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Osher Online Summer 2026

Osher Online is a national program that is offered to a select number of Osher Institutes and managed by the Osher National Resource Center (NRC) out of Northwestern University. These unique programs allow OLLI members from across the country to take courses together. These offerings are separate from the regular courses OLLI at UMass Boston sponsors and as such, are treated as special events that are open to all current OLLI members.

There is a $45 fee assessed for each course you register to help cover the cost of providing this program for our members. This $45 event fee is applicable to all OLLI membership levels. Payment will be due a week prior to the program starting. OLLI members must be current members at the time of registration as well as when the program starts.

Step-by-Step Registration Instructions (PDF File)

Please read the following details carefully:

Registration will open at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 15. Unlike our usual spring or fall courses, these programs will fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Please do not email or call in your request.
Your OLLI membership must be current so you can register for these programs. Please call (617.287.7312) to renew your membership.
Osher Online programs are open to any current OLLI member.
Cost: $45 per event. The program fee must be paid a week prior to it beginning.
OLLI at UMass Boston will provide the class roster to the NRC. The NRC will then email the confirmation back to each student and provide a username and password so the student can access their course information, including handouts and communications with the study leaders, on the NRC’s online course portal.

Note: OLLI at UMass Boston will not have access to Zoom details for these programs. Access to program information, including Zoom links, are only accessible through the NRC online website/portal. The NRC will provide help and assistance if an OLLI member has trouble accessing this information.

Osher Online Summer 2026 Programs (PDF File)

Back to Courses & Programs

The programs below are listed alphabetically. If you do not see the "Add To Cart" button, you have not signed in correctly or your membership has expired. Note: the "Add To Cart" button will not appear until 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 15 when registration opens.

Canals and the Making of the Modern World
Day: Wednesday
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Number of Sessions: 6
Dates: 7/8/2026 - 8/12/2026
Program Fee: $45.00

Location: ONLINE
Room: Zoom
Facilitator: Bernie Carlson
Schedule Notes: Special online portal information will be sent from the Osher NRC.
Registration:
When the Erie Canal opened in 1825, it revolutionized American travel and transportation, but its inspiration came from Europe’s earlier canal networks. In this course, we will trace the development of French, British, and Irish canals in the 17th and 18th centuries. We will follow the story into the 19th century as we turn to American canals, especially in New York and Pennsylvania. Along the way, we will explore how canals reflect the politics and aspirations of different nations and why they still matter for global shipping today. Whether we are drawn to engineering marvels, the people who built them, or the pleasure of drifting along a canal or hiking a towpath, we will deepen our appreciation of canals’ importance and beauty.

Children’s Literature: The Development of a Genre
Day: Tuesday
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Number of Sessions: 6
Dates: 7/7/2026 - 8/11/2026
Program Fee: $45.00

Location: ONLINE
Room: Zoom
Facilitator: Blake Regnier
Schedule Notes: Special online portal information will be sent from the Osher NRC.
Registration:
In this course, we will trace the evolution of literature specifically written for children - from its earliest forms to the modern era. We will begin with the oral traditions that underpin all storytelling, then follow the shift toward published works created specifically with young readers in mind. We will survey key moments and turning points that shaped the growth of children’s literature as a distinct field. We will conclude by analyzing how a well-known children’s literature has evolved over time.

Discovering Portugal
Day: Tuesday
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Number of Sessions: 6
Dates: 7/7/2026 - 8/11/2026
Program Fee: $45.00

Location: ONLINE
Room: Zoom
Facilitator: Alison Roberts
Schedule Notes: Special online portal information will be sent from the Osher NRC.
Registration:
In this course, we will explore how a tiny nation – Portugal – played an outsized role in world history. We will examine Portugal’s fifteenth and sixteenth century maritime expansion (once called the “Discoveries”), as well as its central role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved people. We will trace how Portugal, once a fringe region of the Roman Empire, emerged as the only independent kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula as Castile grew into Spain. We will follow Portugal’s rise as a global power, with outposts stretching from Brazil to Japan, and then its decline as rival empires overtook it – culminating in twentieth century poverty under Europe’s longest dictatorship. Finally, we will consider how this past continues to shape Portuguese identity and culture in the decades since a revolution ushered in democracy. As we survey Portugal’s landscapes, art and architecture, and food, we will see why record numbers of Americans are now visiting the country.

