The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla
Fee: $75.00
Item Number: F25COU104401
Dates: 10/6/2025 - 11/10/2025
Times: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 6
Building: Online Classroom
Room:
Instructor: Marc Seifer
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Trace Nikola Tesla’s journey from his early studies in Europe to his pioneering work in electricity, wireless technology, and beyond. Explore his collaborations and rivalries, including the “War of the Currents” with Edison and his partnership with Westinghouse, which lit the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Topics include his telautomaton, wireless experiments, race with Marconi, the Wardenclyffe Tower, wartime projects, and the mystery of his papers after his death.
Creative Conservation
Fee: $75.00
Item Number: F25COU104501
Dates: 10/8/2025 - 11/12/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 6
Building: Online Classroom
Room: Zoom Classroom
Instructor: Stephanie Arne
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Be educated, entertained, and inspired through real-life conservation stories from the instructor’s experiences and her time as host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. Explore how passionate individuals, diverse perspectives, and unique skills come together to tackle complex environmental challenges. Learn practical ways you can help protect wildlife and preserve our planet’s ecosystems.
In Darwin's Footsteps: A Journey to the Galapagos
Fee: $75.00
Item Number: F25COU104601
Dates: 10/16/2025 - 11/20/2025
Times: 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 6
Building: Online Classroom
Room: Zoom Classroom
Instructor: Eric Simon
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
From 1831-1836, Charles Darwin circumnavigated the globe aboard the HMS Beagle. In the Galapagos Islands and elsewhere, Darwin collected data that, after decades of study and reflection, formed part of the basis for his publication On the Origin of Species. The ideas presented in that volume remain the foundation of all modern biological thought. Drawing upon original source materials and the instructor’s photos, this course will present the historical and cultural context of Darwin’s era, follow the five-year journey, discuss how Darwin came to his ideas, and explain his theories in detail.
Mexico SInce 1821: A Brief Introduction
Fee: $75.00
Dates: 11/3/2025 - 12/8/2025
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 6
Building: EUV Riverside
Room: EUV 1101
Instructor: Robert Ellingsen
Seats Still Available: 26
Writer Carlos Fuentes once described Mexico’s history as “a chronicle of constant struggle.” In this six-week course, we’ll explore major conflicts of the 19th and 20th centuries—from grappling with the legacy of 300 years of Spanish colonialism, to battles between liberal and conservative forces, to confrontations with U.S. power. Topics include the U.S.-Mexican War (1846–48), the French occupation of the 1860s, the impact of foreign investment in the late 19th century, the Mexican Revolution (1911), the 1938 nationalization of the oil industry, and the 1968 student protests in Mexico City. While not a full history, this course offers a vivid introduction to the pivotal events that have shaped modern Mexico.
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.
Drawing Fundamentals
Fee: $75.00
Dates: 11/3/2025 - 12/15/2025
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 6
Building: UCR-Palm Desert Center A
Room: A-113
Instructor: Jack Flanigan
Seats Still Available: 31
In this six-week course, beginners will build a strong foundation in the art of drawing. We’ll explore one-, two-, and three-point perspective, logarithmic patterns, light and shadow, and the structure and nature of shapes. Along the way, you’ll develop observation skills, experiment with techniques, and gain confidence in expressing your creativity on paper. All you need is a pad of paper, a #2 soft pencil, and an eraser. Whether you’ve never picked up a pencil or are returning to a long-lost hobby, this class will help you see—and draw—the world in a whole new way.
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.
International Cinema
Fee: $75.00
Item Number: F25COU105601
Dates: 11/5/2025 - 12/17/2025
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 6
Building: UCR-Palm Desert Center A
Room: A-113
Instructor: Dale Knorr
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Enroll and investigate cinematic storytelling as an art form. We’ll view and discuss one film per week including critically acclaimed classics, overlooked gems, and the very best of contemporary foreign language film. The films will be presented in their language of origin with English subtitles.
Iran Contra: The Whitewashing of Ronald Reagan
Fee: $50.00
Dates: 11/5/2025 - 12/17/2025
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 6
Building: Online Classroom
Room: Zoom Classroom
Instructor: John Powers
Seats Still Available: 91
Nearly 40 years ago, a covert and illegal operation to supply arms to a Central American insurgency and to Iran during its war with Iraq exploded into global headlines. The Reagan administration launched a cover-up to shield the president, who had been deeply involved in directing these policies. He narrowly avoided impeachment and left office quietly. This course traces the affair from its origins to its controversial conclusion six years later, when another president—himself implicated—pardoned the conspirators.
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.
Standpoint Theory: What Does the World Look Like from Your Lens?
Fee: $75.00
Dates: 11/5/2025 - 12/17/2025
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 6
Building: EUV Riverside
Room: EUV 1101
Instructor: Susan Freeman
Seats Still Available: 43
Discover how your personal identity, lived experiences, and social position shape the way you see—and are seen by—the world. This course unpacks the principles of Standpoint Theory, helping you understand how perspective influences knowledge, communication, and power. Through guided discussions, reflection exercises, and case studies, you’ll learn to recognize the value of diverse standpoints and apply these insights to create inclusion and empathy in your personal and professional 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.
The U.S. Intelligence Community: Purpose and Capabilities
Fee: $75.00
Dates: 11/5/2025 - 12/17/2025
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 6
Building: UCR-Palm Desert Center A
Room: A-114
Instructor: Gary Gomez
Seats Still Available: 17
Explore the U.S. intelligence enterprise, its disciplines, and its role in shaping foreign policy. Go beyond media portrayals and popular myths to gain a clear understanding of how intelligence truly works and impacts national affairs. Topics include intelligence collection, how policymakers use intelligence, the risks of politicization and distortion, and the causes of intelligence failures.
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The Week's News in Review - Palm Desert
An interactive discussion of events shaping the news each week. Media sources include print, TV, the internet, and social media. This course will discuss politics, the economy, sports, show business, and topics pulled from the "headlines."
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Current Events Discussion Group
This course covers legal, social and political topics of the day based on articles, studies and brief foundational lectures. Articles, on both sides of an issue, will be taken from a variety of publications such as The New York Times , The Washington Post , The Wall Street Journal , The Economist , and more. All thoughtful views are welcomed and will be respected. This course will be a hybrid course.
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Interactive Legacy Storytelling Workshop: Capturing and Sharing Life Stories
In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to uncover and preserve the stories that shape your family’s history—while also beginning to craft your own legacy. Discover techniques for interviewing loved ones to draw out meaningful memories, life lessons, and untold experiences, and gain tools for writing personal narratives that reflect your own journey. Through guided exercises, you’ll practice asking thoughtful questions, capturing vivid details, and transforming conversations into written keepsakes. You’ll leave with a clear plan and fresh ideas to begin writing your legacy stories, ready to capture them fully on your own after the workshop.
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.
Tis The Season:: Inspirational Movies To Ring In The New Year
Escape the holiday madness with three inspiring films you may have missed, each followed by a thoughtful discussion. The Miracle of the Bells (1948) tells the story of a press agent (Fred MacMurray) who returns the remains of an unknown actress (Valli) to her coal-mining hometown while trying to convince a Hollywood studio head (Lee J. Cobb) to release her only film. The Finest Hours (2016) recounts the true story of a daring Coast Guard rescue off Cape Cod after two oil tankers are destroyed during a 1952 blizzard. Joyeux Noel (2005), nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, portrays the unofficial Christmas truce of December 1914, when soldiers from opposing sides of World War I briefly set aside the conflict to share in each other’s humanity.
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