All times listed are Central Daylight Time.
EACH COURSE is identified by one of the following terms:
- ONLINE ONLY: Both the instructor and students will meet online for the class, live via Zoom, in the designated weekly time slot. Sessions will be recorded for review, if desired.
- HYBRID: The instructor teaches live from the Moss Building. Some students are in the classroom (limited availability), while others Zoom in. When registering, you may select either the IN PERSON or ONLINE version of the class – both options allow students to interact with the instructor. Sessions will be recorded.
- IN PERSON ONLY: The class will take place at the Moss Building. These sessions will not offer online viewing and will not be recorded.
Important Semester Information:
- Printable course catalog (PDF)
- Printable Monday–Friday Course Calendar Grid (PDF)
- Special Interest Group (SIG) announcement page (Google Doc)
- Course documents (Google Doc)
- Course document archive (Google folder)
- Zoom basics (PDF)
Course listings by day of the week
Select a day of the week below to filter courses. Use Ctrl (⌘) + F on your keyboard or your browser's search function to search the entire page.
Monday Courses
- Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility––The BBC Mini-series (2008)
- Innovation Within MU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR)
- Icons of Broadway: Hollywood Musical Songwriters
- Hearing Loss: Challenges, Treatments and Strategies
Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility––The BBC Mini-series (2008)
Mondays: March 3, 10, 17, 31 (4 sessions)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
IN PERSON ONLY
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
First four weeks.
Jane Austen is one of the most popular writers in the world. Her books continue to sell, and more importantly, continue to be read, year after year. In this class, we’ll view one of the best film adaptations ever made of Sense and Sensibility, Austen’s first published novel. In the movie, we follow sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood in their encounters with the men and women of Devonshire, England, in the early 1800s. Both sisters grow emotionally through a series of chance encounters, mistaken identities, mistaken motives, errors of the heart and mysterious backstories. It’s a great mini-series, beautifully filmed. For the first three weeks, after we’ve viewed one of the episodes, we’ll discuss what we’ve just seen. In the fourth session, we’ll expand our discussion to include the novel itself, Austen’s other novels and Austen in the Regency era. Whether you’ve read the book or not, this mini-series is a perfect excursion into the magical world of Jane Austen.
Instructor: Mike Trial graduated from the University of Missouri in 1969. He served in the army, then worked for 30 years as a civil engineering manager at various locations in the U.S. and overseas. He now lives on the family tree farm near Columbia, Mo.Innovation Within MU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR)
Mondays: March 3, 10, 17, 31 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
First four weeks.
This course will share insights into discoveries at CAFNR within generally lesser-known fields of study.
March 3: The American Elderberry. Dr. Andrew Thomas, research associate professor of plant science, will discuss the elderberry. While traditional uses in jelly and wine remain popular, increasing applications of the fruit and flowers in a range of dietary supplements have propelled elderberry production in the past 15 years. Less is known about the health benefits of American elderberries than of their European counterparts. A major USDA grant of more than $5 million to the University of Missouri and partners to study the American elderberry is ongoing and producing excellent information for farmers, processors and consumers.
March 10: Aquaculture. Dr. David Brune, professor of bioprocess and bioenergy in agriculture, will address aquaculture, the rearing of aquatic species in controlled environments. Ponds and lakes are the most common aquaculture environments in the U.S. In addition to food-fish production, aquaculture provides sport fish, ornamental fish, baitfish and other aquatic animals for scientific and conservation purposes. Within the past 30 years, aquaculture production of marine and freshwater fish/shellfish has grown from 5 to 50% of the global food supply. The class will address the challenges in Missouri to compete with producers from the South and elsewhere in the world in terms of commodity costs.
March 17: The World of Wine. Dr. Stephan Sommer, MU Extension assistant professor of food science and enology (the study of wine/winemaking), will take the audience on a journey around the world to look at wine styles and unique growing areas. He will cover the history of traditional wine styles and modern techniques that have developed from centuries of experience. The presentation will also explore why the U.S. is uniquely prepared to change the world of wine in the future.
March 31: Herbaceous Ornamental Plants. Dr. David Trinklein, adjunct associate professor of plant science, will present on different types of these plants (e.g., annuals, perennials, grasses and more), and how to identify, use and care for them in a garden setting. Special attention will be given to species and cultivars that have been proven to thrive under Missouri’s growing conditions.Icons of Broadway: Hollywood Musical Songwriters
Mondays: April 7, 14, 21, 28 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Last four weeks. This is a two-hour class.
