Fall courses
All times listed are Central Time (CT).
EACH COURSE is identified by one of the following terms:
- ONLINE ONLY: Both the instructor and students will meet online for the class, live via Zoom, in the designated weekly time slot. Sessions will be recorded for review, if desired.
- HYBRID: The instructor teaches live from the Moss Building. Some students are in the classroom (limited availability), while others Zoom in. When registering, you may select either the IN PERSON or ONLINE version of the class – both options allow students to interact with the instructor. Sessions will be recorded.
- IN PERSON ONLY: The class will take place at the Moss Building, unless otherwise indicated in the catalog. These sessions will not offer online viewing and will not be recorded.
Important semester information:
- Printable course catalog (PDF)
- Printable Monday–Friday Course Calendar Grid (PDF)
- Special Interest Group (SIG) announcement page (Google Doc)
- Looking for the course document page? Check your confirmation email!
- Zoom basics (PDF)
Course listings by day of the week
Select a day of the week below to filter courses. Use Ctrl (⌘) + F on your keyboard or your browser's search function to search the entire page.
Monday Courses
- NextGen Precision Health Research
- Headless and Haunted: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
- Introduction to Islamic Architecture
- Around the World From Your Armchair
- Sip and Savor!
- “A Sense of Place”: The Importance of Home (Museum of Art and Archaeology’s Art of the Book Club)
NextGen Precision Health Research
Mondays: Sept. 14, 21, 28; Oct. 5, 12 (5 sessions)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
First five weeks of the semester. This is a continuation of the NextGen series from Spring 2026; new students are welcome.
NextGen Precision Health Research will highlight cutting-edge translational research (bridging the gap between the lab and the real world) across cardiovascular health, rare disease research, neuroimaging, healthy colitis and reproductive health. Through expert-led sessions, participants will explore how precision health approaches integrate molecular, cellular, imaging and whole-organism studies to address complex human diseases. Topics include neurogenic diseases, nutraceuticals, the gut-brain axis, female reproductive health issues and translational cardiovascular research. Together, these sessions emphasize bench-to-bedside science, interdisciplinary innovation and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The course will provide a comprehensive view of how NextGen Precision Health research advances the understanding, prevention and treatment of disease across the lifespan.
Instructors: Dr. Darla L. Tharp, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences; Dr. Ai-Ling Lin, professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Radiology; Dr. J. Andrea Sierra-Delgado, assistant research professor in translational neurogenetics; Dr. Satyanarayana Rachagani, associate professor of veterinary medicine and surgery; and Dr. Lei Lei, associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and women’s health.
Headless and Haunted: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Mondays: Oct. 26; Nov. 2 (2 sessions)
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $20
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Last two weeks of the semester.
A dark road, a horse and a fiery spirit — The Legend of Sleepy Hollow remains a cornerstone of American literature and folklore, and visitors still descend each Halloween on the Hudson Valley, N.Y., sites described in the story. But what lies beneath the tale? Who was Ichabod Crane? Where does the Horseman sleep? When did Irving first hear the tale, and did he really know the Horseman? How did an American president play a part in the story? This class will explore the background of Sleepy Hollow, the lore of the region from the Native Americans to the Dutch, Irish, Scots and English, and the impact that Irving’s characters have had on film, stage and literature.
Instructor: Mary Barile has a background in history, literature and folklore. A native of New York, she is a true Knickerbocker — born on Manhattan Island in view of the Hudson — and has spent many hours in Sleepy Hollow in search of the Horseman and other spirits. She lives in Boonville, above the Missouri River.
Introduction to Islamic Architecture
Mondays: Sept. 14, 21, 28; Oct. 5 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
First four weeks of the semester.
This course offers a brief survey of the marvelous architecture of the Islamic world. Each week we will take a deep dive into four historic buildings. Building types will include mosques, palaces, madrasas, tombs and caravansaries. You will learn to recognize the distinctive features of Islamic architecture as it evolved from the seventh to the 21st century.
Instructor: Dr. James Terry is an archaeologist and art historian. He is currently the curator of antiquities at the University of Missouri’s Museum of Art and Archaeology.
