Current and Upcoming Courses
Both Francisco de Goya and Pablo Picasso exercised a profound influence on the development of the techniques, forms and meaning of modern art. They also confronted modernity’s monsters and produced works that offer reflections on the relationship between social issues, war, their effects on modern society and artistic forms. This course will examine the parallels […]
Major advances in science in our lifetime have transformed healthcare and enabled the breakthroughs in medicine we enjoy today. We will explore the chronology of advances in the lab, and how they impact our health care. The study of diseases and discovery of new drugs has evolved from animal testing and growing bacteria in petri […]
This course will cover the history of the oldest field of science, from prehistory and the ancient Greeks to research on the earliest instants of our 14-billion-year-old universe. We will be looking at the history of ideas and discoveries and the more profound questions of how knowledge is created. This class addresses fundamental issues of […]
Arid and semiarid environments, commonly known as “deserts,” make up about one-third of the earth’s land surface and are home to more than one billion people. We will begin this course by discussing the geographical features of desert regions, answering seemingly simple questions: What is a desert, and why do they occur where they do? […]
Explore the history and significance of Musical Theatre Dance in the American Musical Theatre genre. Musical Theatre Dance has evolved through the years thanks to many significant choreographers. We will examine the work and style of many of these influential choreographers that have helped shape and mold the American Musical into what it is today. […]
Moderate Democrats blame progressives for their divisions, and Republicans use them to depict Democrats as socialists. We will look beyond these partisan divisions to consider how our times parallel those of the Progressive Era. One has to go back a century to find the same levels of economic inequality and mass immigration. The historical precedent […]
Upcoming Courses
Discover the captivating journey of humans across the Pacific in our course, “Polynesia and the Pacific Island Past.” Delve into groundbreaking research from archaeology, genetics, and linguistics that reshapes our understanding of ancient migrations and island life. Trace the first daring crossings 50,000 years ago, and the astonishing voyages that connected remote islands like Hawaii, […]
In this course, we will explore the Renaissance via the life and literary genius of Francesco Petrarca, famously known as Petrarch. Considered the father of the Italian Renaissance, Petrarch’s scholarship and advocacy for the importance of classical Rome were considered fundamental throughout the Renaissance. Today, he is better remembered as a love poet. His famous […]
“Is this the real thing?” Museum professionals periodically get this question, where wide-eyed visitors are struck by the reality that they are face-to-face with authentic works of art. But what exactly does it mean for an artwork to be considered authentic, or original? Are there certain traits or characteristics that tell us so? What happens […]
In this course, we will explore the concept of memes and how they resonate so powerfully with their audiences both today and throughout human history. We will define the term “meme,” examine the many forms that memes can take, and learn to interpret and understand the cultural messages embedded within memes. From the iconic “Success […]
The 1920s are frequently romanticized in popular culture as an era of unprecedented freedom and flamboyance, with images of flappers and clandestine speakeasies serving bootleg liquor. While some of that is accurate, this portrayal only scratches the surface of a complex decade that was as much about profound anxiety and dramatic societal shifts as it […]
China’s rich history often remains elusive to the Western world. This course will shed light on the history of thought in China and provide students with a solid framework for future engagement and understanding. We will explore China’s key intellectual traditions and the ways they have shaped East Asian societies. The major traditions of Classical […]
Dive into a pivotal moment in history and examine what the Romans themselves considered their darkest hour: the war with Hannibal Barca. This course offers an in-depth exploration based on close readings from ancient sources in translation to provide a comprehensive understanding of the causes, key battles, and the aftermath of this nearly two-decade-long struggle. […]
This course seeks to break down the controversies surrounding Critical Race Theory. We begin by defining the many terms that have moved out of scholarly circles and into the headlines, social media, and school board and legislative debates: critical race theory/studies, structural racism, white supremacy, white privilege, anti-blackness, settler colonialism, racial hierarchy, Islamophobia, etc. We […]
Dive into the rhythmic heart of America with a journey through the history and evolution of tap dance, a quintessentially American art form born in the 1800s. This course offers a unique examination of culture, history, and artistry, tracing tap’s roots from its multifaceted origins in African, English, Irish, and Scottish dance styles to its […]
Embark on a chronological and thematic grand tour of Rome through its cinematic representations, where history and artistry converge in films that have captivated audiences worldwide. In this course, we will explore Rome’s portrayal on the big screen, from historical epics to modern masterpieces like Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Great Beauty.” These films offer a stunning […]
Journey back to ancient Mars with a pioneer in Martian research. Uncover the secrets of a time when Mars boasted Earth-like hydrology, complete with flowing rivers and vast seas, most notably the “Oceanus Borealis,” which covered much of the northern part of the planet. This course draws on a groundbreaking 50-year odyssey of discovery, offering […]