The Buddha and Jesus: A Comparison and Contrast of their Ethical Teaching
The teachings of Buddha and Jesus have profoundly shaped cultures and societies across the East and West. How do their teachings differ, and where do they overlap? What provides a foundation for meaningful Buddhist-Christian dialogue? Designed for both newcomers and those with prior knowledge, this course explores the lives of these influential figures, the distinction between philosophy and religion, the core principles of their ethical teachings, and the continuing relevance of their ideas in the modern world.
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Diplomacy: How Does It Work, and What Has It Done for the United States?
Explore the history of U.S. diplomacy from Benjamin Franklin’s role in ending the Revolutionary War to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s leadership in the creation of the United Nations. While preventing conflict rarely makes headlines, diplomacy has played a critical role in shaping the nation’s history. Through the stories of influential leaders and pivotal international challenges, this course examines how American diplomats have advanced U.S. interests and helped maintain peace. Taught by a retired U.S. Ambassador and State Department veteran.
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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."
*Please Note: This class will have a Hybrid attendance option in the form of a Zoom Meeting.
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.
Put the Blame on Mame: The Cultural Burden of Women in Film
Fee: $65.00
Dates: 7/9/2026 - 8/13/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 6
Building: UCR-Palm Desert Center B
Room: B-100
Instructor: Bernard "Butch" Epps
Seats Still Available: 129
This course explores how cinema shapes the ways we perceive, judge, and understand women. Screening in sequence over six weeks, we examine female characters as focal points of cultural projection and anxiety, whether as objects of desire in Gilda (1946) and Klute (1971), as figures of suspicion and scapegoating in Silkwood (1983) and Reversal of Fortune (1990), or as women defined in relation to men in The Man from Elysian Fields (2001) and The Wife (2017). As the course progresses, credibility, self-ownership, and perception come into question, revealing how quickly women are labeled—and the cultural burdens and expectations they must navigate as a result. Come for the films; stay for the discussion.
Course Preview Click Here
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.
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. The course is a hybrid course that can be accessed on Zoom or in-person.
*Please Note: This class will have a Hybrid attendance option in the form of a Zoom Meeting.
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 Classroom Revisited: Continuing Education in Film
Fee: $45.00
Dates: 8/20/2026 - 9/3/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 3
Building: UCR-Palm Desert Center B
Room:
Instructor: Bernard "Butch" Epps
Seats Still Available: 139
As a follow-up to last year’s popular Back to School in Film series, this three-week course explores teaching, learning, and the transformative power of education through three thoughtful and engaging films. We begin with The Browning Version (1994), in which a weary classics master, played by Albert Finney, reflects on a lifetime in the classroom; continue with the dramedy Educating Rita (1983), starring Julie Walters and Michael Caine, in which a spirited working-class woman seeks change through higher education and is mentored by a cynical professor; and conclude with The Emperor’s Club (2002), where an idealistic teacher, played by Kevin Kline, confronts difficult questions of character, ambition, and integrity. Together, these films examine the enduring influence of teachers and the ways education can shape lives, challenge assumptions, and open unexpected paths to growth. Come for the films; stay for the discussion.
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.
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. The course is a hybrid course that can be accessed on Zoom or in-person.
*Please Note: This class will have a Hybrid attendance option in the form of a Zoom Meeting.
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