efforts impacted different communities. Through case studies and discussion, we will gain a broader understanding of how American attitudes toward nature, resources, and preservation have developed from the 19th century to the present.
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Instructor: Fraser Livingston
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/20/2026 - 2/24/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Tu
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Once considered the domain of pulp magazines and low-budget films, science fiction is now a staple of mainstream culture—appearing in television, film, comics, games, and even theme parks. However, science fiction began as storytelling driven by visionary writers eager to break convention and explore new worlds, inventions, ideas, and societal models.
This course traces the evolution of science fiction, examining how the genre has developed, how it differs from fantasy and myth, and how key authors have shaped its direction. We will explore science fiction’s literary foundations and cultural impact, gaining a deeper understanding of how it continues to challenge imagination and reflect contemporary concerns.
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Instructor: Gary Wolfe
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/20/2026 - 2/24/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Tu
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Using the 2024 FX mini-series Shōgun as a springboard, this course explores Japan’s transformation from civil war to peace between the 15th and 18th centuries. While tales of samurai valor captivate modern audiences, the true history behind them is equally compelling. We will examine the Warring States Period, the rise of unifiers like Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu, and the cultural, political, and social changes that followed. We will also study the roles of merchants, peasants, women, and outcasts in shaping this dynamic era. Topics will include warfare, diplomacy, foreign relations, city planning, and the arts. For fans of the series or those new to Japanese history, this course offers a rich, accessible introduction.
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Instructor: Megan McClory
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/20/2026 - 2/24/2026
Times: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Tu
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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This beginner-friendly course is a practical introduction to Google Workspace, covering core applications such as Google Drive, Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. We will explore basic navigation, essential features, and everyday use cases for each tool. Through guided instruction and real-world examples, the course builds foundational skills to help us use Google Workspace with confidence—for both personal productivity and professional collaboration. No prior experience is required.
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Instructor: Chelsea King
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/21/2026 - 2/25/2026
Times: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: W
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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John James Audubon was a French American artist and naturalist who, beginning in the 1820s, set out to document every bird species in the US. The result was The Birds of America, a collection of 435 hand-painted bird prints widely regarded as one of the finest books ever published. This course explores Audubon’s early life, artistic techniques, and the scientific and aesthetic value of his work. We will take a closer look at selected prints and examine the intersection of art and science in Audubon’s process. We will have thoughtful discussion of his legacy and his role in shaping the American understanding of nature and wildlife.
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Instructor: Eric Simon
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/22/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Th
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Some substances heal, others harm—and sometimes, the same molecule can do both. This chemistry-rich (but non-technical) course explores the surprisingly thin line between pharmaceuticals and poisons. We will learn how animal venoms inspire lifesaving treatments, how aspirin traces its roots to the dye industry, and why the term “toxin” is so often misused. We will also examine the dramatic history of FDA regulation—marked by scandal, tragedy, and reform—and how it continues to shape what ends up in our medicine cabinets. From scorpion stings to Gila monster hormones, this course offers a fascinating and sometimes unsettling look at the chemistry behind what we choose to swallow.
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Instructor: Johnnie Hendrickson
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/22/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Th
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Explore the impact of digital technologies on the brain, behavior, and emotional well-being through the lenses of neuroscience, psychology, and cognitive science. We will examine how modern devices and artificial intelligence influence cognitive functions such as attention, memory, learning, and decision-making, as well as social interaction and mood.
We will also address ethical concerns, including privacy and technology-based addictions, and discuss the effects of digital media on mental health. The course highlights how advances in neuroscience and clinical practice offer new tools for improving mental well-being in a tech-driven world. Through research-based insights and practical strategies, we will gain a deeper understanding of how the brain adapts to digital life—and how to navigate it effectively.