Endless Grounds: Coffee's Social, Economic, and Cultural Life
Day: Thursday
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Number of Sessions: 6
Dates: 7/9/2026 - 8/13/2026
Program Fee: $45.00

Location: ONLINE
Room: Zoom
Facilitator: Robert Thurston, PhD
Schedule Notes: Special online portal information will be sent from the Osher NRC.
Registration:
Coffee will provide a lively lens on major past and present issues, including climate change, social life, health, global North–South differences, social and economic justice, tourism, and slavery. We will begin “from the ground up,” tracing coffee from planting and processing through shipping and, ultimately, the beverage in our cups - part of nearly two billion cups consumed daily worldwide. We will explore coffee’s global history and its shift from an elite drink to an everyday staple. Drawing on current research, we will examine coffee and health, as well as practical questions such as how more income might reach farmers and how coffee production might adapt to a changing climate. The instructor will share firsthand experiences from coffee farms around the world, discuss a range of brewing methods, and demonstrate how coffee is brewed. Sessions will be interactive, with time for questions throughout.

Hindu Traditions: Ritual, Knowledge, Devotion
Day: Wednesday
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Number of Sessions: 6
Dates: 7/15/2026 - 8/19/2026
Program Fee: $45.00

Location: ONLINE
Room: Zoom
Facilitator: Eileen Goddard
Schedule Notes: Special online portal information will be sent from the Osher NRC.
Registration:
In this course, we will gain a comprehensive introduction to Hindu traditions, emphasizing the importance of ritual, knowledge, and devotion across Hindu traditions from classical to contemporary times. We will introduce Hinduism’s South Asian roots, that can be traced to the Vedic tradition, which provides key conceptual and religious foundations. We will consider early and classical expressions of Hindu thought and religious life through the complex term dharma. Major Hindu deities are then introduced alongside associated narratives, practices, and iconography. We will examine the six major schools of Hindu philosophy using both secondary and primary sources. We will then consideration bhakti (devotion) that has characterized diverse Hindu traditions across centuries. Finally, we will consider sacred space and places including temples and tīrthas, as well as the interrelationship of the concept of divine presence and pilgramage practices the relate to these holy sites.

Horticulture A-Z
Day: Tuesday
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Number of Sessions: 6
Dates: 7/7/2026 - 8/11/2026
Program Fee: $45.00

Location: ONLINE
Room: Zoom
Facilitator: Chris Baker
Schedule Notes: Special online portal information will be sent from the Osher NRC.
Registration:
In this course, we will explore a wide range of horticultural practices with something to offer no matter our experience level or where we live. We will cover container gardening, aquatic gardens, ornamental and fruiting plants, bonsai, landscape design, and pest management. Each week, we will focus on a theme and examine design ideas, plant choices, and long-term care practices for success. Whether we garden on 10 acres or in an apartment, we will find plenty to learn and enjoy in horticulture.

Protecting Yourself as a Patient
Day: Tuesday
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Number of Sessions: 6
Dates: 7/21/2026 - 8/25/2026
Program Fee: $45.00

Location: ONLINE
Room: Zoom
Facilitator: Singh Hardeep, MD
Schedule Notes: Special online portal information will be sent from the Osher NRC.
Registration:
This course will arm us with the knowledge we need to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe when engaging with the healthcare system. Health care today is more complex, technical, and volatile than ever. Medical harm (unintentional but often preventable) injures and kills hundreds of thousands of patients each year. In this course, we will learn how to prevent the most common types of medical harm including medication errors, patient care accidents, procedural and surgical complications, infections, and diagnostic mistakes. Patient safety experts and advocates will provide us with practical tips and insights to navigate the healthcare system confidently and safely. Through presentations, videos, and group discussions, we will come to understand the common sources of error and discover tactics, resources, and cautions to help protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Revolutionary Echoes in Washington DC
Day: Thursday
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Number of Sessions: 6
Dates: 7/9/2026 - 8/13/2026
Program Fee: $45.00

Location: ONLINE
Room: Zoom
Facilitator: Kasey Sease, PhD
Schedule Notes: Special online portal information will be sent from the Osher NRC.
Registration:
The Declaration of Independence is a pivotal American document, not just for eighteenth-century revolutionaries, but for people throughout US history. This course will explore how individuals in Washington, D.C. used the Declaration and its ideas after independence was won. From the capital city’s planners to Union soldiers who defended Washington amid civil war, many evoked the Declaration to support their causes and shape a capital city. Spotlighting museum artifacts from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection, this course will cover D.C.’s early history through 1876, the nation’s first centennial celebration.

