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- A Global History of Terrorism Online
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Speaker: Rachel Oppenheimer
Dates: 6/1/2026 - 6/29/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course will acquaint members with the remarkably long, diverse, and widespread use of strategies of terror to advance political, economic, religious, and social agendas. Beginning with issues of defining terrorism, exploration will range from ancient societies to the present, and the class will examine terror as it occurred around the globe. Revolutionary terrorism and reactionary terrorism as well as terror by state and sub-state actors will be considered. The course will be thematic rather than strictly chronological.
This course will meet online June 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29.
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- The Boiling Republic: The Coming of the Civil War Online
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Speaker: Jared Day
Dates: 7/8/2026 - 8/5/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course discusses the origins and buildup to the American Civil War covering the period 1848 to 1861. It examines the interaction of slavery, states’ rights, and the “free soil” movement as critical foundation stones for this conflict and explores many of the key political figures of this era. Among them are Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, and emerging notables such as Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.
This course will meet online July 8, 15, 22, 29, and August 5.
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- Driving Destiny: James Polk and Westward Expansion Online
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Speaker: Jared Day
Dates: 5/27/2026 - 6/24/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course examines one of America's least recognized but most consequential administrations in U.S. history. James K. Polk's single term in office (1845-1849) saw the Mexican-American War and America's acquisition of California and Oregon territories, setting the stage for the next phases of U.S. expansions, Indian removal, and sectional crisis, all of which laid the groundwork for the Civil War. We will examine Polk's background and this under-explored but still critical period in American history.
This course will meet online May 27, June 3, 10, 17, and 24.
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- Five Obscure U.S. Presidents and Why They Matter
- THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
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Speaker: L. Jon Grogan
Dates: 7/9/2026 - 8/6/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Modality: In-Person
Fee: $0.00
Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, and a handful of other U.S. presidents are household names. Their impact on American society is unquestionable. However, there are a handful of lesser-known chief executives whose decisions changed the course of American history: Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk, Rutherford B. Hayes, William McKinley, and Calvin Coolidge. This course will study their presidencies and explain why they matter.
This course will meet in person July 9, 16, 23, 30, and August 6.
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- From Foragers to Empires: The Beginnings of Human History
- THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
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Speaker: Alan Irvine
Dates: 7/6/2026 - 8/3/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Days: M
Sessions: 5
Modality: In-Person
Fee: $0.00
A million years ago, early humans wandered the landscape, chasing game and creating tools. Eventually some of these people discovered agriculture and everything changed. More and stable resources brought about the growth of villages and towns, coalescing into kingdoms and then ever-vaster empires. This class will track the story of human civilization from earliest days to the great classical empires that spawned ideas of religion, philosophy, and political life still shaping our world today.
This course will meet in person July 6, 13, 20, 27, and August 3.
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- Gettysburg Campaign In-Person
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Speaker: David Albert
Dates: 7/6/2026 - 8/10/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Days: M
Sessions: 6
Modality: In-Person
Fee: $0.00
The course will examine the events leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg, the three-day battle itself, and the aftermath of what many consider the high-water mark of the Confederacy. The course will discuss many of the numerous controversies generated on both sides as well as the “who, what, where, when and why” of one of the most important and studied campaigns in military history.
This course will meet 6 times in person July 6, 13, 20, 27, August 3, and 10.
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- Historic Role of Military Chaplains Online
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Speaker: David Fetterman
Dates: 7/7/2026 - 8/4/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course examines the development and role of military chaplains in the United States from the Revolutionary War through the Vietnam War. We will examine how chaplains have provided spiritual care, moral guidance, and pastoral support to service members across various wars. The course will explore how chaplains have served both faith and country, ministering to soldiers in times of war, shaping military morale, and navigating complex religious and political environments.
This course will meet online July 7, 14, 21, 28, and August 4.
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- Map of the World, Part 1 Online
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Speaker: Michael Rizzi
Dates: 5/28/2026 - 6/25/2026
Times: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course introduces members to world geography, with special emphasis on issues in the news. Have you ever read about a refugee crisis in a foreign country and been unsure where that country is? This course will help you fill in the blanks on your own mental map of the world and learn something interesting about every country on the planet. Follow along as we move from region to continent to identify countries and to discuss their history, language, culture, and contemporary political issues.
This course will meet online May 28, June 4, 11, 18, and 25.
