WE’RE BACK for another semester and better than ever!
- Over 20 classes available at one low fee
- Participate in live online classes with interactive discussions
- Five days of lectures each week for a six week period
- Recorded classes mean you never miss a class.
Fall Semester dates
Start: Monday, September 28, 2020
End: Friday, November 6, 2020
How do I become a member of Senior University?
You can register by clicking below. The cost is only $50.00 per year. That’s as little as 13 cents a day.
How do I enroll in the Fall semester?
You can enroll online by clicking below Participate in our live online classes and get access to video recordings of the presentations to watch at your convenience.
FALL 2020 schedule
Read below for a brief description of each class. A more detailed description is available to Senior University members
Monday Mornings
Contemporary China | 9:00-10:00 am
Instructor- Li-Hua Yu. This six-week course covers a different topic each week on modern China. We will discuss China’s thousands of years of the emperor system, The civil war between the Communist Party and the Nationalist Party and more!
Week 1: Monday, September 28, 2020- China’s thousands of years of the emperor system
Week 2: Monday, October 5, 2020- The civil war between the Communist Party and the Nationalist Party
Week 3: Monday, October 12, 2020- The rule of the Communist Party under Mao
Week 4: Monday, October 19, 2020- The relationship between the legal and political systems in China
Week 5: Monday, October 26, 2020- Economic reform from 1984 to the present
Week 6: Monday, November 2, 2020– China and USA
Intermediate Spanish-Group 1 | 10:30-11:30 am
Instructor- Gloria Gonzalez. This will be a continuing course in conversational Spanish by Senior University faculty member Gloria Gonzalez. This course is designed for those who have completed the entry and early-Level Spanish courses. The conversational study will revolve around the educational La Catrina video series.
This live online six-week course is presented using Zoom. A link to attend the online class will be provided two weeks prior to the start of the semester. This class is restricted in size due to the nature of the learning style. Senior University is offering this class on Mondays and Tuesdays.
This class is restricted in size due to the nature of the learning style. Senior University is offering this class on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Introduction to Genealogy Research | 10:30-11:30
Instructor- Ken Pinter. If you believe that it is important to know something about your family roots, this course will introduce you to the tools and techniques needed to begin your genealogical research journey. You will find out what it takes to be a researcher. You will hear ideas about how to plan and implement your research and where to find information. You will then learn about ways to organize and document your findings, create tree diagrams, and ultimately pass this heritage on to others. Finally, you will see demos of the various free and for-fee online and offline data resources available to you.
This live online six-week course is presented using Google Meet. A link to attend the online class will be provided two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Monday Afternoons
Digital Immigrant/Digital Natives | 2:00-3:00 pm
Instructor- Fred Stein. Ever felt overwhelmed by information? Join Fred Stein each Monday afternoon to examine topics that will help you get a handle on all this “cyber stuff.” Fred will include discussions that include what the Information Age is all about and how we fit into it, what the “Internet of Things” means and what and how does it impact us, what is the human dimension of the Information Age, what are its security implications, where does all this information go, and what does the future hold in this ever-developing field.
Week 1: Monday, September 28, 2020- What is the Information Age and Who are We?
Week 2: Monday, October 5, 2020- What is the Internet of Things and how does it impact us?
Week 3: Monday, October 12, 2020- What is the Human dimension and impact of the Information Age?
Week 4: Monday, October 19, 2020- What are the Security Implications of the Information Age?
Week 5: Monday, October 26, 2020- How is information distributed? Reach and Richness
Week 6: Monday, November 2, 2020– Future – Hubless office and recap
Near-Death Experiences | 4:00-5:00 pm
Instructor- Walter Bradley. The question of what (if anything) happens after we die has intrigued homo sapiens from time immortal. For most of human history, this question has been explored by philosophers and religious leaders, seemingly beyond the reach of the rapidly emerging areas of modern science. But recent advances in modern science around emergency room medical practice appears to have provided a new window of opportunity. Clinical deaths (defined as no heartbeat, no brainwaves, no respiration) are sometimes followed by a successful resuscitation of these three critical functions in the patient who may then fully recover from their injury or operation.
