Wednesday Courses   

This course features four presentations about interesting travel experiences in Asia and Latin America. Four different presenters will share their journeys to Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Costa Rica and Argentina. Each presentation will be about 90 minutes via Zoom, with opportunities for questions and discussion.

This course is a one-week introductory boot camp geared for absolute beginners who want to learn the basics of playing American Mah-Jongg. This boot camp is a one-week, five-day series of hands-on play and practice activities and is limited to two tables of four or five students at each table. Instruction will cover the game materials and the rules of play. This is not for people who have played before and want to get back into the game. Intermediate or advanced game play strategies are not part of this activity. At the conclusion of the boot camp, students will understand the game materials, objectives and rules of play, and be ready to form a group of beginners to continue their AMJ play. 

NOTE: The required reference text is provided by the instructor. The text fee is $10, payable at the first class, cash only. Please commit to the full week of classes. Missing one class can disrupt the learning experience for all participants. 

The Byzantine Empire, 330-1453 C.E., was centered in Constantinople (modern Istanbul) where religious and imperial themes were combined to reflect the “caesaropapism” of that culture. Byzantine art differs from earlier Greco-Roman art in that it is interested in depicting the unseen, spiritual world — the intangible world of heaven. Rather than the depth and naturalism of the classical world, Byzantine art portrayed flatness and mystery in shimmering gold. We will survey this world: from its beginning in Ravenna and Constantinople, through the development of central-planned cross-in-square churches in Greece, to ivory and gold luxury items, to St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, and on to 14th-century frescoes in Constantinople that influenced the Italian Renaissance. This is a lecture course. 

This nine-week course explores the chakra system and its relationship to emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Students will learn the function of each major chakra, common signs of balance and imbalance, and practical techniques for supporting overall well-being through greater self-awareness. Topics include the energetic body, the seven primary chakras, the aura, grounding practices, meditation, and the connection between thoughts, emotions and energy. Instruction will include lectures, group discussion, guided exercises and experiential activities designed to help participants better understand and apply the concepts presented. The course is presented from an energy-healing perspective while encouraging personal exploration. 

NOTE: No prior knowledge or experience is required. Participants are encouraged to bring a notebook or journal for personal reflection. All participation is voluntary and may be adapted to individual comfort levels. There is no class on Nov. 11.

The periodic table is one of the iconic symbols of our knowledge of the world around us. This course has three very general topics: how chemists think about elements (atoms), how the periodic table came about and what it means, and what are some of the significant chemical elements and how they are involved in our lives, locally and globally. This is primarily a lecture course and may include some simple demonstrations, if possible. No prior background is required. Those with at least some high school-level chemistry will find some of this a review. The material covered in the course will come from a variety of sources, but no textbook will be required. Students will be given handouts summarizing various aspects of each lecture, which will also be available to download. 

NOTE: The course, last taught in Spring 2025, will be updated with new information and will also spend more time on the role of some elements, such as rare earth elements, in global conflicts. This course will be given at the Jacksonville Library Naverson Room, which is easily accessible with ample parking. 

Have you wondered why our economy works very well for a tiny elite and is increasingly difficult for most of us? Did you know Canada had a very successful and very different economic system from 1938 to 1973? That success story was abruptly cut short. Many highly credentialed economists have contrarian views, including Jeffrey Sachs, Herman Daly, Michael Hudson and Richard Werner. And you may also be concerned about why we have war after war. Globally, we have as many as 100 conflicts at once! Many retired military leaders openly criticize the permanent war agendas, and yet our leaders do not listen. We will call upon retired military officers Scott Ritter, Karen Kwiatkowsky, Douglas Macgregor and others to explain why these endless wars happen. The class will use a lecture format, with the third session open.

From lyrical to lively, silly to sublime, English country dance dates from the 1600s. Discover dances of Jane Austen’s time as well as newly composed dances. Learn about the cultural aspects and history of this joyful living tradition as you enjoy moving to beautiful music. This is an on- your-feet and social class. No partner is necessary. 

NOTE: Signed liability waiver required to participate.

This is a previously taught course with new content that aims to broaden a student’s vocabulary and understanding of today’s spoken German. The class reads, checks for understanding and comments on selected readings. This term we will read and discuss the instructor’s memoirs from 1992 and later. The etymology of certain words will be discussed as well, and the rules of grammar will be explained on request. Occasionally, we will read and analyze German poetry or other culturally appropriate material. 

