Browse Current Classes & Membership   

The Spring Semester Membership gives members access to all in-person and Zoom classes and events offered by OLLI at ASU for one semester.

Note: If you purchased an annual membership, you do not need to purchase a semester membership.

Explore Motown’s golden era from the late 1950s to the 1970s, a period marked by groundbreaking songwriting, iconic artists, and profound social influence. Discover how Motown’s innovative production methods shaped its timeless sound, broke racial barriers, and adapted to shifting cultural landscapes to achieve worldwide acclaim. Featuring legendary artists and curated tracks and videos, this course concludes with a celebration of Motown’s transformative first 25 years. Join us to experience the enduring magic of Motown and its lasting impact on music and culture. Please note that you will need to create a free account with NRC to access the meeting link and any course materials.

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Step into the shadowy corners of the ancient Mediterranean, where gods weren’t the only ones pulling strings. From curse tablets hidden in graves to love spells inscribed on lead, ancient Greeks and Romans turned to magic to bind enemies, attract lovers, and ward off evil. This session explores the fascinating world of sorcery, omens, and everyday superstition—where priestesses, witches, and household spirits shaped fate. Join us for a journey into the mystical mindset of antiquity, where the boundary between religion and magic was anything but clear.

 

FRIENDSHIP VILLAGE RESIDENTS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR ACTIVITIES DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY TO REGISTER. PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER IN OLLI SYSTEM.

Shakespeare lived during the Scientific Revolution, a time of rapid advancement in scientific understanding. For the first time, academics were writing in English rather than Latin, making these revolutionary ideas accessible to the average educated person—Shakespeare among them. From hidden praise for Galileo in Cymbeline to the possibility that one of his plays serves as an allegory for the shift toward heliocentrism, Shakespeare’s work reveals a deep awareness of contemporary science. This class is designed for lovers of both literature and science!

Why is Casablanca considered one of the most iconic films of all time—and does it still deserve that title? Join ASU film professor Joe Fortunato for an in-depth exploration of the 1942 classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. We will begin with a brief introduction to the film’s historical and production background, followed by a screening of the film accompanied by live commentary from Professor Fortunato. As you watch, you’ll gain behind-the-scenes insights, learn about cinematic techniques, and discover how to interpret film like a critic or scholar. After the screening, the discussion continues: what makes a film “beloved,” and does Casablanca hold up through a modern lens? Like a book club for movie lovers, this class invites you to watch and reflect!

With Arizona’s rapid growth in STEM industries—tech, aerospace, biomedical, and more—Arizona Science Center is evolving to stay at the forefront of innovation. Join us for an exclusive 90-minute tour offering a behind-the-scenes look at the groundbreaking technology fueling the transformation of the Center’s galleries and signature experiences, including the reimagination of the Dorrance Planetarium. This is your chance to witness the future of stargazing before it’s unveiled to the world. For this program, participants *must* wear closed-toed, sturdy shoes. Steel-toed shoes are preferred as you will be at an active construction site.

Join Penny Friedberg, MBA, MS, on December 1st and 3rd for a two-session course designed for those cooking for one or two. In week one, the focus is on breakfast, highlighting the benefits of home cooking and offering practical techniques to make it more manageable. Participants will explore essential tools and cookware for a healthier kitchen and watch a live demo featuring granola, vegetables, and eggs. Week two shifts to dinner, featuring a thoughtful discussion on sugar, artificial sweeteners, fats, and oils, followed by a live cooking demonstration of stir-fry and other healthy dinner recipes.

Current students from Dr. Rosemarie Dombrowski’s Medical Humanities course at ASU (HON 394 Poetry & Medicine) will lead this intergenerational session exploring the efficacy of reading and writing poetry as a means of navigating aging, illness, and loss, while promoting wellness and healing. Students will share excerpts from studies, lead discussions of selected poems, and engage attendees in short reflective writing exercises.