The music of Broadway and Hollywood musicals is an art form in and unto itself. It takes a team of multitalented performers and an orchestra to produce these entertainment extravaganzas. At the heart of it are creative geniuses who set everything in motion: the songwriters. This multimedia course will cover Claude-Michel Schönberg, Leonard Bernstein, Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Much attention will be paid to their collaborators as well.
Instructor: Lee Kaufman has taught classical music listening courses for various St. Louis audiences, the Chautauqua Institution and many other Osher Lifelong Learning programs. He is the founder and secretary of the North American Chapter of the Elgar Society and has coproduced theatrical performances of “George Gershwin Alone,” “Monsieur Chopin” and “Beethoven as I Knew Him.” He holds a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA from Emory University.Hearing Loss: Challenges, Treatments and Strategies
Mondays: April 7, 14, 21, 28 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Last four weeks.
Permanent hearing loss affects one third of adults between the ages of 65 and 74. This class will cover hearing loss, hearing aid use, communication strategies and resources, and next steps. We will explore individual experiences of living with hearing loss, its affect on communication, and medical information about the types and degrees of hearing loss. We will also discuss the importance of self-advocacy in various social situations, how to gain support from communication partners and the usefulness of assistive technology like Bluetooth connectivity and text captioning.
Instructor: Lisa Guillory, AuD, ABA, has practiced audiology in Columbia for 45 years, with the majority of her career at Harry S. Truman Memorial Veteran’s Hospital (VA). Presently, she sees patients at Missouri Ear, Nose and Throat Center, where she evaluates adults for hearing loss and provides both pediatric and adult evaluations for central auditory processing dysfunction. She served for many years on the VA/Department of Defense Work Group for Central Auditory Processing Disorders. With this expertise and focus, she is able to guide individuals to a better understanding of speech communication problems caused by both peripheral hearing loss and auditory processing.
Tuesday Courses
- Sing Out! The Life, Times and Music of Pete Seeger
- Reading Walden
- Onstage in Mid-Missouri
- The First Ladies of the United States
Sing Out! The Life, Times and Music of Pete Seeger
Tuesdays: March 4, 11, 18; April 8, 15, 22, 29 (7 sessions)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
IN PERSON ONLY
Course Fee: $60
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
No class on April 1.
Pete Seeger was one of the most influential folk musicians of the 20th century. His songs and personal activism gave momentum to many social justice, peacemaking and environmental causes for over seven decades; and his legacy lives on. This course will offer a critical biography and experience of his music.
Instructor: Larry Brown is a retired MU assistant professor of human geography, having earned a Ph.D. in Policy Studies, an M.A. in Geography, a Masters of Divinity and a B.A. in Sociology. Larry is a professional storyteller, musician and an ordained minister with standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He is a frequent MU Osher instructor on the topics of cultural and political geography, Missouri history and religious studies.Reading Walden
Tuesdays: March 4, 11, 18; April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (8 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
ONLINE ONLY
Course Fee: $60
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Henry David Thoreau's Walden is one of the classic works of American literature, but it is often misunderstood as a prescriptive argument for a life of strict independence and solitude in nature. Because of this, many have charged Thoreau with hypocrisy for regularly visiting his nearby home town of Concord and even having his laundry done by his mother.
But Walden is best understood as what Thoreau termed "an experiment in living" and an attempt to learn what is the "necessary of life," encouraging his readers to interrogate their own lives and determine what is necessary for them. Recognizing that this is no easy task, his text models a lyrical reflection of a year lived trying to figure things out. Structured by the annual cycle of the seasons, Walden is the narrative of an attempt to create a life that, like nature, is diverse, changing, maybe even contradictory, and yet always in harmony with itself.
Reading the book over an eight-week term will allow us to take it slowly. I encourage active reading and discussion in my classes, and while I always try to bring context and frame the discussion, our class will be a process of shared discovery.
Materials Note: We will be reading Walden in its entirety. It is available online but also available in a variety of cheap and expensive print editions. Please have access to a version before the start of the semester and be prepared to read the first two chapters ("Economy" and "Where I Lived and What I Lived For") for our first meeting.