Around the World From Your Armchair
Mondays: Oct. 12, 19, 26; Nov. 2 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Last four weeks of the semester.
Embark on a global adventure—no passport required! Join Osher member and world traveler Dell Epperson for a captivating series of travelogue presentations featuring photographs, stories and firsthand experiences from destinations around the world. Dell’s class was directly inspired by Sharon Kinden’s “Travels with Sharon” series, and he brings this class to Osher in her memory.
- Oct. 12: Kenya and Tanzania Photo Safari. From the Masai Mara to the Serengeti.
- Oct. 19: Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions. Mediterranean crossroads.
- Oct. 26: Spain from Santiago to Barcelona. A hike along the Camino, then onto Madrid, Seville and Valencia.
- Nov. 2: Arctic Explorer. Norway to Iceland, cruising fjords, across the Arctic Circle to Svalbard and around Iceland.
Instructor: Dell Epperson is a native of Marceline, Mo., but he spent 30 years sailing the world in the Navy, retiring as a captain. He served on five ships, commanding a destroyer as well as the Auburn University Naval ROTC. He and his wife Janet have lived in locations from Hawaii to London. The Eppersons returned to their home state of Missouri in 2015 and now reside in Columbia. Avid explorers, they have visited over 50 countries (and counting).
Sip and Savor!
Mondays: Sept. 14, 21, 28; Oct. 5 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
In Person Only
Course Fee: $40, plus $35 materials fee ($75 total)
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional course fee. $35 materials fee.
First four weeks of the semester, with a limit of 23 registrants. There is a $35 materials fee per registrant. This class was offered previously during Osher’s Spring 2026 semester.
Have you ever wondered how food and wine experts train their palates, learn what to look for in food and wine pairings, and find the best combinations? Have you ever wanted to identify just the right wine to pair with your dinner? It’s all about understanding your palate, learning about wine’s aromas and flavors and how they interact with flavors in food. With instructor-led formal tastings, lectures and guidance, you will refine your sensory abilities to identify complementary ingredients in food and wine. Join us as we sip and savor!
Materials Note: We ask registrants to bring four clean wine glasses to each session.
Instructor: Kathleen Chesko has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and was employed for 23 years in business before earning a culinary arts degree from Cuyahoga Community College. Her culinary career included being a research chef as well as engaging in sensory training. She also learned how to make wine. After moving to Sonoma County, Calif., in 2002, she worked as a winery chef and taught culinary classes at Santa Rosa Junior College until her retirement in 2019.
“A Sense of Place”: The Importance of Home (Museum of Art and Archaeology’s Art of the Book Club)
Mondays: Oct. 12, 19, 26; Nov. 2 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Last four weeks of the semester.
The current exhibition at MU’s Museum of Art and Archaeology (MA&A), “A Sense of Place,” highlights the photographic works of artist Deanna Dikeman. The exhibit explores the role of home across four bodies of work, presenting the artist’s most celebrated series alongside new works in a thematic exploration of place. As a pairing with the exhibition, MA&A’s Art of the Book Club (ABC) has selected Once Upon a Town by Bob Greene as its next read. This nonfiction book describes World War II efforts in North Platte, Neb., where volunteers ran a canteen to provide food and hospitality to the soldiers passing by train. The narratives will be explored in four classes and a free guided tour of “A Sense of Place” at the MA&A on November 7 at 2 p.m.
Materials Note: Once Upon a Town is available at the Daniel Boone Regional Library and can be purchased at Skylark Bookstore (ask for the Art of the Book Club discount).
Oct. 12: Photographs of North Platte and Book Discussion
Christiane Quinn, founder and coordinator of the ABC series, will present photographs from North Platte, Neb., where the story takes place. Afterward, the class will break into groups for a moderated discussion of the book.
Oct 19: Watch and Discuss the Film “The Canteen Spirit”
“The Canteen Spirit” chronicles the story of the World War II North Platte Canteen, a volunteer effort that made history when residents of 125 communities from across the state greeted millions of soldiers as their trains made a 10-minute stop at the North Platte depot. A group discussion will follow the film, moderated by Valerie Hammons, a long-serving docent at the MA&A, an Osher instructor, and a lover of ancient and medieval history.