NOTE: There is no class on Nov. 11.

This course will provide an understanding of the founders of modern psychology and a historical context of how modern psychology came about. Each founder had a valid and practical approach to appreciating human psychological health. The perspective that will be used is historical, seeing each founder as a practical observer of the human condition from their own perspective and the conditions that drove their search for meaning and health. The course format will be lecture with questions but not excessive debate. The aim is to have students appreciate how the three different approaches are complementary, not exclusive — rather like three brothers whose work complements one another’s.

NOTE: Students should have some basic information about Jung and Freud. Jung’s autobiography, “Memories, Dreams and Reflections” and “The Basic Writings of Sigmund Freud” are helpful, but not necessary.

This course is designed for those with little or no knowledge of maintaining and repairing a home. You’ll learn how water, gas and electricity enter a home and how to shut them off; how to change the filter in your furnace; and how to clean the coils on your refrigerator. We’ll talk about how to replace a light switch and outlet, fix door problems, plumbing and electricity, and what tools to have. You’ll learn what to watch out for outside the home, such as clogged gutters, water leaks, siding damage and invasive vegetation. We’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of buying through big-box stores versus independent merchants, how to choose a contractor and not get cheated, and other issues in maintenance and repair. Class members will have a chance to raise issues specific to their homes.

NOTE: There is no class on Nov. 11.

We are awash in information, and a growing share of it is engineered to deceive, distract or inflame. This eight-week course offers a practical tool kit for recognizing flawed reasoning, identifying disinformation and thinking more clearly in daily life. We will work through the cognitive biases that make all of us vulnerable, the logical fallacies that appear in news and political speech, the tactics behind modern disinformation campaigns and the new challenge of AI-generated content. Each 60- to 90-minute session blends short lectures with group discussion and hands-on analysis of real examples drawn from across the political spectrum. No prior background is required — bring curiosity, examples from your own week and a willingness to examine your own thinking alongside others.

Retirement brings a new set of financial decisions — and opportunities. This course explores practical strategies for managing money in retirement with greater confidence and clarity. Through lectures and discussion, we will cover topics such as retirement income planning, investment management, Social Security claiming strategies, Roth conversions, required minimum distributions, tax planning, charitable giving and insurance considerations. How to evaluate financial advisers and common retirement risks will also be discussed. The course is designed for those who want a better understanding of how the various pieces of retirement finance fit together. No prior financial background is required. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, share experiences and learn from one another.

DISCLAIMER AND LIABILITY WAIVER: This course is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. By enrolling, you assume all investment risks and agree to hold Southern Oregon University and its representatives harmless from any financial losses, damages or claims.

Memorizing long passages of verse is an ancient bardic art, engaging multiple brain processes and exercising neural circuits involved in heightened attention and cognitive flow. Introspection of thought during memory creation and recall improves memorization skill. This course explores cognitive neuroscience and metacognition of long-term memory formation via lectures and disciplined practice in memorizing verse or playscript. Students develop practice routines and record progress in journals to prepare for in-class performance of selected verse. Skilled practice integrates multiple components of memory as recitation is animated with voice, gesture, mental images, emotion, story and meaning. Lectures cover brain function and cognitive neurosciences of learning, memory and metacognition. 

NOTE: The only prerequisites are interest in neuroscience of memory and intention to develop skill in memorizing verse or playscript. The course is fundamentally participatory. Every class meeting includes memory practice activities. The course is designed for and welcomes students of all abilities and experience with memorization. The first meeting is essential orientation for work in the course. 

Word is a powerful word processing program, but many users are either unfamiliar with or reluctant to use the wide range of features it offers. The course will start with a quick review of basic features, then move on to more advanced techniques. Topics covered will be: page layouts and advanced spacing options; types of tabs and indents; bullets and numbering; footnotes, endnotes, headers/footers and page numbering; how to insert shapes, pictures and symbols; and how to create an index. Additional topics will include using find and replace; creating styles and templates; creating and using columns versus tables; and using bookmarks and splitting windows. This course is for those who already have some familiarity using the Microsoft Word program. It is not for beginners. 

