What historical or political figure or event do you believe has had the most impact on America and why? Join this peer-led discussion that may include economic events, legislation, military actions, natural disasters, political leaders, and significant events that shaped America. Share your thoughts in small group discussions led by a facilitator about what has shaped our country over the past 250 years. Come prepared for a lively discussion.

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Monday, Oct 5, TBD - UR Campus

What pivotal moment in our nation's culture do you believe had the most impact and why? Join this peer-led discussion of important events or figures in areas that include art, literature, music, and sports. Facilitators will lead small group discussions as participants share their thoughts on the impact of the people and events that shaped our country over the past 250 years. Come prepared for a lively discussion.

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Monday, Sept 21, TBD - UR Campus

What science or technology do you believe has had the most impact on America and why? Join this peer-led discussion that may include research, inventions, and people that have shaped America. Share your thoughts in small group discussions led by a facilitator about what has shaped our country over the past 250 years. Come prepared for a lively discussion.

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Monday, Nov 2, TBD - UR Campus

Join us in a diverse discussion of the history, biology, politics and environmental issues of the White Continent. It's considered a polar desert because it is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent. Did you know there was a race to the South Pole, or that it once had forests and dinosaurs? And don't forget all the different species of penguins and whales! Join us to learn all about this very different place.

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Thursdays, Nov 12 and 19, TBD - UR Campus

The course will examine the history of division in the United States, from Colonial times to the present. Topics will include the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, Native Americans and the US Government, WW I and WW II, McCarthyism, Civil Rights, and today's polarized environment. We will examine the political, social, cultural, religious, and psychological factors that have created division over the years as well as the many attempts to unite Americans.

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Tuesdays, Sept 15, 22, 29, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, TBD - UR Campus

Following a brief review/introduction of English medieval cathedral architecture, this interdisciplinary course will examine the history, art, and architecture of the following cathedrals: Canterbury (England's first), Winchester (a center of power for Anglo-Saxons), York (home to a second archbishop), Peterborough (elevated to cathedral status by Henry VIII), and Norwich (established by the Normans without local support).

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Tuesdays; Nov 3, 10, 17, TBD - UR Campus

Iran is an enigma: from empires to an Islamic Republic. This course will provide an overview of Iran's history, culture, society, and especially poetry (very important to better understand the country and its people).

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Tuesdays; Oct 6, 13, 20, TBD - UR Campus

Aristotle in the 'Nicomachean Ethics' asks if there is some ultimate end toward which all human action ought to aim. Knowledge of such an end would be of utmost importance in guiding the conduct of our lives. 'Shall we not, like archers, who have a mark to aim at be more likely to hit upon what is right'? We'll discuss Aristotle's view of this ultimate end and the means he thought essential to achieving it.

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Friday, Oct 9, TBD - UR Campus

Enjoy this 45-minute private, guided Autumn Garden Walk tour with emphasis on the history of the formal gardens and, of course, the fall blooms. You'll also have time on your own for further garden exploration. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Tuesday, Sept 29, Agecroft Hall

This interactive class will use case study methodology to study history via the book 'Democracy: A Case Study' by David Moss (2017). You will role-play the decision makers of the day as you analyze problems that eventually led to momentous decisions in our nation's history. Experience history in a more immersive way.

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No session is currently available for registration

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This class will take you on a musical tour of the history of the cello, featuring both lecture and musical examples played live. We will begin with a brief history of bowed string instruments, we'll toss in a little non-classical music, and end with a few holiday favorites in the Christian and Jewish traditions.

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Mon, Dec 21, NRCT, Room 124 (Choir Room)

Join us at Agecroft and enjoy this one-hour guided house museum tour with emphasis on 16th century English Christmas traditions. You'll also have time on your own for garden exploration. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Fri, Dec 4, Agecroft Hall

Join your fellow Osher members as we remember all who have served in our armed forces over the years. We plan to have a special guest speaker and our ROTC students as part of this important program.

