There are a total of 66 courses available.
Alternative Energy Use in the 21st Century
Wait List available.
American culture and its economy during the 20th century were based on cheap and abundant oil resources obtained from refining petroleum. Oil imports from the politically unstable Mideast combined with other factors has led to today’s expensive oil. This fact combined with climate change due to global warming has mandated that the 21st century bring about alternative forms of energy utilization. Join Paul Loconto and explore the scientific basis of how energy is utilized and how thermodynamics explains why certain chemical reactions occur. Learn the chemical composition of natural gas; how gasoline is obtained from petroleum, refined, and utilized; how biodiesel is made; and how batteries and hydrogen fuel cells work.
Wednesdays, beginning February 17, 7–9 p.m.
102 Kellogg Center, 3 sessions, $45
Instructor: Paul Loconto, Bureau of Laboratories,
Michigan Department of Community Health
America's Mansions: Great and Small
Take a grand in-class tour of some of the greatest mansions America has to offer. During the last 350 years, Americans have given form to their hopes and dreams using stone, brick, wood, metal, glass, and often a great deal of money! The great mansions are each as unique as the personalities that designed, built, and paid to construct them and each has a story to tell. Join Jim Perkins, professor of architecture, who will take you to five different geographical regions of the U.S. to explore America’s mansions—from small exquisite jewel boxes to sprawling mega-mansions.
Thursdays, beginning March 25, 7–9 p.m.
Willy Room, Kellogg Center, 5 sessions, $55
Instructor: James Perkins, Professor Emeritus,
Lansing Community College, and
Evening College Lecturer
Register Now
Archaeology of Roman Palestine
This course will provide an introduction to the archaeology of Roman Palestine (30 BC–AD 352), focusing on Galilee. The last 25 years of excavations have provided a regional picture of the matrix of Judaism and Christianity completely unknown in previous generations of Roman archaeology and religious studies. You will have an opportunity to explore Nazareth, Tiberias, Capernaum, and Sepphoris (Zippori) and the region surrounding the Sea of Galilee. Sepphoris was described by the first-century Jewish historian Josephus as the “ornament of all Galilee.” It was Herod Antipas’ first capital, and later, home to the great Rabbi Judah Ha-Nasi the compiler of the Mishnah. The course will provide a glimpse of what it is like to live and work on a dig in modern Israel and you will also be able to view small artifacts from the instructor’s digs.
Mondays, beginning February 15, 7–9 p.m.
102 Kellogg Center, 3 sessions, $45
Instructor: Constance DeYoung Groh,
Evening College Lecturer
Register Now
Archive Treasures at MSU
Wait List available.
What happened to the first students who graduated from MSU? How many buildings on campus have been destroyed by fire? What was the first athletic team on campus? Join MSU Public Services Archivist Portia Vescio for a tour of MSU Archives and view some of the great treasures that are normally off-limits to the public. View some of MSUÆs earliest maps and photographs, Rose Bowl programs, diaries and letters of MSU presidents, and the letter that Charles Darwin wrote to Michigan State botanist William Beal. You will also view items from the Historical Collections, including Civil War diaries and letters and designs from the REO Motor Car Company.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Saturday, March 27, 10 a.m.–noon
MSU Archives and Historical Collections
Room 101 Conrad Hall, 1 session, $25
Instructor: Portia Vescio, Public Services Archivist,
MSU Archives and Historical Collections
Attic Treasures: Appraising your Antiques and Collectibles
Wait List available.
Are you cleaning out your attic? Have you inherited antiques from a relative? Are you wondering about the value of your treasures? Come on down to the “Harrison Road Show” at Kellogg Center and join Barbara Stevens Jersey who has been buying and selling antiques for more than 30 years. The first session will assist you in deciding what to do with your attic treasures, collectibles, and inherited items. You will learn about estate sales, auctions, finding appraisers, how to inventory, and whether or not to have a garage sale or visit TV’s Antiques Roadshow. The second session invites you to bring in items (up to 3 per person) for appraisal where you will gain valuable tips in assessing your own items.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Saturdays, February 20 and February 27
10 a.m.–noon; 1–3 p.m. (lunch OYO 12–1 p.m.)
Heritage Room, Kellogg Center, 2 sessions, $65
Instructor: Barbara Stevens Jersey,
Evening College Lecturer
Backstage at Wharton Center: South Pacific
Wait List available.
Wharton Center for Performing Arts and the MSU Federal Credit Union Institute for Arts & Creativity open their doors and invite you to learn about what happens offstage at one of the nation’s largest performing arts centers. For each person on stage there are at least ten others advertising the show, managing the house, operating lights and sound, raising money, selling tickets, and communicating with the public. This course offers an inside look at Wharton Center from presenting Broadway theater to its community and statewide outreach efforts. A tour of the Wharton facility including some backstage areas is also planned. Each participant will receive one ticket to the stunning and lavish revival of the Broadway touring production of Rogers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, winner of seven 2008 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival. USA Today says, “South Pacific doesn’t float; it soars!” Maximum enrollment: 12. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Saturday, May 1
Class: 3:30–5:30 p.m., Wharton Center Green Room
Free time for dinner (OYO): 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Performance of South Pacific: 8 p.m.
Wharton Center for Performing Arts, 1 session, $75
Instructors: Wharton Center Staff
Offered in cooperation with Wharton Center for Performing Arts and the MSU Federal Credit Union Institute for Arts & Creativity
Ballroom Dancing Basics
People of all ages have a renewed interest in ballroom dancing. Whether it’s for New Year’s Eve, weddings, vacation cruises, exercise, or just for fun, ballroom dancing can be enjoyed throughout your lifetime. This course will teach you basic steps along with several variations of the fox trot, waltz, jitterbug (swing), and cha cha cha. Partners are required. Non-marking shoes are also required. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Thursdays, beginning March 18, 7–9 p.m.
Bailey School Gym,* East Lansing
8 sessions, $89 per participant
Instructors: June E. Mills and John McAllister,
Certified Ballroom Dance Instructors
*Directions will be mailed with course confirmation
Register Now
Baseball: The Joy of Keeping Score!
Baseball fans and official scorers gain insight into the game of baseball by keeping score. Join Mike Clark, former scorekeeper for the Lansing Lugnuts, and learn the history, trivia, and social significance behind the box scores and statistics. You will gain a better understanding of the rules of the game, how the game is played, and the difficult decisions that face a scorer.
Tuesdays, March 23 and March 30, 7–9 p.m.
61 Kellogg Center, 2 sessions, $45
Instructor: Michael Clark, Former Lugnuts Scorekeeper
and Evening College Lecturer
Recommended text:
The Joy of Keeping Score: How Scoring the Game
has Influenced and Enhanced the History of Baseball
Paul Dickson, Hartcourt, 1997
ISBN: 0156005166
Register Now
Beaumont Tower Bells: MSU's Carillon
Wait List available.
