Spring 2026
As part of its commitment to lifelong learning and community engagement, the Humanities Seminars Program invites the Tucson community to a free spring series of opera-on-screen presentations in the Dorothy Rubel Room at the UA Poetry Center. This monthly series offers shared access to great works of the operatic repertoire in a welcoming, accessible campus […]
Ready to take your research from concept to funded project? Funding Your Vision: A Practical Guide to Grant Success is a 6-week course designed to help faculty, graduate students, and community members across disciplines understand the grant process better, as well as how to use that understanding to write more competitive proposals. Through six interactive, […]
In the wake of World War I, America’s writers turned from the battlefields of Europe to the “mean streets” of modern cities—discovering new voices, new languages, and a new kind of storytelling. This course explores the rise of pulp fiction, a genre once dismissed as lowbrow but now recognized as a bold reflection of American […]
Step into the shadows where history, myth, and imagination intertwine. This course uncovers the Balkan origins of the vampire legend—stories born from centuries of folklore, fear, and fascination. We’ll explore how these tales of the undead reflected cultural taboos and anxieties about life, death, and “the other,” before following their transformation into Western literature and […]
Since 1980, a majority of white evangelical voters have supported the Republican presidential ticket in every election. What explains the durability of this alliance, and how has it reshaped American political life? In this lecture, we move beyond headlines to examine the evolving social, economic, and theological visions that animate conservative Christian political engagement. Tracing the arc from the Tea Party to the rise of “Trumpvangelicals,” we explore how ideas about family, gender, race, markets, and national destiny converge in a powerful moral and political imagination. Presented by Dr. Karen K. Seat, Distinguished Scholar and Head of Religious Studies and Classics at the University of Arizona, this lecture draws on her extensive research in U.S. religious history, evangelicalism, and gender studies. Building on her current book project, Free Market Family Values: The Rise of Neoliberal Christianity in the United States, Dr. Seat guides us through the institutions, narratives, and grassroots movements that have helped shape the contemporary Republican Party. The event concludes with time for audience Q&A.
This course delves into the millennia-old partnership between humans and horses, revealing how it has influenced transportation, sports, and warfare. We’ll explore the evolution and science behind horse movement, highlighting its impact on society. Special attention is given to selective breeding, examining how draft horses and thoroughbred racehorses are tailored for specific tasks. The course […]
Throughout history, the great tradition of Western classical music has drawn deeply from Christian liturgy and culture. From the Gregorian Chant of the medieval Catholic Church to the masses and motets of Palestrina, the cantatas of Bach, and the requiems of Brahms and Britten, classical music is largely rooted in Christianity—yet Jewish composers have profoundly […]
Step into the luminous world of Venice—a city built on water, steeped in ritual, and defined by its dazzling art. From the golden mosaics of San Marco and the Pala d’Oro to the sensual brushwork of Titian and Veronese, Venice created an artistic language unlike any other in Italy. Influenced by Byzantium and bound to […]
How did capitalism come to define nearly every aspect of modern life—and what are its true costs? In this seminar, we’ll trace the evolution of industrial and global capitalism, uncovering how it shapes our politics, economies, and even our daily choices. Together, we’ll explore the deep interconnections between capitalism and some of the most urgent […]
Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace is often called the greatest novel ever written—a sweeping journey through love, loss, and the fate of nations. In this ten-week seminar, we’ll take on this legendary “long and glorious read,” exploring both its epic story and its enduring insight into what it means to be human. Set amid the […]
In 2025, it’s almost impossible to go more than a day or two without hearing references to artificial intelligence, machine learning, or ChatGPT. Dive a bit deeper than headlines and other concepts emerge: large language models, generative AI, neural networks, predictive analytics, and artificial general intelligence. In this engaging and beginner-friendly lecture, Dr. Ken McAllister, […]
This seminar will concentrate on three of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Othello, and Hamlet. While taking into account language and theatricality, we shall approach plays from the perspectives of plot and characterization. As tragedies, these plays trace the decline and fall of their heroes. Together, we shall examine the voices of the tragic […]