Instructor: John Evelev is a professor of English at MU. His main area of research is American Romanticism, and he has published books on Herman Melville and picturesque literature. He has taught a number of classes for Osher@Mizzou and always appreciates the enthusiasm and insight his students bring to the discussions.Onstage in Mid-Missouri
Tuesdays: March 4, 11, 18; April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (8 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $60
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Each of the major theatrical groups in mid-Missouri––professional, community and college––will present on their history, famous performers and upcoming schedules and logistics, including ticket information. This is an excellent chance to learn about the rich history of theater in mid-Missouri, meet local directors and performers and take a quick look at what happens beyond the stage lights.
March 4: Capital City Productions Dinner Theatre (Jefferson City).
March 11: Talking Horse Productions (Columbia).
March 18: Greenhouse Theatre Project (Columbia).
April 1: Maplewood Barn Community Theatre (Columbia).
April 8: Lyceum Theatre (Arrow Rock).
April 15: Maples Repertory Theatre (Macon).
April 22: Columbia Entertainment Company (Columbia).
April 29: University of Missouri Theatre Department (Columbia).
The First Ladies of the United States
Tuesdays: March 4, 11, 18; April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (8 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
ONLINE ONLY
Course Fee: $60
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Osher will host a “watch party” each week in Moss A for those who prefer not to Zoom from home.
Dr. Jay Ward will continue his course that considers the significant women in the lives of the U.S. presidents. In most cases, the official hostesses in the White House were the wives of the presidents. In some instances, however, that was not the case, and those stories are often fascinating as well. This session, Dr. Ward intends to consider Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford and Rosalynn Carter.
Instructor: Dr. Jay Ward was born in Springfield, Mo., and raised in Lexington, Mo. He was an undergraduate at Northwestern University and received a medical degree from the University of Missouri. Upon retiring from medicine after 30 years, he received a master’s degree and doctorate in U.S. history from MU.
Wednesday Courses
- How Missouri Runs Elections
- The Short Story: Read It, Write It
- 1864: Understanding the War for Missouri
- Must Love Dogs
- COMO Civics Academy for Osher
- Seeding our Poems
How Missouri Runs Elections
Wednesdays: March 5, 12, 19; April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (8 sessions)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $60
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
This class has been expanded from the four-part series Brianna taught for Osher in spring 2024. Some new material will be presented, including election reforms and updates since the Nov. 2024 election.
Can we trust election results? How do I know my ballot was counted? What makes absentee voting different than voting on Election Day? Explore the answers to these questions and more as we learn about how elections are run in Missouri. This course focuses on the logistics of how county offices prepare for and administer each election. Beginning with the foundation of the election—voter registration—we’ll explore how election administrators support Missouri voters as they participate in our democracy.
Instructor: Brianna Lennon serves as the county clerk for Boone County, Mo. She previously worked in the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office as deputy director of elections and elections counsel and holds a law degree and Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Missouri. Brianna is also a Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA) through the National Association of Election Officials.The Short Story: Read It, Write It
Wednesdays: April 2, 9, 16, 23; May 7 (5 sessions)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
IN PERSON ONLY
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
No class April 30. Limit of 23.
The short story has unique characteristics and is often a challenge to write because of its brevity. We will explore the components of the short story by reading examples that exemplify each aspect. Students will try their hand at composing each aspect of the story, and if desired, will finish by composing a short story of their own. Sharing their stories will be optional.
Materials Note: All readings will be either available online at no cost or given to students in class.
Instructor: Dr. Victoria Hubbell has spent her career teaching reading and writing at all levels, spurred by her personal love of doing both. Victoria enjoys researching for her classes almost as much as she enjoys welcoming students into the world of literature.
1864: Understanding the War for Missouri
Wednesdays: March 5, 12, 19; April 2 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
First four weeks.
In 1864, the Civil War was entering its fourth year. With decisive Union Army victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg in July 1863, it seemed that at best, the Confederacy might achieve a negotiated settlement if President Lincoln should fail reelection in the war-weary North. In Missouri, a guerilla war entered one of its most terrible periods when seasoned guerilla bands re-emerged from Texas and Arkansas to conduct the war’s last vengeance. This class will discuss the state of the two armies, their strategy for winning and their key leaders. Who were the partisan/guerillas, their leadership, how were they recruited, and what vital role could Missouri still play in the outcome? We will examine a cast of dozens of characters, some made famous in the Western genre (e.g., Quantrill, Anderson, Todd, and the James' and Younger’s), strategic thinkers (e.g., former Governor Sterling Price and General John Schofield), and guerilla hunters (e.g., curator of the University of Missouri, Odon Guitar). Additionally, the course will examine recent investigations into how bank fraud played a vital role in recruiting partisan/guerilla bands, atrocities committed and military orders that failed to curtail violence.