Join MSU carillonneur Ray McLellan and discover the carillon, a magnificent musical instrument of bells. You will learn the history and the art of the carillon and study the parts that make up the carillon, with special emphasis on the bells and bell casting. In addition to MSU’s Beaumont Tower carillon, you will learn about other carillons located in Michigan and throughout the world. After the historical lecture, you will make the 72-step climb to the playing chamber of the Beaumont Tower carillon where Ray McLellan will demonstrate how to play the carillon. Participants will also have an opportunity to play a melody on the bells. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Monday, April 26, 7–9 p.m.
300 Human Ecology Bldg., 1 session, $25
Instructor: Ray McLellan, MSU Carillonneur and
Lecturer, MSU College of Music
Behind the Scenes at Potter Park with Zoo Veterinarian
Wait List available.
Have you ever wondered how animals are cared for at the zoo? This course will introduce you to the world of caring for exotic animals at our own Lansing Potter Park Zoo. What do the animals eat? What kind of equipment is used in their care? How are endangered species paired together for breeding? Join Potter Park Zoo’s veterinarian, Dr. Harrison, and learn about these topics while enjoying a tour of the zoo with some behind-the-scenes visits. Children 13 and older are welcome to register with a registered adult. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Saturday, May 15, noon–2:30 p.m.
(Meet at the zoo entrance at 11:45 a.m.)
Lansing Potter Park Zoo,* 1 session, $25
Instructor: Tara Myers Harrison,
Potter Park Veterinarian and Evening College Lecturer
*Directions will be mailed with your registration confirmation.
Bike Basics for Enjoyable Riding
Cabin fever may have you thinking of those spring and summer bike excursions, and this session with MSU’s Bike Services coordinator Tim Potter will assist you in making sure your bike will be operating at peak performance and comfort. Learn the “how to” of simple bike maintenance that will improve your bike’s performance, reliability, and your enjoyment of the ride–while saving you repair shop money! In-class demonstrations will teach you how to properly set up your bike (old or new) for maximum comfort. You will learn easy techniques for repairing flat tires and for tuning and maintaining your wheels, drive train, and brakes. Demonstration only, no bikes allowed.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Saturday, February 20, 10 a.m.–noon
Riverside Room, Kellogg Center, 1 session, $45
Instructor: Tim Potter, MSU Bike Services Coordinator
and Evening College Lecturer
Register Now
Billiards: That Noble Game
Wait List available.
Rich with history since its creation sometime in the 15th century in Europe, billiards, known as the “Noble Game of Billiards” since the 1800s, has been played by kings and commoners, ladies and gentlemen, and presidents and hustlers. Shakespeare mentioned the game in his play Antony and Cleopatra. The game made its way to America and we know that George Washington won a billiards match in the mid 1700s. Michael Phelan, known as the “father of American billiards,” came to America from Ireland in 1850 and is credited with writing the first American book on billiards. Later revivals in the popularity of billiards came with the release of Paul Newman’s movies The Hustler in the 1960s and The Color of Money (with Tom Cruise) in the 1980s. This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of pocket billiards. You will learn proper stance, grip, bridge, aim, and stroke. Cue ball position shots such as stop, draw, follow, and center will also be covered. You will learn 8-Ball, 9-Ball, and Straight Pool in this course. Maximum enrollment: 12. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Tuesdays, beginning February 16,* 7–9 p.m.
U-Cue Room,** MSU Union, 8 sessions, $89
Instructor: Steve Reynolds, Evening College
and Lansing Community College Lecturer
*No class March 9
**U-Cue/MSU Billiards Room is located on the Ground Floor of the MSU Union (take center stairwell or elevators).
Body Conditioning: Circuit Training
This body conditioning course, Circuit Training, will give you a total body workout. Utilizing your time efficiently and effectively, this workout will move you through various sit-down strength and cardiovascular stations while using weights to achieve maximum results. This course is perfect for the beginner as well as the advanced participant. The first class session will be in lecture format and will cover the basics of exercise and safety issues. Each participant will also complete a brief health questionnaire and liability form at the first session. Additional class sessions will be instructed as a group exercise course. Wear comfortable workout clothes and shoes. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Thursdays, beginning April 15, 6–7 p.m.
MSU University Club and Fitness Center & Spa*
8 sessions, $89
Instructor: Staff, University Club Fitness Center & Spa
*Entrance is located behind the Candlewood Suites Hotel
by the MSU Forest Akers West Golf Shop.
Register Now
Body Sculpting
Body sculpting is a toning-based workout using barbells with adjustable weights to work every major muscle group. You will build lean muscle and increase muscular strength and endurance by choosing your weights and working out at your own level. This course is perfect for the beginner as well as the advanced participant. The first class session will be in lecture format and will cover the basics of exercise and safety issues. Each participant will also complete a brief health questionnaire and liability form at the first session. Additional class sessions will be instructed as a group exercise course. Wear comfortable workout clothes and shoes.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Thursdays, beginning February 18, 6–7 p.m.
MSU University Club and Fitness Center & Spa*
8 sessions, $89
Instructor: Staff, University Club Fitness Center & Spa
**Entrance is located behind the Candlewood Suites
Hotel by the MSU Forest Akers West Golf Shop.
Register Now
Career Strategy for Today's Competitive Job Market - A
Join the MSU Alumni Association’s Career Services staff who will take you through the steps of developing a personal branding strategy and job-search campaign. In today’s highly competitive job market, it is critical that you be able to define who you are to potential employers by focusing on your values, strengths, unique qualities, and skills. Learn tips on networking and job-search strategies, interviewing skills, and navigating success at work. Participants will have an opportunity to receive a resume review. This course will be offered in two different formats and in two locations—East Lansing and Detroit. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
A. Tuesdays, February 16, 23, and March 2, 7–9 p.m.
Engineering Society of Detroit,
20700 Civic Center Drive, Suite 450, Southfield,
3 sessions, $65
Instructor: John Hill, Director
MSU Alumni Association Career Services
Register Now
Career Strategy for Today's Competitive Job Market - B
Join the MSU Alumni Association’s Career Services staff who will take you through the steps of developing a personal branding strategy and job-search campaign. In today’s highly competitive job market, it is critical that you be able to define who you are to potential employers by focusing on your values, strengths, unique qualities, and skills. Learn tips on networking and job-search strategies, interviewing skills, and navigating success at work. Participants will have an opportunity to receive a resume review. This course will be offered in two different formats and in two locations—East Lansing and Detroit. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
B. Saturday, March 20,
9 a.m.–noon; 1–3 p.m. (lunch OYO)
102 Kellogg Center, East Lansing
1 session, $65
Instructor: David Isbell, Coordinator
MSU Alumni Association Career Services
Register Now
Ceramics
Wait List available.
