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Please see “Independent Studies” section.

Please see “Independent Studies” section.

Please see “Internships” section.

Please see “Internships” section.

Please see “Internships” section.

Please see “Internships” section.

This course allows older adults to explore the human condition in historical and contemporary dramatic literature, fairy tales, myths, and legends, satire, and parody. By learning how to analyze and interpret these texts, older adults will be able to craft the characters that inhabit these stories. Through the transformative process of creativity, older adults improve their acting skills and participate in a public performance, which builds self-confidence and self esteem.

This course expands older adults’ knowledge of play production methods and the history of the theater as it relates to current society and the life experiences of older adults. Older adults will learn about theater production from the viewpoint of the director, actor, critic, and viewer.

This course increases older adults’ knowledge of how to present dramatic literature and allows them to express themselves by reading scenes, poetry, illuminating literature, or speeches in front of an audience. Older adults also interpret plays and practice acting skills with their peers. This course expands older adults’ experience with dramatic literature without requiring perfect recall from memory.

Formerly HUMDEV E15.

This course is designed to help Emeritus students improve their outlook on life, stimulate their minds and imaginations, improve peer group interaction and communication, and increase their sense of positive aging through humor. Students will engage with their peers in a positive and up-lifting manner while learning about the use of humor through the ages. They will learn about comedy in theater, literature, film, and music from the beginnings of recorded civilization to the present, and will discuss: changes in stereotypes such as comedic images of older adults and other subgroups of the community; different types of humor; and/or popular trends in comedy, stand-up comedy, comedy of stage and screen, musical comedy, musical satire, with a special emphasis on the connection of rhythm and comic timing.

This course encourages older adults to awaken their childhood by introducing them to the fundamentals of theatre improvisation. Students will joyfully explore essential improvisation performance techniques like spontaneity, creating an environment, character development, and structuring a scene. Build community with classmates through exercises, games, and group activities while having fun developing transferable life skills like quick-thinking, playfulness, imagination, and self-discovery. No improv experience necessary.

Formerly HUMDEV E22.

This course is designed to help Emeritus students learn about Jewish culture, from the historical backdrop of the 19th Century’s worldwide advances, pogroms, and immigrations, to the flowering of Jewish art, culture and entertainment in 20th Century United States and beyond. The course aims to improve students’ outlook on life, stimulate their minds and imaginations, improve peer group interaction and communication, and increase their sense of positive aging and cultural identity with particular attention to Jewish humor and tenacity as survival mechanisms in the face of adversity. Students will engage with their peers in a positive and up-lifting manner while learning about the use of art and humor through the last century. They will learn about Jewish theater, literature, film, art and music, and how American culture has flourished as a result of the Jews’ contributions. We will discuss: changes in stereotypes such as comedic images of older adults and other subgroups of the community; different types of art, self-expression and humor; and/or popular trends in all aspects of culture and entertainment.

In this performance-based class, students will be expected to learn and perform Close-up and Stage Magic. From card tricks to dinner table gags, the illusions covered in this class are practical, easy, and fun to do. Students will focus on entertaining friends and family while mastering the physical and mental concentration needed to create a successful trick. We will also discuss performance skills and presence on stage.

Formerly ENGL E28.

This course engages Emeritus students in the rich theatrical material available in the Los Angeles area by exposing them to an assortment of American, English, and other theatrical works, playwrights, and screenwriters. Students will learn about plots, characters, and the many interpretations of plays through comparative analysis, will relate plays to their life experiences, and will engage in respectful discussions with their peers.

This course helps older adults explore the art, technology, language and appreciation of film from the point of view of the older adult. Older adult students analyze the fundamentals of film production as a means of encouraging mental stimulation and peer socialization. Film examples are shown in class for comparison and discussion.

This course is designed for Emeritus students interested in exploring the art of writing play scripts and screenplays. Students will learn the essential storytelling elements, character development, plot structure, dialogue, and formatting. The course will provide a supportive and inclusive learning environment that encourages self-expression and fosters community among like-minded students. The instructor will be available to provide individualized notes, and students will have the opportunity to write and share their original writing through workshops and activities. Overall, this course is an excellent opportunity for students to learn new skills and share their unique experiences through storytelling. All experience levels are welcome.

IGETC Foreign Language (required for UC only)

Satisfies Global Citizenship

This course introduces basic vocabulary and the fundamentals of modern Turkish grammar, sentence structure, and pronunciation. The course prepares students to hold simple conversations and write short dialogs and compositions in modern Turkish. Aspects of Turkish culture, history and geography are covered as well. Students will be introduced to traditional Turkish arts such as the art of water marbling, Karagöz shadow play and Orta Oyunu Theater. This course is conducted primarily in Turkish except in cases of linguistic difficulty.

IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

This course introduces students to the multi-disciplinary study of urban society and space. Cities are examined both as complex social-economic groupings of people, and as material landscapes of buildings, pathways, and public and private spaces. Attention is paid to what cities are and have been (the evolving urban experience of the past and present) as well as to ever-changing ideas about what cities should be (urban planning and design for the future). While the overall perspective of the course is global, its primary focus is on the cities of North America and, in particular, the Los Angeles metropolitan area. This emphasis is evident both in the classroom and in field trips or other assignments that ask students to apply classroom ideas to our local urban setting.

URBAN 8 is the same course as GEOG 8. Students may earn credit for one, but not both.

This basketball course is intended for high-level skill development for the intercollegiate basketball team in the off-season. The course stresses advanced basketball skill development tailored for the upcoming intercollegiate basketball competition season. This class is recommended for those students that plan on participating on the intercollegiate varsity team. Previous experience on a club, high school, or a college team is preferred.

Students will be instructed in sport specific strength and conditioning protocols geared towards maintaining physical athletic qualities such muscular strength and power. There will also be an emphasis on recovery techniques. This in-season physical preparation course is recommended for those students participating on the intercollegiate varsity team.