Courses

Art historian Bonita Billman introduces major artists and movements in American painting from the late 18th century to the present, revealing the connections between historical changes and artistic choices. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)

The American Southwest occupies a central place in the country’s literary imagination. Join Lisbeth Strimple Fuisz, a lecturer in the English department at Georgetown University, in spirited lectures and informal discussions about four compelling novels that offer rich and varied portraits of the region and the people who inhabit it. This session discusses Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver.

In a fascinating overview of ancient material culture, art historian Renee Gondek surveys the paintings, sculptures, and architectural wonders produced in ancient Egypt and the Greco-Roman world that served as inspiration for generations of creators to come. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)

Two centuries of Danish invasions transformed Britain from a patchwork of Anglo-Saxon and Celtic kingdoms into a single one, England. Historian Richard Abels explores how the Viking wars served as the catalyst for its creation.

In the late 19th century, the artists of two influential movements in French painting shocked the art establishment as they created radical new ways of depicting the world around them. Art historian Nancy G. Heller explores the sources, masterpieces, and later influences of these rebels, including their impact on early 20th-century art. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)

If you love rock and roll and want to sing some of the greatest hits of all time, join the Boomers Chorus, a program geared for people ages 55 and above who love to sing. There’s no experience required, and sessions culminate in a performance.

His was an amazing life of discovery and challenge, reflected in the music created across the full breadth of compositional forms. In a six-session course, classical music and opera scholar Saul Lilienstein surveys the landmark works that define Beethoven’s career and legacy.

A stone’s throw from tourist-magnet landmarks are the places that offer travelers a true taste of life in Europe’s most appealing neighborhoods. Fred Plotkin offers a guide to the lesser-known churches, theaters, specialty shops, cafes, and unusual museums that make three major cities well worth a visit.

The American Southwest occupies a central place in the country’s literary imagination. Join Lisbeth Strimple Fuisz, a lecturer in the English department at Georgetown University, in spirited lectures and informal discussions about four compelling novels that offer rich and varied portraits of the region and the people who inhabit it. This session discusses All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy.

The CIA and FBI are often portrayed as strained institutional colleagues, but what is it really like to work in these highly secretive agencies tasked with protecting our country? In a fascinating series, veterans of the CIA and FBI discuss their professional roles and how these closely guarded organizations operate.

This unique series combines detailed looks at Indian and South Asian artworks in the Freer and Sackler collections with the opportunity to try your hand at authentic calligraphy inspired by them.