Instructor: Whit McCoskrie is a Churchill Fellow and tour guide for America’s National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Mo. A graduate of Virginia Military Institute, he is a retired lieutenant colonel, having spent three and one-half decades in military service. He’s written two books on the Civil War in Missouri and served as an ROTC instructor at MU.
Must Love Dogs
Wednesdays: April 9, 16, 23, 30 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Last four weeks.
The connection between people and animals, also referred to as the human-animal bond (HAB), can have significant health impacts. In this course, we will explore how the similarities and differences between dogs and people affect the way we experience life and our shared environments, learn how to read behavioral cues of dogs, discuss the science behind the positive effects of human-animal interaction and develop a deeper appreciation for the varied roles of dogs in our society.
Instructors: Dr. Carolyn Henry is a veterinary oncologist with over 30 years of clinical experience, from general practice and emergency veterinary medicine to academic veterinary medicine. Carolyn was Dean of MU’s College of Veterinary Medicine for six years and now directs the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction. Her career reflects a deep dedication to the well-being of animals and the preservation of the human-animal bond.
Don Cherry is an animal behavior consultant with nine years of experience, specializing in aggression, reactivity and other complex behavioral issues. As the owner of a training facility and nonprofit organization, he has spent the past decade rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming dogs deemed “unadoptable." As a doctoral student at MU, Don aims to pioneer research on how service dogs experience their work, striving to enhance animal welfare and support their well-being.
COMO Civics Academy for Osher
Wednesdays: March 5, 12, 19; April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (8 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
IN PERSON ONLY
Course Fee: $60
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Limit of 25. Each week the class will be held at a different Columbia government facility. Transportation will be the responsibility of the students.
Have you ever wondered how your local government is operated? What happens to your trash after it gets picked up? How does the city keep our streets clean and ensure that our residents and visitors are safe? This course will cover all that information and more as we delve into city services and hear from staff working to make Columbia the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play. This course will include presentations from city leadership, tours of various city facilities and opportunities for hands-on demonstrations and simulations. Departments featured include the City Manager’s Office, Utilities, Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Economic Development, Housing and Neighborhood Services and more. Learn about the ways you interact with your local government every day and how you can make an impact on your community.
Facilitator: Stacey Weidemann has been with the City of Columbia since 2018 and has
co-led the City’s Civic Academy program since its development in 2022. She is passionate about local government and civic education.Seeding our Poems
Wednesdays: April 9, 16, 23, 30 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Last four weeks.
In this generative poetry class, poets will read, compose and share with one another poems inspired by springtime and the natural world. We will consider new beginnings, the color green, the budding natural world, the change in light and the sounds of the earth, while penning poems for this fertile season. Students will read poems by Ross Gay, Ada Limon, Joy Harjo and Mary Oliver, among others, for inspiration to carry towards the page. Following the stages of a plant’s life cycle, in Week 1, we will germinate, generate, scribble and play. In Week 2, we will consider sunlight and nourish the fragments we germinated in Week 1. By Week 3, poets will find the flowers in their poems––the places for expansion––for research, more poems, even book projects. In Week 4, we will enjoy the fruits of our labor, sharing poems with one another and goals for our poetry in the future. As the flowers begin to bloom, so will the poets in this class.
Instructor: Julia Kooi Talen is an essayist and poet based in the Midwest, where she teaches creative writing and composition. Currently a Ph.D. candidate in literature and creative writing at MU, Julia lives with their cat, Otis, and holds an MFA in creative writing from Northern Michigan University as well as an MSW from the University of Denver.
Thursday Courses
- Why Walk 500 Miles? An Exploration of the Camino de Santiago
- Studies in U.S. Constitutional Democracy
- Glassmaking: An Ancient Invention with Modern Flare (Art of the Book Club)
- Introduction to Celestial Mechanics for Solar System Bodies
- Healthy Joints
Why Walk 500 Miles? An Exploration of the Camino de Santiago
Thursdays: March 6, 13, 20; April 3, 10, 17, 24; May 1 (8 sessions)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $60
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
This class has been expanded from the four-part series Connie Johnmeyer taught for Osher in winter 2024. Some new material will be presented.
