Tuesday Courses   

Each week participants will consider a different critical or current issue. The group will analyze at least three perspectives or viewpoints for addressing this issue. We will use the Deliberative Democracy framework to thoughtfully review each of these ideas. Topics will be selected by the group in a survey in the first session. Class members are encouraged to bring open minds and analytical thinking to our discussion-oriented class.

"Before Monet, there was Pissarro," writes the Denver Art Museum in its announcement of the extraordinary exhibition "Camille Pissarro: The Honest Eye," open from October 24, 2025, to February 8, 2026. This course will focus on the life and times of Camille Pissarro, his unusual background, and how he became the supporter and mentor to the famed painters of his milieu: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt, Sisley, and Morisot—the Impressionists known as the painters of "soft skies and radical ideas." Also included in the six PowerPoint presentations will be those painters who influenced Pissarro and how he in turn influenced those who followed him. The course will be presented in two formats: Tuesday mornings in person at Jefferson Unitarian Church and Wednesday mornings via Zoom. Participants may attend either or both presentations.

Participants will pay for only six classes, but the facilitator is offering two bonus sessions: a morning at the museum on Tuesday, January 27, and an all-French breakfast on Tuesday, March 3.

This is Part Four of a four-course political philosophy ensemble extending over four academic periods starting Fall 2024 and concluding Winter 2026. Its primary focus is on issues of inequality and their relationship to capitalism and liberalism. The primary text, Thomas Piketty's Capital and Ideology (Part Four for this course), is divided into four parts of roughly 200–250 pages each. The course will generally follow the chapter structure with additional readings and videos augmenting and critiquing Piketty's arguments. The Winter 2026 course will generally focus on Piketty's thinking regarding the political-ideological conflicts on the question of "just inequality." The text provides a foundation for thinking about inequality as well as a point of departure for considering contemporary capitalism, liberalism, illiberalism, and democracy. The previous courses, Parts 1 through 3, are not necessary prerequisites for Part 4; however, participants will be expected to be familiar with the key concepts introduced in the Piketty text.

Required text: Thomas Piketty, Capital and Ideology. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2020. Available in hard copy, EBook, and Audio Book.

This is a discussion of the current week's events in the first hour. Dick will do the first week overview. Then the facilitators would like two people in class to volunteer each week to do an overview of the week before. The second hour will be a discussion of a specific topic. The facilitators of this class express a progressive point of view on American politics. They welcome conservative or other points of view and encourage discussion as part of our learning experience.

This will not be a discussion, debate, argument, or continuing complaint about current problems with health care. Deliberation is a well-known process called a "reasoning exchange" where members examine several "frameworks" or sections of a public problem. This keeps the group focused on only one piece of the issue and not bogged down on a more global view. It will include 15-20 OLLI members, hopefully various health care professionals, citizens who have no involvement in health care, and perhaps leaders in the community from business, education, and nonprofits. Luckily, perhaps a local political leader. Each framework will call for the "considered judgment" of each participant, not a vote up or down. This process is more personal, with respect for each person's opinions. The first class will be a brief presentation on the process. Each session will present a specific framework to engage: the standing of health care in a modern society, what is universal care, financing health care in the state, governance and its specific services, cost containment, service delivery, evolution of malpractice, and funding and development of professional manpower in the state.

Overexploitation of ground-water aquifers occurs worldwide. The Atlantic and Coastal Plains Aquifer in the U.S. exemplifies recent trends to rely more on ground water. Emerging topics include undersea fresh-water aquifers, how ground-water pumping is altering the rotation of the earth, and geoengineering to mitigate climate change. These are some of the emerging issues to be discussed in this course. As water scarcity becomes more acute—by 2030, fresh-water demand may exceed supply by 40%. Water-supply contamination and water-management issues are affecting drinking-water supplies in rural areas. A case study in the Guanajuato state in Mexico will involve water-supply contamination, regulatory conflicts, and frustrations by local community activists to resolve this issue. Mitigation of climate change using geoengineering may help reduce freshwater demands. Some of the proposed geoengineering methods include the three broad categories (1) carbon dioxide removal (CDR); (2) solar radiation management (SRM) and (3) earth surface interventions such as glacial geoengineering and ocean heat management.

Sorry, this isn’t a course about fashion sense and/or adult beverages. Instead, it asks what Charlotte Perkins Gilman, O. Henry, Katherine Mansfield, Zora Neale Hurston, and four other authors have in common. Answer: They each have written a short story that appears on a “great” or “best” list of national and international short stories.

So, what makes these “shorts” memorable? Do they surprise you with unexpected elements? How do the authors elevate your reading experience? What makes them great or the best? Join me as we determine for ourselves whether they are the BEST!