Jimmy Buffett has been called a modern-day Mark Twain and a self-proclaimed “cultural infidel.” His legions of dedicated fans—aka Parrotheads—were devastated by his death on September 1, 2023. His final message to fans and family was to “keep the party going,” and his Coral Reefer Band, joined by other well-known musician friends, is doing exactly that. This presentation will explore Buffett’s life and 50-plus-year career, highlight key milestones, examine the reasons behind his enduring popularity, and have some fun along the way—listening and even dancing to the music. Buffett often said he was selling escapism and likened himself to a court jester, but we would argue that his appeal is much broader and more profound. Come prepared to share your thoughts, experiences, and questions. If you have content you’d like to see included in the presentation, send links to: kschne20@asu.edu. Parrothead attire is encouraged, but not required!

Native peoples have given us some of the most renowned military, political, and spiritual leaders ever recorded. Moved by their dedication to protecting their people, traditions, and homelands, this presentation delves into the lesser-known traditional stories and histories of great Indigenous leaders such as Crazy Horse, Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Wilma Mankiller, and the great Chief Joseph. Join Greg Hansen, Tribal Relations Coordinator for the Arizona Conservation Corps, to learn about these celebrated Native women and men through traditional storytelling and be inspired by their unyielding devotion to preserving their traditional lifeways.

Some 27 million visitors prepared for the twentieth century by attending the World’s Columbian Exposition, which once occupied nearly 700 acres on Chicago’s South Side. Most had never even seen a light bulb, yet they were suddenly greeted with more electric lights than were then in use in the entire city of Chicago. The Fair was a striking blend of the palatial and the modern: its Greco-Roman buildings evoked Renaissance grandeur, while the visionary architecture of Louis Sullivan hinted at the future. Elegant concert halls—where thousands heard Handel’s Messiah—were complemented by the music of John Philip Sousa and Scott Joplin. This course will revisit the architecture, art, and music of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

Dutch still-life painters were renowned for showcasing their skill in rendering textures and surfaces with detailed, realistic light effects. Their still-life paintings often featured various types of food artfully arranged on tables alongside silverware, pots, and dishes. They employed specific paints, pigments, and techniques to achieve these effects. In this class, we will explore these techniques and study the work of notable Dutch Baroque still-life painters. You will also have the opportunity to create one or more paintings reflecting the style and characteristics of these artists. This is a studio art class. A materials list will be provided before the start of class.

This lecture will explore the history of the French language from its Latin origins to the present, with a focus on the relationship between French and English. We will examine maps, monuments, manuscript illuminations, and paintings to establish the historical context of each era of linguistic development. Next, we will discuss the major phenomena that shaped both spoken and written French. Much of our discussion will focus on the French influence on English in the late Middle Ages, as well as the influence of English on French since the nineteenth century. Other topics include the transition from Latin to French, the reasons people began writing in French, how French dialects were replaced by a standard language, and the future of the French language.

Join us as we welcome Dr Nick Godfrey, director of the summer program at Girton College (part of Cambridge University) to speak to our OLLI community. We are excited to have him visit us in Arizona and he will announce a new exclusive offer for OLLI at ASU members. He will give a short presentation on the August 2026 Girton College Lifelong Learning Summer Program and will explain why and how you can participate. 

In addition, several OLLI at ASU members who attended this year's program will be on hand to share some of their experiences. You will hear why the stay at Girton was so much more than just "summer school" and what made it a "bucket list" experience!

Light refreshments served. The event is Free but you must register to attend as space is limited. Add this to your cart for no charge and complete payment process to RSVP and reserve your space.

This lecture offers an in-depth exploration of Charles Dickens’ beloved novella A Christmas Carol, with a particular focus on the symbolic roles of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, and how they contribute to Ebenezer Scrooge’s personal transformation. The lecture also examines the theatrical interpretation of the story, highlighting the TheatreWorks stage production through discussion of set and costume design, thematic emphasis, and the creative elements that bring the magic of Dickens' world to life. This session is ideal for those interested in literature, theatre, and the ways classic texts are adapted for the stage. Class includes a ticket to the 2:00 p.m. showing of A Christmas Carol on Sunday, December 7.