The Camino de Santiago is a series of medieval trails people have walked since 950 CE to reach the tomb of St. James, an apostle of Jesus, in Spain. The most utilized trail today is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Camino Francés, a 500-mile trail from St. Jean Pied de Port in southwest France to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain––a route walked by over 500,000 people in 2024, including many people over the age of 60 from the U.S. This course will introduce a typical journey on the primary Camino route, explore the history of St. James and the Camino, and review research on how and why the Camino is transformative for many pilgrims. The most utilized Camino trails will be compared, and a panel of local people will describe the routes they took (including the nuts and bolts of physical preparation, costs and logistics) during their successful Camino pilgrimages. In the final session, we will watch a Camino movie or documentary chosen by the participants.
Instructor: Dr. Connie Johnmeyer is retired from a 20-year career as an Air Force psychologist and from directing the Master’s in Clinical Counseling program at Central Methodist University. After her dual retirements, she studied pilgrimage while completing a master’s degree in tourism. She has walked the Camino de Santiago multiple times as part of her aspiration to learn, stay fit and love life.Studies in U.S. Constitutional Democracy
Thursdays: March 6, 13, 20; April 3 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
First four weeks.
How did early U.S. constitutional democracy develop? How did it evolve from colonial times through the crisis over slavery? What happened to the social forms of constitutional democracy as this political system moved into the interior of the continent? Finally, how are the citizens of rural Missouri today engaging with the history and memory of U.S. constitutional democracy? Join four professors from MU’s Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy for this series of lectures.
March 6: Roads to Revolution: How the First Global War Remade North America and Paved the Path of the Patriot Cause.
How did the first global war lead to an American revolution? Join Dr. Alec Reichardt, assistant professor, MU’s Kinder Institute and Department of History, for a look into how roads to British power became roads to American Revolution.
March 13: Elections in the Early U.S. Republic.
What occurred during the first elections? In this session, Dr. Jay Dow, MU professor of political science, will explore early American elections through the lens of franchise, party politics, voting practices, campaigning, turnout and related topics.
March 20: The Ride of the Immortal Ten: A Transatlantic Quest for Justice, Freedom and Survival in the Border West.
Dr. Jeff Pasley, MU professor of history and journalism and Kinder Institute Chair of Early American History, will present on the sometimes tragic adventures across the West of "The Immortal Ten," who, starting in 1859, led Black troops in battle, tried to rescue their friend John Brown and stood up for both indigenous rights and reproductive freedom.
April 3: Museum on Main Street: Bringing the Smithsonian to Rural Missouri.
In this session, Dr. Lily Santoro, associate professor of historic preservation and history at Southeast Missouri State University, will present on Voices and Votes: Democracy in America, a Smithsonian exhibit traveling to six small towns across Missouri in 2025. Learn how scholars and volunteers from MU and the Missouri Humanities are building connections with rural Missourians to celebrate and preserve their history.
Glassmaking: An Ancient Invention with Modern Flare (Art of the Book Club)
Thursdays: April 10, 17, 24; May 1 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Last four weeks.
In March 2025, MU’s Museum of Art and Archaeology (MA&A) will open a new exhibition titled, “From Earth to Artist: Glass,” the first in a series highlighting materials from the earth used by artists since antiquity. The museum’s Art of the Book Club (ABC) has selected The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato as its next read. The book tells the stories of the life of a woman working as a glassblower in present-day London and of a maestro glassblower on the Venetian island of Murano in the 17th century. The narratives will be explored in four classes, plus a guided tour of the exhibition at the MA&A (Sat., May 3, at 2 p.m.)
Materials Note: The Glassblower of Murano is available at the Daniel Boone Regional Library and can be purchased at Skylark Bookstore (ask for the Art of the Book Club discount!).
April 10: Glittering Glass: Luxury Wares of Antiquity
Dr. Benton Kidd, curator of antiquities at MU’s MA&A, will present on the use of glass in antiquity from its beginnings, when it was seen as a luxury product that imitated gemstones, through its growth into vessels of astounding complexity in the Roman Empire.