Learn to use the potter’s wheel and hand-building methods as you explore the use of clay as a creative medium. Areas to be covered include basic techniques for throwing, hand building, glazing, and firing high-fire clay. Regular attendance is essential for completion of work. The fee includes clay and glaze materials. A supply list will be mailed to you with your course confirmation. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Wednesdays, beginning February 17,* 7–10 p.m.
19 Kresge Art Center, 8 sessions, $155
Instructor: Amy Brown, MSU Department of Art
and Art History
*No class March 10
Chinese Conversation (Basic)
This course is designed for busy adults who have had no previous instruction in Chinese. You will learn common words, expressions, and sentences that incorporate practical vocabulary for everyday use when communicating with Chinese people in different situations. You will explore the Chinese pinyin system (phonetics), some sentence structure, and related grammar.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Wednesdays, beginning February 17,* 7–9:30 p.m.
C211 Wells Hall, 10 sessions, $85
Instructor: Julie Jiang, Lansing Community College
and Evening College Lecturer
*No class March 10
Recommended text:
Ni Hao: Level I (Textbook-Simplified Revised edition)
Paul Fredlein and Shumang Fredlein
Cheng & Tsui Co, 2001
ISBN: 1876739061
Ni Hao: Level I (Workbook)
Paul Fredlein and Shumang Fredlein
Cheng & Tsui Co, 2003
ISBN: 87673907X
Chinese Characters in Pictures, Vol. 1
Cheng Xianghui, Sinolingua, 2005
ISBN-13: 978-802001015
Register Now
Classics of American Literature: Authors from the 19th Century
Continue your literary travels with Professor Gordon Rohman who will provide you with a survey of American literature that will include writers from the middle to the end of the 19th century. Participants of the earlier literature course Classics of American Literature: Colony to Civil War as well as newcomers will enjoy the overview of authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Margaret Fuller, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain, Sarah Orne Jewett, and Henry James. Authors will be studied within the context of their times providing insight into how they interpreted the American experience.
Thursdays, beginning February 18, 3–5 p.m.
Burcham Hills Retirement Facility, 8 sessions, $85
Instructor: D. Gordon Rohman, Professor Emeritus,
MSU Department of English and Lifelong Education
Register Now
Clutter Gone: Getting Organized
If you have ever felt overwhelmed by the accumulation of paper and other “stuff” at home and/or at your office, this course is for you! Join organizational professional Rita Wilhelm who will identify some of the causes of clutter, describe the benefits of getting organized, and provide tips for getting control of your clutter. Specific areas of the home will be addressed as well as the best ways to deal with “paper paralysis” both at home and at the office. Getting organized can save you time and money and give you peace of mind.
Tuesday, February 16, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
102 Kellogg Center, 1 session, $45 Instructor: Rita Wilhelm, Evening College Lecturer
Register Now
Creative Writing
Wait List available.
This course is for the aspiring fiction writer as well as anyone interested in improving their writing—whether it be for business communications, speeches, essays, e-mails, letters, or memoirs. Students will learn the basic tools of good fiction writing—description, voice, character, plot, point of view, flashback, dialogue, back-story, and narration. All writers can benefit from learning the fiction writer’s “tricks of the trade.” Course instruction will include writing exercises and discussion of student writings as well as those of published authors. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Mondays, beginning February 22,* 7–9 p.m.
103 Kellogg Center, 6 sessions, $75
Instructor: Raymond Thibeault, Evening College Lecturer
*No class March 8
Culinary Arts: Cooking with Herbs and Spices II
Wait List available.
Do you know the difference between an herb and a spice? Herbs and spices can add depth and flavor to dishes. But they can be intimidating and overwhelming if you are not familiar with them. Join Personal Chef Jen Riebow in a demonstration-style course where you will learn about herbs and spices and how to cook with them to enhance your meals. This is a repeat of Chef Riebow’s Fall 2009 Evening College herbs and spices course but with all new recipes. You will have an opportunity to sample all recipes prepared in class. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Mondays, March 15 and March 22, 7–9 p.m.
Riverside Room, Kellogg Center, 2 sessions, $49
Instructor: Jen Riebow, Personal Chef and Evening College Lecturer
Cyclotron Laboratory: MSU's Premier Research Lab for Nuclear Science
Wait List available.
What is a cyclotron? What does it do? Why is it important? MSU’s National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory is one of the world’s premier research laboratories for nuclear science. Join Zachary Constan and learn how the cyclotron accelerates nuclei to half the speed of light to produce rare nuclei. These nuclei can explain what goes on in exploding stars or how the elements in your body are formed. Participants will have an opportunity to tour the facility and meet MSU scientists and students whose research is on the cutting edge of new discoveries. This course can enroll 15 participants. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Mondays, March 15 and March 22, 7–9:30 p.m.
MSU Cyclotron Building,* 2 sessions, $45
Instructor: Zachary Constan, Engineer, MSU Cyclotron
*The MSU Cyclotron Building is west of WhartonCenter for Performing Arts. Please enter the Cyclotron Building from the front entrance across from the ChemistryBuilding. Parking is free in Ramp #1 across the street fromthe Cyclotron on Shaw Lane.
Designing Web Pages for Fun and Profit
Wait List available.
Do you have a small business that you would like to put online? Or perhaps you’ve thought about building a Web site that focuses on your favorite hobby. This course introduces the skills necessary to create Web pages for both fun and profit. You will explore free hosting services and online storefronts. Using GUI wizards and templates, you will create web pages or storefronts that contain images, links, and other design elements. You will learn how to maintain and update your Web site as well as how to troubleshoot problems. You will also explore payment options and promotional techniques for online storefronts. This course is designed for PC (not Mac) users who are comfortable using the internet.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Saturday, March 27, 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
B100C Wells Hall, 1 session, $59 Instructor: Rebecca Lawson, Lansing Community
College and Evening College Lecturer
Drawing: The Human Figure
Learn the fundamentals of drawing the human figure. Gesture and line drawings of the figure will be the main focus of this course. Creating the figure with tone to show form and volume will also be taught. A model will be provided for most sessions. Students will provide their own supplies. Bring charcoal and a large pad of newsprint to the first session. Both beginning and advanced drawing students are welcome.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Tuesdays, beginning February 16,* 7:30–9:30 p.m.
208 Kresge Art Center, 8 sessions, $89
Instructor: Joy Schroeder, Evening College Lecturer
*No class March 9
Register Now
eBay for Beginners
Most of us are collectors and at some point in our lives we find ourselves trying to either amass or disburse a collection of items which we have found, purchased, or inherited. In the last few years, one indispensable part of collecting has become the proficient use of the world’s largest online auction—eBay. Join avid collector Professor James Perkins to explore the basic skills necessary to understand the many aspects of the online auction eBay. Learn how to navigate the auction for personal interest, fun, and for potential profit. Demonstrations will be used for conducting appraisals, asking and receiving questions, buying and selling, acquiring tickets for attending events, and for safely and efficiently making and receiving payments for items bought and/or sold. Participant computers are not necessary for this basic eBay course. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Tuesdays, beginning March 23, 6–9 p.m.