Oct. 26: “A Sense of Place: The Essence of Home”
Photographer Deanna Dikeman, whose work is featured in the MA&A exhibit, “A Sense of Place,” will discuss how she loves to photograph the familiar and find mystery in the ordinary. A former Columbia resident and recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, her work has been featured in The New Yorker, British Journal of Photography and Vanity Fair and has been exhibited widely across Europe and the United States.
Nov. 2: Share Your Story
As the saying goes, every picture tells a story. During World War II, much occurred on the home front. If you have a picture or pictures that tell a story from the World War II period, we invite you to share them during this session; instructions will be provided during the first class meeting. This session will be moderated by Barbara Montgomery, a long-serving docent at the MA&A.
Tuesday Courses
- Highly Unusual and Remarkable Stories from Radio and Television Broadcasting
- Southern Gothic: Short Stories of Flannery O’Connor and William Faulkner
- Literature of the American Revolution and Early Nation
- The Rudiments of Astronomy for the Novice Observer
- The Three “Bs”: Birds, Blooms and Baseball
- The Quran: A Living Miracle for Mankind
- How to Sell Snow to a Snowman: All About Advertising
Highly Unusual and Remarkable Stories from Radio and Television Broadcasting
Tuesdays: Sept. 15, 22, 29; Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27; Nov. 3 (8 sessions)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $60
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Throughout its 100+ year history, some truly strange and remarkable things have happened in radio and television. Some occurred behind the scenes, unknown to the general public, while others developed into scandals that shocked U.S. audiences and remain relevant today. Some will test believability, others will make you laugh out loud, but all of them are true!
Instructor: Susan Brinson earned her doctorate in communication from MU. She taught media studies at Auburn University for 27 years and retired as an emerita professor in 2017. Her research specialties were broadcasting history, media law and media representations of race, class and gender.
Southern Gothic: Short Stories of Flannery O’Connor and William Faulkner
Tuesdays: Oct. 13, 20, 27; Nov. 3 (4 sessions)
9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
In Person Only
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Last four weeks of the semester. Limit of 30 participants.
The literary genre labeled “Gothic” resonates in fictional efforts to explore, translate and dramatize the histories and cultures of the American South. The fictional creations of Flannery O’Connor and William Faulkner are often cited as examples of the Gothic. In this discussion-based course, we will examine selected short stories by these Southern writers, with attention to their literary strategies and styles, subject material, narrative perspectives, and other literary features. We will compare the ways in which the writers portray, interpret and critique their native society and its unique history.
Materials Note: Access to the relevant stories will be provided. Consider obtaining The Collected Stories of William Faulkner (Vintage Books, 1977) and The Complete Stories of Flannery O’Connor (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1971).
Instructor: Born and reared in North Carolina, Robin Blake has long been a student of Southern literature. He has facilitated two Osher courses on Faulkner novels and has studied the short fiction of Flannery O’Connor. He considers this course to be a mutual learning experience.
Literature of the American Revolution and Early Nation
Tuesdays: Sept. 15, 22, 29; Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27; Nov. 3 (8 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Online Only
Course Fee: $60
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, why not read some of the literature of the era? After all, we date the founding of our nation to the publication of a document, the Declaration of Independence, and historians argue that widespread literacy was central to the cause of revolution. In addition to classic political texts of the period (including work by Paine, Jefferson and the Federalists), we will read prose and poetry as well as early American novels: Hannah Foster’s epistolary seduction novel, The Coquette (1790) and Charles Brockden Brown’s Gothic novel Edgar Huntly (1799). Zoom in prepared to read, discuss and consider what this founding literature can say to us now.
Materials Note: Access to the relevant readings will be provided.
Instructor: John Evelev is a professor of English at MU. His main area of research is American Romanticism, and he has published books on Herman Melville and picturesque literature. He has taught a number of classes for Osher@Mizzou and always appreciates the enthusiasm and insight his students bring to the discussions.
The Rudiments of Astronomy for the Novice Observer
Tuesdays: Sept. 15, 22, 29; Oct. 6 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
First four weeks of the semester. This class was offered previously during Osher’s Winter 2020 semester.
