Current and Upcoming Courses
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 […]
How were the massive stone statues of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) moved across the island’s rugged terrain without wheels or beasts of burden? And what do these feats of engineering tell us about the people who carved them? Join world-enowned archaeologist Dr. Terry Hunt as he unpacks over 20 years of groundbreaking research on one […]
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, […]
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 […]
Upcoming Courses
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, […]