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UCR's Osher program embraces everyone, welcoming members from all walks of life. Whether you're joining us from another Osher program or you're a longtime member returning to enrich your learning journey, we're delighted to have you with us. Our doors are open to all, and we celebrate the richness that each individual brings to our community.


Welcome to UCRs Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

UCR Zoom Courses   

  • New York 1958 to 1966 - The Amazing Sound & Legacy of the Brill Building
  • Fee: $50.00
    Dates: 1/12/2026 - 3/2/2026
    Times: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
    Days: M
    Sessions: 6
    Building: Online Classroom
    Room: Zoom Classroom
    Instructor: Emanuel Abramovits
    Seats Still Available: 100

    The Brill Building era is that fantastic period in the 50s and 60s when the best popular music was mass-produced by a young generation of great talents, like Phil Spector, Carole King, Neil Diamond, Don Kirshner, Neil Sedaka, Burt Bacharach, Leiber & Stoller and more. Songs like Be My Baby, You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin', Save the Last Dance for Me, Hound Dog, The Locomotion, Do Wah Diddy Diddy and more. We all grew up with this music and there are many great stories behind these songs. Our virtual journey will be full of anecdotes and audiovisuals about this unique moment of the music industry.

  • Please note that if you do not see the "Add to Cart" button under your course, you must first create a new account or sign in to your current account. If you do not have current membership, once you have signed in, add your membership to the cart in order to register for courses.

 

  • William Inge: Mid-Century Playwright
  • Fee: $45.00
    Dates: 1/14/2026 - 1/28/2026
    Times: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    Days: W
    Sessions: 3
    Building: Online Classroom
    Room:
    Instructor: Robert Weibezahl
    Seats Still Available: 100

    William Inge was one of the most acclaimed playwrights of 1950s America. His unvarnished portraits of small-town and rural America, including “Come Back, Little Sheba,” the Pulitzer Prize-winner “Picnic,” and “Bus Stop,” took the country by storm, winning Tony Awards and becoming Oscar-winning (or nominated) films. In each session of this exploratory seminar we will watch one of Inge’s plays via YouTube recordings, then discuss the work: its origins, themes, and the ways he portrayed Midwestern life and American morality. Along the way you will learn about Inge’s at-times troubled, at-times triumphant, but ultimately tragic life—from small town Kansas to Broadway to Los Angeles. Those with the time, interest, and inclination are also invited to read that week’s play in advance of our meetings, although this is not required.

  • Please note that if you do not see the "Add to Cart" button under your course, you must first create a new account or sign in to your current account. If you do not have current membership, once you have signed in, add your membership to the cart in order to register for courses.

 

  • The Evolution of Women's Consciousness in Contemporary Literature
  • Fee: $50.00
    Dates: 1/27/2026 - 3/3/2026
    Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    Days: Tu
    Sessions: 6
    Building: Online Classroom
    Room: Zoom Classroom
    Instructor: Katya Williamson
    Seats Still Available: 100

    Women’s consciousness has evolved through key movements—from the Suffragettes to the 1960s consciousness-raising era—reshaping family life, work, and public leadership. Today, women’s influence is evident across society. This course examines how women’s roles and identities have developed through personal, professional, and family challenges. Readings include Isabel Allende’s The Soul of a Woman, reflecting on exile, creativity, and future progress; Elizabeth Strout’s Lucy Barton, exploring marriage, family, and the impact of the COVID-19 era; and Gloria Steinem’s My Life on the Road, a portrait of lifelong activism and social change. Each book will be discussed for two weeks in this six-week course. All readings are easily accessible.

  • Please note that if you do not see the "Add to Cart" button under your course, you must first create a new account or sign in to your current account. If you do not have current membership, once you have signed in, add your membership to the cart in order to register for courses.

 

  • Jeffrey Epstein: Naked Truth: Online
  • Fee: $50.00
    Dates: 2/5/2026 - 3/12/2026
    Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    Days: Th
    Sessions: 6
    Building: Online Classroom
    Room: Zoom Classroom
    Instructor: John Powers
    Seats Still Available: 100

    Despite the efforts by Republican and Democratic administrations to hide the truth of Jeffrey Epstein’s life, much is known about his endeavors. In this journey, we will separate the fact from fiction, the signal from noise. We will see that Epstein was more than a child sexual predator. We will discover how he provided a variety of services to many of the most powerful men on the planet during 40 years of deceit. We will realize, much to our chagrin, that Epstein, far from being an exception, is the “way of the world.”