As for “the unexpected part,” the commentaries are 21st century essays that explore the Beatles and hip-hop. Thus, one might ask: what relationship exists between the “shorts” and the “commentaries?” Maybe none. However, perhaps our readings, analyses, and discussions will reveal multiple connections.

Soft copies of all stories and essays will be emailed to participants.

This class will be based on the format of dialogue, which exemplifies the heart of democracy. The facilitators propose to discover together with participants what constitutes a deep and resilient democracy. A sample of some questions that will be considered is as follows: What virtues does democracy require of individuals, members of institutions, and society at large? What inspiration and practical advice will we be able to offer ourselves and our grandchildren as a consequence of our exploration? The facilitators leave you with this quote by Buckminster Fuller: "You can never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."

Required text: John Keane, The Shortest History of Democracy, The Paperback Edition

Quantum mechanics is arguably the most important invention of the human mind. Our standard of living has increased significantly due to applications of technology in computers and communications, education, entertainment, medical devices, navigation, energy production, travel safety, and other advancements, yet many mysteries remain. Experiments show that the quantum world is weirder than science fiction. Scientists cannot agree on how to interpret its seemingly illogical predictions, despite the theory's continued success in explaining the world of the atom and its components. This class will present the history of quantum science, its key personalities, and a non-technical explanation of its guiding tenets, what is and isn't understood, and the exciting future it offers in computing and communication security. Professors usually say "Shut up and calculate" to students who want answers about the foundations of quantum mechanics. We will expose those shadowy areas and offer the best current explanations.

Lately, we have been bombarded with commentary about generational differences. We hear that Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are hogging prime real estate and leadership positions, while Gen X (born 1965-1979) are described as out-of-sight--similar to middle children. Furthermore, Millennials (born 1980-1994) are selfish due to delaying marriage and child-bearing, and Gen Z (born 1995-2012) are said to be pessimistic and unmotivated. Meanwhile, the Silent Generation (born 1925-1945) are...silent!

• Are the popular descriptions of people in those five generations accurate? Or are they about as reliable as horoscopes?
• If there are real differences, what contributed to the variations in attitudes and behaviors?

By reviewing economic, political, and social-cultural events and trends for the decades between 1940 and 2020, we will confirm actual differences associated with generational groups while identifying contributors to those deviations. This course will involve active group discussions and conclusions.

This movement-oriented class will combine seated, standing, and kneeling postures. Modifications will be given for most postures—the point of this hour is more about giving yourself time to breathe and move with your body than it is about doing a posture in a particular way. We will combine dynamic and static movements, simple mobility exercises with postures that help to build strength and stability. Props are highly encouraged—blocks, blankets, chairs, and straps, in addition to mats, will help give you great success if you find you have limits in a posture. Instruction on how to use these props will also be provided, so you can get comfortable enough to focus on your breath, the most powerful part of practice. Join us for a beautiful session connecting body, mind, and spirit.

Required materials: A yoga mat, 2 blocks; Recommended materials: A bolster & strap (could use a pillow & a belt)

While some leaders have sought power, money, and glory in their pursuits, others like Gandhi, King, and Mandela, chose to lead their oppressed peoples against seemingly invincible power in search of justice and freedom. Rather than earning great wealth, they were imprisoned and, in two cases, assassinated. Why did they do that?

This course will explore several important questions. What was in their makeups and their backgrounds that led them to lead their oppressed peoples in a fight for justice and freedom? What “magic” did they have that led them to harness the support of their peoples? What unique strategies did they use to win against superior power?

And finally, what have been the long-term outcomes of their heroic efforts? What can we learn about leadership from these men? The eight weeks of classes will consist of some lecture, videos, and lots of discussion.

Explore the foundations of music in this fun and accessible course designed for lifelong learners. We’ll cover the basics of rhythm, melody, harmony, and musical form, using familiar examples and interactive exercises. You'll also have the chance to try your hand at simple composition, with guidance and feedback in a supportive environment. No prior music experience is necessary—just curiosity and a love of music!

Participants should have a laptop with the ability to run musescore (a free program that needs Windows 10 or higher, Mac OS 11.5 or higher, or recent Linux distributions). The facilitator prefers that participants load musescore before the first class.

This course will be a combination literature and history class. The book we’ll read is Sinclair Lewis’s 1935 novel "It Can’t Happen Here." Lewis was the first American recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. He’s well-known for such novels as "Main Street," "Babbitt," "Elmer Gantry," "Arrowsmith," and "Dodsworth." In his 1930 Nobel acceptance speech, Lewis warned that in America, literature was stifled by a “standardization of thought,” and he criticized publishers, critics, and readers who resisted frank portrayals of American life.

