Fully Online Courses   

Designing a Mindful Life is an interactive course for those who want to create a more intentional, grounded next chapter. Blending evidence-informed life design and mindfulness, this course invites participants to pause, reflect, experiment, and move toward choices that feel aligned with their interests and values. Through guided meditation, creative exercises, reflective writing, and conversation, participants will clarify what matters, recognize patterns that no longer serve them, and imagine new possibilities for work, relationships, creativity, and daily life.

The philosophy behind this course is simple: we appreciate poetry best when we read it with others. Our community combines returning members, working poets, and poetry lovers: we welcome new members to our group because they bring fresh perspectives. And you are welcome to simply “listen in” if you’re not sure how to talk about poetry: you will learn! Over the course of the semester, we will discuss various poems written in the English language from the Renaissance to today. We will read poems out loud while practicing our scansion skills, noting patterns of sound and rhythm. We will tease out meanings. We will discuss the historical and context that frames each poet and poem. Our goal will be to work towards a richer understanding of each poem together.

Dr. Zeynep Leuenberger will launch Senior College's new Human Rights series this fall with Human Rights I: Environmental Sustainability, the first course in an ongoing sequence that will continue exploring critical global human rights issues through future offerings, including Human Rights II: The Rights of Women and Children and Human Rights III: Global Educational Access, which will be offered in subsequent semesters.

This course outlines the deep relationship between environmental health and human well-being through human rights and public sector economic lenses. It introduces the basic principles of human rights law and practice tied to environmental sustainability through discussion of key issues such as water quality and scarcity, climate related migration, agriculture and environment, climate change, and pollution mitigation. Finally, the course reviews solutions offered by international non-governmental and governmental organizations.

In this course on modern Ireland, students will explore contemporary Ireland through the lens of renowned Irish writers. Participants will explore a curated selection of three impactful books, each offering a unique perspective on the cultural, social, and historical fabric of modern Ireland.

Here is the book list to be read in this order.

1. The Gathering by Anne Enright
      Vintage (UK), paperback — Vintage Books, 2007. ISBN-13: 9780099523826 (ISBN-10: 0099523825); ca. 261 pages. themorgan.org

      A dark, intimate novel about family grief and memory, The Gathering follows Veronica Hegarty as she returns home after her brother Liam’s suicide. Through sharp, lyrical prose, Enright unravels family secrets, sibling rivalries, and the ways personal and collective pasts distort the truth, creating a powerful exploration of loss, culpability, and the messy ties that bind.

2. Long Island by Colm Tóibín
 (Simon & Schuster / Scribner): paperback (Oprah’s Book Club edition), Publisher: Scribner (an imprint of Simon & Schuster), Publication date: 02/25/2025, Pages: 304, ISBN‑13: 9781476785127

Set in contemporary Ireland, Long Island centers on a woman confronting marriage, desire, and the pull of past choices after a chance encounter rekindles old doubts. Tóibín’s spare, observant style illuminates interior life and quiet moral reckonings, rendering a nuanced portrait of longing, fidelity, and the small decisions that shape a life.

3. Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen
     US publication (trade paperback / Algonquin Books): On sale December 1, 2020; trade paperback, 320 pages; ISBN-13 9781643750897. Available also as an eBook and audiobook

      Majella O’Neill, the novel’s deadpan, sharply observant heroine, scrapes by working in a local chip shop and caring for her alcoholic mother in a small Northern Irish border town in the years after the Troubles. Majella lives a regimented, solitary life — same clothes, same meal, same TV shows — until the murder of her granny thrusts her into the town’s gossip and exposes hidden family and community tensions. Told in a darkly comic, highly original voice, the book mixes bleakness and warmth as Majella negotiates grief, identity, and the possibility of escape from a claustrophobic, divided community. 

Transforming the Mediterranean Sea into an open, international waterway during the Barbary Wars (1801-1816) was driven by the United States’ refusal to pay state-sanctioned tributes for safe passage.  By employing military force, the U.S. forced North African corsairs to recognize the universal “freedom of the seas” for merchant shipping

Barbary pirates from the states of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli continually attacked merchant vessels in the Mediterranean, seizing cargo, and demanding massive annual tribute payments.

