National Osher Online

National Osher Online is a pilot project of the Osher National Resource Center (NRC). It kicked off in the fall of 2022, and UR's Osher Institute was one of the original pilot sites. We continue to offer these classes each semester.

These national classes feature some of the best, most experienced instructors across the Osher network. The hope is that the pilot will be eventually scaled nationwide and offered to the entire Osher network.

Osher Online courses will not replace any existing, local programming but instead offer a unique, online learning modality with a variety of courses to supplement existing offerings by individual institutes. This pilot program will provide members across the country with a means to connect with each other and learn together by participating in this new initiative, while maintaining membership at their local institute.

We are grateful to the Bernard Osher Foundation, Northwestern University, and the Osher NRC for their support and hard work in making this happen.

Courses

National Osher Online - Broadway Musicals: A Fascinating History

Musicals have shaped American theater, from Tin Pan Alley-driven comedies of the early twentieth century to the integrated classics of midcentury. We will explore book musicals, concept musicals, and the rise of European mega-productions, then spotlight influential composers, lyricists, writers, choreographers, directors, and performers. We'll touch on landmark shows including Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, Show Boat, Guys and Dolls, Hair, Cabaret, Rent, Wicked, Hamilton, and more. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Tuesdays, July 21, 28, Aug 4, 11, 18, 25, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Canals and the Making of the Modern World

When the Erie Canal opened in 1825, it revolutionized American travel and transportation: but it was inspired by Europe's earlier canal networks. In this course, we will trace French, British, and Irish canals of the 17th and 18th centuries, then follow the story into the 19th century as we examine American canals, especially in New York and Pennsylvania. We will explore how canals reflect politics and ambitions and why they remain vital to shipping today. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Wednesdays, July 8, 15, 22, 29, Aug 5, 12, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Children's Literature: The Development of a Genre

In this course, we will trace the evolution of literature written specifically for children, from its earliest forms to the modern era. We will begin with oral traditions that underpin all storytelling, then shift toward published works created specifically with young readers in mind. We will survey key moments and turning points that shaped the growth of children's literature as a distinct field. We will conclude by analyzing how children's literature has evolved over time. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Tuesdays, July 7, 14, 21, 28, Aug 4, 11, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Deaf Culture and History

Let's study the Deaf Culture in the United States and explore what defines this community as a cultural minority. We will examine cultural identity, group norms, social interaction, values, and traditions, while emphasizing awareness, diversity, and language preservation. We will investigate how modern technology shapes community life, along with emerging issues, trends, and advocacy. We will also discuss communication, terminology, educational alternatives, legislation, and community resources. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Thursdays, July 9, 16, 23, 30, Aug 6, 13, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Discovering Portugal

Explore how tiny Portugal played an outsized role in world history. We will examine its fifteenth and sixteenth century maritime expansion and central role in the transatlantic slave trade. We will trace Portugal's rise as the Iberian Peninsula's only independent kingdom, its global reach from Brazil to Japan, and its later decline into twentieth-century poverty under Europe's longest dictatorship. We will see how democracy reshaped Portuguese culture and survey its landscape, art, architecture, and food. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Tuesdays, July 7, 14, 21, 28, Aug 4, 11, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Endless Grounds: Coffee's Social, Economic, and Cultural Life

Coffee will be our lens on climate change, social life, health, North/South dynamics, social and economic justice, tourism, and slavery. We will trace coffee's journey from planting through its arrival in our cups. We will explore coffee's history, its shift from elite beverage to everyday staple, and research on health, income, and climate resilience. The instructor will share experiences from coffee farms around the world, discuss different brewing methods, and demonstrate how coffee is brewed. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Thursdays, July 9, 16, 23, 30, Aug 6, 13, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Hindu Traditions: Ritual, Knowledge, Devotion