Astronomy is the study of celestial objects—including the sun, moon, planets, stars and galaxies—and seeks to explain the physical universe through observation, physics and mathematics. Long before the invention of the telescope, ancient civilizations such as the Babylonians and Egyptians carefully observed the night sky with the naked eye, recording the motions of the sun, moon and planets, as well as eclipses and other celestial events. These early observations formed the foundation of modern astronomy. This course introduces beginning observers to these fundamental concepts through four lectures: (1) the sky and diurnal motions, (2) the sun and its sky motions, (3) the moon and its motions, and (4) the planets and their motions.
Instructor: Ronald Boain is an MU graduate in physics and astronomy (BS in 1965, MS in 1967). His early career was spent in Houston, Texas, working on Apollo 11, the first manned mission to land on the moon and conduct contingency analyses. Later, he moved to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he spent 50 years working on various earth orbiting and planetary space missions. He has been a lifelong amateur astronomer and skywatcher and is a member of the Central Missouri Astronomical Association.
The Three “Bs”: Birds, Blooms and Baseball
Tuesdays: Oct. 13, 20, 27; Nov. 3 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
In Person Only
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Last four weeks of the semester.
A visit, via old-fashioned slides and modern videos, to six continents in search of Major League Baseball players, discovering birds and wildflowers as well. You’ll get a bit of all three.
Instructor: Bill Clark traveled to 45 countries on six continents searching for Major League Baseball players during a 36-year career as a scout for six Major League organizations. His love of birding and interest in botanizing resulted in the acquisition of thousands of slides, many of which he will share during this class.
The Quran: A Living Miracle for Mankind
Tuesdays: Sept. 15, 22, 29; Oct. 6 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
First four weeks of the semester.
For Muslims, the Quran is the holy book, the book of God, and was progressively revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. It constitutes a miracle both in its language and sense and by the recitation of which, God is worshipped in Islam. The Qur’anic text is distinguished by five characteristics: (1) gradualness of revelation, (2) revealed status, (3) status as a miracle, both in its texts and concepts, (4) status as an instrument of worship, and (5) status as God’s own speech.
Instructor: Dr. Rashed Nizam is a board-certified ophthalmologist who has practiced in the Midwest for more than 24 years. He is a member of the Religious Program Advisory Committee for the Missouri Department of Corrections, serves as the chair for the Islamic Society of North America Founders Committee and has served as the chair for the Islamic Center of Central Missouri and the Islamic School of Columbia.
How to Sell Snow to a Snowman: All About Advertising
Tuesdays: Oct. 13, 20, 27; Nov. 3 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Last four weeks of the semester.
Do you consider yourself a savvy consumer? Are you immune to catchy claims? Or were you sucked into reading this description by its title? If you were, you need this course! You’ll learn to recognize a variety of advertising tactics and the psychology behind them. We’ll talk about different forms of advertising, “take a peek under the tent” of this influential industry and discuss the inner workings of an agency and its various departments as well as tricks of the trade. You’ll laugh at real-life ad agency anecdotes, examples of really bad ad ideas and groan-worthy slogans that never saw the light of days — as well as some that unfortunately did.
Instructor: An MU J-School alum, Peg Cameron Gill landed her dream job as a copywriter at the famed agency J. Walter Thompson. After a highly successful career in Chicago, Peg boomeranged back to Columbia in 2013 at the behest of her “townie” husband. She deftly donned many hats here, including a seven-year stint with Zimmer Communications as a multimedia content creator and working as an associate editor of Inside Columbia magazine. This was followed by freelance writing for Missouri Life magazine, CoMoBuz and Autism Speaks.
Wednesday Courses
- Ancient Egypt and the Gifts of the Nile
- Gods, Dwarves, and Dragons: Exploring Norse Mythology
- Guardians of Nature: A Journey Through Conservation and Environmental Management in Missouri
- Cats and How to Serve Them
- The American Revolution
Ancient Egypt and the Gifts of the Nile
Wednesdays: Sept. 16, 23, 30; Oct. 7 (4 sessions)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
First four weeks of the semester.