What is even more remarkable are the stories that these patients tell about their out-of-body experiences that they have during the time that they were clinically dead. There are approximately 3500 carefully documented cases of such experiences resulting in more than 240 publications in top medical journals and many books. In this course, we will review some of the most remarkable accounts and the hypotheses proposed to explain these “near-death experiences”.
Tuesday Mornings
Mystery Writing | 8:30-10:00
This is a 90-minute class. Please note the early start time.
Instructor- David Ciambrone. Nothing quickens the pulse faster than a good mystery, which is why millions of readers surrender themselves to the page-turning exploits of their favorite sleuths.
“To write riveting mysteries, you must merge the skills of a fiction writer with the clever tricks of the mystery trade.”
Mystery is an expansive genre, welcoming amateur detectives, intellectual puzzle-solvers, policemen, private eyes, lawyers, spies, even average folk caught in a web of suspense. If crime is a central element, consider it a mystery. To write riveting mysteries, you must merge the skills of a fiction writer with the clever tricks of the mystery trade. In this course, you will learn from award-winning author David Ciambrone about the various types of mysteries and their special requirements, as well as fundamentals of fiction craft. Whether you seek to write short stories or novels, classic puzzlers, action/adventure, or crime fiction, we’ll show you how to capture readers. This class begins at 8:30 am and is 90 minutes in length.
Intermediate Spanish-Group 2 | 9:00-10:00
Instructor- Gloria Gonzalez. This will be a continuing course in conversational Spanish by Senior University faculty member Gloria Gonzalez. This course is designed for those who have completed the entry and early-Level Spanish courses. The conversational study will revolve around the educational La Catrina video series.
“Es hora de repasar tus habilidades de habla hispana”
This class is restricted in size due to the nature of the learning style. Senior University is offering this class on Mondays and Tuesdays.
This live online six-week course is presented using Zoom. A link to attend the online class will be provided about two weeks prior to the start of the semester. This class is restricted in size due to the nature of the learning style. Senior University is offering this class on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Worldwide Travel | 10:30-11:30
Instructor- Multiple. Senior University invites you to join us on the adventure of a lifetime as we travel to some amazing sites this semester. Come along to experience the playfulness of Australia and then take in the breathtaking landscapes of Greece and the Caribbean.
“You won’t need a passport to participate in this fun-filled and informative six-week journey!”
Week 1: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020-NZ & AUSTRALIA Les Wollam shares the highlights of his 45-day trip down under. After a flight to Aukland, he boarded a cruise ship for 12 days of sailing and shore excursions in NZ. The cruise ended in Sydney, Australia where he explored the city and then trained to Canberra for a 3 days stay, rented a car, and drove along the coast to Melbourne. Friends took him to nearby towns and the Great Ocean Road.
Week 2: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 – TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Nicholas de Verteuil takes us to the dual island Caribbean nation near Venezuela with its distinctive Creole traditions and cuisine. We will see the capital Port of Spain, the Asa Wright Nature Center, several bird sanctuaries and beautiful beaches. The petroleum industry dominates the economy, which is hugely affected by fluctuations in the global energy market today.
Week 3: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020 – GREECE & DALMIAN COAST With Mary Ann Lish we visit Greece, Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia by land and sea travel on a 50 passenger ship. Highlights to see in Greece are archeological sites of the Parthenon, Olympia, the Temple of Poseidon and Delphi. We will walk on the walls of old Dubrovnik and traipse the Plitvice Lake waterfalls near Split. In the small village of Grimace, we enjoy a home-hosted dinner.
Week 4: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 –ANTARCTICA Bill Thornton reveals the icy land that is home to penguins, whales, seals, icebergs, towering mountains and amazing secrets. He takes us to some of the research stations and describes the work of scientists there. As an experienced traveler on 7 continents, Bill`s facts, photos and videos introduce us to unusual sites.
Week 5: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020 –EGYPT Andy Goerdel takes us to a land with a lot of historical significance, often called the cradle of civilization. There is much to see and contemplate as we visit the Upper and Lower Nile River sites. We will be introduced to temples, pyramids, scenery, and life in Egypt today.