NOTE: This course uses Microsoft Word for PCs. It is not for Chromebook or Apple users. Students must have a PC with Windows 11. They should be comfortable using the Windows 11 environment, including downloading and saving files from emails. Students will use a mouse during class. Those without a mouse may borrow one from the instructor. 

If you have ever tried to draw, and said, “I can’t make my hand do what’s in my head,” then you are not alone. No matter how often art teachers tell students that drawing is not the only gateway to art making, that powerful “gateway” belief persists. So to create an accurate representation of what you see, our strategy will be to slow down and learn to see what is there — searching out lines, shapes, textures, shade, shadow and color variations that create the illusion of depth on a flat surface. Through short lecture/discussions, demonstrations, drawing activities and practice, the instructor will be your “guide on the side,” asking and answering questions in a positive, supportive learning environment. Fun is also allowed.

NOTE: It is imperative to attend the first class. Please do not register if you are unable to do this. There will be a $10 materials fee. All materials will be provided.

This course is based on the AARP Smart Driver course, which has been shown to significantly reduce older drivers’ risk of collision. It will help you become more proficient in the current rules of the road, improve your defensive driving techniques and help you with safe vehicle operation in today’s demanding driving environment. The course will focus on the vital relationship between the driver, vehicle and road, and look at how factors such as aging, medications and alcohol can impact driving. You’ll also learn about the latest vehicle safety features and technological advancements. Importantly, you will learn how to identify when it’s no longer safe to drive and how to find alternative travel options. This course may qualify you for a multiyear discount on your auto insurance.

NOTE: A required materials fee of $20 to $25 (discount for AARP members) includes a comprehensive 120-page Participant Guide. Both days are required for course completion and insurance discount. The fee will be collected on the first day by cash or check made out to AARP. Credit cards will not be accepted. 

This course is designed for those who want to learn the fundamentals of the fastest growing sport in America. It is played by all age groups and physical abilities in recreational or tournament play. Join the fun, led by experienced instructors from the Ashland Oregon Pickleball Club. We will meet for 1½ hours for five consecutive afternoons. Beginning players will learn the basics: choosing a paddle, paddle position, serving, return of serve, dinking, drills, scoring and calling “out balls.” You might meet “Nasty Nelson!” An emphasis will be placed on safety, court etiquette and sportsmanship. AOPC will provide paddles, balls and instruction. Information on courts in the Rogue Valley will be included. 

NOTE: Please wear court shoes and a hat or visor and bring a hydrating drink. Protective eyewear is recommended. In the event of inclement weather, the class will be canceled. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

This course is designed for students who have taken the Absolute Beginners Pickleball course or have a rudimentary knowledge of the game. It will be taught by seasoned instructors who are experienced players and members of the Ashland Oregon Pickleball Club. Expect to build on the basic game to include advanced strategy in play. We will meet at Lithia Park pickleball courts for 1½ hours a day for five consecutive days. The emphasis will be on safety, playing by USA pickleball rules and sportsmanship. This skills-building course will focus on serves, third-shot drops (drop shots), drives, lobs, partner communication and types of scoring, and on understanding Bert, Ernie and Nasty Nelson. The last day will be a fun and fast-paced round-robin, in which all players will rotate. 

NOTE: Please bring your favorite paddle, wear court shoes and a hat or visor and bring a hydrating drink. Eye protection is recommended. If we have inclement weather, the class will be canceled. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

This course will provide an understanding of how watersheds affect our rivers and how we can restore them to help plants, animals and humans. The first three class sessions will be lectures and discussions, starting with an explanation of how watersheds affect our rivers and their water quality. This will be followed by an explanation of how streams behave and change over time and how those changes affect habitats. A focused discussion on the life cycles and needs of salmonids and other aquatic organisms will be followed by techniques for improving stream habitats. The fourth session will be an optional, but strongly encouraged, half-day field trip to Bear Creek to see restoration in action. No prior knowledge or expertise is required, and no homework is expected.

NOTE: The field trip will take four hours, including travel time and visits to two different sites to provide a unique opportunity to view stream reaches before and after restoration. Participants must provide their own transportation and may arrange to carpool. Participants need to be able to walk safely on uneven ground, for no more than a mile. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

Did you know, when two people play, winning at Scrabble over time is roughly 80% skill and 20% luck? Strategy and logical thought matter as much as vocabulary. Each class session will start out with tips on strategy and some useful words, then you will get a chance to play Scrabble with another student. Both beginners and expert players are welcome.

