Upcoming Events
Gain perspective on significant moments in history. Learn about people and cultures from around the globe. Prepare for your post-career life. Investigate the latest breakthroughs in science and technology.
LearningLife offers a high level of academic learning taught by outstanding faculty and community experts at a world-class university. Costs range from $15-$160, depending on the number of sessions offered and their length.
Once you register, you become a member of the Learning Circle, which entitles you to discounts on future courses and events. Visit the Discounts page for full details on this and other discount programs.
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Featured event: A Celebration of New Orleans Food and Music. Join us on June 20 and enjoy a distinctive New Orleans buffet created by Executive Chef Beth Jones, followed by Butch Thompson, a musician and leading authority of traditional jazz.
Courses and Events Listing
Summer Short Courses
Explore short courses on a variety of topics. Events run June through early August 2013.
Reinventing Your Future
Lazy-hazy-crazy days indeed, but summer also can be the perfect time to put some energetic spring into your step. This inspirational course provides the perfect environment for (re)considering what you want to bring to your life and how to put those desires into action. Participants will use proven techniques to identify what they want and why, and to develop creative strategies for action and follow through.
Beyond Vacation: Enriching Your Travel Experience
Have you ever been held captive at someone's three-hour travel slide show and monologue? What is it that makes some travelers' tales interesting and lively while others fall by the wayside? Learn how best to tell your tale by exploring how to approach the world, connect more intensely with what's around you, and get more out of any trip, whether it's as near as Mt. Rushmore or as far away as Mt. Fuji.
Who Were Your Ancestors? The Fundamentals and Principles of Geneaology
Join veteran genealogist and professional researcher, Tom Rice, for this two-session course that delves into the methods of modern genealogical research. You'll learn how to get started, how to find basic records (be they on paper or on the Internet), and how to record and organize what you find. You'll also learn about paper and software tools for recording and planning your research.
The View From Here: Exploring Minnesota's Craft-Beer Scene
Few things say "summer" like a cold beer and never have there been more craft-beer drinking opportunities in Minnesota than today. In fact, the exponential growth in breweries is a national trend that shows no sign of slowing. Join a Certified Cicerone for a hands-on introduction to the history, economics, trends, business models, and processes (and beers!) of Minnesota's contemporary brewing landscape.
A Celebration of New Orleans Food and Music
On the eve of the summer solstice, gather at the Campus Club overlooking the Mississippi River for a celebration of the distinctive culinary and musical traditions of New Orleans, one of the world's most fascinating cities.
A Love Affair With Birds: The Legacy of Thomas Sadler Roberts
Bird enthusiast, doctor, author, curator, educator, conservationist: every chapter in Thomas Sadler Roberts's life also is a chapter in Minnesota history. Taught by biographer Sue Leaf, this course tells how one man's ardor for birds led to two great gifts to the state: The Birds of Minnesota and the Bell Museum of Natural History. A must for all bird lovers!
One-day Immersions
Immerse yourself in a full-day event dedicated to a favorite topic, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
A Haven for Public Enemies: St. Paul in the Gangster Era
Did you know that St. Paul was once a haven for public enemies such as John Dillinger, Ma Barker, and Babyface Nelson? No matter their crime, gangsters flocked to the Saintly City in the 1930s and this one-day immersion will lead you on a lively tour of public-enemy haunts--be it the places they hid, the brothels they frequented, or the sites of their shoot-outs with the police.
From Fields to Fairways: Classic Golf Clubs of Minnesota
Minnesota's illustrious golf beginnings started more than a century ago, when courses were cleared by horse and shovel from farmland and forest. Join the author of From Fields to Fairways, for this one-day immersion that explores the history, architecture, and personalities of Minnesota golf clubs. For fans and players of all handicaps!
All Aboard: A Colorful History of Railroads in Minnesota
Immerse yourself in the colorful history of railroading with one of its keenest observers. Following a morning lecture richly illustrated with historic photographs, climb aboard private railroad cars from the golden age of train travel and visit the beautifully restored Union Depot. Spend the day reliving the enduring history of railroads in Minnesota.
See, Shoot, Edit, Share: Photography Fundamentals for the Beginner
Do you long to take better pictures of your family, friends, and vacations, but feel intimidated by all the little buttons and dials on your camera? Through presentations, a field shoot, image review, and question-and-answer sessions, this one-day immersion will walk even the unsure novice through the steps necessary to create better images.
Additions, Transformations, and Tear Downs: New Life in the City
This immersion represents a rare opportunity to experience, firsthand, the architectural potential to be found in urban dwellings that have been transformed through remodeling, adding-on, or tearing down and rebuilding. Led by an award-winning architect, the homes toured will illustrate the pros and cons of each design solution, as well as their relative costs and impact on the neighborhood. Get on the bus!
Summer Morning Seminars
Spend the morning discussing a provocative topic, 9 - 11 a.m.
La Dolce Vita: Mediterranean Reflection on Indolence
Take a break from the hectic pace of modern life to reconsider whether indolence is a vice or a virtue. Slow down and spend the morning exploring the social, historical, and cultural values of la dolce vita, a "sweet life full of pleasure and indulgence."
A Sense of Where You Are: Story and Science on the Mississippi River
It is true what they say: In order to move forward, one must look back. Join the coordinator of River Life, a program of the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment, to learn about the history of the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities, as well as the current research and scientific findings that are integral to the River's future.
The Science of Happiness
In the United States, the pursuit of happiness is not only an inalienable right, it's a national obsession. Delve into a growing body of research on the science of happiness to learn what can be done to cultivate a more positive sense of well-being.
View all events by start date
Wine and War: Protecting France's Greatest Treasure
Starts: 05/08/2013. four-session course
A Love Affair With Birds: The Legacy of Thomas Sadler Roberts
Starts: 06/17/2013. three-session course
Beyond Vacation: Enriching Your Travel Experiences
Starts: 06/19/2013. three-session course
A Haven for Public Enemies: St. Paul in the Gangster Era
Starts: 06/25/2013. one-day immersion
The Science of Happiness
Starts: 06/27/2013. summer morning seminar
Additions, Transformations, and Tear Downs: New Life in the City
Starts: 07/08/2013. one-day immersion
The View From Here: Exploring Minnesota's Craft-Beer Scene
Starts: 07/10/2013. three-session course
From Fields to Fairways: Classic Golf Clubs of Minnesota
Starts: 07/16/2013. one-day immersion
Reinventing Your Future
Starts: 07/16/2013. three-session course
A Sense of Where You Are: Story and Science on the Mississippi River
Starts: 07/18/2013. summer morning seminar
See, Shoot, Edit, Share: Photography Fundamentals for the Beginner
Starts: 07/22/2013. one-day immersion
Who Were Your Ancestors? The Fundamentals and Principles of Genealogy
Starts: 07/24/2013. two-session course
All Aboard: A Colorful History of Railroads in Minnesota
Starts: 08/07/2013. one-day immersion
La Dolce Vita: A Mediterranean Reflection on Indolence
Starts: 08/08/2013. summer morning seminar