Week 6: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 –ALPS & DOLOMITES Terri and Denny Boroczk take us on a trip to places of significant history and beauty. We start in Munich and move on to Dachau, Innsbruck, Salzberg, and then to Switzerland, Italy, and Liechtenstein. Besides seeing awesome views, we will visit a salt mine, castles, Mozart`s home, and the Eagle`s Nest.
This live online six-week course is presented using Google Meet. A link to attend the online class will be provided two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Tuesday Afternoons
6 Masterpieces: Method, Meaning, and Context
2:00-3:30 pm
This course is 90 minutes in length.
Instructor- Karen Pope. Six Masterpieces: Method, Meaning, Context is an immersive lecture series by Karen Pope that examines six major works in the canon of western art history, considering the qualities that have made them major monuments in cultural history — technical achievement, significance in their own times, meaning for future artists and mankind in general.
Week 1: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020- Parthenon, 447 BC
Week 2: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020- Jan van Eyck, Ghent Altarpiece, 1434
Week 3: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020- Michelangelo Buonarroti, Sistine Chapel Ceiling, 1512
Week 4: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020- Jacques-Louis David, Oath of the Horatii, 1785
Week 5: Oct. 27, 2020- Claude Monet, Impression: Sunrise, 1872
Week 6: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020- Pablo Picasso, Guernica, 1937
This class is conducted using Zoom
Searching the Seven Seas: Exploring Key Maritime Events and Explorers.
4:00-5:00 pm
Batten down the hatches and sail along with us as we take an exciting journey across the seven seas.
Instructor- Todd Clayton. For thousands of years, venturing forth on the oceans broadened man’s understanding of the world. The excursions into the vast emptiness of the sea irreversibly changed the world order. We’ll explore key maritime events and explorers that created change and that have impacted us today. The art and science of sailing, the techniques of navigation, and the principles of good seamanship have been established for over 2000 years.
“We’ll follow the magnificent Captain Cook as he explored and mapped large sections of the Pacific from Australia to Easter Island and from Antarctica to Alaska.”
It’s remarkable how resourceful and courageous our ancestors were venturing into an inhospitable watery environment. We can read about their experiences and relate directly to them today. The principles are the same; we just have better tools.
Week 1: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020- The Mediterranean–Apostle Paul’s voyage and shipwreck—Getting to Rome. This is the most famous sea adventure story about a perilous mission to Rome. One page of the biblical narrative reveals remarkable accuracy about the maritime environment in the first century and today.
Week 2: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020- Indian Ocean–China’s Treasure Fleet. What if China kept their navy and outward focus in the 1400s? While tiny European countries ventured forth, China receded inward…eventually to be overcome by Europeans. This massive Chinese fleet lays the foundation of China’s sovereignty claims in the South China Sea today.
Week 3: Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2020- North Atlantic–Columbus’ four voyages — start of world globalization: Rejection to hero to villain in chains in such a short time…it’s much more satisfying to explore and discover than to develop and manage. The explosive growth of the “Columbian Exchange” starting in the 1500s with the resultant exchange of goods and products to/from the new world was established as a result of Columbus’s exploration. This original economic mixing was more profound than what we’ve experienced in the last 50 years.
Week 4: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2020- Pacific Ocean–The Last Frontier—how the Polynesians populated a vast open-world and found their way without a map using ingenious techniques of Polynesian navigators. Then, we’ll follow the magnificent Captain Cook as he explored and mapped large sections of the Pacific from Australia to Easter Island and from Antarctica to Alaska.
Week 5: Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2020- Arctic Ocean–Northwest Passage—it was a long way to China via Cape Horn (South America) or Cape of Good Hope (South Africa). There must be a shortcut. After 500 years of heroic effort, maybe we’re close to seeing the shortcut become a reality
Week 6: Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2020- All Oceans–Mapping the Vast Expanse—the thirst for knowledge in the “Age of Reason”. We’re in the scientific era, and we want to accurately map the biggest part of the world, including Darwin’s exploration in the HMS Beagle. These 19th-century cartographers made travel and trade safe for the rest of us even today.
This class is presented through Zoom.
Wednesday Mornings
Earth-Friendly Composting, Gardening, and Landscaping in Central Texas
8:30-10:00 am
This class is 90 minutes. Please note the early start time.