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Monday, Nov 9, JAC, Robins Pavilion 151

After the decline of Mughal dynasty, power shifted to British East India Company. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Indian artists trained in Mughal and other local styles created fantastic hybrid kinds of art under the patronage of their British overlords.

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Monday, Nov 9, TBD - UR Campus

Over the past two decades, young men and women in the United States have increasingly diverged in their outlooks of education, careers, relationships, and politics. These differences are contributing to a growing gap in life expectations, relationship patterns, and political attitudes between the sexes. We will host a multi-disciplinary panel discussion with VCU professors about why this schism matters.

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Wednesday, Sept 16, TBD - UR Campus

Join Bill Leighty, former chief of staff to two Virginia governors, as he leads a panel discussion on the November 2026 Virginia elections. A panel of seasoned political analysts will examine the key questions of 'What happened?' and 'Why?'. The discussion will also offer insights into Virginia's pivotal role in potentially shaping the broader political landscape for the national 2028 elections.

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Friday, Nov 13, TBD - UR Campus

At the Valentine, we'll explore the untold stories of the American Revolution on this guided exhibit tour. We tend to forget that not everyone wanted 'Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,' nor have the goals of the Declaration of Independence ever been fully achieved. Tories, including John Wickham, free Black residents, enslaved workers, and those with new wealth adjusted their loyalties and sought their own form of liberty. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Friday, Sept 18, Valentine Museum

This class is for Family Tree Maker users who have basic experience creating and managing trees but want to learn more. The class will include searching online with FTM; using tasks, notes, and media; creating reports, charts, smart stories, and books; correcting duplicates and incorrect relationships; merging people and data; and using TreeVault and FTM Connect. This is an interactive, hands-on experience. Students should bring their laptops with FTM installed for use in class.

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Thursday & Friday; Sept 24 and 25, TBD - UR Campus

Thomas Jefferson once wrote to James Madison, 'I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing and is as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.' The American Revolution changed the course of world history and was a model for others. However, other revolutions have had similar effects. We will examine five of them to answer why societies seek change, either through violent or non-violent means.

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Thursdays, Sept 17, 24, Oct 1, 8, 15, Synchronous Online

The Battle of Midway is considered to be the turning point of the Pacific War. One US participating unit, Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8), was completely wiped out during the battle, with only one pilot, Ensign George Gay, surviving. This class will summarize the Battle of Midway with a focus on VT-8, Ensign Gay's role in the battle and the squadron, and his miraculous story.

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Wednesday, Dec 16, TBD - UR Campus

Would you like to become more efficient and productive using Ancestry.com, the largest genealogy database in the world? Join us to learn about tips and techniques to improve your searches, dos and don'ts about family trees, and the University's Library edition vs. paid subscription. Additionally, you will learn to navigate the site to find all the features and resources available such as connecting with other researchers, accessing tutorials, and learning to use the card catalog.

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Thursday and Friday; Oct 29 and 30, TBD - UR Campus

During this program at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, participants will tour the Virginia 250 signature exhibit 'Give Me Liberty' and talk with curators about the history of the American Revolution with a focus on the different stories of the people who lived at that time.

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Tuesday, Sept 15, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

International trade and tariffs have become issues in the upcoming national election. This is often part of a larger discussion about the pros and cons of 'Globalization.' Is it good or bad for Virginia? What is the significance of trade and international investment in Virginia? Join us for a lively presentation and discussion of these topics and more.

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Tuesday, Oct 27, TBD - UR Campus

In order to understand the Holocaust, historians turn to diaries and photographs. The photographs, often taken by Nazis, and the diaries, almost always written by prisoners and witnesses and hidden by survivors, speak to us as we read and view them.

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Fridays, Sept 18, 25, Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, TBD - UR Campus

In the first session of this two-day class, students will work together to consider how we decide what is important history to be taught to future generations, as well as the limitations on what can be taught and who decides. The second session will cover the social, political, economic, and practical factors that shape what we discover about history as well as what we can know, both individually, and as a culture.