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Instructor: Elena Labkovsky
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/26/2026 - 3/2/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: M
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Sicily has long been one of the most mythic, magical, and misunderstood places in the Mediterranean. We will explore its central role in Western civilization—from Homeric epics and classical antiquity through the Arabo-Norman Golden Age that helped ignite the Renaissance. We will examine how Sicily’s cultural richness gave way to exploitation and poverty under Spanish rule, and how it later reemerged in modern imagination through figures like Garibaldi, Patton, and Coppola. Beginning and ending in mythology, this journey uncovers the island’s complex legacy of heroism, hardship, and renewal. As Göethe famously said, “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all.”
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Instructor: Douglas Kenning
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/26/2026 - 3/2/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: M
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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This workshop will introduce participants to the skills and techniques used to create professional quality images of their adventures in the natural world. Topics will include controlling exposure, using depth of field, motion effects, the principles of visual communication, and the qualities of natural light. The course will incorporate slide-illustrated lectures, group discussions, and ample time for student feedback.
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Instructor: Jonathan Duncan
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/26/2026 - 3/2/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: M
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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This video-rich, conversational course offers a dynamic biography of American television—from its 1920s conception and 1930s debut to its digital-era reinvention. We will trace TV’s evolution through its early development, postwar boom, rebellious adolescence in the 1970s, and identity crisis in the early 2000s. We will explore the sitcoms, dramas, news, sports, and specials that have defined generations. From Matlock to Abbott Elementary, from The Last of Us to The Bear, this course looks at how the medium has changed—and how it has changed us. Whether a lifelong fan or new to the history of television, this course invites us to rediscover the highs, lows, and cultural impact of America’s favorite screen.
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Instructor: Jim McKairnes
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/26/2026 - 3/2/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: M
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Post-Impressionism (1880–1910) marked a decisive turn away from Impressionism’s focus on natural light and color. In its place, Post-Impressionist artists emphasized bold color, geometric forms, expressive distortion, and symbolic meaning. This course explores the movement through the work of Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat, and Henri Matisse. Although these artists did not form a unified group, they collectively redefined the artist’s role and the function of art in society. By challenging industrial-era values, conventional artistic practices, and religious ideologies, Post-Impressionism laid the groundwork for the radical innovations of modern art.
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Instructor: Lauren Weingarden
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/26/2026 - 3/2/2026
Times: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: M
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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This non-technical, non-mathematical course introduces some of the most mind-expanding ideas from Albert Einstein’s work. It is designed especially for those with little or no science background. The course offers a concise overview of Einstein’s major theories and how modern science—particularly astronomy—continues to confirm his remarkable predictions.
We will explore concepts such as the relativity of time, warped space, realistic time travel, the formation of black holes, and the detection of gravitational waves. We will discuss why Einstein’s ideas remain central to both scientific discovery and science fiction. Leave with a deeper appreciation of the universe and how it behaves under the most extreme conditions.
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Instructor: Andrew Fraknoi
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/27/2026 - 3/3/2026
Times: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Tu
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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This course is a comparative exploration of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, focusing on rituals, beliefs, and foundational writings. We will learn what it means to study religion comparatively while examining both the shared elements and distinct differences.
Each religion traces its roots to Abraham and embraces monotheism, offering a common foundation for discussion. We will explore key practices and beliefs, such as prayer, sacred texts, and understandings of the divine, and consider how they align or diverge across traditions. We will also engage with selected readings from each religion to better understand the theological and cultural dimensions of these Abrahamic faiths.
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Instructor: Jeremy Fackenthal
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/29/2026 - 3/5/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Th
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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This course, presented in partnership with the Osher Collaborative for Integrative Health, features expert speakers from their upcoming national conference, Navigating Chronic Illness in a Complex Healthcare System. Through engaging presentations and discussions, participants will explore how integrative health approaches can address the challenges of living with chronic conditions and help individuals make informed choices within today’s increasingly complex healthcare environment. Topics will focus on whole-person care, patient empowerment, and practical strategies for managing long-term health concerns.
