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Instructor: John Hendrickson
6 weeks | Thursdays, October 1 through November 5
1 P.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

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.

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Instructor: Andrew Fraknoi
6 weeks | Tuesdays, September 29 through November 3
3 P.M. MT  (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

In this course, we will 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.

Instructor: Leander Kahney
6 weeks | Tuesdays, September 29 through November 3
5 P.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

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.

Instructor: Christine Maasdam
6 weeks | Mondays, September 28 through November 2
11 A.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

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. In this course, we will ask: When is a copy simply a copy, and when is it a forgery? What techniques do master forgers use? What can science tell us about art authenticity? We will uncover riveting stories of criminal art activity and master forgeries.

Instructor: Ladrica Menson-Furr
6 weeks | Wednesdays, October 7 through November 11
3 P.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

August Wilson was the first African American playwright to have a Broadway theater bear his name, honoring his powerful portrayal of African American culture. In this course, 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," tracing his interpretation and celebration of African American culture.

Instructor:Eric Simon
6 weeks | TThursdays, October 1 through November 5
9 A.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

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.

Instructor:Kathryn (Kate) Davis
6 weeks | Tuesdays, October 6 through November 10
1 P.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

America has long been fertile ground for new and alternative religions. In this course, we will examine New Religious Movements, often labeled “cults”, within the U.S. context. We will explore why some became accepted, others faded, and some led to controversy or tragedy. We will consider both insider perspectives and outsider views while analyzing their history, beliefs and practices. Focusing on the 18th and 19th centuries, we will work to better understand these movements and challenge common misconceptions.

Instructor: Lauren Weingarden
6 weeks | Thursday, October 8 through November 12
3 P. M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

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, the fractured forms of Cubism, to the dreamlike realms of Surrealism. Each session focuses on the movements’ leading artists including Matisse, Kandinsky, Picasso, Mondrian, Duchamp, and Dalí. We will explore their aesthetic goals and the social and cultural currents that influenced them.

Instructor: Taylor Ackley
6 weeks | Mondays, September 28 through November 2
9 A.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

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. This course explores 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.

Instructor: Eddy Friedfeld
6 weeks | Wednesdays, October 14 through November 18
1 P.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

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

Instructor: William (Bill) Beezley
6 weeks | Tuesdays, September 29 through November 3
11 A.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

Mexicans celebrate a remarkable diversity of peoples, music, food, festivals and historical traditions, expressed through fiestas that bring communities together throughout the year. In this course, we will explore Mexico City as a cultural and historical crossroads shaped by centuries of continuity and change. We will 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.

Instructor: Eleanor Schrader
6 weeks | Wednesdays, October 7 through November 11
11 A.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

From new industrial materials to innovations in housing, mid-20th-century designers worked to shape an aesthetic that reflected post-World War II ideals. In this course, we will 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..

Instructor: Lauren Andersen
6 weeks | Thursdays, October 15 through November 19
11 A.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

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. In this course, we will trace the evolution of the courts from their English roots to their formal establishment in the Constitution. We will explore how the Supreme Court, lacking the power of the purse or military, derives its authority from its ability to connect with the people of the U.S. and protect democracy. We will examine creation of the federal judiciary and the power of the Marshall Court, the Court’s evolution through the New Deal, the Vinson Court, the Warren Court’s “Rights Revolution,” and the role of today’s U.S. Supreme Court.

Instructor: Jonathan Duncan
6 weeks | Mondays, October 5 through November 9
1 P.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

Across cultures and throughout history, mountains have held powerful symbolic meaning. In this course, we will 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. Through an interdisciplinary lens, we will examine the beliefs, traditions and mythologies inspired by the world’s mountains, using illustrated lectures, short readings and discussion to deepen our connection to these high and wild places.

Instructor: Nigel Tate
6 weeks | Wednesdays, September 30 through November 4
9 A.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

In this course, we will explore 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 these mail-order houses and examine their rise, decline and industrial innovations. We will also consider how kit homes intersected with issues of race and gender. Through examination of the industry and the stories of the people who lived in these homes, we will discover why they remain an important part of the cultural landscape.

Instructor: Arthur (Buck) Benedict
6 weeks | Fridays, October 9 through November 13
9 A.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

The 1960s is a decade wrapped in myth and misunderstanding. In this course, we will cut through that haze by turning to something powerful and concrete: the speeches of the era. The times and the conditions demanded these significant speeches. Together, we will listen to the voices that moved a nation and shaped history. With recordings preserved through television, video and YouTube®, we will discover what these speeches still have to teach us today.

Instructor: Butch Epps
6 weeks | Mondays, September 28 through November 2
11 A.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

This course examines royal succession through acclaimed British films that explore power as a moral and political crisis. We will trace 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."

Instructor: Peter Dedek
6 weeks | Mondays, October 5 through November 9
5 P. M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

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. In this course, we will explore its history, cultural meaning, rise and decline, revival, and preservation, while considering the future of this iconic American highway.

Instructor: Scott Jones
6 weeks | Mondays, October 19 through November 23
9 A.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

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. In this course, we will 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.

Instructor: Mike Agron
6 weeks | Wednesdays, September 30 through November 11  (no class October 28) 
3 P.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

This course continues our journey into how music drives the emotional power of film. We will explore how scores and songs shape story, character and memorable moments. We will focus on films where 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.

Instructor: Emanuel Abramovits
6 weeks | Mondays, October 12 through November 16
3 P.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

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 Steel, Florence Price, Alex North, Elmer Bernstein and others will be the protagonists of this lecture.

Instructor: Angel Cervantes
6 weeks | Wednesdays, September 30 through November 4
5 P.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

How does DNA reshape our understanding of ancestry and identity in the Americas? In this course, we will 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.

Instructor: John White
6 weeks | Tuesdays, September 29 through November 3
9 A.M. MT (90 minutes)
Course Fee: $60 

Course Description:

Harry S. Truman called the presidency “the most peculiar office in the world.” In this course, we will 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.