NOTE: There will be no class session on Oct. 14. Students who have “The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary” (7th edition) and a Scrabble set should bring them to class.

You remember what a real conversation feels like — the kind where someone looks you in the eye, loses track of time and says something they couldn’t have texted. You’ve felt that disappearing. So have the people you love. This six-week course uses MIT researcher Dr. Sherry Turkle’s landmark book “Reclaiming Conversation” to name what’s being lost and to practice getting it back. Not by giving up your phone. By understanding what screens can and can’t give us and learning small, specific moves that restore depth to the relationships that matter most. Each session combines brief readings, paired conversation practice and private reflection. No preaching. No technology shaming. Just six weeks of honest, skilled, senior-to-senior exploration of the most human thing we do: talk to each other.

NOTE: Required reading: “Reclaiming Conversation” by Sherry Turkle; any edition is acceptable. Participants’ basic knowledge and use of digital communication tools and devices is required. Expect weekly readings and discussions. 

If you haven’t planned for care that 70% of us over age 65 will need, this course is for you. It explores the key decisions and conversations that arise as we age and as we provide support for aging loved ones. Learn about aging in place and community-based options, financial and legal considerations, downsizing kindly and having hard conversations. Experience engaging interactions, discussions, hear about real-life examples and get the practical tools needed for evaluating options and planning ahead. A field trip to a senior living community provides an opportunity to observe and apply what is learned in class. Guest speakers include a home care professional, an estate planning attorney, a downsizing specialist and others who will provide critical information and enlightening perspectives.

NOTE: Suggested reading prior to class: “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande. We will be mining the lessons of “Being Mortal,” as it is so relatable to our course conversations. A signed liability waiver is required to participate.

This course will introduce practices of mindfulness while running/walking that will encourage students to look not just at speed and toward the end of the run, but more importantly, to enjoy the journey — each component of it, sensing how you feel and your joy and pleasure in the routine. These principles are based on martial arts and the Feldenkrais Method. Students will be guided to explore novel, unusual movement sequences done slowly with minimal effort and with the intention to activate the neuroplasticity of the brain. Slow Down to Run Fast steers individuals to understand their own movement patterns/habits and introduces new options for moving. The course is adaptable for those who are aware of their limitations and will feel confident on the beautiful SOU asphalt track.

NOTE: Signed liability waiver required to participate.

Singing together is one of the more joyful things in life. Come sing in an informal session, no matter your experience or skill. We’ll sing traditional songs with fine choruses and refrains — sea songs, works songs, drinking songs, love songs, shanties, silly songs and easy rounds from the U.S., Canada and England. Some songs from previous terms may repeat and some will be new. Chorus tunes will be taught by ear, and all singing will be done a cappella. Most chorus words will be provided.

This course is the beginning of a multiyear discussion of the 1850-1880 Civil War era. Although war was not inevitable, it became increasingly likely as 1850s “influencers” in both the North and South drew ever-deepening lines in the sand. Three topics will be addressed: 1) Pasts and Preludes: What were the social and political conditions that created this contested monument in our national historical consciousness? 2) Abolitionists and Fire-Eaters: Both proslavery and antislavery politicians and preachers enlisted the Bible in their efforts to disentangle a knotty institution tightly wound in the nation’s identity, and 3) Widening Chasms and Existential Crises: By the early 1850s, the rifts in American society had widened so considerably that compromise seemed impossible to achieve.

NOTE: The course will meet on three nonconsecutive Wednesdays: Nov. 4, Nov. 18 and Dec. 2. This course is shared with OLLI at the University of Nevada, Reno. Please note that the last session of the course extends beyond the OLLI at SOU term.

Delight in the Marx Brothers’ zany anarchic comedy as they subvert authority, challenge social hierarchies and expose the absurdity of established institutions (government, high society, academia). The course will meet for seven sessions, viewing one Marx Brothers film per class. The films will be: “Duck Soup,” “A Night at the Opera,” “Horse Feathers,” “Animal Crackers,” “Monkey Business,” “A Day at the Races” and “The Cocoanuts.” Each film will be followed by a class discussion.