Explore Hindu traditions from classical to contemporary times, emphasizing ritual, knowledge, and devotion. We'll begin with South Asian roots in the Vedic tradition and key religious foundations, move to early and classical Hindu thought through the concept of dharma, then explore major deities through their narratives, practices, and iconography. We will examine the six major schools of Hindu philosophy, consider bhakti (devotion), and conclude with sacred spaces and pilgrimage practices. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Wednesdays, July 15, 22, 29, Aug 5, 12, 19, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - History of Signs: How Signs Tell America's Story

Explore a century of American history through objects often taken for granted in everyday life: signs. This course introduces the American Sign Museum's origins and features a conversation with its founder about why signs matter. We will examine how signs have evolved due to trends in commerce and technology and explore case studies. In the final session, we will take a virtual visit to ASM's neon shop to see how a neon sign is made. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Fridays, July 24, 31, Aug 7, 14, 21, 28, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Horticulture A-Z

In this course, we will explore a wide range of horticultural practices with something to offer no matter our experience level or where we live. We will cover container gardening, aquatic gardens, ornamental and fruiting plants, bonsai, landscape design, and pest management. Each week, we will focus on a theme and examine design ideas, plant choices, and long-term care practices for success. Wherever we garden, we can find plenty to learn and enjoy in horticulture. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Tuesdays, July 7, 14, 21, 28, Aug 4, 11, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Protecting Yourself as a Patient

This course will help us keep ourselves and our loved ones safer in today's complex healthcare system. Medical harm (often unintentional yet preventable) injures and kills hundreds of thousands of patients each year. We will learn how to reduce risk from common problems such as medication errors, care accidents, infections, diagnostic mistakes, and procedural or surgical complications. Through presentations, videos, and discussions, patient safety experts and advocates will share practical strategies, tactics, and resources. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Tuesdays, July 21, 28, Aug 4, 11, 18, 25, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Revolutionary Echoes in Washington DC

The Declaration of Independence shaped Americans long after the Revolution. This course will examine how people in Washington, D.C. invoked the Declaration and its ideas after independence: from city planners shaping the capital to Union soldiers defending it during the Civil War. We will explore how the Declaration was used to advance causes and define the nation's identity. Featuring museum artifacts from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection, this course will trace D.C.'s early history. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Thursday, July 9, 16, 23, 30, Aug 6, 13, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - The Digital Shift: How Computing Remade Media

Streaming music, swiping photos, consuming real-time news, reading e-books: all these activities have been transformed by digital technology. Let's explore how media is created, stored, and experienced in a digitized world. We will demystify fundamentals like text files, encoding, pixels, and algorithms in easy-to-understand ways: no prior computer knowledge needed. Each session examines a different medium, contrasting our analog past with the digital present. Topics will include text, images, music, social media, and media ownership. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Mondays, July 20, 27, Aug 3, 10, 17, 24, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - The Indispensable Founder: George Washington

As America celebrates 250 years of independence, let's look at our indispensable founder, George Washington: his life, political leadership, and roles as farmer, entrepreneur, and architect. We will also explore the groundbreaking Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, which has owned and managed Mount Vernon since 1858, launching the American historic preservation movement. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Mondays, July 13, 20, 27, Aug 3, 10, 17, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Threads of History: The World of Oriental Rugs

What makes an Oriental rug so captivating: the elegant design, intricate pattern, or mysterious origins? Join us to discover the stories woven into these textiles. We will trace the history and artistry of carpet weaving across Asia and North Africa, with examples spanning over two millenia. Using expert insights and vivid images, we will explore carpet-making from Anatolia, Iran, Transcaucasia, North Africa, and Central Asia, learning to spot weaving traditions, historical periods, purposes, and production. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Mondays, July 6, 13, 20, 27, 3, 10, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Women Architects and Designers

Often overlooked in traditional design and architecture courses, 20th century women designers profoundly shaped how we perceive and experience built environments, interiors, and decorative objects. We will touch on Elsie de Wolfe, Eileen Gray, Lilly Reich, Charlotte Perriand, Dorothy Draper, Ray Eames, and Zaha Hadid and consider their lives and enduring designs within social and political contexts. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Wednesdays, July 15, 22, 29, Aug 5, 12, 19, Synchronous Online