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Thursdays, Dec 10 and 17, TBD - UR Campus

Long before Europeans arrived, Indigenous peoples had already built sophisticated and successful farming systems without draft animals or metal tools. This course explores how colonists adopted native practices that helped agriculture become the economic backbone of the colonies, a catalyst that would drive the decision to embark upon a struggle for sovereignty.

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Friday, December 18th, TBD - UR Campus

Before the US enacted laws to educate and provide support for persons with disabilities, services and supports were either inadequate, inappropriate, or nonexistent. This presentation will provide a history of special education and disability support in the United States, clarifying terminology, legal rights, and evidence-based practices, culminating with a glimpse into an uncertain future.

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Mondays & Wednesdays; Nov 30, Dec 2, 7, 9, TBD - UR Campus

We will examine primary sources and replica artifacts to learn more about the daily life of a soldier during the American Revolution, including reasons for joining the conflict, what they would have worn and eaten, and even their illnesses. To end the program, attendees will read excerpts from the diary of a soldier who was present at the Battle of Yorktown.

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Monday, Sept 14, Synchronous Online

Are you curious about Mahjong? Mahjong is a tile-based game that was developed in the 19th century in China and has spread throughout the world. Join us to learn how to play this game of skill, strategy, and luck.

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Tuesdays, Aug 4, 11, 18, 25, Special Programs Building, Room 160 ( No seats currently available )
Aug 26 (Wed), Aug 28 (Fri), Aug 31 (Mon), and Sept 2 (Wed), Special Programs Building, Classroom 156 ( No seats currently available )
Wednesdays and Fridays. Dec 2, 4, 9, 11, TBD - UR Campus

Maymont's engaging educators will lead you through the Dooley's Gilded Age home, resplendently decorated for the holiday season. Offered twice; please register for only one session. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Tues, Dec 8, Maymont Mansion
Tues, Dec 15, Maymont Mansion

During the Civil War, disease was the deadliest foe, but medical science grew as surgeons and nurses on and off the battlefield acquired knowledge. This interactive program examines the reasons behind the prevalence of disease and then explores field surgery, ending with a mock amputation. Following the program, participants will visit the collection's examination room to see artifacts associated with Civil War medicine. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Wednesday, Nov 11, American Civil War Museum: Tredegar Iron Works

This course traces Apple's fifty-year history and its massive impact on personal computing, design, product culture, platforms and ecosystems, and daily life. Each session focuses on a different decade in Apple's history, from the birth of the PC in the late 1970s to the latest Apple silicon, VR headsets, and future iPhones. We will learn how Apple reshaped not just technology, but how people live, work, and communicate. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Tuesdays; Sept 29, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, Synchronous Online

August Wilson was the first African American playwright to have a Broadway theater bear his name, honoring his powerful portrayal of African American culture. We will read, watch, and examine plays from Wilson's American Cycle, which represents each decade of the 20th century. We will explore his life and influences while focusing on 'Gem of the Ocean,' 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone,' 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,' and 'Seven Guitars.' Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Wednesdays; Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, 11, Synchronous Online

This course introduces the scientific study of life, emphasizing real-world applications and the societal, ethical, and legal consequences of biological advances. We will place key principles within the context of issues that affect society. Designed for non-scientists with little or no recent science experience, the course encourages discussion and reflection. Many topics are at the leading edge of discovery, and we will consider the ongoing ethical and legal debates surrounding their application. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Thursdays; Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov 5, Synchronous Online

This course is a history class with a laugh track. We'll analyze the 20th and 21st centuries against their historic context, using humor as the platform. We'll discuss how comedy was shaped by and responsive to American society, and how comedians influenced and shaped American life. We'll cover Silent Films, Vaudeville, Radio, Screwball and Romantic Comedies, and the Golden Age of Television. We'll study how each generation's identity influenced what (and whom) they laughed at. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Wednesdays; Oct 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, 11, 18, Synchronous Online

