Osher (OLLI) Spring 2025 Schedule of Courses & Events by UCLA_Extension

Spring 2025

Schedule

of Courses & Events

UCLA EXTENSION GAYLEY CENTER 1145 Gayley Avenue

In Westwood, a variety of public parking lots and metered parking are available throughout the village. Please expect daily parking costs to range from $3–$22 depending on time and day. For additional parking options in Westwood, go to www.uclaextension.edu/oshermap. H

Los Angeles, CA 90024

OLLI Office: Suite 120

OLLI lounge & classrooms located on the first floor.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UCLA

No tests. No grades. Just learning for the sheer joy of learning.

OLLI at UCLA provides a unique opportunity for individuals age 50+ to engage in an extensive program of noncredit courses and special programs amongst a dynamic community of lifelong learners.

OLLI at UCLA membership gives you access to:

• A dynamic offering of noncredit courses

• Free events exclusively for members

• Leadership & volunteer opportunities

• Discounts to select UCLA events

• Discounts with select retailers in Westwood

• OLLI member lounge in Westwood

Renew or join OLLI at UCLA today!

OLLI at UCLA membership begins the quarter you join and lasts for one full year.

Choose from two tiers of membership:

Basic Membership – $50/year

Basic members enroll at regular course fees.

Plus Membership – $295/year

Plus members enroll at significantly reduced course fees.

To enroll in courses and become a member, visit uclaextension.edu/olli.

TASTE OF OSHER, page 6

SPECIAL PROGRAMS, page 12

LECTURE COURSES, page 14

DISCUSSION GROUPS, page 22

FOREIGN LANGUAGES, page 26

CREATIVITY, GAMES & MOVEMENT, page 28

LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, page 34

GIVING, page 35

INSTRUCTORS, page 37

GENERAL INFORMATION AND POLICIES, page 42

OLLI MEMBERSHIP & ENROLLMENT FORM, page 43

Taste of Osher

SPRING 2025 SCHEDULE

No membership required. These two-hour seminars provide a "taste" of the programming we offer throughout the year. Taste of Osher courses are open to non-members and members alike, and are just $15 each, unless otherwise noted. OLLI Plus members can enroll at no cost. No refunds allowed.

Quantum Tai Chi, Qigong and the TCM Healing Revolution

{New Course}

Monday, March 31, 1–3 p.m.

In this course, we learn about the latest research in quantum mechanics, neuroscience and epigenetic therapeutic practices as they meet and align with the powerful and ancient healing practices of Tai Chi, Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We experience time-proven and effective techniques to reduce stress, build the immune system response, improve our balance and much more.

REG# 402814 | INSTRUCTOR: Samuel Barnes

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave, Room 112

Julian the Apostate: Rome's Last Pagan Emperor {New Course}

Friday, April 7, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

The emperor, Julian, is much more famous than one would expect of a ruler who held power for less than two years. This has much to do with his decision to walk away from the Christianity in which he was raised, embrace paganism and begin a religious program he thought would convince Romans to return to their traditional gods. In this course, we consider why Julian converted, what he did to try to restore traditional Roman religious practices and why his efforts failed.

This course uses the hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom. Speakers will be in the classroom. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 402815 | INSTRUCTOR: Ed Watts

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave, Room 114

John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success - Becoming the Best You

Monday, April 14, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

John Wooden, voted the “greatest coach in the history of American sports,” spent more than 15 years developing the Pyramid of Success. He used it to teach others to exemplify team spirit, achieve competitive greatness, and feel successful. In this course, we play games that help us apply the Pyramid of Success to become the best of which we are capable in our personal and professional lives.

REG# 402822 | INSTRUCTOR: Ron Yee

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave, Room 114

Josephine Baker {New Course}

Friday, April 25, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Josephine Baker (1906-1975) was a flamboyant American-born French dancer and singer who took Paris by storm in the 1920s. Her performances galvanized European audiences, making her the focus of Paris and redirecting the course of continental music, style and art. In this course, we explore her Paris years and learn how she valiantly aided both the French resistance and the Allies by spying on the Axis during the Nazi occupation of France (1940-1944) while sacrificing her personal fortune to aid displaced persons and Jewish refugees. Vivid new video clips depict her unique artistry, comedic brilliance, charisma, courage and emergence as a transcendent avatar of freedom. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to the video for 30 days.

REG# 402827 | INSTRUCTOR: Dave Radlauer

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Wars and the Laws of War {New Course}

Friday, April 25, 1–3 p.m.

The disturbing news of wars around the world compels many to ask why we continue to see these kinds of dirty wars and why those who wage them are not prosecuted for violating the laws governing wars. In this course, we clarify what is meant by war and what distinguishes it from other war-like situations, such as military incidents or armed clashes, preemptive strikes and retributions, as well as terrorism and proxy wars. We also review the different types of war—just and unjust, inter-state and intra-state, local and international, etc.; their causes, including political, economic and social factors; and what the laws of war prohibit. These theoretical explications are complemented by identifying international crimes that were committed in the recent wars of the Horn of Africa and the political efforts that were made to ensure accountability for violating the laws of war, all in vain.

REG# 402828 | INSTRUCTOR: Eyassu Gayim

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 119B

Ancient Bagua meets Quantum Physics, Epigenetics & Neuroscience {New Course}

Monday, May 5, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Monks and nuns of the high-mountain Chinese monasteries used the practice of walking in circles to assist them in their devotional practices. From these practices over several thousand years, Baguazhang or Bagua was developed as an internal martial art that is uniquely healing and balancing for the body and mind. In this course, we learn what quantum physics, neuroscience and epigenetic therapeutic practices have to do with the powerful and ancient healing practices of Bagua. We also experience time-proven and effective techniques to reduce stress, build the immune system response, improve our balance and much more.

REG# 403039 | INSTRUCTOR: Samuel Barnes

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 112

Interiors in Art History {New Course}

Monday, May 12, 1–3 p.m.

When viewing a painting, we generally focus on the person or persons in the image—the facial expressions, who the people were and what the artist was trying to convey about the sitters. But portraits also include information that can be gleaned from a painting, adding depth and meaning to fabrics, jewelry, furniture, lighting and even the arrangement of objects in the background. In this course, we explore interiors throughout art history, unlocking different meanings—not just as a backdrop to portraiture, but as important architectural and decorative elements, reflecting the interior fashions of the time.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to the video for 30 days.

REG# 402830 | INSTRUCTOR: Eleanor Schrader

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Well-Being and Resistance to Loneliness: A Mindful Approach {New Course}

Tuesday, May 13, 1–3 p.m.

Loneliness can be quiet and invisible to others, but painful, and often puzzling to the individual. It can be physically, emotionally and mentally taxing. Loneliness is commonly seen as resulting from the disintegration of traditional community groups, families and social ties, leading to increasing social isolation. Offering an alternate explanation and approach, this course focuses on the paradox of inner connectedness—how one can feel comfortable alone and lonely among others, even close family and friends. We are introduced to several mindfulness practices for strengthening intrapersonal and interpersonal connectedness, including forms of meditation, inner dialogue, visualization and guided imagery.

This course uses the hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom.

REG# 402831 | INSTRUCTOR: Jeffrey Hutter

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 112

Los Angeles in the 1960s: Conflict, Counterculture and Change {New Course}

Tuesday, May 13, 1–3 p.m.

In the 1960s, the baby boomers came of age, and unlike earlier generations, they rejected the norms of their parents. In this course, we explore how this generation gap played out in Los Angeles. Highlights include the Watts Riots in 1965, the Sunset Strip curfew riots in 1966, and the Century City anti-Vietnam War march in 1967. We also look at L.A.’s mod fashion styles, the surfing craze, and movies—including Bonnie and Clyde and The Graduate—that broke conventions and ushered in a new Hollywood era. This course uses the hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 402832 | INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Boorstin

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 121ABC

Give Us Liberty: Black and Native Roles in the American Revolution {New Course} {UCLAxOpen}

Wednesday, May 14, 1–4 p.m.

The American Revolution was a war in which Native Americans and African Americans each fought in great numbers. In this course, we examine the wartime and postwar experiences of both groups. We first explore the war in Native America through the life of one of its most pivotal figures, a Mohawk woman known as Molly Brant, an influential and effective Iroquois ally to Great Britain in the American Revolution, and later, a founder of Kingston, Ontario. We then explore the African American Revolution through the life of Harry, a Mount Vernon stable hand and Black Loyalist, whom the British evacuated to Nova Scotia and who later resettled with nearly 1,200 freedmen in Sierra Leone, where poor conditions compelled Harry to join a rebellion against the British administrators. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to the video for 30 days.