Heritage Room, Kellogg Center, 4 sessions, $65
Instructor: James C. Perkins, Professor Emeritus, Lansing Community College and
Evening College Lecturer
Register Now
Estate Planning, Wills, and Trusts
This popular seminar is taught by Michigan’s former assistant attorney general for law who co-authored The Handbook to Wills, Funerals, and Probate, and The Executor’s Handbook. The course will introduce you to the techniques used to plan one’s estate, preserve and transfer property during lifetime and at death, protect minor children, prepare for possible disability, avoid probate, and minimize estate taxes and legal expenses. Topics include the probate system, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, life insurance, joint ownership, gifts to minors, letters of instruction, living wills, and medical powers of attorney. Seminar format includes lecture, handout materials, and open discussion.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Saturday, February 27, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Willy Room, Kellogg Center, 1 session, $75 Instructor: Theodore E. Hughes, J.D.,
Evening College Lecturer
Recommended text:
The Handbook to Wills, Funerals, and Probate, 3rd ed.
Theodore Hughes & David Klien
Checkmark Books, 2007
ISBN: 0-8160-6668-X
The Executor’s Handbook
Theodore Hughes & David Klien
Checkmark Books, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-8160-6670-4
Register Now
Filling your Bucket!
In these days of finding our nest eggs and day-to-day living funds diminished, we sometimes forget that there are simple ways to “fill our buckets” both at home and at work. We can greatly increase the positive moments in our lives while reducing the negative. And while we are at it, we can also help fill the buckets of others in ways that contribute to our own sense of fulfillment. This course will focus on appreciative living and on finding the path to a more joy-filled life. The course will provide tips for answering the question “What can I do to feel more alive and experience more happiness?” You’ll explore daily appreciations and envision the power of full engagement for finding your way. This is a participatory interactive course that includes home practices for you to access more ways to live with a “full bucket” and see yourself as having all that you need. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Wednesdays, beginning March 17,* 7–9 p.m.
Willy Room, Kellogg Center, 6 sessions, $65
Instructor: Marilyn Sylvan Thompson, Psychotherapist/
Consultant and Evening College Lecturer
*No class April 7
Register Now
Floral Design Workshop: The Basics
In this fun, hands-on course, you will learn florists’ secrets for making beautiful floral designs as you work on floral arrangements every week. You will learn flower identification and how to make flowers last longer and look great. You will also learn how to make centerpieces, corsages, boutonnieres, and bows. Tim Latimer, Michigan certified florist, will teach you the principles, elements, and mechanics of color theory, harmony, rhythm, balance, and composition of floral design. You will learn about different traditional and contemporary design techniques including line and mass designs and Oriental and European designs. You will leave this workshop a better floral consumer and floral arranger than when you arrived. Every week you will take a new creation home. No prior experience is needed. Past participants are welcome. All supplies including floral tools will be provided. Your supply fee is included in the course registration fee.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Tuesdays, beginning February 16,* 6:30–9 p.m.
A290 Plant and Soil Science Bldg., 7 sessions, $135
Instructor: Tim Latimer, Evening College Lecturer
*No class March 9
Register Now
Flower Gardening: Planning Your Space
Want to have a garden that is the envy of your neighbors? Join Tim Latimer, Michigan certified florist and lifelong gardener, who will assist you in integrating your interest in floral design and gardening. Topics will include planning (including keeping a garden journal), site selection, bed preparation and soil testing, watering and fertilizing, use of color, and container plants. Learn to select plants for ease of care (including sun and shade selections), length of bloom, landscape color and beauty, and usefulness as cut flowers and/or floral designs for your home. The use of bulbs, annuals, perennials, and shrubs will be discussed. Regardless of size, your yard can become an impressive floral display.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Saturday, April 10, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
62 Kellogg Center, 1 session, $55 Instructor: Tim Latimer, Evening College Lecturer
Register Now
For the Birds: W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary
Wait List available.
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary in Augusta, Michigan, was established in 1927 by W.K. Kellogg and given to Michigan State University in 1928. Comprising more than 260 acres of varied forest and wetland habitats and the 40-acre Wintergreen Lake, the sanctuary attracts a wide variety of waterfowl and songbird migrants and has been instrumental in the conservation of several species of North American waterfowl. Learn about the trumpeter swan and the sanctuary’s role in reintroducing this native species to the Midwest. Your walking tour will take place along a one-mile paved trail where you will have an opportunity to use binoculars (your own or borrowed from the Bird Sanctuary resource center.) Dress for the weather. Walking shoes and warm rain gear are recommended since the tour will take place rain or shine and temperatures are cooler by the lake.
Sunday, April 11, 1–3 p.m.W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary*
12685 East C Avenue, Augusta1 session, $25
Instructor: Kara Haas, Environmental Education
Coordinator, W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary *Directions will be sent with course confirmation.
Please meet in the Bird Sanctuary Auditorium at 12:45 p.m. In case of severe storms, please call 269-671-2510 after 11 a.m. on April 11.
France's Golden Age: The Second Empire (1852-70)
Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte) was elected president of the Second Republic of France and after a successful coup d’etat expanded his power to reign over the Second Empire of France as Napoleon III. Emperor Napoleon III and his Empress Eugenie Montoya fostered a glittering royal court. Growth and prosperity were evident at home and abroad. Paris was aglow with the emergence of the Impressionists, thriving opera and theater life, and a reputation for bohemian nightlife. Urban renewal projects created spacious boulevards as a setting for the commercial activities of the burgeoning bourgeoisie. Overseas, France was an active player in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Algeria, Suez, and the Crimea. France had moved away from a time of revolution to a time of political calm and economic boom accompanying an unparalleled artistic, musical, and literary flourishing.
Wednesdays, beginning March 24, 7–8:30 p.m.
62 Kellogg Center, 3 sessions, $45 Instructor: Ann Tukey Harrison, Professor Emerita,
MSU Department of Romance and Classical Languages
Recommended text:
Napoleon III: A Life
Fenton Bresler, Avalon Publishing, 1999
ISBN: 0-7867-0660-0
Register Now
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park: Butterflies and Blooming
If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, the MSUAA Evening College invites you to join other Evening College participants for a spring educational guided group tour. People come from all over the world to experience and enjoy the botanical garden, art, and natural environment of the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. A visitor favorite in its fifteenth year, Butterflies are Blooming will be showing and features butterflies from tropical regions around the world flying freely in the 5-story Tropical Conservatory. The 80-degree conditions make for a warm escape in West Michigan. This is the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the nation with over 40 different species of butterflies and moths.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Sunday, April 18, 1–3 p.m., 1 session, $25
Arrival: 12:30 p.m.
