Fall
PM 0014 Project Risk Management

Project managers must understand, plan for, and manage risks. In this course, participants will learn and apply a proactive approach to threats and opportunities based on an understanding of the risk management process.

Course Date(s)

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2024 Spring
OF 0007.65 U.S. Attorney's Office presentation on Elder Fraud and Elder Financial Abuse
Presentation by elder fraud coordinator at the U.S. Attorney’s Office on elder financial abuse, investigation and prosecution of elder fraud cases in federal court. Explanation of elder financial abuse and various methods used by criminals (mail, computer, phone, TV/radio, in person). Overview of the types of financial fraud schemes currently trending in Southern California (e.g. grandparent scams, romance scams, investment scams). What are the typical signs of financial abuse, and how to avoid it.
Course Date(s)
February 20 - March 20
2024 Spring
OF 0018.20 The Intersection of Maps & History
The Intersection of Maps & History is a six-week course in cartographic history and visual analysis featuring the extensive (and largely digitized) cartographic collections of the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education at the University of Southern Maine. Co-taught by the Osher Map Library's Executive Director, Faculty Scholar, and Reference and Teaching Librarian, this visually-rich online course will introduce participants to the history of cartography as a discipline and engage in deep visual analysis of maps and related ephemera. Over the course of our semester, we invite participants to take a deep dive with us into topics at the intersection of maps and history, such as: the History of Cartography project; Schoolgirl maps of the early-19th century; the History of Mapping in Color; City, Town, and County maps and genealogical research; Mapping and World War I; 20th Century Pictorial Maps, and more. Each session will feature an engaging illustrated topical lecture, and a lively Q and A session with the instructors. If you ever wanted to know more about how historic maps can serve as an illuminating window into historical eras, events, and topics, this is the class for you.
Course Date(s)
April 12 - May 17
2024 Spring
OF 0018.19 Our (Inter)National Pastime: Baseball from Inception to the Modern Era
Since its inception, baseball has impacted race, politics, economics, and culture both in the United States and around the world. In this survey course we will analyze the evolution of the sport of baseball, as well as the modern game with its emphasis on data and scouting.
Course Date(s)
April 11 - May 16
$300
Instructors
Katie Krall
2024 Spring
OF 0018.18 Human-Animal Connection
Much research is currently being done on how humans and animals communicate and interact with one another. There are institutes at universities, books to read, as well as articles online about what your dog’s facial expression means or what your cat’s scratching behavior might indicate. Researchers such as Jane Goodall and Temple Grandin (to name just a few) live with and can tell us how animals experience the same emotions and what their thoughts might be. The perceived intelligence level of animals has repeatedly increased as the research continues, and we are able to learn more about animals and their life practices. Ethical farming practices, as well as everyday training for our domestic animals reflect that animals have many of the same basic needs and wants that we as humans have. The interesting practice is how that comes out in our everyday lives – all the way from what we eat to how we interact with our household pets. In this course, we will talk about and understand the latest research, what that means for human beings, and how this will continue to affect our co-existence in the future. This course will have a heavy student discussion component, coupled with lecture and media.
Course Date(s)
April 10 - May 15
2024 Spring
OF 0018.17 The Great Con: The Talented M. Ripley in Literature and Film
American writer Patricia Highsmith first published The Talented Mr. Ripley in 1955. The story is told from the point of view of Tom Ripley, a man who is young, clever, and has a knack for fraud. A case of mistaken identity earns him a ticket abroad to a scenic coastal village in Italy, a far cry from his hardscrabble life in New York City. He soon becomes obsessed with Dickie Greenleaf, heir to a shipbuilding fortune and embarks on a series of deceitful and sinister acts that beget more of the same. Highsmith’s story builds its suspense as the reader traverses Tom’s physical and psychological journey through an affluent world too obtuse to recognize the extent to which he is a threat. The Talented Mr. Ripley has been adapted from book to screen multiple times, with the most notable being the 1999 film directed by Anthony Minghella, starring Matt Damon and Jude Law. Such is the influence of the story that it has invited comparison to the 2023 film Saltburn, whose main character commits a similar subterfuge on a wealthy British family over the course of a summer in their country castle. As stories of frauds and scammers endure across popular media, Tom Ripley’s is one that confronts the reader to examine how far they would go to gain access into a world whose entry requires reinventing oneself to the point of moral collapse. In this course, we will study the Highsmith novel as well as the 1999 film adaptation. We’ll close out the course with a discussion of Saltburn, which is indebted to the novel.
Course Date(s)
April 5 - May 10
$300
Instructors
Heather Brown
2024 Spring
OF 0018.16 The Capable Consumer: Finding your Purchasing Superpower
Navigating the online marketplace can indeed be challenging. Unfortunately, e-commerce tips the advantage away from the consumer towards very sophisticated marketers. Whether dealing with a small business on Main Street or a giant firm on Madison Avenue, it is difficult to know who to trust or how to discern a true bargain from a real rip-off. So, how do you sort fact from fiction and take control of your purchasing power? Most importantly, how do you protect yourself from being duped out of money or worse, having your identity or account information stolen by hackers? In this course, we will cover critical aspects of being both a transactional and a relational shopper. We will discuss factors that can affect information perceptions and good buying decisions. And we’ll offer a variety of resources to enhance your ability to make safe, sharp, and savvy purchasing decisions with sellers you can trust. You will hear from expert speakers, learn about valuable resources, and engage in helpful discussion. Being a Capable Consumer will change how you respond to social media messages and how you approach online shopping experiences for products and services big and small. You’ll gain confidence and clarity through six enlightening discussions.
Course Date(s)
April 4 - May 9
$300
Instructors
Susan Loyd
2024 Spring
OF 0018.15 Psychology Fundamentals: A 101 Overview
Welcome to ‘Psychology Fundamentals: A 101 Overview’, an introductory course designed to provide a broad, yet insightful glimpse into different areas of psychology. We will learn more about how psychology can help us understand humans’ individual personalities, as well as group dynamics. We are going to look at the influence of geography on psychology, as well as what psychology can learn by becoming more cross-cultural. Whether this is your first step into the world of psychology, or you are looking to deepen your existing knowledge, the discussions around classic studies, as well as the presentation of novel research findings, promise something new and exciting for everyone.
Course Date(s)
April 4 - May 9
$300
Instructors
Andres Gvirtz
2024 Spring
OF 0018.14 Themes in Philosophy, Part 3
Explanation and discussion of more fascinating themes in philosophy—another philosophy buffet! Topics include spirituality, religion and human rights, philosophy of sports and fitness, the process of belief formation, civil discourse, and philosophy of humor. What is spirituality and can it be trusted? Is religion good or bad for human rights? Why do so many people love sports? How do people come to believe things? How can we have respectful conversations with people who disagree with us about things that matter? And finally, what is humor and how does it work? Themes in Philosophy 1 and 2 are not prerequisites. Join us!
Course Date(s)
April 3 - May 8
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Instructors
David Smith
2024 Spring
OF 0018.13 Chemistry Inside You
Chemistry abounds in the real world, but few reactions in chemistry feel quite as intimate as those taking place inside our bodies. In this class, we’ll learn about the molecules we eat and why we need them, as well as learning why nutritional research sometimes seems so confusing and fraught, as though scientists can’t make up their minds. We’ll also explore the science behind popular diets, learn how food molecules fuel our activities, and tackle what some of the latest science is revealing about the importance of the microbiome.
Course Date(s)
April 2 - May 7
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Instructors
Kjir Hendrickson

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