The British Family in Film: Heavy is the Head That Wears the Crown
Fee: $75.00
Dates: 9/28/2026 - 11/2/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: M
Sessions: 6
Building: Online Classroom
Room:
Instructor: Bernard "Butch" Epps
Seats Still Available: 2
This course examines royal succession through acclaimed British films that explore power not as ceremony, but as a moral and political crisis. We'll trace the evolution of the English monarchy from personal rule to institutional authority, beginning with the Plantagenet struggles in Becket (1964) and The Lion in Winter (1968). We'll then examine the moral costs of kingship and the demands of national leadership through Shakespeare's Chimes at Midnight (1965) and Henry V (1989). The course concludes with the Tudor transformation in A Man for All Seasons (1966) and the consolidation of royal authority in Elizabeth (1998).
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.
Winning the White House: The Evolution of the Presidency
Fee: $75.00
Dates: 9/29/2026 - 11/3/2026
Times: 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 6
Building: Online Classroom
Room:
Instructor: John White
Seats Still Available: 6
Harry S. Truman once described the presidency as "the most peculiar office in the world." This course explores how the Founding Fathers left the presidency for future leaders to define, paving the way for a dramatic expansion of executive power. We'll examine how the presidency has evolved in relation to Congress and the Supreme Court, why executive authority has grown over time, how presidential campaigns are won and lost, and how the rise of the administrative state has reshaped the balance of power envisioned by the framers.
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.
Mexico City: Empires, Revolutions, and Everyday Life
Fee: $75.00
Dates: 9/29/2026 - 11/3/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 6
Building: Online Classroom
Room: Zoom Classroom
Instructor: William Beezley
Seats Still Available: 8
Mexico City is a vibrant cultural and historical crossroads where Indigenous traditions, Spanish colonial influences, and modern life come together. In this course, we'll explore the city's remarkable diversity through its people, music, food, festivals, and rich historical legacy. We'll trace the rise and fall of empires, the struggles for independence and revolution, and the evolution of modern democratic politics, culminating in the 2024 election of Mexico's first woman president. Along the way, we'll discover how culture, history, and celebration continue to shape one of the world's most dynamic cities.
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.
Apple at 50: How it Revolutionized Computing and Transformed Daily Life
Fee: $75.00
Dates: 9/29/2026 - 11/3/2026
Times: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 6
Building: Online Classroom
Room: Zoom Classroom
Instructor: Leander Kahney
Seats Still Available: 7
Celebrate 50 years of Apple and explore how one company transformed personal computing, design, product innovation, and everyday life. Each session examines a different decade in Apple's history, from the birth of the personal computer in the late 1970s to Apple silicon, virtual reality headsets, and the future of the iPhone. Along the way, we'll discover how Apple reshaped not only technology, but also the way people live, work, create, and communicate.
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.
Biology & Society
Fee: $75.00
Dates: 10/1/2026 - 11/5/2026
Times: 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 6
Building: Online Classroom
Room: Zoom Classroom
Instructor: Eric Simon
Seats Still Available: 10
Biology shapes nearly every aspect of our lives, from healthcare and genetics to the environment and emerging technologies. This course introduces the scientific study of life through real-world issues that highlight the societal, ethical, legal, and personal implications of modern biological discoveries. Designed for non-scientists with little or no recent college-level science experience, the course encourages discussion and critical thinking as we explore the exciting advances—and important questions—at the forefront of biology today.
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.
Cults and New Religious Movements in America
Fee: $75.00
Dates: 10/6/2026 - 11/10/2026
Times: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 6
Building: Online Classroom
Room: Zoom Classroom
Instructor: Kate Davis
Seats Still Available: 9
America has long been fertile ground for the emergence of new religious movements. Some have become accepted parts of the nation's religious landscape, while others have faded into obscurity or sparked controversy. This course explores the origins and development of new religious movements—often referred to as "cults"—in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries. Through both insider and outsider perspectives, we'll examine their histories, beliefs, and practices while challenging common misconceptions and gaining a deeper understanding of these influential movements.
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.
Living off The Laughter: History of Comedy in America
Fee: $75.00
Dates: 10/14/2026 - 11/18/2026
Times: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 6
Building: Online Classroom
Room:
Instructor: Edie Friedfeld
Seats Still Available: 9
This history course comes with a laugh track. We'll explore the evolution of American comedy from the silent film era to the 21st century, examining how humor has reflected—and influenced—the nation's culture, politics, and changing social values. Topics include silent films, vaudeville, radio, screwball and romantic comedies, legendary comedy teams, and the Golden Age of Television. Along the way, we'll discover how each generation laughed, and what those changing styles of humor reveal about the American experience.
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.
Power and the People: The Evolution of the U.S. Federal Judiciary
Fee: $75.00
Dates: 10/15/2026 - 11/19/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 6
Building: Online Classroom
Room: Zoom Classroom
Instructor: Lauren Anderson
Seats Still Available: 3
The American Experiment began with the Declaration of Independence and led to the creation of one of the nation's most enduring institutions—the federal judiciary. This course traces the evolution of the U.S. court system from its English legal roots to its constitutional foundation and explores how the Supreme Court has shaped American democracy despite lacking the power of the purse or the military. We'll examine the establishment of the federal judiciary, the influence of the Marshall Court, the constitutional challenges of the New Deal, the Vinson and Warren Courts, the "Rights Revolution," and the role of today's Supreme Court in American life.
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.
PALM DESERT CENTER