Online Courses   

In a well-known Bible story, Abraham almost sacrifices his son Isaac. This course will look at this text from five different angles: midrash, which are stories about the stories in the Bible that help to explain them; paintings of the scene by different artists; the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling; the ways modern poets have used the imagery of this story in their work; and the viewpoint of Sarah, Abraham’s wife and Isaac’s mother. Advance reading is not required; all source materials will be provided during class.

The history of decorative glassmaking goes back 3,600 years, resulting in beautiful objects of art created throughout the ages, including vases, goblets, stained glass windows, and other decorative and useful items. From palaces and houses of worship to affordable household objects, this craft has evolved from a luxury item into a ubiquitous material for art, architecture, and personal use. This course will trace the development of glass blowing technology and will discuss various historical artistic styles in glass.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already shaping the way we receive medical care, from scheduling appointments and billing insurance, to making diagnoses and recommending treatments. But most patients never realize it is happening. This course uncovers the hidden role of AI in healthcare, helping members better understand its benefits and limitations, and to ask better questions. The class will break down the jargon, share real-world examples, and provide strategies to help regain control.

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.

The advent of radio broadcasting in 1920 changed the relationship between traditional media and the audience. Immediate communication with the local community, a reach that soon became national, was made possible. Radio became the dominant source of news, weather, and entertainment in popular culture for 30 years. But when television replaced radio, rock 'n' roll emerged. This is the story of how radio recaptured a listening audience, shaped a generation, and gave birth to the classic era of rock music.

Artists have long painted and sculpted figures from classical myth and legend. We will be looking at a wide range of such art. We will talk about some ancient Greek and Roman art but will spend most of our time on Medieval and Renaissance art, such as Titian’s The Death of Actaeon, Veronese’s Venus and Mars, Dürer’s Hercules at the Crossroad, Botticelli’s Primavera and The Birth of Venus, and many others. Classes will concentrate on how artists interpreted the meaning of myths.

This introductory course is designed to help beginners feel comfortable using a personal computer, either a desktop or laptop. The course will cover the basics of how to interact with a computer, including the differences between hardware and software, and how to exchange information with the machine. Members will learn how data is stored and used within a computer and how they can utilize basic computer productivity tools to complete specific goals.

Fire is more than heat and flames; it is a chemical reaction that behaves in predictable yet complex ways. This course is an introduction to the science behind combustion, exploring how fuel, oxygen, and heat interact to create fire. Learn why understanding these principles is critical for anyone, from predicting fire behavior to staying safe in your own home and hazardous environments. This course is for members interested in fire safety, community preparedness, or simply curious about the science behind flames.

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.

Can homelessness be solved simply with more social workers, mental health services, and housing? Or does it require addressing structural shifts in the capitalist economy, inequality, systemic racism, and neoliberal government policies? Patrick Markee answers these questions in Placeless: Homelessness in the New Gilded Age. We will examine homelessness today and possible solutions through his book, other materials, and guest speakers.

NOTE: This course will be taught at the Community Engagement Center in Homewood (622 N. Homewood Avenue, 15208) and via Zoom.

Are you curious about seeing the world in a new way or learning about what drives social change? This course explores the study of social life, ranging from social inequality to theories on the self. We will be looking at sociological ideas from past to present and discussing how the past shapes today's society. We will also be examining various fundamental institutions, including family, media, religion, education, medicine, and law.

Using many clips from classic and modern musicals, we will explore and discuss various aspects of musical theater. Lecture topics will include different types of villains: the con man, the lazy, the beautiful, the lovable, and the evil sinister ones. Another lecture will feature costumes that relate to the mood of a musical and the careers of several costume designers. If time allows, other subjects may include the exploration of obscure musical numbers.

This course will first examine the defining characteristics of three common literary genres: proverbs (short, wise statements); song lyrics (lyrical expressions by contemporary artists); and fables (stories that convey moral lessons). Then, writers, individually or collectively, will create their own proverbs, song lyrics, and fables. Through a collaborative writing process, writers will have opportunities to share their work and receive supportive feedback from peers and the instructor. No prior writing experience is required.

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 introduces ancient Mesopotamia art, exploring early cities (4,00-3,000 BCE), early dynasties, the Akkadian Empire, the Assyrian Empire, and the Persian Empire. The class will use richly illustrated lectures and guided case studies.

Beginning in 1430, the muralists of central Italy used the new tools of perspective, anatomical study, and the science of optics to bring Bible stories, heroes, and political ideals to life in the walls of churches and palaces.

With slide images and film clips, members will explore the archaeological and historical cultures of the Inuit peoples of Greenland and Arctic Canada, the Yupik of the Bering Sea, the Tlingit of Southeast Alaska, and the peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of British Columbia. Topics will include indigenous strategies for survival, traditional life-ways, and distinctive art forms of the cultures of the north. We will also consider the impacts of contact with traders, missionaries, and governmental officials, and the environmental impacts of global warming.

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 introduces the basics of cybersecurity with a focus on practical skills for everyday life. Members will learn how common online scams work, why they are effective, and how to protect their personal accounts, devices, and information. Topics include recognizing phishing and phone scams, creating safer passwords, using multi-factor authentication, and understanding privacy tradeoffs. Course goals are to build confidence, awareness, and simple habits that help people stay safer online.

Characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism, Romanticism as an artistic style emerged throughout Europe and America towards the end of the 18th century. In France, this style is dramatically and emphatically exemplified through the art of Théodore Géricault and Eugène Delacroix. Partially a reaction against the formality and strict rules of the official style of Neoclassicism and in response to the tumult of the French Revolution, Romanticism strove to express drama, action, and exoticism through extravagant effects of color and movement.

Have you ever wondered how vaccines work? There are quite a few opinions on vaccination in society and media reports and politicians often present misinformation on the function and purpose of vaccination. In this course, we will first present the basics of immunology, then we will address different types of vaccines and how they work. Later sessions of the course will explore the consequences of vaccine misinformation.

HOW OLLI SPANISH COURSES WORK TOGETHER

Because OLLI Spanish courses only meet once a week, moving from one level to the next may not always be automatic. Each course has a different focus, but all courses practice similar core skills such as speaking, listening, and vocabulary development. Repeating a course at a certain level is a normal and helpful part of learning a language as an adult. Instructor guidance may also help participants choose the course that best fits their current level and learning goals. Members may only take ONE level of Spanish at a time.

This course is appropriate for participants who are comfortable and successful at communicating in Spanish and want to further develop their reading and conversational skills. Participants are expected to be able to use present, past, and future tenses, and have significant vocabulary and understanding of syntax (or have successfully completed Spanish: Intermediate Level). The course is taught in Spanish and focuses on analyzing and discussing reading material. Weekly class material is provided.

NOTE: This summer course will be taught in two five-week sessions at different times by different instructors. You may register for just one session, or for both sessions.

Rooted in trauma‑informed respectful practice, this course offers an engaging, hands‑on space where narrative becomes a catalyst for justice, community empowerment, and collective healing. Through mini‑immersive workshops, real‑world case studies, and guided creative exercises, members learn to craft true, personal stories that shift mindsets, challenge dominant narratives, and inspire action. Designed for advocates, organizers, and creatives, the course emphasizes purpose‑driven communication.

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.

Technology's pace continues to accelerate, sometimes leaving us in the dust. The purpose of this course is to put members in a position of general understanding of five important aspects of advanced technology: the Internet and the cloud; cell phones and social media; self-driving cars and trucks; blockchain and cryptocurrency; and AI. This is an introductory course on five broad and complex subjects. No prior technical knowledge is required; however, participants should come with a curious, open mind. 

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 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.

Learn how to shed your monkey mind in this virtual program. Develop a new creative practice that has the potential to help you feel more settled and relaxed as well as less anxious and muddled. Your tools are your breath, a sumi brush, and sumi ink. You will learn wet and dry brush techniques, processes for making lines, dots, and swirls, and methods of producing tonal changes.

Simple, accessible chair yoga can help restore balance to mind and body. Led by a veteran teacher and nervous system expert, each session blends gentle movement, mindful breathing, and guided relaxation to release tension and cultivate calm. No special equipment or prior yoga experience is needed, just a chair and an open mind. Members will learn practical, repeatable techniques to shift from stress to ease, supporting resilience in daily life.

The artist Georges Braque said, "my sketchbook serves as as a cookbook when I am hungry." In this generative workshop, the notebook will be the garden where members will plant word-seeds inspired by responding to reading model poems on a specific theme each week and sketching and sharing notebook writings. Just as an artist's process of sketching can magically transform into a work of art, our daily writings, carefully nurtured through class conversation and suggestion, can magically transform into poems.

This course is geared for those new to yoga, those interested in a slower and more gentle practice, or those recovering from illness or injury. It includes a combination of meditation, breath work, and flowing movement intended for all abilities. Participants will move from seated on the floor (or a chair) to standing and then will return to mats. Participants will experiment with balance, strength, flexibility, and stillness while practicing mindfulness and meditation techniques. 

NOTE: The Gentle Yoga A and B classes are companion courses. Members can just register for both or just one. 

This course surveys the most distinguished classical pianists in history. Members will experience masterful performances and learn about the lives, styles, and legacies of legendary pianists, such as Lizst, Rachmaninoff, Horowitz, and many more. Through the examination of musician backgrounds, audio and video recordings, and performance techniques, this course will trace how pianists have interpreted and performed major works by composers like Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Debussy, and more.

From World War II to current times, governments have exercised their power over media to influence public opinion, at home and abroad. We will explore why propaganda is effective, who uses it, and why. We will look at how “news” media become collaborators in influence campaigns and how media sometimes resists. Topics include the origins of contemporary propaganda, and why social media, artificial intelligence, and the decline of journalism make propaganda efforts more effective than ever.

HOW OLLI SPANISH COURSES WORK TOGETHER

Because OLLI Spanish courses only meet once a week, moving from one level to the next may not always be automatic. Each course has a different focus, but all courses practice similar core skills such as speaking, listening, and vocabulary development. Repeating a course at a certain level is a normal and helpful part of learning a language as an adult. Instructor guidance may also help participants choose the course that best fits their current level and learning goals. Members may only take ONE level of Spanish at a time.

This 10-week course is appropriate for participants who are comfortable with basic Spanish conversation using the present tense (or members who have successfully completed several cycles of the Spanish: Beginner Level course). Participants can expect to learn and converse about a variety of topics such as travelling, sightseeing, grocery shopping, eating out, or medical emergencies, among others. The course reviews the use of the present tense, and introduces the past and future tenses, as well as more extensive use of vocabulary, structures, and syntax. At the end of the course, members should feel comfortable with standard Spanish conversation.