Mexicans celebrate a remarkable diversity of peoples, music, food, festivals, and historical traditions, expressed through fiestas that bring communities together throughout the year. Let's explore Mexico City as a cultural and historical crossroads shaped by centuries of continuity and change. We'll trace the legacies of Indigenous civilizations, the transformations of Spanish colonial rule, the struggles for independence and revolution, and the rise of modern democratic politics, culminating in the election of Mexico's first woman president. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Tuesdays; Sept 29, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, Synchronous Online

From new industrial materials to innovations in housing, mid-20th-century designers worked to shape an aesthetic that reflected post-World War II ideals. Let's explore the optimism linking design and lifestyle, especially through open living spaces. We will examine the Case Study Program and the work of designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, John Lautner, Eero Saarinen, E. Fay Jones, and Donald Wexler, within the context of rapid social change. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Wednesdays; Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, 11, Synchronous Online

Let's discuss the history and cultural impact of kit homes in North America, focusing on their peak from 1905 to 1945. We will learn how to identify mail-order houses, examine their rise, decline, and industrial innovations, and consider how kit homes intersected with issues of race and gender. Looking at the industry and the people who lived in these homes, we will discover why they remain an important part of the cultural landscape. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Wednesdays; Sept 30, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, Synchronous Online

The 1960s is a decade wrapped in myth and misunderstanding. Let's cut through that haze by turning to something powerful and concrete: the significant speeches of the era. We will listen to the voices that moved a nation and shaped history. With preserved recordings, we will discover what these speeches still have in them to teach us today. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Fridays; Oct 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov 6, 13, Synchronous Online

Let's examine the dramatic circumstances that gave rise to the Beat Generation in the 1940s. We'll look at three famous Beat works: 'Howl and Other Poems' by Allen Ginsberg, 'On the Road' by Jack Kerouac, and 'Naked Lunch' by William S. Burroughs. We will include historical events involving Beat writers, important passages of Beat literature, and the literary movement that spawned the 1960s counterculture. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Tuesdays; Sept 29, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, Synchronous Online

Let's examine royal succession through acclaimed British films that explore power as a moral and political crisis, tracing the monarchy's evolution from personal rule to institutional authority. We will cover the Plantagenet struggles in 'Becket' and 'The Lion in Winter,' the moral costs of kingship and the performance of national leadership through 'Chimes at Midnight' and 'Henry V,' the Tudor rupture through 'A Man for All Seasons,' and the consolidation of legitimacy in 'Elizabeth.' Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Mondays; Sept 28, Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, Synchronous Online

We often only notice the global supply chain when it breaks. Yet for millennia, the movement of goods has been the silent engine of civilization. Let's track the evolution of trade from an executive's perspective. From the sunken treasures of Bronze Age merchant ships to the high-tech intermodal systems of today, we will explore the vessels that carried the world's wealth and the complex networks that keep our modern shelves stocked. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Mondays; Oct 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16, 23, Synchronous Online

How does DNA reshape our understanding of ancestry and identity in the Americas? Let's explore genetic genealogy through early contact between European and Indigenous peoples, using the New Mexico DNA Project as a case study. We will examine Y-DNA, mitochondrial DNA, Indigenous haplogroups, and the Spanish castas system. We will consider the ethical and political implications of DNA testing and the limits of what genetic evidence can, and cannot, tell us about race and belonging. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Wednesdays, Sept 30, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, Synchronous Online

Harry S. Truman called the presidency 'the most peculiar office in the world.' Let's explore how the framers left the office open to interpretation, allowing presidential power to expand over time. We will examine how the presidency has come to dominate the three branches, how presidents gain and use power, and how the rise of the administrative state has altered the balance the framers intended. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Tuesdays; Sept 29, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, Synchronous Online

During the American Civil War, women by the thousands volunteered to work as nurses. Some served officially, others unofficially; all made an impact. This talk will explore the lives and experiences of three women: Sally Tompkins, Phoebe Yates Pember, and Susie King Taylor.