  • Please note that if you do not see the "Add to Cart" button under your course, you must first create a new account or sign in to your current account. If you do not have current membership, once you have signed in, add your membership to the cart in order to register for courses.

 

  • Cinematic Exploration:"Biopic Films” Featuring World-Famous Personalities
  • Fee: $50.00
    Dates: 2/23/2026 - 3/30/2026
    Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    Days: M
    Sessions: 6
    Building: Online Classroom
    Room: Zoom Classroom
    Instructor: Elena Romine
    Seats Still Available: 100

    Embark on a captivating journey into the realm of critically acclaimed biographical pictures. From the comfort of your home, dive into the lives of renowned individuals through the lens of cinematic storytelling. After watching these compelling movies on your own, engage in a lively two-hour online discussion to unravel the stories of real-life icons. Explore the art of portraying historical figures on screen and delve deep into the profound impact that biopic films have on shaping culture and history.

  • Please note that if you do not see the "Add to Cart" button under your course, you must first create a new account or sign in to your current account. If you do not have current membership, once you have signed in, add your membership to the cart in order to register for courses.

 

  • Short Stories from England
  • Fee: $50.00
    Dates: 2/23/2026 - 3/30/2026
    Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    Days: M
    Sessions: 6
    Building: Online Classroom
    Room: Zoom Classroom
    Instructor: Robert Weibezahl
    Seats Still Available: 99

    Revered as novelists, great English writers often have given less attention to the short story than their counterparts in America, Ireland or Russia. As we move “across the pond” in our ongoing exploration of the art of the story, we will delve into The Oxford Book of English Short Stories, discussing some of the finest examples of essential and lesser-known England-grown storytellers of the last 150 years: Dickens, Kipling, Hardy, Woolf, Waugh, Huxley, and many more. Participants read the stories in advance, then we discuss them within the context of their time, investigating both their “Englishness” and their universal themes. There is no prerequisite.

  • Please note that if you do not see the "Add to Cart" button under your course, you must first create a new account or sign in to your current account. If you do not have current membership, once you have signed in, add your membership to the cart in order to register for courses.

 

  • The Stories Behind Great Songs
  • Fee: $50.00
    Dates: 2/24/2026 - 3/31/2026
    Times: 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
    Days: Tu
    Sessions: 6
    Building: Online Classroom
    Room: Zoom Classroom
    Instructor: Emanuel Abramovits
    Seats Still Available: 100

    Join us for a captivating online course where we'll explore the fascinating stories behind popular songs that hold a special place in the hearts of the artists who created them but did not necessarily become their most well-known hits. We’ll also unveil how some songs took on new meanings and styles when covered by other artists, who made those songs their own. Through a combination of anecdotes, rare archival contents, and audiovisuals, we'll uncover the secrets behind the creation, performance and impact of beloved songs and lesser-known gems from Tin Pan Alley, Classic Movies and the Rock era.

  • Please note that if you do not see the "Add to Cart" button under your course, you must first create a new account or sign in to your current account. If you do not have current membership, once you have signed in, add your membership to the cart in order to register for courses.

 

  • Capabilities and Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Fee: $50.00
    Dates: 2/25/2026 - 4/1/2026
    Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    Days: W
    Sessions: 6
    Building: Online Classroom
    Room: Zoom Classroom
    Instructor: Elena Romine
    Seats Still Available: 100

    Students in this course will explore the practical applications of AI in everyday life. Participants will gain skills to better organize schedules, make informed consumer decisions, protect themselves from scams, enhance communication, and foster creativity. The course aims to empower learners to become confident and discerning users of AI by understanding both its benefits and limitations, enabling them to use AI tools thoughtfully and effectively in their personal and professional lives.

  • Please note that if you do not see the "Add to Cart" button under your course, you must first create a new account or sign in to your current account. If you do not have current membership, once you have signed in, add your membership to the cart in order to register for courses.

 

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