Instructor- Martin Byhower. The “rule of three” says that what is usually good for the environment is also usually healthier for us and less expensive as well. In this course, Martin Byhower combines these principles when it comes to our household and garden (where all of us are spending a lot more time these days!) He combines updated information from a variety of previous courses with the information that he presents in the City of Georgetown compost workshops. You will learn how to plan, plant, and maintain your yard, keeping the deer at bay but attracting desirable wildlife – and in the process, creating a wonderland for other wildlife, not to mention showpiece to impress your neighbors! All this, while using fewer chemicals, less water, and reduced maintenance. This class is 90 minutes.
Week 1: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020-Home composting
Week 2: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020-Earth-friendly yard maintenance
Week 3: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020-Planning your garden and landscape
Week 4: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020-Dealing with pests and recognizing the good guys
Week 5: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020-Dealing with deer
Week 6: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020-Plant recommendations and tips, and Q&A
The Story of English | 10:00-11:30
Instructor- Jody Patterson. English is a weed of a language with a blatant disregard for rules that exasperates new learners and lifelong speakers alike. It’s also the language of some of the greatest writers in the world. It’s survived Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, and Norman invasions; the Black Death; British colonialization; and lightning changes in communication and technology. Today, in spite of the fact that it ranks only third in the world’s most spoken languages, English is the language of business, travel, international relations, and computer programming. It’s both our story and the story of the modern world.
Wednesday Afternoons
Teachable Moments: Jesus’ Parables | 2:00-3:00 pm
Instructor- Matthew Laurents. In this course, Matthew Daude Laurents, Ph.D., analyzes Jesus’ parables in the synoptic gospels and discusses the challenges of translation-as-interpretation. The exploration includes a discussion of the meaning, structure, and historical context of the parables through a close reading of the Greek text. No Greek is required — Matthew will provide all the Greek you need! Matthew also examines Jesus’ teaching “style” as a critical element of the impact of the parables on his audience as well as contemporary readers.
“Matthew also examines Jesus’ teaching “style” as a critical element of the impact of the parables on his audience as well as contemporary readers.”
Finally, Matthew discusses tools and strategies for exploring the challenges of interpretation on your own.
This live online six-week course is presented using Google Meet. A link to attend the online class will be provided two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
The Election of 2020 | 4:00-5:00 pm
Instructor- Don Erler. Senior University faculty member Don Erler explores six weeks of topics on events that have had an impact on the upcoming presidential campaign. Join us each week for the following topics:
Week 1: Monday, September 28, 2020- Political Parties in our Republic
Week 2: Monday, October 5, 2020- The Coronavirus Campaign
Week 3: Monday, October 12, 2020- The Issues of the Day
Week 4: Monday, October 19, 2020- The Democratic Platform
Week 5: Monday, October 26, 2020- The Republican Platform
Week 6: Monday, November 2, 2020– Media, Polls, and class discussion of likely results
This live online six-week course is presented using Google Meet. A link to attend the online class will be provided two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Thursday Mornings
By the Numbers | 9:00-10:00 am
Instructor- Sam Smith. Faculty member Sam Smith provides this six-week course covering a different topic each week that will get you thinking. This is a course for non-mathematicians on how different activities scale numerically. The classes are designed to generate thought and questions. No calculators required, so join us for the following topics:
Week 1: Thursday, October 1, 2020-Meteorology
Week 2: Thursday, October 8, 2020-The parameters of the Earth
Week 3: Thursday, October 15, 2020-Human Performance
Week 4: Thursday, October 22, 2020-Stock Market
Week 5: Thursday, October 29, 2020-Global Population
Week 6: Thursday, November 5, 2020-Time Dynamics today.
This live online six-week course is presented using Google Meet. A link to attend the online class will be provided about two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
De-Mystifying the Financial Side of Caregiving
10:30-11:30
Instructor- Steve Gonzales. Families can feel overwhelmed when a loved one needs extended care. The medical, physical, intellectual, and emotional challenges are often compounded by financial stress. Please join Steve Gonzales each Thursday morning to learn about:
- Analyzing costs and potential outcomes of care
- How long will the money last: can we make it last longer?
- How to make informed decisions with more confidence
- If we don’t have long-term care insurance, what other options are available?
- Will there be anything left for the children’s inheritance?
