Current and Upcoming Courses
Experience more than just a movie! This summertime series provides our community of lifelong learners with a trio of film screenings paired with expert analysis from our faculty. Join us at the Roadhouse Cinema and escape the summer heat while enjoying an educational and entertaining experience in Tucson’s favorite dine-in movie theater. Listen to a […]
The Spanish Civil War unfolded in what a distinguished historian once referred to as a backwater of Europe. This conflict marked the final chapter in a century-and-a-half-long civil struggle between forces seeking reform and those clinging to reactionary ideals. It represented two opposing visions of the nation: one looking forward and the other rooted in […]
The short story is a meticulously structured literary form that requires discipline in its plot and structure. In science fiction, this format pushes boundaries by integrating groundbreaking scientific and technological advancements crucial to the narrative. This summer seminar invites you to explore a curated selection of short stories by diverse authors, fostering in-depth discussions that […]
This course explores the pressing issue of political tribalism, often known as affective polarization, which many believe poses a significant threat to our democratic institutions. We will critically examine the nature of these tribalistic ideologies, drawing insights from contemporary social science and philosophical research. Our discussions will focus on how these ideologies negatively affect cognitive […]
Russia has never gotten Pasternak’s Dr. Zhivago out of its system. This course will take us deep into the most controversial novel written during the Soviet era. Tolstoyan in its sweep, Dr. Zhivago is a stunning indictment of the system that attempted to engineer human life and an equally stunning meditation on the power of […]
This course will focus on the scientific field of dendrochronology (from dendron=tree and chronos=time), or tree-ring science, and what it can tell us about the past, present and future. We will explore the fascinating history of how the science was developed by a pioneering astronomer interested in solar cycles; how it works; how it has […]
This course continues the exploration of the United States Supreme Court and its role in deciding fundamental social questions. After an introductory class on the Court, we will focus on landmark cases involving race in education, abortion, Second Amendment, and election law. Readings will include edited versions of the Court’s opinions. The final class will […]
Upcoming Courses
In this course, we will explore the ancient Roman conception of desire (amor) as a problematic and perilous emotion. An examination of fascinating philosophical and poetic literary sources will introduce us to a range of important Roman authors and their unique perspectives. We will also consider the cultural and historical factors that shaped each author’s […]
What do stars, supernovas, and ancient civilizations have in common? The answer lies in the elements that shape our universe—and our lives. This course explores the cosmic origins and earthly significance of eight iconic elements: hydrogen, helium, carbon, oxygen, silicon, iron, gold, and uranium. Tracing their stories from the Big Bang to modern applications, we […]
What does it mean to live authentically in a world without fixed answers? This seminar explores existentialism as both a philosophical inquiry and a literary tradition. Through readings and discussion, we’ll trace existentialist thought from 19th-century roots to its profound influence in the 20th and 21st centuries. Thinkers like Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, and Camus will […]
Few events transformed the modern world like the Great Depression. In this six-week seminar, we will examine the economic collapse of 1929 and its profound impact on American society, politics, and global affairs. From breadlines and Dust Bowl migrations to Roosevelt’s New Deal, the course explores how the Depression redefined the relationship between citizens and […]
How do buildings shape our experiences of light—and what deeper meanings emerge through that interplay? This ten-week seminar explores how architects in premodern societies used light as both a design tool and a symbol of transformation. Drawing on the anthropological concept of liminality, we will examine religious, civic, and ceremonial structures from Europe, the Middle […]
Why do we walk—and what do we discover along the way? Spanning Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and the U.S.–Mexico Borderlands, this seminar explores walking as a physical act and metaphor for transformation, pilgrimage, protest, and self-discovery. Through literature, film, journalism, music, murals, and architecture, we’ll examine how creative and political figures—from Cervantes to Neruda, and […]
How have relationships between men and women been understood across the centuries? This seminar investigates gender roles and partnerships in the medieval and early modern world, focusing on literary reflections of love, conflict, power, and mutual respect. While misogyny shaped much of the period’s cultural discourse, a closer reading of texts reveals humor, struggle, and […]
Eastern Europe has produced some of the most emotionally stirring and distinctive music in the Western tradition. In this 6-week seminar, we will explore the musical heritage of Slavic nations, including Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Through works by composers such as Tchaikovsky, Chopin, and Dvořák—as well as lesser-known Ukrainian voices—we’ll trace how […]
What does the Qur’an say about God, humanity, and the prophetic tradition? This six-week course offers an accessible introduction to one of the world’s most influential texts. Despite its importance, there are few reliable English resources that provide information about the Qur’an or serve as guides to its contents. The goal of this course is […]
For centuries, Chinese poets have used love as both a theme and a lens to explore life’s deepest emotions. In this five-week seminar, we will journey through China’s poetic tradition—from ancient times to the early 20th century—tracing how love is expressed, transformed, and remembered. Structured in five chapters—“The First Sighting,” “Romancing the Heart,” “Heavenly Pleasure,” […]
This course offers an in-depth examination of the Supreme Court’s significant terms for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, focusing on landmark cases with important legal implications. We will start with the case of Trump v. U.S., which addresses issues of presidential immunity and accountability. Following that, we will analyze Students for Fair Admissions, a case that could […]
What can travel writing reveal about identity, power, and place? This seminar explores how the Balkans—a region shaped by empire, migration, and resistance—have been imagined through the eyes of foreign travelers from the Ottoman era to the present day. We’ll examine travel narratives as both literary texts and cultural documents, investigating how gender, class, politics, […]
Spring Registration Will Open: Monday, November 24, 2025 at 8 AM (AZ Time) Lessons from Our Past Professor Terry Hunt | Tuesdays 6 PM – 8 PM Jan 20 – Feb 24, 2026 Shakespeare’s Tragedies Professor Emeritus Peter Medine | Wednesdays 2 PM – 4 PM Jan 21 – April 15, 2026 The Colorado River: Science, […]