In addition to reading Lewis’s book, we’ll take a close look at the history of 1930s America. The 1930s in the United States (in the shadow of the Great Depression and global political upheavals) saw a wide range of extreme political personalities and movements. Among the individuals we’ll examine are Father Coughlin, Huey Long, William Pelley, and Francis Townsend. We’ll also focus on social movements such as the National Union for Social Justice, the American Liberty League, the Silver Legion of America, the German American Bund, America First, Share Our Wealth, and the Communist Party USA.

Required text: Sinclair Lewis: It Can't Happen Here, copyright 1935

The origin of Judeo-Christian values that cemented the foundation of Western Civilization must be studied and understood in order to preserve these values for the future. This series of lectures will cover Jewish history, addressing the major points of positive and negative intersections with Christianity and their complex relationship. The series will emphasize that Judaism and Christianity have more commonalities than divisions. The topics will cover Biblical and post-Biblical Jewish history through the First and the Second Temples, the history of the diaspora, the birth of Christianity, the interplays between the Church and Synagogue in antiquities, Renaissance, Middle Ages through Reformation up to the Enlightenment and finally, modern times. The goals of this series of lectures are to build a better understanding of the shared history and shared values within the Judeo-Christian world in order to construct bridges to a common future for many generations to come.

Recommended texts: 1) Max I. Dimont. Jews, God, and History. 2)Paul Johnson. A History of the Jews. 3) A.N. Wilson. Jesus: A Life. 4) James Carroll. Constantine’s Sword.

This course will have the same format as Spring Term 2024, but with different composers and historic events. This class is for lovers of music and history. During each session, we will learn about one particular time in a composer's life and the composition it inspired. Our chosen composers are Mozart, Beethoven, Glinka, Wagner, Shostakovich, and Crumb. Histories will cover the Habsburg and Ottoman Empires, France during and after the Revolution, Russia and its tsars, Germany and the industrial revolution, the Soviet Union under Stalin, and the United States during the Vietnam War. Each session is selected from "Music as a Mirror of History," a lecture series by Professor Robert Greenberg, a prolific presenter of music-related topics for Great Courses who presents in a lively, engaging style. Here he turns to connections between specific compositions and their historical context. Many of these topics will have somber backstories. We will hear and view one lecture per session, leaving ample time for discussion and further exploration.

Why are there volcanoes in Washington and Oregon, but not Idaho? Why is California threatened by large earthquakes, but Colorado is seismically quiet? Why is the island of Hawaii, the world’s highest mountain from sea floor to summit, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but Mt. Everest is landlocked? In this class we will review and discuss the history and evidence for the theory of plate tectonics, which was the most significant advance in geology in the 20th century. This unifying theory explained many geological conundrums, and has withstood the test of time. We will examine how the outer rigid layer of Earth is broken into several plates that move with respect to each other. Movement of these plates creates earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, ocean basins and continents. Buying a retirement home in California or Costa Rica? You might want to learn about plate tectonics first!

America is a single nation but made up of states, of regions, and of peoples. Increasingly, we talk about regional differences based on religion, ethnicity, and national origin. How did these regions arise? Why do they matter? Using Colin Woodard's book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, we will trace the growth of regional differences and attempt to understand their continued influence.

Required text: Colin Woodard, American Nations

While movies, documentaries, and books may seem to portray the German population meekly falling in line with the Nazi agenda, a small percentage stood against the Nazi threat, unaffected by the populist pipe dream. Students such as the White Rose, military officers such as von Stauffenberg, newspapers like the Munich Post, and Jews such as the Herbert Baum Group, Niuta Teitlebaum (Little Wanda), and Roza Robota all stood bravely in the face of death. This class examines the courage needed to stand against mindless tyranny.

In this course, we will survey the lives of seven modern geniuses who profoundly altered their fields but who remain largely anonymous in the public eye: Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (astronomy); Stanley Miller (chemistry); George Cantor (infinity); Vernon Smith (economics); Robert Trivers (biology); V. S. Ramachandran (neuroscience); and Kurt Gödel (truth). When we're done, we'll get a glimpse of the surprising connections across some of these seemingly disparate fields of study, and perhaps also a glimpse of the sometimes-porous boundary between genius and madness.

