The Center for Senior Citizens' Education presents educational and cultural programs designed to foster and support lifelong learning.
Center for Senior Citizens' Education to offer short courses this spring
The University of St. Thomas Center for Senior Citizens' Education again will offer several short courses this spring on the university's campuses in St. Paul and Minneapolis.
The courses are designed especially for those 55 and older and are taught by faculty members and experts from the community. Courses are taught two hours per week for seven or eight weeks. The cost for each course is $60. Scheduled this spring are:
"Global Challenges in a New American Era" will be offered from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays, March 16 to May 18, in the auditorium of O'Shaughnessy Educational Center on the university's St. Paul campus. Dr. Nick Hayes, a professor of history who holds the Chair in Critical Thinking at St. John's University, will examine the international landscape that faces the new U.S. administration.
"Astronomy: Almost Everything You Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays from March 31 to May 19 in Thornton Auditorium on the university's Minneapolis campus. Two St. Thomas faculty members who teach astronomy, Professor Emeritus Dr. Paul Lane and John Koser, will lead the course. Materials will be distributed that will help participants observe the sky without a telescope.
"Energy and Environmental Challenges for Minnesota" will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, March 31 to May 19, in Thonrton Auditorium on the university's Minneapolis campus. Professors from St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota will present the course along with representatives from four environmental organizations. Among the topics covered will be how to have a healthy economy as well as environmental quality.
"Grand Music: Piano Literature From Bach to the Present" will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays from April 1 to May 20 in O'Shaughnessy Educational Center auditorium on the St. Paul campus. Dr. Suzanne Schons, a member of the St. Thomas music faculty and a featured presenter at regional and national music conferences, will cover the immense body of piano literature from the 17th century to today. The class sessions will include recordings and videos.
"The Colossal Genius of G.K. Chesterton" will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays, April 6 to May 18, in O'Shaughnessy Educational Center auditorium on the university's St. Paul campus. Dale Ahlquist, president of the American Chesterton Society and author or editor of five books on Chesterton, will examine the author's wit, defense of the Christian faith and prophetic insights.
"Journeying Through the Gospel of Luke" will be offered from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays from April 8 to May 20 in O'Shaughnessy Educational Center auditorium on the university's St. Paul campus. Scripture scholar and author Dr. Arthur Zannoni will focus on Luke's variety of portrayals of Jesus from birth through death to resurrection.
"Lunch 'n Explore" Returning to downtown Minneapolis this spring are three "Lunch 'n Explore" programs sponsored by the Center for Senior Citizens' Education.
- Dr. Mary Ann Chalkey of the St. Thomas Psychology Department, and Annie Gatto, a research assistant at St. Thomas, will discuss "How Decisions Get Made in Health Families: Who Decides What's 'Good' for Mom and Dad? When? How?" on Tuesday, March 10.
- Dr. Paul Berge, professor emeritus at Luther Seminary, will discuss "The Apostle Paul Engages New-Age Thought" on Friday, April 24.
- Dr. James Paulson, chief investment strategist at Wells Capital Management, will discuss "The Economic and Financial Market Outlook" on Thursday, May 21.
Each luncheon program runs from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Room 201 (the Great Room) of Opus Hall on the university's Minneapolis campus. Cost of each lunch and talk is $25.
The Center for Senior Citizens' Education also offers one-to-one peer consultation services; three online programs dealing with music and culture, spirituality, and theology; and a program that allows senior citizens to attend regular undergraduate academic courses on a space-available basis. The fee to attend the undergraduate courses is $25 per semester.
For more information about the short courses or other programs, call the center at (651) 962-5188 or visit the center's Web site.
