Osher Online

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Noteworthy

Join the National Osher Online Experience

Now, explore Osher Online, which offers world-class classes and curriculum, led by engaging instructors known for deep expertise in their field. You’ll learn alongside other curious Osher members across the country, all in a virtual, lively and conversation-centered weekly session.
Access even more ofyour favorite classes,with just a few clicks.

Key Details

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  • About Osher Online Courses

    Osher Online is a collaborative program offered by the National Resource Center for Osher Institutes (Osher NRC) at Northwestern University that expands the range of courses available to OLLI members.   These courses also provide you with the opportunity to connect with OLLI members across the country.   OLLI at the University of Miami is excited to be part of this initiative for the Summer 2026 session.

  • What's Included

    • Osher Online courses are offered by the Osher National Resource Center ( NRC) via Zoom
    • Courses are fully online – classes are not recorded.
    • The NRC manages the courses and communication to registered students
    • An OLLI at UM annual membership and per-course fee are required to register.
    • The cost is $80 per person, per course.
    • Course registration is handled by OLLI at UM
    • Each course is held online over six-week sessions, with 1.5 hour session every week

  • Before your first class

    You will receive a welcome email from Osher NRC. They will provide log-in credentials to osheronline.net, the one-stop-shop to access to class Zoom links, syllabi, discussion boards, and download supplemental materials.

    You will also have access to a pre-class orientation provided by the Osher NRC, where you will get helpful information for accessing your class.

    Note: Please log on 10-15 minutes before the start of each class to allow ample time to troubleshoot or get support tech support from the NRC team.

  • Support for courses

    While registration is processed through OLLI at UM, all support for Osher Online courses is provided by the Osher Online Team at the Northwestern University School of Professional Studies.  For assistance, call them at (312) 503-5555 or email osheronline@northwestern.edu.

  • Refund Policy

    Cancellation requests received more than 8 days prior to course start date 100% Refund
    Cancellation requests received less than 3 days (72 hours) before the course start date No Refund

     

Fall 2026 Courses

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  • Art Detectives: Forgery, Provenance, and the Science of Authentication

    Mondays, September 28 – November 2, 2026

    Ms. Christine Maasdam

    The art world may appear glamorous, but deception often lies beneath the surface. After weapons and drugs, art is the third most lucrative illicit trade, with reports suggesting that more than half of artworks are fake or misattributed. In this course, we will ask: When is a copy simply a copy, and when is it a forgery? What techniques do master forgers use? What can science tell us about art authenticity? We will uncover riveting stories of criminal art activity and master forgeries.

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  • A Cosmic Grand Tour: The Realms of the Universe

    Tuesdays, September 29 – November 3, 2026 

    Mr. Andrew Fraknoi 

    In this course, we will explore the three fascinating realms of the cosmos: nearby planets and moons; the stars; and the galaxies (the great island of stars that turn out to be the building blocks of the universe.) Our discussion will be in everyday language, without any math, and will be accompanied by remarkable color images from the latest space probes and the world's largest telescopes, including the latest breathtaking images from the James Webb Space Telescope.

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  • Apple at 50: How it Revolutionized Computing and Transformed Daily Life

    Tuesdays, September 29 – November 3, 2026 

    Mr. Leander Kahney 

    This course traces Apple’s fifty-year history and its massive impact on personal computing, design, product culture, platforms and ecosystems, and daily life. Each session focuses on a different decade in Apple’s history, from the birth of the PC in the late 1970s to the latest Apple silicon, VR headsets, and future iPhones. We will learn how Apple reshaped not just technology, but how people live, work, and communicate.

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  • Sacred Mountains of the World

    Mondays, October 5 – November 9, 2026

    Mr. Jonathan Duncan 

    Across cross cultures and throughout history, mountains have held powerful symbolic meaning. In this course, we will explore how the Buddhists of the Himalayas, the Inca of the Andes, the Inuit of the north, and European Romantics understood and approached these. Through an interdisciplinary lens, we will examine the beliefs, traditions, and mythologies inspired by the world’s mountains, using illustrated lectures, short readings, and discussion to deepen our connection to these high and wild places.

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  • The History and Experience of Route 66

    Mondays, October 5 – November 9, 2026

    Dr. Peter Dedek 

    Route 66 is as much an idea as it is a place. Since 1926, it has evolved from a busy highway into a symbol of nostalgia, travel, and the American road. Today, it serves as a kind of pilgrimage route, marked by neon signs and preserved roadside landmarks. In this course, we will explore its history, cultural meaning, rise and decline, revival, and preservation, while considering the future of this iconic American highway.

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  • The 60s Through the Great Speeches

    Fridays, October 9 – November 13, 2026

    Mr. Arthur (Buck) Benedict 

    The 1960s is a decade wrapped in myth and misunderstanding. In this course, we will cut through that haze by turning to something powerful and concrete: the speeches of the era. The times and the conditions demanded these significant speeches. Together, we will listen to the voices that moved a nation and shaped history. With recordings preserved through television, video, and YouTube, we will discover what these speeches still have to teach us today.

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  • Power & The People: The Evolution of the U.S. Federal Judiciary

    Thursdays, October 15 – November 19, 2026

    Ms. Lauren Andersen 

    The American Experiment began with the Declaration of Independence and led to the creation of the federal judiciary, one of the country’s greatest experiments. In this course, we will
    trace the evolution of the courts from their English roots to their formal establishment in the Constitution. We will explore how the Supreme Court, lacking the power of the purse or military, derives its authority from its ability to connect with the people of the US and protect democracy. We will examine creation of the federal judiciary and the power of the Marshall Court, the Court’s evolution through the New Deal, the Vinson Court, the Warren Court’s “Rights Revolution,” and the role of today’s US Supreme Court. 

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