Take a 3,000-year journey through the geography, history, culture, art and architecture of Ancient Egypt. This course will examine Egypt’s prehistory, the pharaohs, the two geographies, the Old Kingdom, the pyramids (along with their mortuary and divine temples), gods and goddesses, and the mummification process. Each session will consist of a lecture and an informational movie clip and/or short video.
Instructor: Valerie Hammons taught courses in Latin, world history, American history and newspaper for 27 years at the junior high and high school levels. Her passion is anything in the Classical world.
Gods, Dwarves, and Dragons: Exploring Norse Mythology
Wednesdays: Oct. 14, 21, 28; Nov. 4 (4 sessions)
10:00 –11:30 a.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Last four weeks of the semester.
Thor and his hammer. Odin and his ravens. Loki the trickster. Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods. Norse mythology has inspired modern fantasy, films and popular culture, but what did the Vikings themselves believe? This course explores the fascinating world of pre-Christian Scandinavia through mythology, archaeology, literature and history. We will meet gods, giants, dwarves, dragons, seeresses and heroes while examining Viking ideas about fate, magic, death and the structure of the cosmos. Along the way, we will consider what Norse myths reveal about everyday life in the Viking Age and how these stories have continued to shape modern culture. No previous knowledge is required, only curiosity and a willingness to journey into one of the world’s great mythological traditions.
Instructor: Signe Cohen is a professor of religious studies at the University of Missouri. She specializes in the religions and mythologies of Northern Europe and South Asia and has taught courses on Norse mythology, ancient religions, folklore and comparative mythology. She is the author of numerous books and articles on religion and mythology and is passionate about making ancient traditions accessible to modern audiences.
Guardians of Nature: A Journey Through Conservation and Environmental Management in Missouri
Wednesdays: Sept. 16, 23, 30; Oct. 7 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Last four weeks of the semester.
Explore the vital role of conservation and environmental management in Missouri’s rich ecological landscape. Across the four sessions we’ll examine the history of citizen involvement in conservation, the origins and evolution of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and today’s approaches to environmental protection at the local, state and national levels. We’ll discuss current environmental challenges and opportunities while discovering ways to help protect Missouri’s natural resources for future generations.
Instructors: Sara Parker Pauley recently retired as the 9th Director of the Missouri Department of Conservation, making history as the first female director. She also directed the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. A Columbia native, Sara holds a bachelor’s and law degree from MU, and completed post-graduate studies in Australia as a Rotary Fellow.
Dave Mosby is a retired environmental scientist with 37 years of experience in government service, primarily with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. His expertise encompasses air quality enforcement, water quality monitoring, hazardous waste clean-up, and habitat restoration.
Leanne Tippett Mosby recently retired as the sustainability manager at MU, where she led sustainability initiatives across campus operations. Before this role, she spent 22 years at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in various leadership positions and oversaw programs aimed at protecting air and water quality. Leanne serves on the Columbia Climate and Environment Commission and the Conservation Federation of Missouri.
Cats and How to Serve Them
Wednesdays: Oct. 14, 21, 28; Nov. 4 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Last four weeks of the semester.
If you live with a cat, you know they don’t have owners – they have staff. Do you serve a feline overlord and want to understand them better? Are you a crazy cat person? Do you like sharing pictures of your cats with people? Do you just want to learn about cats? Join this four-session course about the greatest animal to ever be called a pet.
- Oct. 14: Is My Cat Sick? Cats’ Physical Health with Dr. Chenoa Schwenn-Foster, primary veterinarian at R Veterinary in Columbia.
- Oct. 21: Why Does My Cat Do That? Cats’ Behavioral Health with Dr. Anna Delabar, veterinarian at Kindred Veterinary Services in Columbia.
- Oct. 28: Where Do Cats Come From? Cats’ Evolution and Genetics with Andrew Saeger, a self-described cat nerd who has worked with cats at cat cafes, rescues and veterinary clinics.
- Nov. 4: How Can I Help? Local Cat Resources and Opportunities to Volunteer, Foster and Adopt with Giulia Hall, executive director of Columbia Second Chance.
The American Revolution
Wednesdays: Sept. 16, 23, 30; Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28; Nov. 4 (8 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $60
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
This is an ongoing series. New students are welcome.