(Meeting point: Front of gift shop, Main Building)
Inside tour: 1–2 p.m., Tram: 2–3 p.m.
Time on own: 3–5 p.m. (optional)
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
1000 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids
Instructor: Staff, Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Register Now
French Conversation (Basic)
A practical approach to the mastery of everyday conversational French, this course is designed for busy adults who have had no previous instruction in French and for those who wish to brush up on their skill in speaking French at the beginning level.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Tuesdays, beginning February 16,* 7–9:30 p.m.
C215 Wells Hall, 10 sessions, $85
Instructor: Mary Wolter, Evening College Lecturer
*No class March 9
Recommended Text:
Ultimate French Beginner-Intermediate (Book & CDs)
Living Languages
ISBN 978-1400021055
French in 10 Minutes a Day (Book & CDs)
Kristine Kershul, Bilingual Books, Inc., 2005
ISBN-13: 978-1-31873-87-1
Register Now
French Conversation (Intermediate)
Wait List available.
This course is a continuation of French Conversation (Basic). It is designed for adults with limited instruction in French who wish to brush up on their skill in speaking French beyond the beginning level. The content will be as extensive, and the progress as rapid, as the enthusiasm and commitment of the class permit.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Wednesdays, beginning February 17,* 7–9:30 p.m.
C209 Wells Hall, 10 sessions, $85
Instructor: Staff, MSU Department of French,
Classics, and Italian
*No class March 10
Recommended Text:
Ultimate French Beginner-Intermediate (Book & CDs)
Living Languages
ISBN 978-1400021055
Genealogy Beginning Studies: Finding your Family in the Past
This course includes internet and hard copy research instruction. Participants attend six sessions plus a one hour conference with the instructor.
Mondays, beginning February 15, 7–9 p.m.
See session for location, date, and time.
6 sessions, $65
Instructor: Joanne Harvey, Certified Genealogist
Record Searcher
1. Home Resources: Interviewing, recording your
information, object records, cemeteries.
Monday, February 15, 7–9 p.m.
Heritage Room, Kellogg Center
2. Back to 1900: Vital records, the American
Federal Census since 1790
Monday, February 22, 7–9 p.m.
Heritage Room, Kellogg Center
3. Back to 1776: America’s wars and your family.
Find veterans and their families since the early 1700s.
Saturday, February 27, 10 a.m.–noon
Library of Michigan
4. Follow the dollars: Land and probate records
in America since the early 1700s.
Saturday, March 6, 10 a.m.–noon
Library of Michigan
5. Learn how to access records at the Salt Lake City
Family History Library, the world’s largest
genealogical collection.
Saturday, March 13, 10 a.m.–noon
Family History Center
431 E. Saginaw, East Lansing (east rear door)
6. Time to be arranged. Choose one session from
those below and specify letter when registering.
A. Back to Ontario
B. Back to Quebec
C. Back to American presidential/ancestry/relationships
Register Now
German Conversation (Advanced)
This course is a continuation of German Conversation (Intermediate). It is designed for adults who wish to extend their skill in speaking German beyond the intermediate level. The content will be as extensive, and the progress as rapid, as the enthusiasm and commitment of the class permit.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Tuesdays, beginning February 16,* 7–9:30 p.m.
C311 Wells Hall, 10 sessions, $85
Instructor: Caron Dvorak, MSU Department of
Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic, Asian, and
African Languages
*No class March 9
Register Now
German Conversation (Basic)
A practical approach to the mastery of everyday conversational German, this course is designed for adults who have had no previous instruction in German and those who wish to brush up on their skill in speaking German at the beginning level.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Tuesdays, beginning February 16,* 7–9:30 p.m.
C212 Wells Hall, 10 sessions, $85
Instructor: Daniel Kline, MSU Department of Linguistics
and Germanic, Slavic, Asian, and African Languages
*No class March 9
Recommended Text:
Vorsprung (student book) Lead author Tom Lovik
Houghton Miflin
ISBN: 0-618-142495
Vorsprung (workbook)
ISBN: 0-618-142517
German in 10 Minutes a Day (Book & CDs)
Kristine Kershul, Bilingual Books, Inc., 2006
ISBN-13: 978-1-931873-89-5
Register Now
Go Fish'n Workshop
Join Mark Stephens, coordinator for MSU’s Project FISH (Friends Involved in Sports Fishing Heritage) and enjoy some hands-on projects that will introduce and prepare you for the leisure activity of fishing. Learn about fish and aquatic life and the regulations in place for fishing. Try your hand at making tackle and tying flies and knots. All participants will take home a rod, reel, tackle box, and tackle items. You will also be connected to a statewide group of Project FISH volunteers with access to low cost equipment and resources. Your lab fee is included in the course registration fee.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Wednesdays, beginning February 17, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Heritage Room, Kellogg Center, 3 sessions, $65
Instructor: Mark Stephens, MSU Extension, MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Register Now
Golf Instruction for Beginning Players
This introductory course covers the core mechanics of golf—how to hold the club, stance, aim and alignment, putting, chipping, pitching, full swing with woods and irons, golf terminology, and practice systems designed to improve your skills. The course includes unlimited practice balls during the course, equipment usage, and video analysis. You must provide your own set of clubs. Bring your entire set of clubs and golf or tennis shoes to all sessions.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
This course will meet Monday, April 19,
Tuesday, April 20, Wednesday, April 21,
and Thursday, April 22,* 5:30–7 p.m.
The Golf Center, Forest Akers East Golf Course
4 sessions, $105
Instructor: MSU Professional Staff, Forest Akers Golf Courses
*Rain make-up date is Friday April 23, 5:30–7 p.m.
Register Now
Golf Instruction for Intermediate Players
Designed for golfers wanting to enhance their knowledge and refinement of the game, this course will review core skills of the game while stressing the importance of these skills for personal development. You will focus on areas relating to immediate score improvement—the core skills of the stance, hold, aim and alignment, putting, short game mechanics, and functional full swing technique. The course includes unlimited practice balls during the course, equipment usage, and video analysis. You must provide your own set of clubs. Bring your entire set of clubs and golf or tennis shoes to all sessions.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
This course will meet Monday, April 26,
Tuesday, April 27, Wednesday, April 28,
and Thursday, April 29,* 5:30–7 p.m. at
The Golf Center, Forest Akers East Golf Course
4 sessions, $105
Instructor: MSU Professional Staff, Forest Akers Golf Courses
*Rain make-up date is Friday April 30, 5:30–7 p.m.