Let's go back and enjoy some of Hollywood's best song and dance scenes. We will see some classical dance scenes with Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Donald O'Connor, Chayanne, Ginger Rogers, Ann Miller, Vanessa Williams, Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Beals, John Travolta, Bob Fosse, Gwen Verdon, and many more. Much of the music will come from well-known musicals such as Damn Yankees, On the Town, Swing Time, Hellzapoppin, Fiddler on the Roof, Mamma Mia, Rocketman, Singing in the Rain, Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, Rodgers and Hammerstein shows, Cole Porter, Lerner and Loewe, and George M. Cohan. This is a class to sit back and enjoy.

Join former professional dancers Joy and Jeffrey Engel for an insider's view of the life of a professional ballet dancer. The Engels will share their experiences and insights using videos and discussions to explore how young ballet students develop into professional dancers. The first class will focus on the different training styles and student progress using videos of classes from some of the world's major ballet academies. The next class will feature dancers auditioning and in competitions. The last two classes will explore the challenging career of a professional ballet dancer with videos of rehearsals and onstage performances. Comments and questions from class members are always appreciated.

The Blues: Roots and Branches, Part 2 continues to explore The Blues, its origins, evolution and expansion into other musical genres, particularly rock 'n' roll. This course is independent of The Blues, Part 1 and can be taken and enjoyed without one having taken Part 1. The class includes lectures, music, music video, documentaries and class discussion. The class will focus upon the important and influential musicians of The Blues and its branches, as well as others whose contributions helped the genre and its "branches" to grow, evolve and branch out. There will also be lecture and discussion regarding the connections between The Blues and its branches and the socioeconomic and historical influences upon The Blues and the musical genres that evolved out of The Blues. The class will conclude with an examination of the recent and current state of The Blues, including some recent video of current Blues musicians, such as Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Kingfish Ingram.

Among the important and influential musicians and contributors to be discussed in Part 2 will be (not in the following order) Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, Sam Phillips, Elvis Presley, the Chess Brothers, Chuck Berry, Lonnie Donegan, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Jimmie Page, Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, Buddy Guy, Albert King, Freddie King, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Joe Bonamassa.

Take the mystery out of digital photography and start creating images you're proud of. This interactive, hands-on course introduces you to the fundamentals of using your digital camera (point-and-shoot, mirrorless, hybrid, DSLR—this is NOT a smartphone camera course), selecting lenses, and mastering light with portable flash units. Whether you're new to photography or seeking a creative refresher, you'll gain confidence, technical understanding, and an artistic eye through guided instruction and practice on the University of Denver campus.

Required materials: Point-and-shoot, mirrorless, hybrid, DSLR type camera– this is NOT a smartphone camera course. Recommended materials: Portable or attached flash unit.

Denver has nearly 60 designated historic districts. We will visit them all over this four-week class and explore what each one adds to an understanding of Denver's history and culture. Our first class will cover Denver's Historic Preservation Ordinance and the process and criteria for historic district designation. We'll also look at significant architectural styles of the periods represented in various historic districts. Subsequent classes will look at each historic district and who and what made it significant. Districts are spread throughout Denver, so this is an opportunity to get to know some new parts of town. There are no reading requirements, but a reading guide will be provided.

Life is busy. What connects it all? Join this six-session course to discover Judaism’s timeless approach to meaning in life. Participants will hear answers to some of life’s most fundamental questions: What is meaning? Where does it come from? And if we have it all, why do we seek more? Participants will gain tools to see the meaning in the routines, relationships, and rhythms of time that shape their lives. Discover the purpose in what has been achieved and in what lies ahead. *No previous Jewish learning required.

This course will satisfy the continuing education requirements of doctors, psychologists, social workers, LMFTs, and LMHC/LPCs in most states Go to myjli.com/continuingeducation for a complete accreditation statement. myJLI.com

Please note that this course includes a $26 book fee, which will be automatically added to your course fee during checkout.

In this deep dive into the elegant and accessible poetry of Mary Oliver, we'll study a wide variety of her poems in depth and then have fun doing our own writing. You'll have an opportunity to share, but this is always optional. We hope most of all that students enjoy the process of creating a poem—it's not as difficult as it appears. We welcome aspiring or practicing poets of all levels, but take particular interest in those who are new to the craft.

Embark on a virtual photography journey through the awe-inspiring landscapes of the American West. From the rugged frontier of Yellowstone to California's coastal cliffs and Joshua Trees, this online course explores both iconic and lesser-known locations across Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and surrounding regions. You'll learn how to capture the essence of place through light, composition, and timing—while discovering insider tips from a "been there" photographer's perspective. Each session features practical shooting advice, visual storytelling techniques, and location-specific insights that inspire creativity for photographers of all levels. Whether you're planning your next trip or simply love to explore from home, you'll come away ready to turn your travels into powerful visual and oral stories.