Thursday Afternoon
Growing Brain Cells Through Mindfulness | 2:00-3:00 pm
Instructor- Erik Leslie. Learn one of psychology’s best and most amazing skills as you will experience how to use your attention and focus to build new neural connections throughout your brain. Learn why mindfulness is quickly becoming one of the best ways for many people to reduce stress, increase happiness, and boost the efficiency of their brains. This is an interactive and experiential course with exercises and discussions.
Week 1: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020- Focus Training: How The Brain Grows
Week 2: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020- Define Your Why
Week 3: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020- Understand Your Brain
Week 4: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020- Emotions and The Mind-Body
Week 5: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020- Implementing New Habits Week
Week 6: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020- Applying this to the world
Mental Health Caregiving | 4:00-5:00 pm
Instructor-Holly Doggett. Dive into the topic of learning small but impactful ways to improve mental health daily, especially as a caregiver to those with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Will discuss caregiver burnout, the importance of self-care, how to create a self-care plan, and practical exercises.
Week 1: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020- What is a caregiver
Week 2: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020- 2. What is Caregiver Burnout and How to Avoid it
Week 3: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020- The Importance of Self-Care
Week 4: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020- Creating a Self-Care Plan
Week 5: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020- Caregiver Resources and Supports
Week 6: Thursday, Nov 5, 2020- Self-Care Practice
This live online six-week course is presented using Google Meet. A link to attend the online class will be provided two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Friday Morning
Cyber Warfare | 9:00-10:00 am
Instructor- John Jenkinson. Join us each Friday morning for this intriguing topic on methodologies of attack and defense that inhabit cyberspace. Listen as John Jenkinson describes how technical instruments are used when a nation attacks the opponent’s critical IT systems.
Cyberspace and its underlying infrastructure are vulnerable to a wide range of risks stemming from both physical and cyber threats and hazards. Sophisticated cyber actors and nation-states exploit vulnerabilities to steal information and money and are developing capabilities to disrupt, destroy, or threaten the delivery of essential services.
“Sophisticated cyber actors and nation-states exploit vulnerabilities to steal information and money”
For many years nation-states have waged cyber warfare against each other. This course will detail a sampling of those attacks, defenses employed, and the lessons learned and unlearned. This updated course will detail even more disturbing events.
This live online six-week course is presented using Google Meet. A link to attend the online class will be provided two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Suicide Prevention & Awareness: Survivor of Suicide Loss | Clarena Tobon
10:30-11:30 am
Instructor- Clarena Tobon. This course will educate students on suicide prevention and awareness through lived experience conversations and interactive lessons. It addresses risks, protective factors, awareness, and describes prevention models for action.
This live online six-week course is presented using Google Meet. A link to attend the online class will be provided two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Watch the video below and learn how to use Google Meet to participate in our online classes
Friday Afternoon
Memoir and Biographical Writing | Allen Dawes
2:00-3:00 pm
Instructor- Alan Dawes. Everyone has a story to tell. The story of your life, your family, and the events you have witnessed are all part of your story. This class will get you started in capturing your story in good company. The focus will be the content of your story rather than the writing technique.
“Memoir writing can be fun and a valuable legacy to pass on to children, grandchildren, and future generations.”
We will be working from prompts, simple subjects to write about in class and share them with the class. Subjects will progress from your roots, the place and culture where grew up, to vocations like homemaking, service, careers, and hobbies. We will also include topics related to profiles of family members and influential people. The final session will put it all together in the form of a short autobiography. We will discuss the option of continuing your writing and self-publishing as well.
This is a highly participatory class. Students read to the group from what they have written. Homework assignments will be suggested at the end of each class, to be read at the next class session. Memoir writing can be fun and a valuable legacy to pass on to children, grandchildren, and future generations.
Spy Games: A History of Cold War Espionage | Anthony Triola
4:00-5:00 pm
Instructor- Anthony Triola. This course will cover the most exciting and unbelievable stories of the history of espionage between the United States and the Soviet Union, with much of the focus on the Cold War. Cases will include the John Walker Jr. spy ring, Christopher Boyce & Daulton Lee (The Falcon and the Snowman), Aldrich Ames, and others.
If you have any questions, contact us at: admin@senioruniv.org | 512-818-3109