REG# 402834 | INSTRUCTOR: Richard Bell | FEE: Free for all. Membership is not required.

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Women Architects and Designers of the American Arts and Crafts Movement {New Course}

Monday, May 19, 1–3 p.m.

At the turn of the century, reaction against the Industrial Age and a need for honesty and simplicity in design led the proponents of the Arts and Crafts movement to embrace a style of simple comfort and grace, influenced by the colors and materials of the earth. In particular, the women architects and designers of this movement had an important influence upon the built environment and decorative objects of this era. In this course, we explore the lives and designs of Julia Morgan, Mary Coulter, Clara Driscoll, the women of Arequipa Potteries and others within the context of the social and political issues they faced, as they left their unmistakable imprints upon early 20th century design.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to the video for 30 days.

REG# 402835 | INSTRUCTOR: Eleanor Schrader

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Julia Morgan: Pioneering Female Architect of Hearst Castle {New Course}

Thursday, May 28, 1–3 p.m.

Julia Morgan, the first woman to earn an architect's license in California, was a prolific designer of hundreds of buildings. Among the more than 700 buildings in California that she designed, she is best known for her collaboration with publisher William Randolph Hearst and her work on Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. In this course, we explore her life and some of her groundbreaking works from San Pedro to San Francisco, including the Herald Examiner Building in Los Angeles, Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach, the Riverside YWCA (now the Riverside Art Museum and home to the Cheech Marin Collection), Fairmont San Francisco and, of course, a virtual visit to Hearst Castle.

This course uses the hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/ or in the classroom. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 402838 | INSTRUCTOR: Katherine Zoraster

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 121CDE

Japanese American Internment: Memories of Heart Mountain

Tuesday, June 3, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sam Mihara is a second-generation Japanese American (Nisei) born and raised in San Francisco. When World War II broke out, the United States government used armed military guards to force nine-year-old Sam and his family to move to Heart Mountain, Wyoming prison camp. It was one of 10 such camps in the country that together housed more than 120,000 West Coast residents of Japanese ancestry, most of them U.S.born American citizens. Sam and his family lived in one room, 20 by 20 square feet in a barracks for three years. In this course, Sam describes the events leading to internment and life for Japanese American citizens imprisoned at Heart Mountain, Wyoming during World War II. He has also studied the current detention of immigrant families across the country and shares his findings.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to the video for 30 days.

REG# 402291 | INSTRUCTOR: Sam Mihara

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Special Programs

SPRING 2025 SCHEDULE

These events, courses and other unique offerings are available exclusively to OLLI at UCLA members as part of their membership benefits. Special programs are offered at no cost to members. Registration is required.

Special programs are scheduled on an ongoing basis. Please check our website, https://www.uclaextension.edu/osher-olli and then click on See All Upcoming Courses for any updates.

OLLI Video Library {Spring 2025 Access}

OLLI at UCLA members who enroll in this course receive access to a selection of past program recordings in their Canvas student portal. Enjoy more than 50 recordings of 1-day lectures, virtual tours, guest speaker interviews, previous Beyond the Headlines speaker presentations and more. Re-enroll each quarter to continue your access and take advantage of this valuable membership perk. New videos are added every quarter.

REG# 402293 | Once enrolled, wait 24 hours, then log into Canvas: my.uclaextension.edu

OLLI Movie Club

3 Wednesdays, April 2, May 7, June 4, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

In this course, we watch quality modern films at home and have a discussion afterwards on Zoom. The facilitator selects films that are available on Netflix, and members should screen the film at home before meeting with the group on Zoom. Discussions center around story, symbolism, cinematography, presentation and our personal reactions to the films. Films are announced one week before each meeting. Enroll anytime throughout the quarter to join in on the fun.

REG# 402292 | INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Boorstin

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students seven days before each class meeting with the assigned movie title.

Book Talk with Andrea Gilats: Growing Old in an Age of Longevity {New Course}

Thursday, May 29, 10 a.m. –12 p.m.

Andrea Gilats’s memoir, Radical Endurance: Growing Old in an Age of Longevity, has been praised as “a must-read for anyone who is aging (which is all of us).” In this course, she shares insights from Radical Endurance to offer new ways of living a rich life in old age. Topics include: the transition from older to old, facing new realities about the health of our bodies and minds, preserving our independence through as much of our late life as possible, thriving through what could be surprisingly long futures and ageism in ourselves and others. Andrea also reads short but inspiring stories about interesting old people and welcomes questions and stories, both about Radical Endurance and about writing about your own life.

REG# 402844 | INSTRUCTOR: Andrea Gilats

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Lecture Courses

SPRING 2025 SCHEDULE

Lecture courses are taught by high-caliber instructors and guest speakers for which UCLA is world-renowned. OLLI membership is required to enroll in these courses.

Coming to Terms with the Holocaust, Part 8: The American Response

6 Mondays, March 31–May 5, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Understanding how the United States responded to The Holocaust begins with attitudes towards the first Jews who arrived under Dutch governor Peter Stuyvesant in 1654. This course examines America’s history of tolerance and how engrained prejudice influenced the response to The Holocaust. We consider the influence of the original white supremacy radio voice, Catholic Father Charles Coughlin, and how America’s newspapers reported Nazi atrocities. We explore the role of President Roosevelt, the effective ban of Jewish immigration and the struggle to create a War Relief Board. Finally, we ask why many (Christian) Americans turned a blind eye, and whether America’s Jews could have done more.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 401559 | INSTRUCTOR: Steve Sohmer

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $115 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $34

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

History of Furniture and Ornamentation, Part 1: Ancient through Neoclassicism {New Course}

6 Mondays, March 31–May 5, 1–3 p.m.

Throughout history, furniture makers and decorative artists have often been relegated to a lesser status behind painters and sculptors, but furniture and decorative objects are important works of art in and of themselves. These imaginative artists used meticulous methods and sumptuous materials to create beauty and opulence in their creations. In this course, we trace the growth of the furniture trade in Europe, America and other cultures from ancient times through the 18th century, focusing on the detailed methods of marquetry, gilding, lacquering, upholstery, mechanization and other construction techniques. The lives of the artists and their patrons are also discussed in the context of the era in which they lived.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 402803 | INSTRUCTOR: Eleanor Schrader

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $115 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $34

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Beyond the Headlines

8 Tuesdays, April 1–May 20, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Pulled from today’s headlines, this exclusive speaker series offers an in-depth analysis of significant contemporary issues. Each week, an expert from the political, social, technological or economic spectrum provides a 1-hour lecture focused on a major global, national or local issue. Afterwards, students participate in a 30-minute Q&A session with the speaker. A list of speakers for this term will be available online approximately one month before the course begins.

REG# 401560 | INSTRUCTOR: Jim Aldinger FEE: $120 for all members

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 121ABC

A History of American Women Art Collectors {New Course}

6 Tuesdays, April 1–May 6, 1–3 p.m.

Female collectors and patrons have shaped art history for centuries—commissioning works of art, initiating trends and patronizing artists. Many of these collections have formed the basis of important museums, while others have built their own museums. In this course, we look at some of the major historic figures who helped to build these collections and to introduce artists to the world. The significance of this patronage is seen in figures such as Isabella Stewart Gardner, Bertha Potter Palmer and Lousine Havemeyer. Stars in the avant-garde art world include Gertrude Stein, The Cone Sisters and Peggy Guggenheim. And the founders of significant museums include “the Ladies” of MoMA, Gertrude Whitney Vanderbilt and Dominique de Menil.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 402804 | INSTRUCTOR : Katherine Zoraster

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $115 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $34

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Swing Era {New Course}

6 Wednesdays, April 2–May 7, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

The Swing era brought new forms of entertainment and a second flowering of jazz, America’s most original art form. In this course, we explore the entertainers who offset the economic depression: singers Cab Calloway and the Mills Brothers, and bandleaders Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington and the Dorsey brothers. We learn about the bold musical innovations of the era in rhythm, harmony, timbre and composition, accelerated by dynamic artistic and commercial pressures. We also explore how singers Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald transformed the art of the modern song, introducing blues tonality and personalized cadences.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 402805 | INSTRUCTOR: Dave Radlauer

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $115 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $34