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Instructor:
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 1/30/2026 - 3/6/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: F
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Have you ever wondered who writes presidential speeches? This course examines the changes in presidential speechwriting, from the earliest speechwriters in George Washington’s administration to contemporary speechwriters. Yes, Hamilton did help Washington write his Farewell Address. But, no, Lincoln did not write the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope. We will examine the process used by a wide range of presidents and look at copies of speechwriting drafts from FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter, and George H.W. Bush. We will view video and audio clips from speeches and from former White House speechwriters describing the process.
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Instructor: Diana Carlin
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 3/30/2026 - 5/4/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: M
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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In July 1925, Clarence Darrow, William Jennings Bryan, and a supporting cast of fascinating characters converged upon Dayton, Tennessee for what became known as The Scopes Monkey Trial. Religion. Science. Public education. Free speech. Textbooks. Participants fought about all of these for eight days in an epic battle that was broadcast to the nation. One hundred years later, we are still fighting about these same issues. This course will be a deep dive into the trial including why it was held in Dayton, Tennessee, how Bryan and Darrow got involved, what actually went on in the courtroom, whether Inherit The Wind accurately depicts what occurred, and who won and lost the case. Perhaps most importantly, we will discuss why we should care today.
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Instructor: Douglas Mishkin
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 3/31/2026 - 5/5/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Tu
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Comics, the combination of words and pictures to tell stories, has been a part of human communication for far longer than many realize, stretching from cave paintings on stone walls to the Bayeux Tapestry to the latest adventures of Batman and Spider-Man. Comics are an incredibly malleable medium, a literary artform that has too often been limited by the public perception of comics as merely a platform for four-color super-heroics. This course will trace the history of comics as a way of telling intimate and epic stories, exploring social and political issues, and capturing the cultural climate via the deceptive simplicity of panels, word balloons, and lines drawn on paper or displayed on device screens. And yes, we will also take a look at superheroes. Readings will include Understanding Comics, Watchmen, Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, Fun Home, and Persepolis.
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Instructor: Arnold Blumberg
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 3/31/2026 - 5/5/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Tu
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Art in the streets (including graffiti, murals, stickers, paste-ups, and other public installations) offers powerful means of expression for marginalized voices, shapes urban environments, and presents competing visions of community life. Unlike art made for museums or the commercial market, street art is often counter-institutional, engaging social issues from critical perspectives. This course examines graffiti and street art in the US and beyond, exploring their histories, motivations, and global connections. Participants will consider the rise of the mural movement, strategies for preserving and presenting street art, its increasing institutionalization, and its potential to foster social change.
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Instructor: Heather Shirey
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/1/2026 - 5/6/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: W
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Siberia constitutes three quarters of Russia’s territory, but only a quarter of the country’s population lives there. Yet, the role of Siberia in making Russia a large and wealthy empire should not be underestimated. In this course, we will discuss Siberia’s role in the rise, and possibly imminent dismantling, of Russia as a unified state; Siberia’s economic importance, both historically and today; the region’s indigenous peoples and their cultures; its role as a penal colony throughout history and how that function transformed the region; its importance for climate change and environmental issues; and the relations between Russia and China, in which Siberia plays a crucial role.
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Instructor: Asya Pereltsvaig
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/1/2026 - 5/6/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: W
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Throughout his 1000-day presidency, John Kennedy pursued peace through a broad spectrum of initiatives. He saw a connection between learning and leadership and sought to use military deterrence, diplomacy, and soft power in novel ways. In this course, we will explore how his character and life experiences were the origins of those efforts. We will evaluate his powers of persuasion by listening to key speeches, and we will assess his successes and failures and their relevance to today’s world.
