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 - 'Studies Show...' (Or Do They?): Under the Hood of a Scientific Study

What really changes when we read beyond the abstract? In this interactive course, we will open real research papers (many in health and nutrition) and explore what scientists actually look for. We will explore how small design choices can dramatically shape a study's meaning, and why headlines rarely tell the full story. No technical background is required, just curiosity. By the end of the course, we will never read 'studies show' the same way again. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Thursdays; Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov 11, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - A Cosmic Grand Tour: The Realms of the Universe

Let's explore the three fascinating realms of the cosmos: nearby planets and moons, the stars, and the galaxies (the great island of stars that turn out to be the building blocks of the universe.) Our discussion will be in everyday language, without any math, and will be accompanied by remarkable color images from the latest space probes and the world's largest telescopes, including the latest breathtaking images from the James Webb Space Telescope. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Tuesdays; Sept 29, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, Synchronous Online ( No seats currently available )

National Osher Online - Apple at 50: How it Revolutionized Computing and Transformed Daily Life

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.

Tuesdays; Sept 29, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, Synchronous Online (3 seats (23%) remaining)

National Osher Online - Art Detectives: Forgery, Provenance, and the Science of Authentication

The art world may appear glamorous, but deception often lies beneath the surface. After weapons and drugs, art is the third-most lucrative illicit trade, with reports suggesting that more than half of artworks are fake or misattributed. When is a copy simply a copy, and when is it a forgery? What techniques do master forgers use? What can science reveal about art authenticity? We will uncover riveting stories of criminal art activity and master forgeries. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Mondays; Sept 28, Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, Synchronous Online ( No seats currently available )

National Osher Online - August Wilson and His American Cycle - The First Five: 1904-1957

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.

Wednesdays; Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, 11, Synchronous Online (1 seats (8%) remaining)

National Osher Online - Biology & Society

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.

Thursdays; Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov 5, Synchronous Online (4 seats (31%) remaining)

National Osher Online - Cults and New Religious Movements in America

America has long been fertile ground for new and alternative religions. We'll examine New Religious Movements (often labeled 'cults') within the US, explore why some became accepted, others faded, and some led to controversy or tragedy, and consider both insider perspectives and outsider views while analyzing their history, beliefs, and practices. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Tuesdays, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, 10, Synchronous Online (2 seats (15%) remaining)

National Osher Online - Early 20th Century Avant-Garde: From Rebellion to Abstraction

Journey into the vibrant world of early 20th century art and witness the birth of abstraction. This transformative period reshaped the cultural landscape, from the bold colors of Fauvism, through the fractured forms of Cubism, to the dreamlike realms of Surrealism. We'll feature leading artists including Matisse, Kandinsky, Picasso, Mondrian, Duchamp, and Dali. We will explore their aesthetic goals and the social and cultural currents that influenced them. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Thursdays; Oct 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov 5, 12, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Great Artists in American Roots Music

From its emergence in the early 20th century, country music has resonated with those navigating a rapidly changing world. A key genre of American roots music, it expresses hardship while evoking emotion. Let's explore the history of country and American roots music through the stories and artistic developments of key figures including the Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, and Dolly Parton. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Mondays; Sept 28, Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, Synchronous Online (4 seats (31%) remaining)

National Osher Online - Living off The Laughter: History of Comedy in America

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.

Wednesdays; Oct 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, 11, 18, Synchronous Online ( No seats currently available )

National Osher Online - Mexico City: Empires, Revolutions, and Everyday Life

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.

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

National Osher Online - Post-War Architecture: The Innovative Architects of the Midcentury Modern Period

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.

Wednesdays; Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, 11, Synchronous Online (2 seats (15%) remaining)

National Osher Online - Power and the People: The Evolution of the US Federal Judiciary

The American Experiment began with the Declaration of Independence and led to the creation of the federal judiciary, one of the country's greatest experiments. We will trace the evolution of the courts from their English roots to their formal establishment, explore how the Supreme Court derives its authority from its ability to connect with the people and protect democracy, and examine the creation of the federal judiciary and the power of the Marshall Court. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Thursdays; Oct 15, 22, 29, Nov 5, 12, 19, Synchronous Online ( No seats currently available )

National Osher Online - Sacred Mountains of the World

Across cultures and throughout history, mountains have held powerful symbolic meaning. We'll explore how the Buddhists of the Himalayas, the Inca of the Andes, the Inuit of the far north, and European Romantics understood and approached these landscapes. We will examine the beliefs, traditions, and mythologies inspired by the world's mountains. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Mondays; Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, Synchronous Online ( No seats currently available )

National Osher Online - Some Assembly Required: The Story of the North American Kit Home

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.

Wednesdays; Sept 30, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, Synchronous Online (4 seats (31%) remaining)

National Osher Online - The 60s Through the Great Speeches

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.

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

National Osher Online - The Birth of the Beat Generation

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.

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

National Osher Online - The British Family in Film: Heavy is the Head That Wears the Crown

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.

Mondays; Sept 28, Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, Synchronous Online (3 seats (23%) remaining)

National Osher Online - The History and Experience of Route 66

Route 66 is as much an idea as it is a place. Since 1926, it has evolved from a busy highway into a symbol of nostalgia, travel, and the American road. Today, it serves as a kind of pilgrimage route, marked by neon signs and preserved roadside landmarks. Let's explore its history, cultural meaning, rise and decline, revival, and preservation, while considering the future of this iconic American highway. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Mondays; Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, Synchronous Online (4 seats (31%) remaining)

National Osher Online - The Invisible Thread: 3,500 Years of Global Supply Chain

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.

Mondays; Oct 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16, 23, Synchronous Online (1 seats (8%) remaining)

National Osher Online - The Magic Behind Film Scores: The Role of Music in Great Movies - Part II

Continue the journey into how music drives the emotional power of film. Explore how scores and songs shape story, character, and memorable moments. We will focus on films in which songs take center stage, from iconic themes to pop- and rock-driven storytelling. Spanning genres and eras, we will see how composers, songwriters, and performers expanded the language of film music: from Westerns and global cinema to the pop-cultural impact of James Bond and the Beatles. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Wednesdays; September 30, October 7, 14, 21, (SKIP Oct. 28) November 4, 11, Synchronous Online (4 seats (31%) remaining)

National Osher Online - The Search for an American Sound

Since the 1890s, when Americans were beginning to develop their own traditions in classical music, composers have recognized the dilemma of creating the American sound. We will explore how classical musicians, and Broadway and Hollywood composers, most of them Jewish, followed parallel paths in creating sounds that reflect these lands and its people. Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, William Grant Still, Florence Price, Alex North, Elmer Bernstein and others will be the protagonists of this lecture. Note: The new refund policy applies.

Mondays; Oct 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Tracing Our Roots: DNA, Family History, and the Politics of Identity

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.

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

National Osher Online - Winning the White House: The Evolution of the Presidency

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.

Tuesdays; Sept 29, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, Synchronous Online ( No seats currently available )