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

All That Jazz: Appreciating an American Art Form

8 Wednesdays, April 2–May 21, 1–3 p.m.

Jazz can be a mystery to even the most ardent music lover. In this course, we demystify the various styles and genres, leaving you with a clear understanding and a lasting appreciation of the art form. We follow the evolution of jazz from its origins right up until today—a musical journey that covers more than one hundred years as it swings, sings and plays it hot and cool. We explore the New Orleans Jazz of King Oliver and Louis Armstrong; the Big Bands of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Stan Kenton; Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie’s Bebop to the Post-Bop era of Miles and Coltrane; the West Coast Cool Jazz of Gerry Mulligan and Dave Brubeck; the East Coast Hard Bop of Horace Silver, Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk; and Modern/Free Jazz with Ornette Coleman and Eric Dolphy. In the mid-1980s, the inclusion of new technologies led to the Fusion Jazz of Michael Brecker and Pat Metheny, then on to New Age and the extraordinary contemporary artists. This course is an informative and fun way to both listen to jazz and gain a real understanding of a uniquely American art form.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 402362 | INSTRUCTOR: Andrew Muson

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $135 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

The Mystical Experience {New Course}

8 Wednesdays, April 2–May 21, 1–3 p.m.

A major and recurring feature in world religions is the ecstatic or mystical experience and the effects of such experiences on religious traditions. In this course, we explore mysticism as it appears in archaic, Eastern and Western traditions. We begin with perhaps the earliest of religious experiences, the shamans, and continue with the ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian mystical practices as described in secret texts. We continue with Hinduism, Buddhism and Daoism, which present instructions and evidence of intense mystical experiences; and Judaism, Christianity and Islam, all of which have significant and powerful mystical knowledge. Finally, we address modern ecstatic experiences aided by psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, LSD and MDMA (ecstasy).

REG# 402807 | INSTRUCTOR: Phyllis Herman

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $135 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 121AB

American Regionalism {New Course}

6 Wednesdays, April 2–May 7, 1–3 p.m.

American Regionalism is a realist modern art movement that focused on local, representative scenes of distinctly American locales. It was the dominant style in American art during the 1930s and into the 1940s, in reaction to European Modernism and Abstraction, and as a response to the Great Depression. In this course, we explore the varied works of the Regionalist Triumvirate—Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood and John Steuart Curry, as well as the New York-based Edward Hopper and Pennsylvania's Andrew Wyeth.

This course uses the hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 402808 | INSTRUCTOR: Katherine Zoraster

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $115 | PLUS MEMBER FEE : $34

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 121CDE

Cosmology, Astronomy and Space Exploration in the News

8 Wednesdays, April 2–May 21, 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Due to advances in technology, what we thought we knew about the fundamentals of cosmology, astronomy and space exploration is evolving almost daily. In this course, we explore the latest concepts, news and discoveries regarding multiverses, gravitational waves, black holes, neutron stars, exoplanets and the beginning of our universe. We also follow the progress of NASA's and ESA's missions to the moon, Mars and Europa—Jupiter's ice-covered moon and more.

REG# 401767 | INSTRUCTOR: Shelley Bonus

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $135 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Musical Unusual {New Course}

6 Thursdays, April 3–May 8; April 3, 10, 24; May 8, 1–3:30 p.m.; April 17 & May 1, 1–4 p.m.

Contemporary audiences often find the narrative conventions of classic Hollywood musicals challenging to accept. Understandably, a character unexpectedly bursting into song or dance, or the impossible interactions between a character's voice and its non-diegetic orchestral accompaniment may appear unmotivated and alienating. However, if you think that nothing can get more bizarre than Julie Andrews' singing nuns and flying nannies, or more surreal than Judy Garland crooning to her dog Toto some vague directions to an undisclosed location, you've never seen Cold War musicals like New Year's Punch (1960), where Soviet chemical plant engineers do the splits while discussing productivity quotas with their coworkers. Framed between a precursor of the genre (Ernst Lubitsch's hilarious film-operetta The Love Parade, 1929) and an irreverent parody such as The Meaning of Life (1983), this class explores unconventional and rarely seen musicals made outside of Hollywood's golden era— films that left an indelible trace, whether by creating new standards (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, 1964), experimenting with film language (Francis Ford Coppola's One From the Heart, 1981) or by giving a reboot to subgenres like the jukebox musical (Moulin Rouge!, 2001).

REG# 402809 | INSTRUCTOR: Alex Pirolini

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $135 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 114

George Frideric Handel {New Course}

8 Thursdays, April 3–May 22, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Born in Germany, refined in Italy and celebrated in Britain, Handel's music transcends borders and captures the spirit of an era characterized by grandeur, complexity and expressive depth. In this course, we explore the life, work and enduring impact of George Frideric Handel, one of the 18th century's most influential composers. Through guided listening, historical context and analysis, we delve into Handel’s most celebrated works, including Messiah, Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks, as well as his refined keyboard and other chamber compositions that reveal his skill in smaller, more intimate forms. We also examine Handel's compositional techniques, his role in shaping English music and his influence on subsequent generations of composers

REG# 402671 | INSTRUCTOR: Anahit Rostomyan

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $135 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Woody Allen: The Comedy Years {New Course}

6 Thursdays, April 3–May 8, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Woody Allen’s prolific career as a comedian, writer and filmmaker has spanned more than six decades. Louise Lasser, Diane Keaton, Mia Farrow and Dianne Wiest led a long parade of Hollywood stars who clamored to be in his movies. In this course, we explore his career by showing clips, beginning with his early years and examining his pioneering comic techniques as a stand-up and filmmaker. We take a look at many of his 45 feature films, from Take the Money and Run (1969) to award-winning Annie Hall (1977) to Bullets Over Broadway (1994).

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 402687 | INSTRUCTOR: Martin Marshall

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $115 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $34

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Symphonic Jazz: A Unique American Art Form {New Course}

4 Fridays, April 4–25, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Symphonic Jazz is an innovative hybrid form of music blending the worlds of jazz and classical music, and in this course, we explore its past, present and future. Beginning with Louis Moreau Gottschalk, a 19th-century American composer and piano virtuoso who composed works which combine European-style music with Cuban, Creole and popular melodies and rhythms of the Americas, we journey through its development with American composer and pianist, George Gershwin; American jazz pianist, composer and leader of his jazz orchestra, Duke Ellington; Canadian American jazz pianist, arranger, composer and band leader, Gil Evans; German arranger and conductor Claus Ogerman; and explore the symphonic jazz of today and tomorrow.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 402682 | INSTRUCTOR: Mitch Glickman

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $100 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $30

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Antonio Vivaldi {New Course}

8 Fridays, April 4–May 23, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Antonio Vivaldi was an Italian violinist and composer from the Baroque era. While Vivaldi is best remembered for his four violin concertos entitled The Four Seasons, he is the composer of hundreds of instrumental concerti, many of which were written explicitly for the ensemble he led at the "Ospedale della Pietà." As a Baroque composer, Vivaldi not only played a pivotal role in the changing tastes of music in the early 18th century, but he also had a significant resurgence in popularity in the 20th century, where his music played an important part in defining the modern early music movement and the use of period instruments in performance. In this course, we explore the most important publications of his concertos, including L’estro Armonico, La Stravaganza and Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione, the latter of which includes The Four Seasons. But we also explore some of his chamber music, religious works and most notably, his role as an important Venetian opera composer, with works as diverse as Orlando Furioso, Ercole su'l Termodonte and Motezuma. As we explore this music, we assess Vivaldi’s legacy in music history and as an enduringly popular composer in present-day performance traditions.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 402700 | INSTRUCTOR: Ryan Shiotsuki

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $135 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

The Music of Franz Schubert

8 Fridays, April 4–May 23, 1–3 p.m.

Franz Schubert is one of the great composers of the early nineteenth century. Born in 1797, Schubert was first noticed by Antonio Salieri and continued a career as a younger Viennese contemporary of Beethoven, but sadly died at the very young age of thirty-one. Schubert was known primarily as the best composer of lieder during this period. While songs make up the bulk of his repertory, he is also known for his exciting chamber music, masterfully balanced symphonic style and virtuosic piano writing. His music is often more intimate and emotional, challenging even the most mature listeners. In this course, we listen to and analyze some of the most famous works by Schubert and relate them to the art, literature and history of the early nineteenth century.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 401706 | INSTRUCTOR: Ryan Shiotsuki

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $135 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

The Religious Roots of American Identity: 1750-1850 {New Course} 3 Wednesdays, April 9–23, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

In this course, we explore the significant religious influences that shaped American identity from the British colonial period to the American Civil War. We examine key religious movements and ideas, their socio-political impacts and the role of religion in shaping early American attitudes and policies, including religious tolerance, separation of church and state and slavery. Participants will gain an understanding of how religious diversity and revivalism influenced the development of American society and contributed to the ideological foundations of the American Revolution and the Civil War.