The Digital Shift: How Computing Remade Media
Day: Monday
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Number of Sessions: 6
Dates: 7/20/2026 - 8/24/2026
Program Fee: $45.00

Location: ONLINE
Room: Zoom
Facilitator: Rafael Davis Portela
Schedule Notes: Special online portal information will be sent from the Osher NRC.
Registration:
The music we stream, the photos we swipe through, the real time news we consume, the books we read or listen to – all have been radically reshaped by digital technology. This course will explore how media is created, stored, and experienced in a digitized world. We will unpack fundamentals like text files, encoding and decoding, pixels, and algorithms in clear, easy-to-understand ways – no prior computer knowledge needed. Each session will focus on a different medium, comparing its analog origins with its contemporary digital version. We will also consider the impact of Generative AI and speculate on future trends. Topics will include text (books, e-books, news portals), images (photography and movies), music, video games, social media, and media ownership (physical media, streaming, and copyrights).

The Indispensable Founder: George Washington
Day: Monday
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Number of Sessions: 6
Dates: 7/13/2026 - 8/17/2026
Program Fee: $45.00

Location: ONLINE
Room: Zoom
Facilitator: Dede Petri
Schedule Notes: Special online portal information will be sent from the Osher NRC.
Registration:
As America celebrates 250 years of independence, this course will examine the indispensable founder, George Washington. We will explore Washington's life and political leadership as well as his work as a farmer, entrepreneur, and architect. We will also review the groundbreaking work of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association (MVLA) which has owned and managed George Washington's Mount Vernon since 1858. In that year, an intrepid group of women (who had no right to vote or own property) came together to save George Washington's home, after both the Federal Government and Commonwealth of Virginia had refused to help. MVLA formation marked the birth of the historic preservation movement.

Threads of History: Exploring the World of Oriental Rugs
Day: Monday
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Number of Sessions: 6
Dates: 7/6/2026 - 8/10/2026
Program Fee: $45.00

Location: ONLINE
Room: Zoom
Facilitator: Sumru Krody
Schedule Notes: Special online portal information will be sent from the Osher NRC.
Registration:
What makes an Oriental rug so captivating—its elegant design, intricate patterns, or the mystery of its origins? In this richly illustrated course, we will discover the stories woven into these remarkable textiles. We will travel through the history and artistry of rug and carpet weaving, a tradition rooted in Asia and North Africa, with examples dating back to the 4th century BCE. Using stunning visuals and expert insights, we will explore major carpet-making cultures and regions including Anatolia, Iran, Transcaucasia, North Africa, and Central Asia. We will learn to recognize defining features of Oriental rugs: weaving traditions (nomadic and settled), key historical periods (from the Early Modern era through the nineteenth-century), purposes (from prayer to decoration), and production contexts (from royal courts to bustling markets). We will also be introduced to basic methods for identifying weave structures and deepen our appreciation of these remarkable works of art.

Women Architects and Designers
Day: Wednesday
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Number of Sessions: 6
Dates: 7/15/2026 - 8/19/2026
Program Fee: $45.00

Location: ONLINE
Room: Zoom
Facilitator: Eleanor Schrader
Schedule Notes: Special online portal information will be sent from the Osher NRC.
Registration:
Often overlooked in traditional design and architecture courses, twentieth century women designers profoundly shaped the way we perceive, experience, and enjoy our built environments, interiors, and decorative objects. In this course, we will explore the work and influence of such designers and architects as Elsie de Wolfe, Eileen Gray, Lilly Reich, Charlotte Perriand, Dorothy Draper, Ray Eames, Zaha Hadid, and others. Their lives and the beauty of their enduring designs are documented within the context of the social and political issues they faced, as they left their unmistakable imprints upon twentieth century design.

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