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- Meltdown Expected: Crisis at the End of the 1970s Online
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Speaker: Aaron Leonard
Dates: 7/8/2026 - 8/5/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
We will analyze how the "me decade" transformed into the final phase of the Cold War. Starting in the final months of 1978 and extending through 1979, the period of torpor, malaise, and polyester was replaced by revolution in Iran, near-meltdown at Three Mile Island, tectonic shifts in China, the reworking of the intelligence authority, and the onset of a proxy war between the United States and U.S.S.R. in Afghanistan. Through the use of video, documents, music, and news of the day, this will tell the story of how the 1970s ended before the decade was over.
This course will meet online July 8, 15, 22, 29, and August 5.
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- Pittsburgh in The French and Indian War Online
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Speaker: Spencer Pfrogner
Dates: 7/9/2026 - 8/6/2026
Times: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
The present site of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was land once coveted by three nations: Britain, France, and American Indian tribes. The mid-18th century conflict, the French and Indian War, would drastically alter the world. This course will explore the key figures and pivotal events in the fighting over the forks of the Ohio River. Members will gain an understanding of the important role this region played in directing Europe’s colonization of North America as well as sowing the seeds for the American Revolution.
This course will meet online July 9, 16, 23, 30, and August 6.
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- Protestant Reformation
- THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
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Speaker: Mark Macedonia
Dates: 5/28/2026 - 6/25/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Modality: In-Person
Fee: $0.00
In 1517, a German Catholic priest named Martin Luther challenged the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church with his Ninety-five Theses. The confrontation would shatter the Catholic Church's dominance over Europe and result in a major split in Christianity that reverberates to this day. Within this course, we will explore the reasons for Luther's outburst and will examine the role of the main characters involved in the conflict, while assessing and understanding the significant impact of this great historical event.
This course will meet in person May 28, June 6, 11, 18, and 25.
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- Standing on Guard for Thee: A History of Modern Canada In-Person
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Speaker: Michael Young
Dates: 7/8/2026 - 8/5/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: In-Person
Fee: $0.00
Canada is on the brink of its 160th birthday and seems to be increasingly in the news. This course will explore the Dominion’s growth through the 20th and into the 21st century. Besides discussions and lectures, members will view archival film and TV footage such as sources like the CBC’s "A People’s History."
This course will meet in person July 8, 15, 22, 29, and August 5.
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- Surprising Conflicts, Questions, and People of the Holocaust Online
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Speaker: Howard Kerner
Dates: 7/6/2026 - 8/3/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
While some issues about the Holocaust have been well-documented, others deserve closer examination. We will study in depth the complicated and conflicted political, social, and human issues that led to America's response to the Holocaust. We will also study a little-known event of the war years: the sinking of the "Nazi Titanic." The course will also explore the uplifting stories of altruistic diplomats and other public officials during the Holocaust who bravely risked their careers and lives to save thousands of people.
This course will meet online July 6, 13, 20, 27, and August 3.
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- Western Pennsylvania Historic Places: A Virtual Tour, Part 1 Online
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Speaker: Kenneth Koncerak
Dates: 5/27/2026 - 6/24/2026
Times: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
Part 1 of this course takes members on a virtual and chronological tour of historic places in Western Pennsylvania, from pre-history to the dawn of the Industrial Age. Participants will virtually visit several locations, from Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Washington County to Old Economy Village in Beaver County. The course is designed to encourage members to explore these places on their own.
This course will meet online May 27, June 3, 10, 17, and 24.
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- Western Pennsylvania Historic Places: A Virtual Tour, Part 2 Online
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Speaker: Kenneth Koncerak
Dates: 7/6/2026 - 8/3/2026
Times: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
Part 2 of this course takes members on a virtual and chronological tour of historic places in Western Pennsylvania, from the Industrial Age to the modern day. Participants will virtually visit several locations, from the Drake Oil Well in Venango County to Quecreek Mine Rescue in Somerset County. Part 1 is not a prerequisite for Part 2.
This course will meet online July 6, 13, 20, 27, and August 3.
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- Prelude to Civil War: 1840 to 1860 Online
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Speaker: John Burt
Dates: 5/22/2026 - 6/26/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course considers the vexing question of whether the American Civil War was inevitable. Did it have to happen? If so, at what point did it become inevitable? What issues brought the war? Were particular men responsible? Is there a date which says from here forward war is certainly coming? There are no ready answers, yet the process of careful study may help individuals to form a conclusion for themselves.
This course will meet online May 22, 29, June 5, 12, and 26. There is no class June 19.
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