REG# 402806 | INSTRUCTOR: Peter Cipkowski

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $95 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $28

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 121CDE

Captivating Clips from Classic Courtroom Movies {New Course}

5 Tuesdays, May 13–June 10, 1–3 p.m.

Real trials and courtroom movies are made for each other. Lawyers are storytellers, courtrooms are theaters and trials can provide drama, surprise, suspense, laughs and sometimes truth. Anthropologists use cultural residue, like pottery and cave drawings, to tell stories about how past societies functioned and what people believed. In this course, we view entertaining movie clips that tell stories about our society’s cultural beliefs and attitudes towards law, lawyers and justice.

REG# 402063 | INSTRUCTOR: Paul Bergman

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $105 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $31

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 119

Looking at Contemporary Art

5 Thursdays, May 15–June 12, 1–3:30 p.m.

This course offers students the opportunity to engage with contemporary art, as well as with each other. Our conversations include materials, perception and interpretation of abstract, figurative and performative projects, while considering the time and place of its making. The schedule includes three field trips as well as two classroom meetings that revisit the explorations and deliberations discovered and discussed on the field trips.

Students must sign a waiver before participating. Field trips are within Los Angeles County.

REG# 402371 | INSTRUCTOR: Deborah Cohen

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $115 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $34

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 112

Architecture and the Shadowy World of Film Noir

{New Course}

4 Tuesdays, May 13–June 3, 1–3 p.m.

Iconic locations with their own striking and often shady history have offered texture and realism to films about deception and deceit. In this course, we explore how architecture and landscape evoke the gritty atmosphere and dark allure in four classic films. Dark Passage (1947) illuminates the arty but notorious past of the city by the bay, San Francisco. The Naked City (1948) captures the crowded, dirty streets of New York City. In Blood on the Moon (1948), rugged, rocky landscapes reflect the danger and uncertainty of the American West. And Dick Powell's Cry Danger (1951) highlights the shadowy, seamy underbelly of Los Angeles.

REG# 402811 | INSTRUCTOR: Mary Mallory

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $100 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $30

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 114

Discussion Groups

SPRING 2025 SCHEDULE

Discussion groups allow members to explore subjects in an atmosphere of intellectual stimulation, creative self-expression and socializing without the expectation of tests or grades. Members enrolled in literature courses are expected to complete reading assignments according to the syllabus to participate fully. OLLI membership is required to enroll in these courses.

Short Story Collections, Part 2: The Short Stories of Raymond Carver {New Course}

8 Mondays, March 31–June 9 (no meetings April 14; May 12, 26), 1–3 p.m.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, is a 1981 collection of short stories by American writer Raymond Carver. Considered by many to be one of American literature's most ambitious short-story collections, it was this collection that turned Raymond Carver into a household name in the publishing industry. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1984, the story collection is a haunting, culturally telling meditation on love, loss and companionship. In addition to ten of the stories in the collection, including “Why Don’t You Dance?” and “I Could See the Smallest Things,” we read the story that gives the collection its title, "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” a story characterized by the bare-bones prose style for which Carver became famous. Suggested book: Raymond Carver’s What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.

REG# 402295 | INSTRUCTOR: Leonard Koff

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

American Civics 101: A Crash Course

5 Tuesdays, April 1–29, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

The Salem Witchcraft Trials are still one of the most studied episodes in early American history. Every person applying for U.S. citizenship needs to know how our U.S. government works. Many Americans tend to take their U.S. citizenship for granted. Just imagine if the rules changed and you now had to take a government civics test every year to remain a U.S. citizen. In this course, we cover the topics which you would need to know to pass that test. These topics include: the concept of co-equal branches of Government, their functions, responsibilities and current critical issues; the rationales and ramifications of recent Supreme Court decisions on voting, gun control, affirmative action and others; the importance of the U.S. Constitution and its 27 amendments including its Bill of Rights; gerrymandering and its restrictive effect on states voting rights; and issues surrounding the Electoral College, budget reconciliation, the debt ceiling and our national debt.

REG# 401563 | INSTRUCTOR: Alan Perper

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Reel Dilemmas

5 Tuesdays, April 1–29; April 1–15: 1–4 p.m.; April 22 & 29: 1–4:30 p.m.

“The play’s the thing wherein to catch the conscience of the king,” Hamlet said. This course constitutes first viewing a film—the screenplay actualized—and then addressing the existential dilemma put before us in the work—the flesh and blood human situation in which the characters find themselves. We break the film down, analyze how it uses the verbal, visual and visceral art forms in presenting our dilemma. Films this quarter include: The Notebook (2004), A Home at the Edge of the World (2004), The Wild Ones (2012), Neverland (2022) and The Lives of Others (2006). The instructor requests that no reviews or articles concerning the films be read beforehand, as it would affect seeing the films with the openness and freshness which art asks of us. We don’t want to lose that wonderful experience.

REG# 402650 | INSTRUCTOR: Vincent Coppola

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 114

Political Cinema: Crafting Influence, Shaping History

{New Course}

4 Wednesdays, April 2–23, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

In this course, we examine the influence of politically charged films that have inspired or altered our cultural landscapes. For perspective, we begin with clips of the historical films Battleship Potemkin (1925), Birth of a Nation (1915) and Triumph of the Will (1935) to assess how these films drew audiences into their messages using powerful narratives that evoked empathy or ignited controversy. We also illuminate the cinematic techniques and historical impact of films such as The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Dr. Strangelove (1964), Z (1969), 1984 (1984), JFK (1991), All the President’s Men (1976), Malcolm X (1992) and perhaps even Mean Girls (2004) to appreciate each film's innovative storytelling, editing and cinematography techniques that captured—and sometimes manipulated—the political fervor of their times.

This course uses the hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom.

REG# 402943 | INSTRUCTOR: Patrcia Means Schultz

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 114

Short Story International: Middle Eastern Perspective, Part 1

8 Wednesdays, April 2–May 21, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

In this course, we explore the short-story traditions of the Middle East, specifically modern Arab, Israeli, Palestinian, Persian and Turkish authors. Notably among them are three Nobel Prize winners: S.Y. Agnon (1966), Naghib Mahfuz (1988) and Orhan Pamuk (2006). In addition to the suggested texts, the instructor will share optional reading articles he has published on a number of these writers, whose works dynamically reflect a cross section of highly diverse Middle Eastern societies, their voices resonating through urban and rural landscapes, private and public passion, and intense, dramatic political events. Themes—sometimes lyrical, often dark, sometimes comic, often heart-breaking, sometimes staid, often iconoclastic—include loss, alienation, feminism, family dysfunction, betrayal, exile, sexual awakening and others. Suggested books: The Anchor Book of Modern Arabic Fiction, A Land of Stone and Thyme: An Anthology of Palestinian Short Stories, Stories from Iran: An Anthology of Persian Short Fiction from 1921-1991, The Hill of Evil Counsel, Other Colours: Essays and a Story and The Continuing Silence of a Poet: Collected Short Stories

REG# 402847 | INSTRUCTOR: Carlo Coppola

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Current Events: Understanding Our World

8 Thursdays, April 3–May 22, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

This unique discussion group focuses on exploring the news of the week. Participants share articles and opinions that pertain to what's happening both in the United States and internationally, particularly to introduce diverse views. Many of the pundits we analyze write for The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. These include such political writers as David Brooks, Thomas Friedman, Paul Krugman, Ross Douthat, Fareed Zakaria, John Bolton, Peggy Noonan, Maureen Dowd and many more that the class may wish to cover. We also examine such magazines as The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New Republic and other journals that give in-depth coverage of current topics. This is your chance to listen and to be heard on the events of today.

This course uses the hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom.

REG# 401702 | INSTRUCTOR: Myrna Hant

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 121ABC

Philosophy through the Ages, Part 1 {New Course}

8 Thursdays, April 3–May 22, 1–3 p.m.

According to the ancient Greeks, philosophy means the love of wisdom. More broadly, philosophy is a journey undertaken by those who wish to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which they live and their relationships to the world and to each other. This course is the first in a series exploring the history of this collective journey, beginning with the ancient Greeks. We start with Thales of Miletus (585 BCE), regarded as the first Western philosopher and mathematician, who addressed the First Cause. We then explore how Plato, Socrates and Aristotle expanded the scope of philosophy during the Classical period to address not only the First Cause but also the individual's moral and ethical obligation to self-improvement for its own sake and the good of the greater community. We end with Augustine, who wrote about the nature of human society, justice, the nature and role of the state, the relationship between church and state, just and unjust war, peace and the Fall of Rome.