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Instructor: Charles Blum
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/2/2026 - 5/7/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Th
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Building: Online
Room:
-
Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping nearly every aspect of our lives, from chatbots and autonomous vehicles to precision medicine and robotic art. Back by popular demand, this updated course will revisit key concepts from the previous offering (such as the history of AI and its surprising comeback) but updated examples and discussion topics will reflect the latest developments. In these jargon-free sessions, we will explore what makes modern AI different from earlier attempts, how it works, and where it’s headed. We will consider the human side of AI including the jobs it might replace or create, the ethical dilemmas it raises, and how it could help, or harm, our daily lives. Whether we are curious, cautious, or excited about AI, this course will provide ways to understand and engage with this powerful technology.
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Instructor: Melba Kurman, Hod Lipson
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/2/2026 - 5/7/2026
Times: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Th
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Why do so many great violinists also become composers? This course will explore the fascinating legacy of violinist-composers across history, including Baroque virtuosos like Heinrich Biber, Romantic legends like Niccolò Paganini, and 20th century innovators like George Enescu and Grazyna Bacewicz. Through listening, discussing, and studying visual materials, we will examine how these artists wrote music tailored to their instruments and themselves. Taught by a professional violinist, this course offers a behind-the-strings look at how performance and composition intertwine in the hands of the same creative mind.
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Instructor: Ilana Zaks
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/6/2026 - 5/11/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: M
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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How much of what we are is related to the places we have lived and experienced? What is the importance of place in our most memorable experiences? Is it possible to find any memory that is not physically situated somewhere? This course is an invitation to reflect on these and other meaningful questions about the psychological and emotional relationships between people and their environments. Drawing on a variety of disciplines, including psychology, geography, architecture, and design, this course will introduce environmental psychology and its contribution to understanding how physical environments influence our behavior, cognition, identity, and memory. Using place-based methodologies, we will discuss concepts such as place attachment, place identity, and cognitive maps. We will reflect on issues of memory, meaning of home, trauma, displacement, and the power of nature in our psychological well-being.
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Instructor: Fernanda Blanco Vidal
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/7/2026 - 5/12/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Tu
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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The death of Pope Francis and the election of the first US born Pope have been in the news repeatedly in the last few months, capturing the imagination of many people, including non-Catholics. Who are these men? What are their life stories? How were they similar to and different from each other? In this course, we will discuss the lives and dominant perspectives of the last ten Popes, exploring their most significant positions and their influence on world affairs.
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Instructor: Olivia Espin
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/7/2026 - 5/12/2026
Times: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Tu
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Most discussions about aging focus on lifespan. Yet what matters to most of us is brainspan — how long our mind remains sharp, resilient, and wise. This course explores how the brain ages naturally and unnaturally, and what the latest science reveals about protecting memory, balance, and clarity. We will look at the difference between normal cognitive changes and early signs of dementia, while emphasizing practical, evidence-based prevention strategies. Topics will include brain function and neuroplasticity, how brain shrinkage affects falls and sensory health, the role of nutrition and supplements in fueling cognition, and the impact of sleep, stress, social ties, and purpose on long-term resilience. Each session combines accessible science, simple self-tests, and engaging take-home practices. We will also build our own Cognitive Health Scorecard — a personalized tool to identify strengths, track habits, and focus on the small changes that make the biggest difference.
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Instructor: Scott Fulton
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/9/2026 - 5/14/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Th
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Science is full of surprises. Dyes, accidentally discovered, launched the modern pharmaceutical industry. A failed experiment opened the door to new physics. A geologist studying Earth’s age ended up taking on the oil companies to ban leaded gasoline. These stories remind us that discoveries are never just dry facts. They are moments of creativity, struggle, and chance, with consequences that ripple far beyond the laboratory. In this course, we will explore the human side of science, situating breakthroughs in the context of their times and tracing how they reshaped both knowledge and society. Along the way, we will tour centuries of discovery across biology, chemistry, physics, and more, asking not just what was found, but how it was found, and why it still matters today.
