Osher Online   

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

Most conversations about aging focus on lifespan, but brainspan (how long our mind stays sharp) matters more. In this course, we will explore how the brain ages and what science reveals about protecting memory, balance, and clarity. Topics include normal changes versus early dementia, neuroplasticity, nutrition, sleep, stress, social ties, and purpose. Each session blends accessible science with self-tests and take-home practices. We will also build a personalized Cognitive Health Scorecard to track habits and strengthen resilience.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: 2026 Spring A Beautiful Brain on Vimeo

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

Art in the streets (including graffiti, murals, stickers, and paste-ups) gives voice to marginalized communities, shapes urban environments, and challenges institutional norms. This course explores graffiti and street art in the U.S. and around the world, examining their histories, motivations, and social impact. Participants will consider the rise of global mural movements, efforts to preserve and present street art, and its evolving role in activism, community identity, and social change.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: Spring 2026 A History of Street Art on Vimeo

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

Back by popular demand, this updated course offers a clear, engaging introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it’s rapidly transforming our world. From self-driving cars to chatbots and precision medicine, we will explore how AI works, where it’s headed, and what it means for society. No tech experience needed—just curiosity! With fresh examples and timely updates, participants will gain a solid understanding of the opportunities and challenges AI presents today.

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded. 

Comics (blending words and pictures to tell stories) stretch from cave paintings and the Bayeux Tapestry to today’s Batman and Spider-Man. Far more than superhero tales, comics are a versatile literary artform, capturing intimate and epic stories, social issues, and cultural moments through panels and word balloons. In this course, we will trace their history, explore their power, and read and discuss works including Understanding Comics, Watchmen, Maus, Fun Home, and Persepolis.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: https://vimeo.com/1122466838

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed nearly 1,000 buildings and helped define modern architecture. This course explores highlights of his practice, from Prairie houses to Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum, alongside lesser-known projects like affordable housing and city planning. We’ll examine how Wright’s work reflected cultural shifts in technology, science, and politics, offering a deeper understanding of his lasting influence on architecture and modern design.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: Spring 2026 Frank Lloyd Wright and Modern Architecture on Vimeo

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

The death of Pope Francis and the election of the first U.S.-born Pope have been in the news repeatedly in the last few months, capturing the imagination of many people, including non-Catholics. Who are these men? What are their life stories? How were they similar to and different from each other? In this course, we will discuss the lives and dominant perspectives of the last ten Popes, exploring their most significant positions and their influence on world affairs.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: https://vimeo.com/1119159595

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

Have you ever wondered who writes presidential speeches? This course traces the evolution of speechwriting from George Washington’s administration to today. Yes, Hamilton helped draft Washington’s Farewell Address, but no, Lincoln did not scribble the Gettysburg Address on an envelope. We will study the writing process presidents used and examine drafts from FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter, and George H.W. Bush. We will view clips from speeches and from former White House speechwriters describing the process.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: https://vimeo.com/1114279947

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

Science is full of surprises. Dyes, accidentally discovered, launched the modern pharmaceutical industry. A failed experiment opened the door to new physics. Discoveries are never just facts. They are moments of creativity, struggle, and chance with far-reaching consequences. In this course, we will explore the human side of science, tracing breakthroughs in biology, chemistry, physics, and more. We will ask not only what was found, but how and why it matters.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: https://vimeo.com/1119213821

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

Throughout his 1,000-day presidency, John Kennedy pursued peace through a broad spectrum of initiatives. He saw a connection between learning and leadership and sought to use military deterrence, diplomacy, and soft power in novel ways. In this course, we will explore how his character and life experiences were the origins of those efforts. We will evaluate his powers of persuasion by listening to key speeches, and we will assess his successes and failures and their relevance to today’s world.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: https://vimeo.com/1127282900

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

Music has long provoked debate, from Beethoven and Stravinsky’s bold innovations to Broadway works like Annie Get Your Gun and South Pacific, now revisited through modern concerns about race, consent, and gender. Is political correctness enriching art or erasing cultural heritage? We will also examine plagiarism and borrowing in pop and film music, with cases involving The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Peter Frampton. This course blends audiovisuals, anecdotes, and humor to explore music’s most controversial moments.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: https://vimeo.com/1112029890

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

Siberia covers three quarters of Russia’s territory but is home to only a quarter of its population. Yet its role in shaping Russia as a vast and wealthy empire is profound. In this course, we will explore Siberia’s economic significance, indigenous cultures, and history as a penal colony, along with its importance for climate change, environmental issues, and Russian-Chinese relations. We will also consider Siberia’s role in both the rise and possible fragmentation of Russia.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: https://vimeo.com/1112086367

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

This course will examine the cultural transformations in thinking and living that reshaped America and Western Europe between World War I and the Great Depression. Known as the Roaring Twenties, the Jazz Age, and the Lost Generation, this period redefined values and norms. We will explore the vibrant world of 1920s Paris through F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Babylon Revisited and Bernice Bobs’ Her Hair, Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, and Gertrude Stein’s The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, considering the lasting legacy of the era.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: https://vimeo.com/1114242542

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

In July 1925, Clarence Darrow, William Jennings Bryan, and others converged on Dayton, Tennessee, for the Scopes Monkey Trial - an eight-day clash over religion, science, public education, free speech, and textbooks broadcast nationwide. One hundred years later, these debates continue. This course explores why the trial happened in Dayton, how Bryan and Darrow became involved, what occurred in the courtroom, whether Inherit the Wind reflects reality, who won and lost, and why it still matters today.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: https://vimeo.com/1120922495

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

The personal essay, one of the oldest forms of creative nonfiction, blends storytelling, reflection, and analysis to give voice to lived experience. In this course, we will explore the personal essay as both art and self-expression. Through readings, discussion, and writing exercises, we will study elements such as narrative arc, scene-setting, and reflection. We will draft our own essays, discovering how this enduring form helps us find our voices and tell our stories with clarity.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: https://vimeo.com/1120145478

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!