Register Now
Grant-Seeking for Nonprofit Organizations
This course is designed for administrators and employees of nonprofit, public service organizations who are interested in learning how to locate relevant grant and funding information either in the Michigan State University Libraries or over the Internet. Jon Harrison, Funding Center supervisor for the MSU Libraries, will provide an overview of potential funding, grant-writing, and grant- administration resources.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Saturday, February 27, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
MSU Main Library, 1 session, $49
(Library Instruction Room, Basement, East Wing)
Instructor: Jon Harrison, Social Sciences Collections
Coordinator and Funding Center Supervisor for the Michigan State University Libraries
Register Now
Great Decisions Foreign Policy Lecture Series
This informative lecture series is sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan. Lectures are held at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center, Robinson Road, SE, Grand Rapids (Parking Lot L). Maps will be mailed with registration confirmation.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Mondays, beginning February 1, 6–7:30 p.m.
8 sessions, $85
Monday, February 1, 6–7:30 p.m.
The Global Financial Mess—Crisis or Just a Crunch?
Jim Zarroli, NPR
Monday, February 8, 6–7:30 p.m.
Violence in the Congo—Is It Genocide?
Dr. Severine Autessere, Columbia University
Monday, February 15, 6–7:30 p.m.
Using Peacebuilding Tools—
Military Might Doesn’t Always Do It
Dr. Fred Pearson, Peace and Conflicts Study Institute,
Wayne State University
Monday, February 22, 6–7:30 p.m.
Update on Persian Gulf Issues
Dr. Erick Larson, RAND Think Tank
Monday, March 1, 6–7:30 p.m.
Special Envoys for Diplomacy:
Effective Tool or Stumbling Block?
Ambassador William Harrop, American
Academy of Diplomats and former U.S.
Ambassador to Israel
Monday, March 8, 6–7:30 p.m.
Mandarins Playing Capitalist Games
Dr. Scott Kennedy, Research Center for
Chinese Politics and Business, Indiana University
Monday, March 15, 6–7:30 p.m.
The New Face of Global Crime
and Steps to Prevent It
Andy Arena, Special Agent in Charge,
Detroit Office/FBI
Monday, March 22, 6–7:30 p.m.
Russia and Its Neighbors
Ambassador Roman Popadiuk, current Executive
Director of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library
and former U.S. Ambassador to the Ukraine
Register Now
Hand Piecing a Quilt: A Creative and Relaxing Pastime
Have you always wanted to make a quilt but felt it would be too difficult or too time-consuming? Do you wish you could enjoy quilting when you are away from home, on vacation or your lunch hour? Hand piecing does not require a sewing machine or many tools so your quilting can be much faster than machine piecing and can be taken anywhere you go. You will have time to complete a quilt block that teaches you the basic techniques used in completing most quilt designs. A tool list will be sent with your course confirmation (please bring tools to all course sessions) and participants will be able to purchase a fabric kit for $6 at the first class session. No previous experience is necessary. Maximum enrollment: 12. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Thursdays, beginning April 1, 7–9 p.m.
Heritage Room, Kellogg Center, 5 sessions, $75
Instructor: Dolores Borland-Hunt, Associate Professor, MSU Department of Family and Child Ecology
Register Now
Henry Ford Estate
Come tour the Henry Ford Estate in Dearborn, Michigan, home to the automotive pioneer Henry Ford and his wife Clara Ford. This private guided tour will offer you an inside view of some of the estate’s 56-room residence where the Fords entertained such influential guests as President Herbert Hoover, the Prince of Wales, Thomas Edison, and Charles Lindbergh. You will also tour the powerhouse that houses Ford’s research laboratory and his 12-car garage and vehicles. Participants will provide their own transportation. Directions and maps will be mailed with registration confirmations. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Sunday, April 25, noon–1:30 p.m.
Henry Ford Estate/Fair Lane, Dearborn, 1 session, $25
Instructor: Staff, Henry Ford Estate
Register Now
Homeland and Travel Security
In this online course, you will learn the role of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), what is in place to protect you at home and in your community, and how you should prepare for a natural or manmade disaster. Individuals need to prepare themselves and cannot rely upon help from public sector resources which may be initially responding to other priorities in the community. Join Rad Jones, retired U.S. Secret Service agent, former international security manager for Ford Motor Company, and director of several DHS/MSU grants who will discuss the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and home, business, and community security issues. This course will also include tips for making your foreign and domestic around-town travels more enjoyable and secure and how you can avoid travel disruptions. You will also learn how to reduce your chances of becoming a crime victim.
Before registering for this course, go to the preview page at http://www.msualum.com/evecoll/preview.cfm.
Prerequisite: You need a computer with modem and audio/speakers, a connection to the Internet, and QuickTime and QuickTimeVR plug-in. (See* below for details).
Dates: Participants may take this course between February 1 and April 30. Once registered, participants will be issued an MSU "VU immediate account." See http address above for further instructions.
Fees: $95 Community Members
$25 MSUAA Life Members
$35 MSUAA Annual Members
$35 Senior 65 and older
Instructor: Rad Jones, MSU School of Criminal Justice
*Basic equipment for internet-based Evening College courses: Every MSU Virtual University course requires a minimum of the following common set of tools. Many VU courses have other specialized technical needs as well. Be sure to check the course preview page to read about particular needs for that course. At a minimum, each Virtual University student needs access to:
1. Either
• An Intel-based Pentium II 233 MHz PC; 64MB or more of RAM (128 MB recommended); Netscape 6 or higher, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 or higher; and Windows NT, 95, 98, ME, XP, 2000, or Vista operating system
or
• A Macintosh compatible G3 233 MHz, with System 7.5 or higher (System 8.5 recommended); 64MB or more of RAM (128 MB recommended); and Netscape 6 or higher, or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher.
2. Minimum screen resolution of 800x600 (1024x768 recommended); color monitor; 4 Mb video RAM (8 Mb recommended).
3. 56K modem or direct connection to the internet.
Don’t think you have it? Call the VU Help Desk at 1-800-500-1554 (North America including Hawaii) or (517) 355-2345 (East Lansing and international).
Register Now
Horse Management Practices: Up Close and Personal at MSU!
Join MSU’s Professor John Shelle who will give you an “up close and personal” learning experience on the foaling and care of the new arrivals at MSU’s Horse Teaching and Research Center. You will learn about the feeding and management of all the horses on the MSU farm with a particular emphasis on the 2010 foals. Information on the training techniques and the processes involved in the care and handling of older horses will also be provided. This course is limited to 16 participants. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Saturdays, June 12 and June 19, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
MSU Horse Teaching and Research Center*
2 sessions, $75
Instructor: John Shelle, Professor,
MSU Department of Animal Science
*Directions to MSU’s Horse Teaching and Research Center will be mailed with your registration confirmation.
Register Now
How to Meditate for Stress Reduction, Good Health, and Higher Awareness
Wait List available.