This course uses the hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom.

REG# 396091 | INSTRUCTOR: Vincent Coppola

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 113

Parables, Part 3: The Hasidic Tradition {New Course}

6 Sundays, April 6, 27; May 4, 18; June 1, 8, 12–2 p.m.

Hasidic tales—terse, often cryptic, sometimes personal—reveal the nature of Hasidism, the mystical religious movement that seized Eastern European Jewry about the middle of the eighteenth century and remains very much alive today. In this course, we read tales told by the founder of Hasidism: Israel ben Eliezer aka the Baal Shem Tov, and other Hasidic rabbis, including Dov Baer of Mezritch (“The Great Maggid”), a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov; Shneur Zalman of Ladi (“The Rav”); and Yaakov Yitzhak of Lublin (“The Seer”). The tales we read teach the absolute transcendence of God, combined with what Martin Buber calls his “conditioned immanence”—a divine spark lives in everything and every being but each spark is enclosed by an isolating shell. Only man can liberate it and rejoin it with its origin.

REG# 402850 | INSTRUCTOR: Leonard Koff

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

The Gothic Novel {New Course}

5 Wednesdays, April 16, 30; May 14, 28; June 11, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Gothic literature incorporates elements of horror, mystery and the supernatural to create an atmosphere of fear and foreboding. The genre is characterized by dark imagery, suspenseful narratives and settings that often include castles, churches, ruins and abandoned estates. In this course, we read four classic Gothic novels, beginning with one of the earliest, The Mysteries of Udolpho, by Ann Radcliffe (1794). Our next novel is Mary Shelley's classic Frankenstein: The 1818 Text, which is far more nuanced than the film of the same name. Our third book is Dracula (1897), which has been depicted in numerous plays and films for over a century. We conclude our course with Pasadena native and past MacArthur Fellow Octavia Butler's Fledgling (2005).

REG# 402846 | INSTRUCTOR: Maria Siciliano

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Foreign Languages

SPRING 2025 SCHEDULE

OLLI at UCLA offers courses in French and Spanish at several levels. Language courses are discussion-heavy, and members should be ready to participate. OLLI membership is required to enroll in these courses.

Spanish 4 for Everyday Life

8 Tuesdays, April 1–May 20, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

A continuation of Spanish 3, this is an immersion-style course that offers an easy, no stress way to build on what was learned in the first three courses and is great for those with intermediate knowledge of Spanish. After a first session in English, instruction is conducted entirely in Spanish. Discussion centers on current events and a taste of Spanish literature.

Our Spanish 1-4 courses teach you the grammar and vocabulary foundation needed to read and write in Spanish. Students will receive some lecture as well as be assigned short readings in Spanish. We offer these courses on an annual cycle: Spanish 1 is offered in the summer, Spanish 2 is offered in the fall, Spanish 3 is offered in the winter and Spanish 4, or Literary Spanish, is offered in the spring.

REG# 401565 | INSTRUCTOR: Emilia Chuquin

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $135 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

High-Level Spanish Conversation

8 Tuesdays, April 1–May 20, 1–3 p.m.

This conversation course is a continuation of either Spanish 4 for Everyday Life or Literary Spanish course and is for those who want to continue improving their oral Spanish skills. Using authentic sources from Latin America, students learn to speak Spanish through interpretation, imagination and critical reading. Stories are read and retold in small groups and before the class to improve vocabulary, pronunciation and idiomatic expressions.

REG# 401566 | INSTRUCTOR: Emilia Chuquin

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

French Conversation 2: High Intermediate

8 Tuesdays, April 1–May 20, 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Designed for students who have taken two or more years of French or who have lived in a French-speaking country, this class prepares you to have a conversation with native speakers of French. Real-life dialogues include engaging topics such as meeting people, making plans, discussing leisure activities and just having fun. Homework assignments are oral exercises on specified topics that students prepare during the week, then share with the whole class.

REG# 402851 | INSTRUCTOR: Samuel Blank

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

French Conversation 1: Low Intermediate

8 Wednesdays, April 2–May 21, 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Designed for students who have had one year of French. This course prepares you to have a conversation with native speakers of French. Real-life dialogues include engaging topics such as meeting people, making plans, discussing leisure activities and just having fun. Homework assignments include oral exercises on specified topics; students prepare their discussion points during the week and share with the whole class.

REG# 402852 | INSTRUCTOR: Samuel Blank

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Real Life Spanish Conversation 1

8 Thursdays, April 3–May 22, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

This course provides a comfortable space for members with a basic knowledge of Spanish to practice their conversation skills under an instructor's guidance. Members respond to prompts provided by the instructor, while their peers ask follow-up questions or make comments, all in Spanish. The instructor facilitates the conversations and corrects vocabulary or grammar as needed. Please note: This is not a beginner’s class; some Spanish is required.

REG# 401567 | INSTRUCTOR: Susan McMillen Villar

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Real Life Spanish Conversation 2

8 Thursdays, April 3–May 22, 1–3 p.m.

This course provides a comfortable space for members with an intermediate knowledge of Spanish to practice their conversation skills under an instructor's guidance. Members respond to prompts provided by the instructor, while their peers ask follow-up questions or make comments, all in Spanish. The instructor facilitates the conversations and corrects language as needed while also introducing more advanced grammar and vocabulary skills. Please note: This course is intended for intermediate Spanish speakers; students approaching fluency are encouraged to take our High-Level Spanish Conversation course.

REG# 401568 | INSTRUCTOR: Susan McMillen Villar

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Creativity, Games & Movement

SPRING 2025 SCHEDULE

These courses are interactive. Members are able to practice or apply what they learn in class. OLLI membership is required to enroll in these courses.

Beginning Mah-Jongg

6 Mondays, March 31–May 5, 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Mah-Jongg is a game of both skill and luck that originated in China many centuries ago. It was brought to the West in the 1920s and is played with four players seated around a table. Tiles are shuffled, die are cast and rituals involving the allocation of tiles and then the exchange of tiles begin. The first person to match a hand of 14 tiles and thus call “Mah-Jongg" ends the game, whereupon tiles are scored and a winner is declared. This course introduces the beginner to the basic rules and simple strategies. Learn to play this enjoyable, social and thought-provoking game!

The first two meetings are mandatory. Every student must purchase the current MahJongg card from the National Mah-Jongg League at www.nationalmahjonggleague.org. The large card is preferred.

REG# 401570 | INSTRUCTOR: Ronni Rice

FEE: $80 for all members

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 119A

Changing our Lifestyle to Reduce the Risk of Dementia

8 Mondays, March 31–May 19, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Dementia affects nearly 10% of people aged 75 to 84 years and about 29% of those 85 years or older. However, there is emerging evidence that healthy lifestyles may decrease the rate of cognitive decline seen with aging and help delay the onset of cognitive symptoms in the setting of age-associated diseases. This course focuses on lifestyle changes that may delay or even prevent dementia, beginning with exercise. We cover the influence of nutrition, adequate hours and quality of sleep, stress reduction, the importance of an active social life, as well as learning and discovery.

Students must sign a waiver before participating.

REG# 401578 | INSTRUCTOR: Ellen Demsky

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 119B

Gentle Chair Pilates

8 Mondays, March 31–May 19, 1–2 p.m.

Pilates is a low-impact exercise that focuses on strengthening muscles while improving flexibility, mobility and posture. However, it can be intimidating, especially if one has been inactive or never exercised. In this course, we learn modified Pilates movements while sitting in a chair, using a TheraBand (or a towel, belt, strap, or scarf), 1-2 lbs. weights (or water bottle, soup cans) and your amazing body.

Always consult a doctor about any pain or injury before engaging in any exercise. Students must sign a waiver before participating.

REG# 401581 | INSTRUCTOR: Bonnie Cahoon

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Poker Fundamentals 2

6 Mondays, March 31–May 5, 1–3 p.m.

Poker (and No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em in particular) has been gaining a lot of publicity lately through media such as ESPN. In this intermediate (non-beginner's) class, we expect prior knowledge of the basic rules, and then we concentrate on expanding from there. More specifically, we work on various strategy topics, such as opening charts, bet sizing, hand reading, odds, popular misconceptions and others. We also dedicate at least an hour each week to playing the game and applying the concepts in real-time. The course is designed for retaking, as long as you have knowledge of the basics (rules, structure, betting, etc.).