Most major European powers—including Great Britain, France, Spain, and others—paid regular tributes to the Barbary States. President Thomas Jefferson decided to stop making tribute payments and dispatched the newly established U.S. Navy to the Mediterranean. This culminated in the First Barbary War (1801–1805) to force Tripoli and other regimes to end their attacks. Piracy resumed during the War of 1812, prompting the Second Barbary War (1815) under President James Madison.

Join me for a six-week exploration of the two wars that established the Mediterranean Sea as an open international waterway. There will be slides, handouts and the second half of the class will be devoted to questions and discussions with reference to events in the Strait of Hormuz.

Drugs, from Caffeine to Heroin, play a striking role in our Society. This course will serve to increase awareness and knowledge about drugs, addiction and their impact on society. Participants will examine their own behavior, learn strategies for prevention and intervention, and explore and debate changing societal norms.

The nature of crime is complex and constantly evolving, shaped by social, economic, cultural, and psychological factors. At its core, crime involves behavior that violates laws established by society, but what is considered criminal can vary across time and place. This course will explore the nature of crime through various theoretical perspectives, helping to explain why individuals engage in criminal behavior and how different factors influence these actions. Fields like Criminology examine how factors such as poverty, inequality, peer influence, and opportunity contribute to criminal activity. Understanding the nature of crime requires looking beyond the act itself to the broader social context in which it occurs., Dr. Alatorre's scholarship is rooted in his personal experiences with immigration, his work with homeless people, and maintaining resiliency in the face of overwhelming odds. His research aims to portray both the barriers and successes the immigrant and homeless population face. Dr. Alatorre uses a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens to contextualize and frame his scholarly work.  Dr. Alatorre's work has appeared in Debates on U.S. Immigration, Studies on Symbolic Interaction, Qualitative Inquiry, Encyclopedia of Women and Crime, The Journal of Qualitative Criminal Justice and Criminology, Contemporary Justice Review, and the Racial Equity and Justice Institute Handbook.

Last fall we dove into Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights; this fall we’ll take on the work of her sister, Charlotte Brontë, and study Jane Eyre. A quintessential Victorian Era novel, Jane Eyre follows the physical, moral, and psychological development of its eponymous character, Jane. In the first class meeting, students will be introduced to the Brontë family and the Victorian Era while also being presented with a six-week at-home reading schedule. The foundation of each class thereafter will be discussions about the reading. The discussions will touch on topics addressed in the novel with a focus on madness and sanity, psychological abuse, and class and society. Join this course for six weeks of literary discussions of the Bildungsroman Jane Eyre.

This course will focus on the upcoming midterm elections in Massachusetts and nationwide. It will examine the national conditions and issues shaping the elections for U.S. House and Senate. The course will explore the race for Governor of Massachusetts and statewide initiatives on the ballot. It will conclude with a review of the post-election results and a preview of the forthcoming 2028 presidential election.

In this course, you will read and discuss three books. All sessions will be on Zoom. The first book will be West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. The remaining two books will be announced during the first session of the group. Nan Loggains has led book groups for the past 25 years.

Although this course will build on a class previously offered last year, new participants can join and participate fully.   It is suitable for either those who use smart phones or dedicated cameras. The class won't focus on how to use a particular “camera” but rather, how to compose and get a better image out of whatever device you have.  We will review basic photographic fundamentals and qualities that create a “good” image.  Students will be asked to submit photos for critiquing and constructive criticism by class members. Although our goal will be to take a so-called “perfect” photo in-camera, we will see how to improve images by post-processing, using software: the so-called “digital darkroom.” I use Photoshop Elements, but the principles may be transferred to other software.  It’s not essential to have any software.  Questions and comments are encouraged with plenty of back-and-forth interaction.  Weather permitting I’d like to schedule a “meet and greet” field trip at a time convenient for as many people as possible.  I’d appreciate suggestions from you as to possible destinations.  