Required materials: Digital camera or Smartphone camera, curiosity, and a notebook

Recommended materials: Regional Map

The 1930s were a decade of uncertainty and dramatic change in the US and throughout the world. In this course, we will use Timothy Egan's book The Worst Hard Time as a jumping-off point to explore many of the events that defined the 1930s. A few of the topics we will touch on include: the Dust Bowl, the stock market crash, the New Deal, economic protectionism, American isolationism, the westward migration, and the effects of the depression on everyday life and family dynamics.

Required text: Timothy Egan, The Worst Hard Time

The art of a culture often reflects its values, concerns, struggles, and preoccupations. This truism is especially accurate when it comes to the birth of our world in the tumultuous years of the Renaissance and Reformation. The art of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, and Albrecht Dürer—to name only a few—is a crucial window into the birth pangs of our world. In this course we will delve into the emergence of our world and explore how the artists' eyes help us to understand, appreciate, and explore the challenges, opportunities, and anxieties that continue to shape our lives today.

Virginia Woolf is considered one of the most important writers of the twentieth-century because of her modernist “stream of consciousness” technique and because of her feminist essays. She was also at the center of the Bloomsbury Group, a group of artists, writers, and philosophers who came to define the intellectual life of England between the two world wars.

In this novel, published in 1927, a large family and their guests spend summers in a house in the Hebrides, just as Woolf and her family spent summers in St. Ives in Cornwall in the Southwest of England. The novel presents the personalities and tensions among this large cast of characters. Additionally, Woolf raises issues of gender, change, bereavement, finding meaning in artistic creation, and the ways that memories and the past continually impinge on the present. Join us as we explore To the Lighthouse.

Required text: To the Lighthouse, the Virginia Woolf Library Annotated Edition. ISBN 978-0-156-9073922. (Please obtain this edition so we can all be, literally, on the same page.)

This class will feature two or more videos per session, followed by a discussion of the subjects featured in each video. The films will be primarily documentaries and TED Talks focused on issues of importance and current interest. These topics are guaranteed to be wide-ranging. Please join us and bring your curiosity, discussion skills, and sense of humor.

This course covers the panorama of Westerns in cinema. We'll watch classic Westerns and discuss them. Why have Westerns resonated so powerfully with audiences? Why did they dominate the large and small screen, and why did they become less popular? What makes Westerns endure, and how have they adapted into other genres and cultures? Who were the important directors, writers, and actors of Western cinema? How do Westerns depict or distort history? How have Westerns influenced our culture and politics? Course sessions will include a mix of presentation and discussion. The facilitator will give some background on that week's topic, followed by a discussion of the movie of the week.

Each week, we will watch a movie before class and discuss. Rental of movies on streaming services will be required.

Note: Because of streaming availability changes, we may replace the planned movie for a particular week.

The questions of who we are as human beings and our place in the world have been at the heart of human thinking since ancient times. In this class, I will cover fundamental issues about who we are and the universe we live in, drawing on two major philosophical questions and current scientific research. Do we have free will? What is time? What is our location in the universe? Is reality the same at the quantum level as it is at our everyday scale? The close relationship between philosophy and advances in science reveals answers that stretch our minds in ways our ancestors could not have conceived.

"The Yanks Are Coming!" The Allies on the Western Front were exhausted. Three years of hard and bitter fighting drained the countries of their finest men. Casualties were appalling. Poison gas, machine guns, and artillery caused a stalemate that resulted in trench warfare. "Over the Top" was the cry, but it meant walking into a hail of bullets and shells. New blood and new ideas were needed. Could the Yanks supply both? With Russia now out of the war, the Germans could move their troops from the Eastern Front to the West and attack one last time. Battles such as Meuse-Argonne, Belleau Wood, and others led to the final collapse of the German forces. We end the class with a look at the Versailles Treaty. It was supposed to solve the problems that caused the war and prevent another from ever happening again. How did it fail?

“The Yanks Are Coming!” The Allies on the Western Front were exhausted. Three years of hard and bitter fighting drained the countries of their finest men. Casualties were appalling. Poison gas, machine guns, and artillery caused a stalemate that resulted in trench warfare. “Over the Top” was the cry but it meant walking into a hail of bullets and shells. New blood and new ideas were needed. Could the Yanks supply both? With Russia now out of the war, the Germans could move their troops from the Eastern Front to the West and attack one last time. Battles such as the Meuse Argonne, Belleau Woods, and others led to the final collapse of the German forces. We end the class with a look at the Versailles Treaty. It was supposed to solve the problems that caused the war and prevent another from ever happening again. How did it fail?