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Wednesday, Oct 14, TBD - UR Campus

When Rick Grizzell saw news reports and videos of the massive destruction and death caused by Hurricane Hellene in 2024 in the mountains of North Carolina, he decided to take action to help the victims who had lost so much. Since then, he made numerous trips to NC, and is now helping victims in southwest VA who lost everything in floods in 2025. Rick is a humble man with an inspiring message: come hear his story.

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Monday, Sept 21, TBD - UR Campus

On November 3, all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives and 35 in the Senate will be up for re-election. Turnout in POTUS elections approximates 60%, but mid-terms barely reach 40%. This mid-term may be more consequential than any recent election. So, let's dig into all the national issues, by party affiliation, generation, and region. We'll look at some of the better forecasts of results, and we'll conduct our own polls of issues/results.

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Thursday, Oct 15, Synchronous Online

Based on the book 'Rescuers: Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust', this program highlights brave non-Jewish people who risked everything to help strangers in ten European countries Hitler ruled from 1939-1945.

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Thursday, December 17th, TBD - UR Campus

Take a curator-led walking tour of Court End and Capitol Square with Christina K. Vida, the Valentine's Elise H. Wright Curator of General Collections. As we visit landmarks along the way, learn about Christina's new research into the lives of Richmonders who sought their own form of liberty in the Revolutionary period. Hear stories of Tories, free Black Richmonders, enslaved workers, and others featured in the Valentine's exhibit Dissent! Liberty & Loyalty in Early Richmond. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Monday, Nov 9, Valentine Museum

In this seminar we will view and critique three films of one of Russia's greatest film directors. The British Film Institute described Tarkovsky as 'one of the great poets of world cinema' who 'meticulously crafted films of poignant beauty and inscrutable depth.' The films are 'Ivan's Childhood' (1962), 'Andrey Rublev' (1986), and 'The Sacrifice' (1986).

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Tuesdays; Oct 20, 27, Nov 3, TBD - UR Campus

We will explore pirates in early history, then focus on the "Golden Age of Piracy" (1650-1730 AD), and finally talk about how pirates have changed over the centuries and the threats they still pose to today's maritime commerce. We will also cover pirate weapons and tactics, women in piracy, and government-sponsored pirates. We will conclude with a discussion of the most successful pirate of all time - it's not who you think!

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Tuesdays, Nov 10, 17, 24, TBD - UR Campus

The Battle of Saratoga, as it is known to history, was actually ten distinct battles, the culmination of a 20-year succession of conflicts among British, French, Colonists and Indigenous Native tribes. We'll look at vicious wilderness combat, fresh-water naval engagements, and countless acts of bravery and endurance that remain incredible centuries later. The outcome changed the world, altered the trajectory of the American Revolution, and created America's first generation of military heroes.

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Tuesdays; Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, TBD - UR Campus

Over the course of four sessions we will track the evolution of the Beatles' music from before the beginning in 1958 to their breakup in 1970. For some of their most popular and influential songs we will listen to a mix of official releases, outtakes, film clips, and live performances to discover what there is in the composition, arrangement, and recording techniques that we react to so strongly.

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Mondays & Wednesdays; Oct 19, 21, 26, 28, TBD - UR Campus

This course covers the story of human evolution from the earliest vertebrates through Homo sapiens, including human cultural and technological developments from the dawn of civilization as revealed by the sciences of biology, paleontology, anthropology, and archaeology. Inspiration for the course title was the 1950s LIFE magazine series The Epic of Man. This course is a follow-up to the presenter's previous Osher course, Deep Time.

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Thursdays, Sept 17, 24, Oct 1, TBD - UR Campus

In 1781 British forces led by the traitor Benedict Arnold burned Richmond, Virginia's new capital. In 1864 Federal forces began a siege of Richmond which ended with the surrender of the city. In 1971 Virginia's General Assembly voted to perpetuate the Lost Cause by instituting an economic siege of the city that has lasted until this day. Metropolitan Richmond has flourished, and the Lost Cause has died. Isn't it time to end the final siege?