REG# 401582 | INSTRUCTOR: Duncan Palamourdas

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Intermediate Mah-Jongg

Session A: 6 Mondays, March 31–May 5, 1–3:30 p.m.

Session B: 6 Wednesdays, April 2–May 7, 1–3:30 p.m.

Intermediate Mah-Jongg is designed for players who already understand the basic rules of play and have had some experience playing the game and wish to further develop their skills. The goals of the class include a better understanding of reading the MahJongg card, developing strategies for choosing the hand of play, strategies for defensive play and increasing the speed of play. There is plenty of time to practice all of these skills and have a great time.

Every student will need to purchase the current Mah-Jongg card from the National MahJongg League at: www.nationalmahjonggleague.org. The large card is preferred.

SESSION A: REG# 401576 | SESSION B: REG# 403618

INSTRUCTOR: Ronni Rice | FEE: $80 for all members

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 119A

Drawing is a Feeling, Part 2: Exploring Light, Shade and Shadow

6 Tuesdays, April 1–May 6, 1–3:30 p.m.

In this course, we investigate representational picture-making by exploring light, shade and shadow. The instructor and students interact during class sessions, drawing together, sharing and discussing individual processes. We draw the objects and spaces that surround us—things we see every day. A virtual studio visit with a guest artist provides additional inspiration. Drawing materials include drawing pads, drawing pencils, HB to 6B, charcoal pencils/sticks, Micron pens and sumi/India ink and brush.

REG# 402384 | INSTRUCTOR: Deborah Cohen

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Qigong for a Healthy Body and Peaceful Mind

6 Tuesdays, April 1–May 6, 1:30–3 p.m.

Qigong boosts and improves the various bodily functions by cultivating the body's natural energy flow and capacity with simple standing and seated postures, body movements and harmonized breath. The simple movements were developed over the last 5,000 years to follow the natural flow of the earth's energy and improve the circulation of internal Qi (Chi) from the body and external Qi from nature. In this course, we practice various Broad Prescription Qigong (BPQ) sets of movements. While sitting and standing and using the body movements and harmonized breath-work, we increase our body’s natural energy flow and fill the energy centers in our body with vital life force, or Qi.

Students must sign a waiver before participating.

REG# 402398 | INSTRUCTOR: Samuel Barnes

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 112

Smart Movement Solutions: Finding a Mind Body Balance

10 Wednesdays, April 2–June 4, 10–11 a.m.

No matter your fitness level, discover the pleasure of moving with ease and refinement. Learn how our bodies work through sensory awareness and movement reeducation. In this course, we use the Feldenkrais Method® to help us align our minds with our bodies with very small, gentle movements that offer very significant benefits. Together, we explore variations in our movement patterns to build resiliency and facilitate our essential day-to-day activities as we age including walking, standing, sitting down and getting up, as well as getting in and out of cars.

Students must sign a waiver before participating.

REG# 401640 | INSTRUCTOR: Stacy Barrows

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

The Art of Magic, Part 3 {New Course}

6 Wednesdays, April 2–May 7, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Explore the captivating world of magic and amaze your family, friends and grandchildren with spellbinding tricks using everyday items like playing cards, coins, scarves, ropes, cups and balls. This course builds on the theory, performance and history of magic, offering hands-on practice and in-depth discussions to help participants master the art of illusion. It is not necessary to have taken part one or two to enjoy part three.

Tricks will be recorded to allow participants to review and refine their skills.

REG# 402855 | INSTRUCTOR: Garret Camilleri

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Beginning Canasta

6 Wednesdays, April 2–May 7, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

In this course, we learn the history of Canasta, why it was developed and the basics of the game. Designed for those who are new to Canasta, the goal of this course is to play independently. We cover Canasta basics in melding and scoring, and briefly touch on Special Hands while learning some theory.

REG# 402860 | INSTRUCTOR: Caroline Dann

FEE: $80 for all members

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 115

Gentle Yoga

8 Wednesdays, April 2–May 21, 11a.m.–12 p.m.

A gentle and slow approach to a flowing Iyengar yoga course. We move into a position slowly, holding the pose for a minute and then relax for a few breaths before stretching into another posture. Because all bodies have different weaknesses and strengths, Iyengar yoga may apply the use of props (wooden blocks, chairs, blankets or belts) to help the body into the correct positions so that one can work in a range of motion that is both safe and effective. Mindful stretches are designed to make you feel good in your body, connect with your soul and create space for more openness and well-being. Students are encouraged to turn on their videos so the instructor can correct their postures. Students must sign a waiver before participating.

REG# 402394 | INSTRUCTOR: Douglas Dee

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Intermediate Canasta

6 Wednesdays, April 2–May 7, 1–3 p.m.

This course is designed as a continuation of Beginning Canasta. Our main focus is Special Hands and strategy. During supervised play, the instructor observes and assists with testing new strategies.

REG# 402861 | INSTRUCTOR: Caroline Dann FEE: $80 for all members

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 115

Life Stories that Stir the Soul

8 Wednesdays, April 2–May 21, 1–3 p.m.

As we travel along life's path, our stories are the most precious gifts we can pass on. In this course, students are encouraged to write stories that have affected their hearts. Be they funny or sad, about good times or bad, each student has an opportunity to share a new short story every week. Write a story about the one that got away, or the one you decided to stay with. Write about the lessons you learned, the dinners you burned or what you did when you came to a particular fork in your road.

This course requires weekly writing assignments. Students must meet weekly deadlines in order to receive instructor feedback and participate in group storytelling sessions.

REG# 401768 | INSTRUCTOR: Shelley Bonus FEE: $80 for all members

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Tai Chi for Anxiety and Better Balance

6 Thursdays, April 3–May 8, 1:30–3 p.m.

Tai chi is well known for bringing the mind, body and spirit together to improve balance, prevent injury and promote good health. This peaceful art helps to clear the mind, reduce stress and enhance flexibility along with promoting overall wellness. The steps are light, and the slow movements are flowing. The postures and movements harmonize with the principles of yin and yang and build an intimate awareness with one’s natural internal and external energy, building a great sense of inner peace. In this course, a new tai chi posture is introduced each week after a warm-up tai chi flow sequence. In the process, we learn how to open and cultivate the body’s energy pathways and prepare for proper tai chi form training, while focusing on improving our balance and cultivating better health.

Students must sign a waiver before participating.

REG# 402401 | INSTRUCTOR: Samuel Barnes

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $80 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 112

Leadership & Volunteer Opportunities

OLLI at UCLA members have access to a selection of unique leadership & volunteer opportunities within UCLA. New opportunities are shared via email as they arise.

Leadership Opportunities

OLLI Advisory Board – Led by the OLLI Director, the Advisory Board is dedicated to supporting the mission and values of the OLLI program as outlined by the Osher Foundation. Advisory Board members meet throughout the year to provide feedback on strategic initiatives and to review scholarship applications. Appointment to the Advisory Board is by invitation only, but requests to join will be considered for any member who has been in the program over 3 years.

Curriculum Committee – Curriculum Committee members support program development by identifying new potential instructors and topics, sharing highlights from OLLI courses and promoting the OLLI program. To be eligible for the Curriculum Committee, you must be a currently active OLLI member and have been a member for at least two years, and complete a brief interview.

To learn more about serving on a committee, please email osher@uclaextension.edu.

Volunteer Opportunities (remote & in-person options)

Friends of Extension – OLLI members are eligible to join the Friends of Extension volunteer program. These volunteers provide services to UCLA Extension such as checking in students for courses, being a virtual teacher's assistant for OLLI Zoom courses and helping with any special events. For more information about the Friends of Extension, please contact Jan Woo at jwoo@unex.ucla.edu or call (310) 825-1024.

Generation Xchange Program (GenX) – GenX is a partnership between the UCLA Department of Medicine and the L.A. Unified School District that brings retired adults into K-5 classrooms to help children achieve academic success. The mission is to promote greater health and wellness outcomes in at-risk older adults, while simultaneously supporting greater academic and behavioral outcomes for children in grades kindergarten through 5th grade. For more information, contact D'Ann Morris, Associate Director at dmmorris@mednet.ucla.edu or leave a voicemail for the UCLA Division of Geriatrics (310) 267-5114 and a team member will contact you.

OLLI at UCLA Giving

SUPPORT THE OLLI PROGRAM WITH A GIFT TODAY.

Thank you to all the donors and friends of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UCLA, without whom the OLLI program would not be possible. We extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation for your continued support.