Dr. Ward will begin the fall session with the French and Indian War, which led the British government to change its policies toward the American colonies, including levying several new taxes and placing a standing army in the colonies. Reaction to these changes would lead to the Declaration of Independence and the ensuing war.
Instructor: Dr. Jay Ward was born in Springfield, Mo., and raised in Lexington, Mo. He was an undergraduate at Northwestern University and received a medical degree from the University of Missouri. Upon retiring from medicine after 30 years, he received a master’s degree and doctorate in U.S. history from MU.
Thursday Courses
- Just Stories
- Elemental Archaeology: How Archaeologists Use Science to Understand the Past
- The Graphic Novel: Literature or Glorified Comic Book?
- The Apostle Paul: The Man and the Myth
- “My Cousin Rachel”: The Movie
- Exploring the Natural Wonders of Boone County
- Charles Dickens: Editor, Actor, Philanthropist, Philanderer
Just Stories
Thursdays: Sept. 17, 24; Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 (6 sessions)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Modified Hybrid*
Course Fee: $60
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
First six weeks of the semester.
*Dr. Brown will take questions from the in-person audience live; online participants may email questions to be addressed in later sessions.
This class will be a series of storytelling presentations (and maybe a song or two) featuring original and adapted oral narratives. Each week will include a dozen stories organized around a thematic category and will represent works to be included in a forthcoming collection by the author. Opportunity will be given for reflection and discussion.
Instructor: Larry Brown is a retired MU assistant professor of human geography, with a Ph.D. in Policy Studies, an M.A. in Geography, a Master of Divinity and a B.A. in Sociology. Larry is a professional storyteller, musician and an ordained minister with standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He is a frequent MU Osher instructor on the topics of cultural and political geography, Missouri history and religious studies.Elemental Archaeology: How Archaeologists Use Science to Understand the Past
Thursdays: Oct. 22, 29; Nov. 5, 12 (4 sessions)
9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
In Person Only
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Limit of 30 participants. Class starts on Week 6 and continues one week beyond the semester.
Archaeologists use a variety of scientific methods to better identify, study and preserve evidence of the past. We will explore these methods, including dating, sourcing, remote sensing and conservation. A portable X-ray fluorescence instrument will be used in class to demonstrate some of the ways archaeologists approach artifact compositional analysis. One session will include a tour of the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center — the home of the world’s premier Archaeometry Laboratory.
Instructor: Jeff Ferguson is an associate professor of anthropology and is affiliated with the Archeaometry Lab at MU’s Research Reactor. He has conducted research in many regions, including the American Southwest and Japan. He has published on numerous experimental archaeology research projects and edited a book on the subject in 2010.
The Graphic Novel: Literature or Glorified Comic Book?
Thursdays: Sept. 17, 24; Oct. 1, 8 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
In Person Only
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
First four weeks of the semester. Limit of 20. This is a two-hour class.
No, we will not be reading Lady Chatterley’s Lover or Maurice. Instead, we will be exploring the heavily illustrated works for adults referred to as “the graphic novel.” We will start with a history of illustration as well as explore what literature is and is not, and then read the following in this order: (1) Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman, (2) Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi, and (3) participants will have a CHOICE of reading either Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel or A Fire Story by Brian Fies.
Materials Note: Students will need to provide their own three texts. All are available through Daniel Boone Regional Library, at local bookstores or on the internet.
Instructor: Dr. Victoria Hubbell has spent her career teaching reading and writing at all levels, spurred by her personal love of doing both. Victoria enjoys researching for her classes almost as much as she enjoys welcoming students into the world of literature. Hubbell’s third book, Missus Noah, will be published this fall by Iris Press.
The Apostle Paul: The Man and the Myth
Thursdays: Sept. 17, 24; Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; Nov. 5 (8 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Who was St. Paul? Many know the story in the Acts of the Apostles of Paul’s blinding vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus and subsequent journey to Jerusalem. Yet this story conflicts with Paul’s own description of the incident in his Epistle to the Galatians. Acts also describes his dramatic appeal to a Roman court as a Roman citizen, yet Paul himself never mentions his Roman identity. Was he a Jew or a Christian? Why do his Epistles only quote Jesus twice? Did he really say women should be silent in church? Paul declared himself “all things to all men” (1 Corinthians), and the course will examine these diverse identities. We will discuss (1) Paul’s mystical understanding of Jesus’ death, (2) his belief that the end times have come, and (3) his mission to allow gentiles into the Jesus movement.