We are experiencing challenges to our democracy that we have not had since the Civil War. Unfortunately, many of us can no longer identify the constitutional issues that are being threatened. The purpose of this class is to identify the current developments that present a direct challenge to our democracy and why they do. We will be looking at current events but the prism through which we will study these events is the U.S. Constitution. 

We are experiencing challenges to our democracy that we have not had since the Civil War. Unfortunately, many of us can no longer identify the constitutional issues that are being threatened. The purpose of this class is to identify the current developments that present a direct challenge to our democracy and why they do. We will be looking at current events but the prism through which we will study these events is the U.S. Constitution. 

Theodore Roosevelt is anything but boring. A man of many hats, he was a naturalist, cowboy, soldier, governor, president, trust-breaker, big game hunter and explorer. He was made vice president because party officials thought that he would drift into obscurity and never be heard from again. As president, he would challenge visitors to a boxing match. He once was shot by a potential assassin yet continued his campaign speech for an hour before seeking medical care. He went camping with John Muir and then reunited Yosemite Valley with the surrounding national park. He also dabbled in eugenics and held racist views. This course looks at the story of this American: from the streets of New York City to the jungles of the Amazon. Classes will include lectures, slides and videos.

In this writing course, we will first examine the structure, concision and imagery that Japanese poetry affords. Specifically, we will consider four classic forms: haiku, tanka, haibun and renga. We will discuss a variety of mentor poems to better understand structure, appropriate themes and, most importantly, the paradox between apparent simplicity and the profound meaning that is conveyed. Each session will include a brief lecture on a particular form, reading and discussion of selected mentor poems, brief in-class exercises when time allows, and the sharing of students’ poetry in a supportive and inclusive setting. Students will have outside writing assignments each week. All levels of writing experience are welcome.

This course presents three mini-histories of science, each centering on a question that has intrigued humanity for millennia: 1) How old is the Earth? 2) Are there beings on the heavenly bodies? 3) How do we find our way? (Mapmaking and direction-finding.) In each session we trace the history of answers to one of these questions from the Classical period to our present-day understandings. The trail leads to some fascinating nooks and crannies of both science and history. (Thomas Jefferson’s obsession with mammoths, for one.) We also explore how scientific thought was shaped by nonscientific beliefs that answered these questions with radically different assumptions and logic. Class sessions will consist of lectures with PowerPoint presentations and time for discussion and Q&A. 

NOTE: The online section of this course will not meet on Nov. 11.

How often do you automatically say yes when you really want to say no? This course is an invitation to people-pleasers who are ready to slow down and explore what’s true for them. Through somatic and grounding practices, nervous system education, journaling, playful exploration and circle discussion, everyone will have the opportunity to develop self-awareness tools, deepen understanding of their own patterns, and begin to reconnect with what they actually feel and need. Weather permitting, some sessions will meet outdoors in nature. No prior experience or knowledge required — only a willingness to show up. Topics include understanding people-pleasing patterns, nervous system basics, body-based regulation tools, self- compassion and play. Bring a notebook for time to journal.

NOTE: Between sessions, participants will be offered an optional reflection prompt to carry into their week. These prompts are invitations to notice and observe — not assignments. Students will share thoughts and experiences as they are comfortable.

This course will cover U.S. history from 1877 to 1929. White men and women, African Americans, Chicanx, Native Americans, immigrants and workers organized to reform the chaos created by unregulated capitalism. How the different political forces responded, both to the chaos and to the reform movements, will be examined. The rapid acceleration of unregulated industrial and finance capital after the Civil War created wealth for a very few and poverty and misery for many. The American advances westward under the banner of “Manifest Destiny” expanded opportunity for some and genocide for First Nations. There were 18 major recessions and depressions from 1865 to 1929. The requirement for the course is interest in the intersection of history and today.

This course will focus on writing creative, nonfiction short essays with an emphasis on memoir writing. Throughout six weeks, students will delve into their pasts and write their own stories. Students should expect to learn how to transform their memories and experiences into written essays that others can understand and enjoy. Students will also learn how to brainstorm topics, organize ideas, create meaningful dialogue, write clear characters, describe experiences, develop settings and revise their work within a supportive setting. Class time will be devoted to discussions of published and student essays and lessons related to the craft of writing. Students will write a two-page essay at home each week. Beginning and experienced writers are welcome.

NOTE: There is no class on Nov. 11.