OLLI at UCLA depends on private contributions from caring individuals like you to keep our program running and thriving. Your investment in OLLI at UCLA ensures that our high quality courses continue to enrich the lives of adults throughout Los Angeles.

As we prepare for the future, we rely on individual donations from members and non-members who believe in the transformative work of lifelong learning. You can help support the continuation and growth of the OLLI at UCLA program by making a tax-deductible donation of any size to our scholarship fund or support fund.

Michael Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Michael Williams Memorial Scholarship provides members who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to lifelong learning a free year of Plus OLLI membership. A donation to the OLLI scholarship fund means we can award a greater number of scholarships every quarter.

OLLI Support Fund

Membership dues and course fees only cover a percentage of program costs. A donation to the OLLI support fund ensures that we can continue to provide excellence in programming, instruction and service.

Help us reach our $30,000 annual fundraising goal.

Gifts can be made online at: giving.ucla.edu/SupportOsher

For questions about giving to OLLI at UCLA or to send a gift by mail, contact UCLA Extension’s Office of Development by email at deansoffice@uclaextension.edu.

Through our new collaboration with Geffen Playhouse, OLLI members and friends are invited to the world premiere of The Reservoir on Wednesday, July 16 at 8 p.m. The play is about a troubled Gen Z college student who enlists the help of his four grandparents to get his life together.

Geffen Playhouse is offering us tickets at $48— nearly half price— along with a private pre-show talk outside the theater by the Geffen’s Literary Manager, Olivia O’Connor and a 30-minute post show Talk Back held at the Geffen immediately following the performance inside the theater with Olivia moderating with cast members. Stay tuned for details on the pre-talk and where OLLI@UCLA members and friends will meet for dinner before showtime.

Order your $48 tickets by scanning the QR code or call Geffen Playhouse at (310) 208-5454, Monday-Sunday, 12 noon – 6pm, and quote the promotion code: OLLI48GP. You may purchase up to four tickets per order. (Code expires 7/1/25 or while supplies last.) Tickets are limited to 4 per person.

Instructors

SPRING 2025

James Aldinger, former two-term mayor of Manhattan Beach; designed and built satellites for 30+ years for Hughes Aircraft Company (later Boeing).

Samuel Barnes, Director of Tai Chi Works Studio and the Qigong Healing Institute; a master teacher of Tai Chi, Qigong, Hsing I, Bagua and meditation for over 42 years.

Stacy Barrows, PT, GCFP, Doctor of Physical Therapy; certified PMA Pilates and Feldenkrais teacher; owner of Smart Somatic Solutions.

Richard Bell, PhD, professor of history at the University of Maryland; author of the new book Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and their Astonishing Odyssey Home.

Paul Bergman, JD, UCLA Professor of Law Emeritus; co-author, Real to Reel—Truth and Trickery in Courtroom Movies; teaching awards include University Distinguished Teaching Award and the Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award.

Samual Blank, PhD in French, University of Maryland

Shelley R. Bonus, writer, astronomical historian, content creator for the Caltech Infrared Astronomy website, CoolCosmos and telescope coordinator for the Mt. Wilson Observatory.

Sharon Boorstin, former contributing writer for the Los Angeles Times, specializing in lifestyle and travel; has written for Bon Appetit, Smithsonian and Town & Country Travel; author of the memoir/ cookbook Let Us Eat Cake: Adventures in Food & Friendship

Bonnie Cahoon, certified in the Pilates Method for twenty years; third-generation Classical Pilates Instructor. Her master teacher was trained by Joseph Pilates protégé Romana Kryzanowska. Certification included Kinesiology, Anatomy and 900 hours of apprenticeship.

Garret Camilleri, MFA in Performance/ Theater Education; educator, actor, director and arts advocate

Emilia Chuquin, PhD, Spanish, UNM, Albuquerque, UCLA Extension Spanish Instructor

Peter Cipkowski, Ed.D., literary historian, publishing executive and author of Revolution in Eastern Europe: The Collapse of Communism. He serves on the Willa Cather Foundation Board of Governors.

Deborah Beth Cohen, PhD in Culture and Performance, UCLA; artist; designer; educator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (MOCA) for 21 years

Carlo Coppola, PhD in Comparative Literature, University of Chicago; published author, editor, critic, world literature teacher and translator of poetry and fiction from South Asian literatures.

Vincent Coppola, PhD in Philosophy, Pontifical Gregorian University; MFA in Film and Theater Arts, UCLA

Caroline Dann, M.A., head of The Los Angeles Canasta Academy; accredited senior instructor with the Canasta League of America. She has taught beginner and strategic classes for the past 5 years.

Douglas Dee, lyengar yoga teacher in Los Angeles and Santa Monica for more than 20 years.

Ellen Demsky, award-winning event and portrait photographer & photography instructor; current National Duathlon (bike & run) champion and winner of the LA Marathon for her age group.

Eyassu Gayim, JD, adjunct faculty, Political Science Department, SDSU; former human rights instructor, University of Helsinki; former visiting scholar, UCLA, UCSD, USD and California Western School of Law.

Andrea Gilats, writer, educator and author of two books about aging, Radical Endurance: Growing Old in an Age of Longevity, and After Effects: A Memoir of Complicated Grief, both published by University of Minnesota Press

Mitch Glickman, music director and founder of the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra; KJazz radio host; director of Music Programs at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art).

Myrna Hant, PhD; Former Research Scholar, Center for the Study of Women, UCLA

Phyllis K. Herman PhD in History of Religion, UCLA; professor of religious studies at CSUN with a focus on South Asia; coeditor of The Constant and Changing Face of the Goddess: Goddess Traditions in Asia

Jeffrey Hutter, PhD; Psychologist; former assistant clinical professor, School of Medicine, UCLA; past president, Gestalt Therapy Institute of Los Angeles; former clinical consultant at the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy.

Leonard Koff, PhD, UC Berkeley; associate, UCLA Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Mary Mallory, film historian, writer, and researcher focusing on Los Angeles and early film history. She is the author of four books, blogger for the LA Daily Mirror, and speaker at museums and libraries. She serves on the Hollywood Heritage Museum Board of Directors

Martin Marshall, founding member of Improvisation Incorporated in San Francisco in the 1970s. He has taught more than 40 OLLI courses at 10 universities in 8 years on a wide range of entertainers.

Samuel Mihara, MS in engineering, UCLA; retired rocket scientist, The Boeing Co.; author and lecturer who speaks about mass imprisonment and his experience as a Japanese American imprisoned in Wyoming during WWII. He was awarded the prestigious Paul A. Gagnon Prize as history educator of the year in 2018

Andrew Muson, Juilliard trained, musician, composer and producer who has recorded gold and platinum albums, TV themes and film scores. He’s appeared on stages from Carnegie Hall to Montreux with artists including James Taylor, The Manhattan Transfer, Bette Midler, Yoko Ono and Albert King.

Konstantinos (Duncan) Palamourdas, PhD, Mathematical Logic, UCLA PhD, author, Why Alex Beats Bobbie at Poker: Developing a Fundamentally Sound Approach to Poker

Alan Perper, founding member of VoteAsIf. org, former high school teacher; currently teaches citizenship classes in accordance with standards taught by U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services

Alex Pirolini, PhD in American film history, University of London; author of Rouben Mamoulian and The Cinema of Preston Sturges and has written numerous articles, essays and film reviews for various publications.

Dave Radlauer, host of the radio show, Jazz Rhythm, has won six broadcast awards and authored 200 articles for online and print publications. He has donated a large jazz collection to, and wrote interpretive articles for, the Stanford Libraries.

Ronni Rice, Certified instructor, American Mah-Jongg Instructors Association who has taught hundreds of new players how to play Anahit Rostomyan, MMus in organ performance, MA in musicology. She is pursuing dual DMA and PhD degrees in these two fields of study at UCLA and is an avid performer of period keyboard instruments.

Eleanor Schrader, MBA, Loyola Marymount University; graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby’s Institute in London and New York, and graduate studies in architectural history at USC

Patrcia Means Schultz, MA in Writing, M.S. in Linguistics; writer, instructor, and professor of English and Humanities producing films, course and programs across many communication platforms.

Ryan Shiotsuki, PhD in musicology; lecturer in Musicology, UCLA and Chapman University.

Maria Siciliano, MPA, Harvard University; MS in Gerontology, USC; principal and founder, Gerontology in Action.

Steve Sohmer, PhD; student of the Holocaust for the past 17 years. His research has taken him to Nuremberg , Berlin, Dachau, Auschwitz, Ravensbruck, Bergen-Belsen, Buchenwald and the Deutsche Kinemathek .