April 17: Farah Nieuwenhuizen: Columbia Glass Artist
In this class, Columbia artist Farah Nieuwenhuizen will talk about the processes she uses as she creates her glass jewelry and will share examples of her glasswork. Christiane Quinn, ABC founder and coordinator, will facilitate.
April 24: Watch and Discuss the Film “Chihuly Fire & Light”
Watch the behind-the-scenes story of artist Dale Chihuly and his large-scale commission created for the de Young Museum in San Francisco. Experience the time and talent it took to install an exhibition across 11 galleries. A group discussion will follow the film, moderated by Valerie Hammons, docent at MU’s MA&A and retired teacher of Latin and U.S. and world history.
May 1: The Glassblower of Murano Book Discussion
Barb Montgomery, docent at MU’s MA&A, will present on Venice, focusing on the landmarks mentioned in The Glassblower of Murano. She will also show examples of Murano glass from the 17th century and in the present day. The class will break into groups for a moderated discussion of the book.
Introduction to Celestial Mechanics for Solar System Bodies
Thursdays: March 6, 13, 20; April 3 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
First four weeks.
Those among us who have a scant, or even a deeper, interest in astronomy know that the planets revolve in orbits about the sun. Starting at this point, this course will expand your understanding of the placement, size and shapes of these orbits in forming what is known as the solar system. We’ll discuss the set of five constants and one linearly time-dependent parameter that explain and distinguish the individual motions of all celestial bodies. We’ll also discuss the orbits of asteroids and comets and how the classical elements for a given solar system body can be used to determine the geometry and relative position with respect to other bodies, most notably the Earth and its orbit. Students will leave with a clear picture of how the planets move relative to one another in the overall make-up of the solar system.
Knowledge of plane geometry, trigonometry and algebra will be helpful in following and understanding various course discussions, but the results of the discussions will be evident and clearly recognizable in the derived geometric figures even without having a background in math.
Instructor: Ron Boain holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from MU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. He worked as a contracted analyst for NASA at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas, performing contingency studies and mission abort analyses for the Apollo 11 mission. He next moved on to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., working again for NASA over 40 years on both deep-space and earth-orbiting science missions. Ron taught the course “Astronomy from Your Back Porch” for Osher in winter 2019.Healthy Joints
Thursdays: April 10, 17, 24; May 1 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Last four weeks.
How much do you know about your joints? There are many different types and structures that are all related to the function of our bodies. In this class, you will learn about the structure and function of joints, common disease processes and how to maintain joint health throughout our lives. We will be addressing body segments, including the spine, arms, legs, hands and feet. We will also be practicing a limited number of stretches and exercises to promote joint health in each segment, so come to class ready to move!
Instructor: Kathy Morris loved her career as a physical therapist at Rusk Rehabilitation Center for 25 years. She had the opportunity and privilege to work with patients experiencing many different joint health issues, including surgical procedures, trauma, muscle imbalance, disease process and problems resulting from other conditions.
Friday Value-Added Sessions
- 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. each Friday of the semester (March 7 – May 2)
- Sessions listed as HYBRID allow participants to choose whether they attend via Zoom or in person at the Moss Building; ones marked ONLINE ONLY will only be available on Zoom.
Each semester, Osher@Mizzou offers a collection of one-time, 90-minute lectures that are open to all current Osher members. Yes, this is another value-added perk!
Not an Osher member yet? It costs only $30 to join and gain access to all the Value-added semester content. Join today!
March 7: Friday Morning Book Talk Series: Poet Sharon SingingMoon
HYBRID
Sharon will present on her book of poetry, The Weight of One Hummingbird Feather (Spartan Press, 2024).
March 14: Major Statewide Issues Being Considered at the Midpoint of the Current 2025 Session of the Missouri General Assembly
HYBRID
Susan Henderson Moore, a government relations attorney with Polsinelli Law, will highlight the major legislative issues being considered during the 2025 legislative session that could have statewide implications for Missourians. Time will be available for discussion of the topics and Missouri’s political landscape as well as for a brief look into the legislative process. Susan represents a variety of clients that include the City of Columbia, Hy-Vee and the American Cancer Society.
Instructor: Susan Henderson Moore is the managing partner of Polsinelli Law’s Missouri Public Policy Team. Susan represents clients with a variety of public policy interests, including health care, financial services, economic development and transportation. Located in Jefferson City, Mo., she works with Missouri legislators and executive branch officials to achieve positive public policy results for clients. Prior to joining Polsinelli, Susan served as an attorney and assistant director for the Missouri Senate Division of Research.