The essence of humanity—looking up and wondering—is universal. What’s up there? Can we go there? How does it all work? What makes satellites unique? What are orbits? How do I become an astronaut (even at our age)? This course will explore many of these questions in a non-math, non-engineering way, designed to explain our fascination and wonder about space. We are living through a remarkable shift—both government and commercial—toward space exploration. How does this affect you? Could your grandchildren be involved? Might they even go out there? This course will explain it all at a top-level view: orbits, the vacuum of space, and other complexities—all explained through engaging conversations. Please note that parking is the responsibility of the member. 

Before the huge steam-driven machines that cut through the Suez and Panama Canals, magnificent canals and aqueducts shaped civilizations from ancient times through the Industrial Revolution. In this class, we follow the story of how humans learned to move water. Cultures that began with primitive irrigation channels, dug to water a few meager crops, eventually built canals that connected Europe to Asia and the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. These canals changed the world long before the age of steam, internal combustion engines, or electric power. We’ll also explore how human ingenuity used downhill-moving water to propel boats uphill. Our journey takes us to China, Egypt, the Pontine Marshes south of Rome, the French Riviera, England’s coal country, and finally the early American frontier—where a four-foot-deep ditch became the information superhighway of its time.

How did the divide between science and religion develop? Is this divide maintained only by extremists on each side, or is there middle ground? We will discuss the history of science and the evolution of its role into the modern day. What influences and historical context from Judeo-Christian beliefs contributed to the rise of modern science as we know it today? Does the scientific method preclude faith, or must religion reject science? Is it possible for a scientist to believe in God, and if so, how? Join retired ASU School of Life Sciences research professor Dr. David Pearson as we explore these questions and address some of yours.

Join Water Resource Management Director Mike Boule for a walking tour of the City of Surprise Wastewater Facility. The tour will provide an in-depth look at the processes and technologies involved in wastewater treatment. Participants will explore the various stages of treatment—including preliminary, primary, secondary, and tertiary processes—while gaining insights into the environmental impacts and regulatory requirements of wastewater management. The tour will also cover the role of innovative technologies in enhancing treatment efficiency and sustainability. Please bring a jacket and wear closed-toed shoes. The tour includes both indoor and outdoor areas, with about half a mile of walking, some stairs, and gently sloping small hills around the facility.

In collaboration with the Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve and Dr. Ken Sweat, this community service opportunity invites participants to take part in the removal of stinknet (Oncosiphon piluliferum), an aggressive invasive plant from South Africa that is rapidly spreading across Maricopa County. This hands-on activity will support the preservation of the native Sonoran Desert ecosystem and reduce local fire hazards. As part of this course, participants will also explore the broader impact of invasive species on biodiversity, with a focus on the challenges posed by stinknet. Learn how increased global travel has enabled certain species to thrive in new environments and discover how land managers are responding to these ecological threats with innovative control strategies. Join us in making a meaningful impact on our desert landscape while deepening your understanding of invasive species and ecosystem resilience.

This event will feature a special presentation by Dr. Nika Gueci, a distinguished ASU faculty expert exploring the integrative health science behind why connection matters. We will share highlights of the spring semester classes and events. We will also showcase the 2025–2026 Intergenerational Scholars, offering a first look at the innovative and collaborative workshops they will lead in the spring semester. Light refreshments will be served, and you’ll have the opportunity to mingle with fellow learners, friends, faculty, and staff in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Spring catalogs will be available to take home!

For Locke, competitive economic acquisitiveness is the core of justice and civic morality. For Marx, the moral society is "an association, in which the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all." We will address these, and more, questions: Are all human beings naturally equal? Can liberal government combine individual freedom and political authority? By what right does the majority govern? Can the rule of law and separation of powers secure individual rights? Can socialism be democratic? Required Text: Second Treatise of Government by John Locke, Ed. C.B. Macpherson, ISBN 091514493X and The Marx-Engels Reader, Second Edition, Ed. Robert C. Tucker, ISBN 039309040X. Please take care of time zone changes due to Daylight Saving.