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Mondays; Nov 16, 23, 30, TBD - UR Campus

From the oared galleys at Salamis to today's contest in the South China Sea, twenty-five centuries of naval power can be told as one continuous story. Five epochs -- galleys, sail, steel, carriers, and the modern era -- built on the foundation of 'Potter and Nimitz's Sea Power: A Naval History,' the text used in the instructor's own naval education at Annapolis and in his teaching ever since.

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Tuesday, Dec 1, TBD - UR Campus

Salvador Dalí is one of the best-known and controversial artists of the 20th Century. When he died in 1989, at the age of 84, his personality had become as well-known as his paintings.

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Wednesdays; Sept 30, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, Synchronous Online

This class will focus on sociological and economic aspects of the decades in which Elvis was born and lived, 'twinless-twin' syndrome, health and wellness, and the cost of fame. A spotlight will be cast on Elvis's musical career, his skill and propensity for art and design, his Jewish roots and connections, and his religious and spiritual leanings.

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Friday, Sept 11, Synchronous Online

We have discussed how Spain built the Caribbean into a colonial powerhouse. But this base allows Spain to build an empire that dominates the worlds on both sides of the Atlantic for 300 years. Not only was America 'discovered' but Spain moved its total Mediterranean civilization into the Americas, and in return, the Americas changed Spain and the Mediterranean. We want to look at how Spain connected two worlds before losing the empire it built.

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Mondays; Oct 19 and 26, TBD - UR Campus

Join a CIA agency veteran as he explains this iconic CIA memorial. He chronicles the origins and significance of the Memorial and its use over seven decades. Discover the fallen men and women honored by a star on the Wall, including seven who were colleagues of the instructor.

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Wednesday, Dec 2, TBD - UR Campus

Step into the kitchens and dining rooms of early America through the remarkable story of Mary Randolph (1762-1828), one of Virginia's most influential women and the author of 'The Virginia Housewife,' first published in 1824. A member of one of Virginia's most prominent families and aunt to Thomas Jefferson, Randolph transformed generations of culinary traditions into what became the first truly American cookbook.

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Tuesday, Nov 24, TBD - UR Campus

Premodern India was shaped by extraordinary women who shattered patriarchal norms, ruled empires, and transformed society through spirituality. Often operating at the intersection of religion, art, and statecraft, these trailblazers forged paths of resistance long before the modern era.

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Monday, Nov 2, TBD - UR Campus

US veterans living in Virginia: don't let your story fade away. The Virginia Department of Veterans Services has awarded Words of Veterans grants to help Veterans like you keep your story alive! Let's talk about how you can contribute.

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Monday, Sept 14, Synchronous Online

Let's analyze Virginia's final two years as a royal colony and the actions and preparations her leadership engaged in, attempting to reconcile differences with the British government. We will review a series of five meetings/conventions convened by the colony's leaders to deal with the mounting crisis. The class will rely heavily on a close reading of primary documents from the period (letters, newspapers, legislation, and proclamations), many rarely read by the general public today.

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Fridays; Oct 30, Nov 6, 13, 20, Dec 4, 11, Synchronous Online

Learn about women who have works in the VMFA's European Galleries and who flourished between the 1500s and the early 1800s. These noteworthy and exceptional artists led extraordinary lives, earning favor at royal courts, travelling great distances, supporting their families, and navigating the restrictions that excluded them from traditional paths of artistic education and professionalism.

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Tuesday, Nov 24, TBD - UR Campus

Jewish exiles returned to Judah from Babylonia in 536 BCE, ushering in more than two centuries of Persian cultural and political dominance in the Levant. This influence included their Zoroastrian religion, which not only helped shape second temple Judaism, but also carried over to Christianity and Islam as well. We will examine how echoes of this ancient religion can be found in the religion billions of us practice today.

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Thursday, December 17th, TBD - UR Campus