March 21: The History and Legacy of German Immigrant Abolitionists in 19th-century Missouri
ONLINE ONLY
Missouri is well known for its German American heritage, but the story of its 19th-century German immigrant abolitionists is often neglected in discussions of the state’s history. In this session, Sydney Norton will discuss what unfolded when idealistic Germans, many of whom were highly educated and devoted to the ideals of freedom and democracy, left their homeland and settled in a pre-Civil War slave state. Fleeing political persecution during the 1830s and 1840s, immigrants such as Friedrich Münch, Eduard Mühl, Heinrich Boernstein and Arnold Krekel arrived in the area now known as the Missouri German Heritage Corridor in hopes of finding a land more welcoming to their democratic ideals. When they witnessed the state of enslaved Black people, many of them became abolitionist activists and fervent supporters of Abraham Lincoln and the Union in the emerging Civil War. Sydney will explore the Germans’ abolitionist mission, their relationships with African Americans and their activity in the radical wing of the Republican Party.
Instructor: Sydney J. Norton is an independent scholar, translator and educator in St. Louis. While teaching German at Saint Louis University (2012-2020), she curated "German Immigrant Abolitionists: Fighting for a Free Missouri," an exhibition that opened at the Center for Global Citizenship and traveled to the Deutschheim State Historic Site in Hermann, Mo. Her research includes contemporary German art and literature, Weimar-era performing and visual arts, and the German abolitionist movement in the United States.
March 28: No Friday session; Osher classes do not meet the week of MU’s Spring Break.
April 4: Friday Morning Book Talk Series: Author Mike Trial
HYBRID
Mike Trial will present on his book of fiction, Red Onyx (Compass Flower Press, 2025).
April 11: Hong Kong: Two Different Worlds
HYBRID
Currently, China is the U.S.’s chief economic competitor in the world. Instructor Jeff Moran has spent two months in Hong Kong over the last two years and will present a view of Hong Kong (and of China in general) based on his personal experiences there and, perhaps, a bit different from what may be portrayed in the U.S. media. This will not be a political/economic presentation, but it is difficult to talk about Hong Kong/China without some politics/economics being involved.
Instructor: Jeff Moran retired from the MU College of Education where he was the Science/Math editor for the Assessment Resource Center for 20 years. He spends much of his post-retirement time writing and performing music and humor, and volunteering at Mobility Worldwide. His son and family live in Hong Kong, the primary reason for spending two months there over the last two years.
April 18: Ranking the U.S. 2025: "Top 10" Lists
ONLINE ONLY
How does the U.S. compare in meeting the challenges that exist in 2025? We will examine some 20 topics: taxes, economy, environment, education, energy, health care, climate change, immigration, safety, prosperity, music, personal happiness, etc. The "Top 10" format provides a quick snapshot of the rank of the U.S. relative to other nations. Our sources are international surveys by highly credible and impartial worldwide organizations. This is the fourth annual edition of the program and includes three discussion breaks. A comprehensive pdf handout will be supplied in advance.
Instructor: Doug Stowell is a consumer and political polling veteran in both U.S. and EU markets. His career includes being a market research director for the Xerox Corp., U.S. clients director for the U.K. firm NOP, Ltd., in London and senior polling executive for Wirthlin Worldwide in Washington, D.C. He launched Market Resource Associates in 2008 and conducts opinion research on global issues today. He is a member of the Furman University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Greenville, S.C., and conducts Zoom programs for more than 80 organizations worldwide.
April 25: Firefly Music Festival 2025
HYBRID
Get a sneak peek at the programming of The Missouri Symphony's 2025 Firefly Music Festival. Music and composers will be discussed in depth as well as how they relate to the theme of each concert.
Instructor: Trent Rash is the executive director of The Missouri Symphony. Trent is also an adjunct faculty member in the MU School of Music. He has been involved as a director, music director and/or actor in over 50 productions in the Columbia community. Trent enjoys collecting bow ties and fun socks, singing karaoke, reading, running and spending time with his partner David and three kids.
May 2: Friday Morning Book Talk Series: Author Michelle Collins Anderson
HYBRID
Michelle will present on her book of fiction, The Flower Sisters (Kensington Books, 2024).