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Instructor: Johnnie Hendrickson
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/9/2026 - 5/14/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Th
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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California is more than a state. It is an idea, a dream, and a contradiction. It is where snow-capped peaks rise above sun-drenched deserts, and where misty coastlines and ancient forests stand alongside cities built on myth, ambition, and reinvention. In this immersive course, we will journey through California’s sweeping history - from its earliest Indigenous cultures and diverse ecosystems to its transformation under Spanish, Mexican, and American rule. We will uncover the people, events, and forces that shaped the Golden State into a global icon of migration, innovation, and cultural change. We will explore the missions, the Gold Rush, the railroad, Hollywood’s allure, and Silicon Valley’s disruptive genius, while also challenging myths and amplifying voices too often left out of mainstream narratives. We will gain a deeper understanding of what it has meant to be Californian across eras, enriching how we experience the state today.
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Instructor: Anthony Antonucci
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/10/2026 - 5/15/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: F
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
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This course explores the dramatic cultural shifts in thinking and living that reshaped America and Western Europe between the end of World War I and the Great Depression. Known as the Roaring Twenties, the Jazz Age, and the era of the Lost Generation, this period redefined values, norms, morals, and manners. We will immerse ourselves in the culturally and socially vibrant ambiance of 1920s Paris, where expatriate writers gathered in cafés and salons to challenge convention and invent new ways of living and writing. Through F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Babylon Revisited and Bernice Bobs Her Hair, Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, and Gertrude Stein’s The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, we will examine how their lives and works reflected both the exhilaration and disillusionment of the age. We will consider how the legacy of this remarkable decade continues to influence literature and culture today.
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Instructor: Asya Ferda
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/15/2026 - 5/20/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: W
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Music has always stirred controversy - sometimes through bold originality, other times through scandal. In the Classical tradition, composers like Beethoven, Stravinsky, and Smetana pushed boundaries that shocked audiences and critics. On Broadway and in Hollywood, changing attitudes toward race, consent, gender, and sexuality have prompted debates and revisions of works such as Annie Get Your Gun and South Pacific. Is political correctness a step forward in creating more inclusive art, or does it risk silencing important cultural heritage? Should works reflecting outdated views on religion, domestic violence, or prejudice be altered—or preserved as historical context? We will also explore plagiarism and musical borrowing in pop and film music, including controversies surrounding The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Peter Frampton. Filled with audiovisual examples, anecdotes, and humor, this course offers a lively dive into music’s most provocative debates and scandals.
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Instructor: Emanuel Abramovits
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/15/2026 - 5/20/2026
Times: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: W
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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The personal essay is one of the oldest and most enduring forms of creative nonfiction, originating with Michel de Montaigne and continuing today as a versatile form that blends storytelling, reflection, and analysis. In this course, we will explore the personal essay as both a literary art and a tool for self-expression. We will ask what defines a personal essay: a true narrative drawn from our own lives, shaped with theme, structure, tone, and voice. Through readings, discussion, writing exercises, and drafting our own personal essays, we will study essential elements such as narrative arc, scene-setting, reflection, honesty, and perspective. We will discover how personal essays capture unique voices and reveal singular insights. Whether writing for publication, personal growth, or the pleasure of crafting words, this course will help us find our voices, tell our stories with clarity, and better understand the enduring power of the personal essay.
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Instructor: Lisa Stolley
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/18/2026 - 5/23/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Sa
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
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Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) was one of the most influential architects of the modern era, designing nearly one thousand buildings over his prolific career. This course surveys the breadth of Wright’s practice, from his iconic Prairie style houses and celebrated works like Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum, to lesser-known projects in affordable housing and utopian city planning. Participants will explore how Wright’s designs were shaped by, and responded to, the sweeping cultural shifts of modernism, including the industrial revolution, new technologies, scientific advancements, and progressive social movements. Through visual analysis and historical context, the course offers a deeper understanding of Wright’s enduring impact on American architecture and design.
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Instructor: Jennifer Gray
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 4/21/2026 - 5/26/2026
Times: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
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Sessions: 6
Days: Tu
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Building: Online
Room:
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Registration Fee: $90, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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