Instructor: Timothy Materer earned a Ph.D. in English and Humanities from Stanford University and is an emeritus professor of English at the University of Missouri. He has taught many Osher courses on the Bible.
“My Cousin Rachel”: The Movie
Thursdays: Sept. 17, 24 (2 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
In Person Only
Course Fee: $20
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
First two weeks of the semester.
Based on a Daphne Du Maurier novel, “My Cousin Rachel” (2017) is an atmospheric suspense story that relies heavily on mystery and ambiguity (like Henry James’s novella Turn of the Screw, but without the ghosts). The cinematography is wonderful, and Rachel Weisz is superb in the starring role. Set in Cornwall in the 1830s, the story follows 24-year-old Philip Ashley, a young Englishman who plots revenge against his late cousin’s mysterious, beautiful wife, believing her responsible for his death. But his feelings become complicated as he finds himself falling under the beguiling spell of her charms. The group will watch the film over the two sessions, with instructor-moderated discussions each week.
Instructor: Mike Trial graduated from MU in 1969. He served in the Army, then worked for 30 years as a civil engineering manager at various locations in the U.S. and overseas.
Exploring the Natural Wonders of Boone County
Thursdays: Sept. 17, 24; Oct. 1, 8 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
In Person Only
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
First four weeks. Limit of 25 participants. Sessions will meet at various locations; students are responsible for their own transportation.
Learn about four nature programs available in Boone County. The first three weeks will be site visits; on the fourth week, the Mizzou Botanic Garden staff will present at the Moss Building.
September 17: Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
On this leisurely half-mile stroll (including some stairs), take in unique geological features characteristic of the area’s karst topography. You’ll see the famous natural tunnel and Devil’s Icebox cave (optional stairs to the cave). Learn about the cave’s flora and fauna as well as the history of Rock Bridge Farm, its whiskey distillery that thrived in the 1800s and an early 1900s amusement park. Presented by Marilyn Toalson, a retired teacher and current learning specialist for Mizzou Academy High School, who grew up near Rock Bridge Farm.
September 24: Boone County Nature School
This school provides a place-based learning experience through a unique partnership between Columbia Public Schools (CPS) and the Missouri Department of Conservation. All CPS 5th graders attend this school for seven days across three seasons. Ragan Webb, the elementary science coordinator for CPS, will lead the session.
October 1: Jefferson Farm and Extension Education Center
Join Director Charles Holland to explore Jefferson Farm and its mission focused on accessibility for people of all ages and abilities to experience and participate in Missouri’s largest industry. The farm strengthens communities, fosters agricultural literacy and cultivates a more resilient and diverse future for Missouri agriculture.
October 8: Mizzou Botanic Garden
Discover the garden’s beauty and diversity, guided by Joe Kovolyan, director, and Jenna Sommer, assistant director of horticulture, who will share insights into the stewardship, vision and ongoing development of this garden as a living laboratory and educational resource.
Charles Dickens: Editor, Actor, Philanthropist, Philanderer
Thursdays: Oct. 15, 22, 29; Nov. 5 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Hybrid
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes, no additional fees
Last four weeks of the semester.
People know Charles Dickens as the creator of A Christmas Carol and 15 novels. But Dickens managed many ventures simultaneously during his career. He edited two weekly magazines; he and his friend Wilkie Collins wrote a play, which they mounted professionally; he participated on the boards of several charities; and he set aside his wife, with whom he had 10 children, without divorcing her, to allow himself the freedom to develop a relationship with the teenaged professional actress he’d met during the production of his play. We will see the Victorian world in all its complexity in his editing, acting and charitable activities as well as the hidden life of his last 12 years.
Instructor: Rebecca DeNeve served as a legal editor, legislative analyst and literature instructor. She maintains a lifelong interest in the juncture of literature and science.
Friday Value-Added Sessions
Each semester, Osher@Mizzou offers a collection of one-time, 90-minute lectures that are open to all current Osher members. Yes, this is another value-added perk!