Doctors and psychologists recommend it—the healing power of meditation for mind, body, and soul. Meditation has been clinically proven to reduce blood pressure, relax deep tensions within the body, and aid the body in healing illness. This step-by-step, two-week program is perfect for beginners or as a boost to those already meditating. This course will teach you simple, effective ways to calm and clear your mind, recharge yourself with fresh energy and ideas, and enhance your spirit. You will learn a concise series of powerful stress management and meditation exercises and techniques. These techniques get to the root cause of stress and bring deep inner peace very quickly.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Mondays, February 22 and March 1, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
62 Kellogg Center, 2 sessions, $49 Instructor: Lorne C. Dekun, Evening College Lecturer
I'm Worried About Mom (Dad)
Do you worry about your aging parents or a parent who lives alone? Is their living arrangement appropriate and safe? What are the alternative living arrangements and are they affordable? This program examines factors to consider in determining whether aging in place is appropriate, and identifies resources available to enhance quality of life if mom and/or dad stay at home. Explore the available options (living with an adult child, assisted living, retirement homes, nursing homes) if staying at home isn’t appropriate and learn guidelines for choosing the best facility. Discover the opportunities for personal growth and enhancement of the adult child–aging parent relationship that emerge when meeting the challenges of making sure mom and dad are all right.
Saturday, March 20, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Michigamme Room, Kellogg Center, 1 session, $35 Instructor: Mike Nugent, Evening College Lecturer
Register Now
Ice Skating for Beginners
This course will introduce principles and basic techniques of ice skating for beginning or inexperienced adult skaters, including basic balance on skates and forward and backward motion. Participants will also learn about physical conditioning, technical skills, and strategy of skating. Instruction will provide pleasure and personal improvement while teaching discipline, awareness of space, and control of body motion on ice. Course fee does not include skates. Rental skates are available at Munn Ice Arena at the cost of $2 for each session. Students may pay the rental fee to Munn Ice Arena before each class session.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Fridays, beginning March 19, 5:45–6:45 p.m.
Munn Ice Arena, 6 sessions, $65 Instructor: Sandy Nelson, Evening College Lecturer
Register Now
Interior Design Tips for Everyone
If you have ever been challenged about home improvements, wonder how you can accommodate the different tastes of everyone living under one roof, or could use some advice on color schemes and paint choices, join Leslie Hart-Davidson, interior designer, who will provide you with design principles and tips for making better design and color choices in your own home. Learn how to take the stress out of home improvements and decorating and explore the world of color from a functional and psychological perspective so you will be able to select a color scheme that’s right for you. You will have an opportunity to share your own design challenges.
Thursdays, February 18 and February 25, 7–9 p.m.
Heritage Room, Kellogg Center, 2 sessions, $45 Instructor: Leslie Hart-Davidson, Allied Member ASID
and Evening College Lecturer
Register Now
Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project: Predator, Prey, and Environmental Ethics
The Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project is a study of wolves and moose on Isle Royale, a wilderness island in Lake Superior. It is the longest continuous study of a predator-prey system in the world. In addition to the importance in the history of ecology, the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project has important environmental ethical lessons to teach. The wolves face possible extinction in a few generations and the question arises “should man intervene?” Join Michael Nelson, MSU professor and specialist in environmental ethics and philosophy (author of a book-in-progress on the first 50 years of the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project) and explore the relationship between the findings of the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project and ideas about how people ought to relate to nature.
Thursdays, April 1 and April 8, 7–9 p.m.
62 Kellogg Center, 2 sessions, $45
Instructor: Michael Nelson, MSU Lyman Briggs College,
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, and
Department of Philosophy
Register Now
Italian Conversation for Travelers (Basic)
Wouldn’t it be wonderful when visiting Italy to be able to introduce yourself and communicate with the locals? This course is designed for anyone traveling to Italy who would like practical communication skills to carry on a basic conversation at a hotel, train station, restaurant, airport, rent-a-car office, or currency exchange office. No previous knowledge of Italian is required. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Tuesdays, beginning February 16,* 7–9:30 p.m.
C315 Wells Hall, 10 sessions, $95
Instructor: Carmen De Lorenzo, MSU Department
of French, Classics, and Italian and Evening College
Lecturer
*No class March 9
Recommended Text:
Italian in 10 Minutes a Day (book & CDs)
Kristine Kershul
Bilingual Boods (WZ); com/Pap ed, 2005
ISBN-13: 978-1931873888
Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book and Dictionary
Avalon Travel Publishing, 2009, 6th ed.
ISBN: 1598801880
Register Now
Lighthouses, Legends, and Larceny
Just in time for your Michigan summer travel plans! Join Sandy Gmazel who will take you on a classroom tour of some of Michigan’s lighthouses on the Great Lakes. The course will focus on the history, the legends and some of the larceny associated with Michigan’s lighthouses. You will “visit” Lake Michigan’s White River and Suel Choix Point lighthouses; Lake Superior’s Point Iroquois, Lake Erie’s Detroit River lighthouse and the Old and New Presque Isle lighthouses on Lake Huron, to name a few. Learn what impact technology has had on the “guardians of our inland seas.” Discover the real story of a light-keeper’s life, duties, and pay for keeping the light shining nightly from dusk to dawn. Were there any lady light-keepers? And what happened to the keepers who didn’t live up to the high calling of the job?
Wednesdays, beginning April 7, 7–9 p.m.
Heritage Room, Kellogg Center, 3 sessions, $45 Instructor: Sandy Gmazel, Evening College Lecturer
Register Now
Magical Mackinac
For many Michiganders, Mackinac Island is a special place—a place where myth and history meet modern life. We remember our summer vacations there as children. As adults, we’ve carried on the tradition of visiting the island annually. Yet most of us don’t really know that much about the island. Have you ever wondered who built all of those beautiful summer homes? Have you wished you could explore the histories of the people who once lived there—people like Madame Magdelaine La Fromboise, one of the most successful female business owners in the history of the Great Lakes region? Or wondered how and why the Little Stone Church was first established? Or heard the Indian legend behind Devil’s Kitchen? Topics will include Mackinac cottage architecture, the island as a military post, Mackinac as a summer resort, the island’s churches, Mackinac’s most interesting residents, living on the island, and the island in pop culture.
Mondays, beginning February 22,* 7–9 p.m.
106 Kellogg Center, 5 sessions, $55
Instructor: Valerie Marvin, Capitol Tour and
Information Services, Michigan State Capitol
*No class March 8
Register Now
Marco Polo and the Silk Road
Born to a wealthy Venetian family, Marco Polo (1254–1325) was perhaps the most famous European traveler of medieval times. As a young man he journeyed via the northern Silk Road across Asia to China and then spent 17 years at the court of Kublai Khan in present-day Beijing. Years later he composed memoirs of this trip, The Travels of Marco Polo, which was a best seller for centuries. There even exists a copy with Christopher Columbus’ hand-written notes. Learn about the Polo family, the route Marco followed, his activities in China, and how he settled down upon his return to Venice. Explore the world of Venetian trade, the vast Mongol empire, and the circumstances that produced Polo’s travel narrative.