Susan McMillen Villar, PhD in Hispanic and Luso literatures, languages, cultures and linguistics; retired director of Spanish and Portuguese language instruction, University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

Edward Watts, PhD in History from Yale University; Alkiviadis Vassiliadis Endowed Chair; Chair of the History department at UCSD; editor and author of six books including Mortal Republic: How Rome Fell Into Tyranny (Basic Books, 2018).

Ron Yee, Partner, Wooden’s Wisdom, used the Pyramid of Success to lead agile, innovative and competitive teams at a Fortune 500 company. In addition to corporate clients, he has taught youths the principles behind the Pyramid through Destination Imagination, Community of Character and symposiums.

Katherine E. Zoraster, MA; adjunct professor of art history at Moorpark College, CSU Northridge and the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts.

General Information & Policies

OLLI membership is required to enroll in courses.

• Guests must receive permission to attend classes.

• Auditing is not allowed.

• Membership is not transferable to a family member or friend.

• UCLA Extension’s Senior Citizen Discount does not apply to OLLI courses or OLLI membership.

• Many OLLI courses have limited enrollment, so early enrollment is advised.

• Students must be age 50 or greater to become OLLI members.

OLLI Scholarship Program

OLLI at UCLA offers a limited amount of scholarships each year to current and prospective members who demonstrate financial need. Please visit uclaextension.edu/olli-membership to download a scholarship application or email osher@uclaextension.edu to request a copy.

Refund Policy

Refund requests will be accepted through the close of business on the final refund date, which is printed on your enrollment receipt. A $30 administrative fee is withheld from each refund request (this fee is waived for Plus members).

OLLI membership dues are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Taste of Osher course fees are non-refundable.

Contact the OLLI office: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Phone: (310) 206-2693

Email: osher@uclaextension.edu

Course information is sent to students two days before the start date. Students who enroll into a course on or after the first day should contact the OLLI office to request a copy of the course information.

Remote courses can be accessed by logging into my.uclaextension.edu (Canvas).

To contact registration: (310) 825-9971

To request a refund:

Email: refunds@uclaextension.edu

Parking Options

In Westwood, a variety of public parking lots and metered parking is available throughout the village. Please expect daily parking costs to range from $3–$22 depending on time and day.

Mass Transit Information

For detailed information on bus service to Westwood Village, visit metro.net, bigbluebus.com, or culvercity.org.

In accordance with UCLA Extension policy, service dogs will need to be registered with UCLA Extension’s Services for Students with Disabilities Office. You are allowed to attend your first class meeting with your service dog, but will not be able to attend any future meetings until you are registered with the UCLA Extension Disabilities Office.

“Under ADA Revised Requirements of September 2010, only dogs can serve as service animals. Further, a service animal is a dog that is trained to perform special tasks for a person with a disability. They are working animals, not pets. A dog whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support will not qualify as a service animal under the ADA.”

Please contact Pam Head, the coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities Office, at (310) 825-0183 to begin and complete the process to have your service dog registered.

UCLA Extension is the continuing education division of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). We offer courses evenings and weekends in Westwood and Downtown L.A., plus online classes available around the globe. Courses range from business, arts, engineering and IT, to entertainment studies, public policy, public health, the humanities and more. Explore UCLA Extension at uclaextension.edu

The Bernard Osher Foundation

With an endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation, UCLA Extension joins universities across the United States at the forefront of a national initiative to provide learning opportunities to serve the intellectual and cultural needs of older adults.

OLLI Membership & Enrollment Form

Joining OLLI is easy. Choose

one of the options below.

1. OLLI Basic Membership: Basic members enroll at regular course fees.

2. OLLI Plus Membership: Plus members enroll at significantly reduced course fees.

To Enroll

Online: uclaextension.edu/osher By Phone: (310) 825-9971

By Mail: UCLA Extension, Dept. K, Box 24901, Los Angeles, CA 90024-0901

Name

Mailing Address

Daytime Phone Number

Email Address

Basic Membership (lasts 1 year)

Plus Membership (lasts 1 year)

Birth Date (mo/day/yr)**

TOTAL DUE $

CHECK enclosed payable to: The Regents of UC

Note: There is a $30 charge for returned checks. For Basic Membership holders, a $30 administrative fee is withheld from each course for which you request a refund unless the course is canceled, discontinued, rescheduled, or has a special refund policy. Memberships are nonrefundable.

**You must be 50 years or above to join OLLI. UCLA Extension’s Senior Citizen Discount does not apply to OLLI courses or membership. Date of birth is used to verify eligibility.

In accordance with applicable federal laws and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate in any of its policies, procedures, or practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Inquiries regarding the University’s equal opportunity policies may be directed to Office of Registrar, UCLA Extension, Dept. K, Box 24901, Los Angeles, CA 90024-0901; Voice/TDD: (310) 825-8845. For information on services for students with disabilities, or questions about accessibility, please call (310) 825-7851 (voice or TTY).

† Discount code available on most classes at least 30 days before course start date.

Osher (OLLI) Spring 2025 Schedule of Courses & Events

Spring 2025

Schedule

of Courses & Events

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UCLA

Renew or join OLLI at UCLA today!

Table of Contents

Taste of Osher

Quantum Tai Chi, Qigong and the TCM Healing Revolution

Julian the Apostate: Rome's Last Pagan Emperor {New Course}

John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success - Becoming the Best You

Josephine Baker {New Course}

Wars and the Laws of War {New Course}

Ancient Bagua meets Quantum Physics, Epigenetics & Neuroscience {New Course}

Interiors in Art History {New Course}

Well-Being and Resistance to Loneliness: A Mindful Approach {New Course}

Los Angeles in the 1960s: Conflict, Counterculture and Change {New Course}

Give Us Liberty: Black and Native Roles in the American Revolution {New Course} {UCLAxOpen}

Women Architects and Designers of the American Arts and Crafts Movement {New Course}

Julia Morgan: Pioneering Female Architect of Hearst Castle {New Course}

Japanese American Internment: Memories of Heart Mountain

Special Programs

OLLI Video Library {Spring 2025 Access}

OLLI Movie Club

Book Talk with Andrea Gilats: Growing Old in an Age of Longevity {New Course}

Lecture Courses

Coming to Terms with the Holocaust, Part 8: The American Response

History of Furniture and Ornamentation, Part 1: Ancient through Neoclassicism {New Course}

Beyond the Headlines

A History of American Women Art Collectors {New Course}

Swing Era {New Course}

All That Jazz: Appreciating an American Art Form

The Mystical Experience {New Course}

American Regionalism {New Course}

Cosmology, Astronomy and Space Exploration in the News

Musical Unusual {New Course}

George Frideric Handel {New Course}

Woody Allen: The Comedy Years {New Course}

Symphonic Jazz: A Unique American Art Form {New Course}

Antonio Vivaldi {New Course}

The Music of Franz Schubert

Captivating Clips from Classic Courtroom Movies {New Course}

Looking at Contemporary Art

Architecture and the Shadowy World of Film Noir

Discussion Groups

Short Story Collections, Part 2: The Short Stories of Raymond Carver {New Course}

American Civics 101: A Crash Course

Reel Dilemmas

Political Cinema: Crafting Influence, Shaping History

Short Story International: Middle Eastern Perspective, Part 1

Current Events: Understanding Our World

Philosophy through the Ages, Part 1 {New Course}

Parables, Part 3: The Hasidic Tradition {New Course}

The Gothic Novel {New Course}

Foreign Languages

Spanish 4 for Everyday Life

High-Level Spanish Conversation

French Conversation 2: High Intermediate

French Conversation 1: Low Intermediate

Real Life Spanish Conversation 1

Real Life Spanish Conversation 2

Creativity, Games & Movement

SPRING 2025 SCHEDULE

Beginning Mah-Jongg

Changing our Lifestyle to Reduce the Risk of Dementia

Gentle Chair Pilates

Poker Fundamentals 2

Intermediate Mah-Jongg

Drawing is a Feeling, Part 2: Exploring Light, Shade and Shadow

Qigong for a Healthy Body and Peaceful Mind

Smart Movement Solutions: Finding a Mind Body Balance

The Art of Magic, Part 3 {New Course}

Beginning Canasta

Gentle Yoga

Intermediate Canasta

Life Stories that Stir the Soul

Tai Chi for Anxiety and Better Balance

Leadership & Volunteer Opportunities

Leadership Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities (remote & in-person options)