This course will examine three William Faulkner novels, As I Lay Dying, A Light in August, and The Sound and the Fury. Classes will be driven primarily by a close reading of each text and subsequent in-class discussions. The course will be on Zoom, and it will be recorded.

A continuing series of six lectures meant to bring to light the role of both famous and lesser-known women who transgressed gender stereotypes, rose to positions of power, and shaped history in substantial ways. The first lecture will provide a brief introduction of the unique features of World History (as a distinct field/approach of History) that serves as an ideal framework to explore the lives of these extraordinary women throughout history. This course emphasizes coverage of historical women from non-Western Areas who have traditionally not received adequate attention. Session 1: Class Intro: What is World History? How to assess historical women in power in the past/today? Session 2: Elisabeth I (1533-1603) Session 3: Catherine the Great (1729 - 1796): Session 4: Roxelana - Hürrem Sultan (1505- 1558) Session 5: Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) Session 6: Angele Merkel (1954-

This course delves into the complex dynamics of power, privilege, and oppression within various societal structures. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students will critically examine the intersections of identity, social systems, and historical contexts that contribute to the perpetuation of inequality. The power, privilege, and oppression course will delve into various societal structures, aiming to foster a deep understanding of how these forces shape our world. We will explore a diverse range of societal structures, including but not limited to, the education system, criminal justice system, media representation, healthcare, and economic institutions. Expect to look at how race, gender, sexuality, class, and ability intersect in surprising ways.

 Throughout the course, we will develop and foster critical thinking skills and empathy. Key questions we’ll tackle include: How do power dynamics show up around us? What historical events are still affecting us today? And most importantly, how can we make a difference? Join me for a thought-provoking, brave space to promote fairness and justice.

Nature as Writing Mentor explores Nature as a muse and a topic for our writing focus. Participants write in class for ten minutes and are invited to share in class. Writers are encouraged to develop a writing practice throughout our time together. 

This class is for writers of all levels and interests.  If you have taken the class before, you are welcome to join in again and no previous experience is needed. The focus for our time together is to have fun and to get new writing on the page while exploring the many benefits of nature. 

Do you have physical limitations that prevent you from participating in a traditional yoga class? Then chair yoga is for you! Chair yoga II is open to new students, but will extend the sequences from Chair Yoga I. You will learn sequences to open and align the body from a seated position that you can make part of your daily routine. We will also explore meditation and breathing practices that decrease anxiety and generate a positive connection to the body.

This course traces the dramatic changes in women’s lives in the United States from the postwar era to today. Through major turning points in politics, work, family life, education, and popular culture, we’ll explore how expectations of femininity and “the good life” evolved—and how women challenged, reshaped, and sometimes defended those expectations. Topics include second-wave and third-wave feminism, civil rights and women’s activism, reproductive politics, Title IX, changing workplaces and family structures, media and consumer culture, and contemporary debates over equality and identity. Classes blend accessible historical context with lively discussion and primary sources. No prior background required—just an interest in how social change happens and who drives it. 

As we move towards winter, yoga II will take a deeper dive into the profound effects of yoga and contemplative practices on mental and physical health. The class will introduce an array of meditative practices you can incorporate into your everyday life. The class will continue with a gentle yoga practice and finish with these simple, easily repeated meditation practices. These techniques improve cognition, decrease anxiety, and generate a centered mind-body state.

I plan to begin with man’s first attempts to fly like a bird then move on to the early days of flight and eventually go higher and higher into deep space.  Along the way, I want to examine the physical principles that govern how we stay aloft.  What’s it like to eat, sleep, go to the bathroom and live in a so-called “weightless” environment?  We’ll examine the physics behind satellites and space telescopes and what we learn from them.   In particular, I want to discuss the Space Shuttle and Teacher in Space programs and offer personal reflections from my own experiences while being a NASA Space Ambassador and Regional Representative for the National Air and Space Museum.