Course Search
What makes a Supreme Court decision worthy of the title “landmark”? Is it typically perceived as such at the time of its issuance? Can a landmark decision move the law backward or is the name reserved for decisions that expand rights and liberties? We’ll explore key constitutional law decisions on a variety of momentous controversies, with a focus on the few that made a lasting contribution to questions of governmental power, individual liberties, and fundamental rights. Become a better consumer of news and opinions by the media, political officials, and your fellow Americans.
Format: 75% Lecture, 25% Interactive discussion
The 26th president of the United States is often considered the first “modern” president. More than any other national leader or individual American, Theodore Roosevelt is responsible for America’s rise to world leadership status. Conservationist, soldier, statesman, scholar, Nobel Prize winner, and Medal of Honor recipient, he remains one of America’s best models of presidential, global, and executive leadership. Visionary, crisis manager, charismatic communicator, strategic thinker, negotiator and decision maker, he was the most distinguished and accomplished leader of his age. We will evaluate our presidents and other leaders to see how they compare with Roosevelt.
Format: 50% Lecture, 30% Interactive discussion, 20% Multimedia
In the past 3,000 years, why have only about 200 been without war? The history of humanity reveals an endless stream of aggression by individuals and nations. In fact, the frequency and severity of human aggression would lead many to conclude that it’s indelibly stamped on the human genome. The controversy generated by this issue, and most other debates on human behavior, involves this single, critical question: Are people the product of their genes or their environment? Most students are shocked by what many of history’s great minds have opined on this topic.
Format: 85% Lecture, 15% Interactive discussion
Just as cultures vary, behavior varies across cultures. We’ll explore the basic dimensions that differentiate cultures, how people see themselves, individualism versus collectivism, and the characteristics most often associated with Americans by people of other nations. We’ll also look at the root causes of communication breakdowns across cultures: perception, stereotyping, and ethnocentrism. Learn how to lead a more culturally advanced life, and have a more rich experience when traveling abroad.
Format: 30% Lecture, 30% Interactive discussion, 20% Hands-on activity, 20% Demonstration
Discover the Camino de Santiago, a network of medieval pilgrimage paths established to honor the Apostle St. James. Learn about the Camino’s history and see the variety of Spanish landscapes that pilgrims walk through to reach their destination of Santiago de Compostela. With over 300,000 walkers in 2017, these historical paths have captured the imagination of 21st century adventurers. Come explore the culture and architecture along several different routes and understand what it’s like to be a walker. Artist and Camino trekker Amanda Schaffer will share her experiences and offer tips on planning for this often life-changing journey.
Format: 75% Lecture, 25% Interactive discussion
After World War I, the idea that art could play a central role in bringing about a better society became a collective endeavor among artists, designers, and architects. See how visual artists portrayed the realities of the era, the Depression years, and World War II, by developing a modernist language of Art Deco, Precisionism, and Social Realism. Experience an in-depth study of such artists as Edward Hopper, Charles Sheeler, and Georgia O’Keeffe; the Bauhaus architects and Frank Lloyd Wright; Regionalists Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton; and the symbolic paintings of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.
Format: 70% Lecture, 20% Interactive discussion, 10% Hands-on activity
Have you ever marveled at the uncanny similarities between the world’s many wisdom traditions? Borrowing the title from Aldous Huxley’s influential 1945 book, but going far beyond where Huxley left off, this course is the search for the “perennial philosophy,” that small set of timeless, universal principles found beneath the surface of the world’s many religious and philosophical traditions. We will search across cultures and through the centuries for evidence that a perennial philosophy exists, and explore the possibility that we too can access this unifying wisdom through our own direct experience.
Format: 70% Lecture, 30% Interactive discussion
Note: Both sections cover the same content.
What will you do in retirement? Most of us have a clear image of day one, maybe even day 1,000. But few can imagine 8,000 days of golf or traveling. Instead of planning for retirement as a single state, it may be beneficial to re-frame it to reflect four phases — Honeymoon, Big Decision, Navigating Longevity, and Solo Journey. We’ll look at the tasks and issues we’re most likely to be managing in each phase of retirement, from transportation and home maintenance, to a social network that reinforces a healthy and active lifestyle. Leave with a clear vision of your retirement, what to anticipate, and how to plan for it.
Format: 60% Lecture, 25% Hands-on activity, 15% Demonstration
Equality, Fairness, Liberty, and the Constitution
Learn how the U.S. Constitution protects —and fails to protect — against discriminatory, arbitrary, or liberty-invading governmental action. With a focus on the Constitution’s Equal Protection and Due Process guarantees, we’ll look at key decisions by the Supreme Court and other government officials about the meaning of these fundamental rights. We’ll explore affirmative action, and whether such programs undermine or further equality; when governments must give notice and fair procedure before taking away drivers’ licenses and other government benefits; why only some privacy rights are strongly protected; and much more.
Format: 70% Lecture, 30% Interactive discussion
Discover the nuts and bolts of Emotional First Aid skills through workbook exercises, storytelling, role-playing, and lectures. Dive deep into the emotional instability of someone in crisis and how to best help them, using the C.A.R.E. Model. Review the pitfalls and trap doors of emotional pain and the reason not to ask the simple question, “Are you okay?” This innocent question leads to a misstep that becomes a downward spiral into what could cause unnecessary pain. Learn how to be an immediate and helpful presence to those who are at a temporary loss to think or act rationally due to crisis.
Format: 60% Lecture, 20% Interactive discussion, 20% Hands-on activity
February 12 - March 5