Mondays, beginning February 15, 7–8:30 p.m.
Burcham Hills Retirement Facility, 3 sessions, $45
Instructor: Ann Tukey Harrison, Professor Emeritus,
MSU Department of Romance and Classical
Languages
Recommended text:
Travels in the Land of Kublai
Marco Polo, Peguin Books, 2005
ISBN: 0-14-102386-4
Marco Polo: From Venice to Xandu
Laurence Bergreen, Vintage, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-4000-7880-6
Register Now
Masterworks at the New DIA: Detroit Institute of Arts
Enrich your Sunday afternoon with culture and creativity at the new DIA with a special Evening College “Masterworks at the DIA” tour. The renovated DIA offers public viewers innovative and state-of-the-art themed and user-friendly galleries and exhibits. The DIA is one of the world’s premier fine arts museums with a collection of over 60,000 works of art. Your Evening College tour will include viewing the Diego Rivera Detroit Industry Murals, African and Native American art as well as works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Brueghel, and Rembrandt. This “Masterwork” tour will provide a glimpse of key works that make the DIA’s collection one of the best in the country. You will also have time to explore many of the other collections on your own after the tour. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Sunday, May 2, 1–2:30 p.m.
*Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit
1 session, $25 Instructors: DIA docents
*Meet at 12:45 in the Prentis Court just inside the John R entrance to the DIA. Directions will be mailed with your registration confirmation.
Register Now
Michigan's Early Years: European Explorers to Statehood
Conflict and conquest were central to the first two centuries of life in Michigan (1600s–1800s.) Join Roger Rosentreter, former editor of Michigan History magazine and explore Michigan’s joy of victory and agony of defeat as Native Americans, Europeans and Euro-Americans struggled in conquering each other and the Michigan wilderness. Course topics will include the roles that the French and British played in Michigan’s history, the Difficult Decade and the War of 1812, pioneer settlements, and Michigan’s quest for statehood.
Tuesdays, beginning February 16,* 7–8:30 p.m.
Willy Room, Kellogg Center, 5 sessions, $55
Instructor: Roger Rosentreter, MSU Department
of History and Evening College Lecturer
*No class March 9
Register Now
Nanotechnology: Coming Soon to a Store near You
A decade into the 21st century, nanotechnology is becoming a household word yet few people understand it. Join Frank Dolinar who will introduce you to the basic concepts of nanotechnology and its growing capabilities. Since our ancestors crafted spear points from flint 11,000 years ago, our technologies have depended on our ability to shape and use materials. Today, we are beginning to craft materials, objects, and devices using atoms and small molecules as the building blocks and we have astonishing new developments in materials, energy, computers, and medicine. Recent nanotech news has described batteries as thin as paper; wall-sized video displays a mere quarter-inch thick; effective cancer treatments with no chemotherapy side effects; and smaller, faster, cheaper, and smarter computers. The future is coming sooner than you think!
Thursdays, beginning February 18,* 7–9 p.m.
102 Kellogg Center, 5 sessions, $45 Instructor: Frank Dolinar, Evening College Lecturer
*No class March 11
Register Now
Pewabic Pottery: Michigan's Famous Historic Pottery
Designated a National Historic Landmark, the Pewabic Pottery of Detroit is Michigan’s only historic pottery. It is one of only three Arts and Crafts–era potteries still open in the United States. Founded in 1903 by Mary Chase Perry (Stratton) and Horace Caulkins at the height of the Arts and Crafts movement in America, Pewabic Pottery produced hundreds of nationally renowned vessels, tiles, and ornamentation for public and private use and installation. Many sites in Michigan and the United States display the famous works of Pewabic Pottery including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the campus of Michigan State University, and the Freer Gallery at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Learn about the history of the pottery and its founders, its former link to Michigan State University, and the role of the pottery today. This course will be held at Pewabic Pottery in Detroit and will offer participants an opportunity to create their own ceramic tile. A guided tour of the buildings, galleries, studios, workshops, and museum store will also be included. Participants will provide their own transportation to Pewabic Pottery. A map and directions will be mailed with registration confirmation.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Saturday, April 10, noon–2:30 p.m.
Pewabic Pottery in Detroit, 1 session
$55 (includes all supplies and fees)
Instructor: Pewabic Pottery Staff
Register Now
Raising Backyard Chickens
Have you ever thought about raising your own backyard chickens for fresh eggs and/or meat? Join Darrin M. Karcher, poultry extension specialist for MSU’s Department of Animal Science, who will provide you with the basics of raising and caring for poultry from day-old chicks to selling eggs and/or processing meat birds. This course will cover topics related to hatching eggs, brooding chicks, nutritional requirements, bio-security and health, and processing the final product—eggs and meat. The final course session will meet at the MSU Poultry Farm. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Tuesdays, beginning February 16, 7–9 p.m.
Michigamme Room, Kellogg Center, 4 sessions,* $55
Instructor: Darrin M. Karcher, MSU
Department of Animal Science
*4th session will meet at the MSU Poultry Farm on Saturday, March 6
from 9–11 a.m. Directions will be mailed with course confirmation.
Register Now
Social Networking for Business Success
Today, it seems like everyone is “Linked-in,” “tweeting” on Twitter, or browsing Facebook. It’s all about social networking and it can build your personal or professional business by expanding your network and relationships, finding talent for your workplace, developing sales leads, advertising and marketing your business, and attracting customers. This course will provide an introduction and overview of today’s social networking phenomenon.
Tuesday, March 16, 7–9 p.m.
Heritage Room, Kellogg Center
1 session, $25
Instructor: John Hill, Director
MSU Alumni Association Career Services
Register Now
Spanish Conversation (Basic)
Wait List available.
A practical approach to the mastery of everyday conversational Spanish, this course is designed for busy adults who have had no previous instruction in Spanish and for those who wish to brush up on their skill in speaking Spanish at the beginning level.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Tuesdays, beginning February 16,* 7–9:30 p.m.
C103 Wells Hall, 10 sessions, $85
Instructor: Karen Eskesen, MSU Department of
Spanish and Portuguese
*No class March 9
Recommended Text:
Ultimate Spanish Beginner-Imtermediate (book & CDs)
Living Language
ISBN: 978-1-4000-2119-2
Spanish in 10 Minutes a Day (Book & CDs)
Kristine Kershul, Bilingual Books, Inc., 2003
ISBN-13: 978-1-931873-86-4
Spanish Conversation (Intermediate)
This course is a continuation of the Spanish Conversation (Basic). It is designed for those with limited instruction in Spanish who wish to improve their skill in speaking Spanish beyond the beginning level. The content will be as extensive, and the progress as rapid, as the enthusiasm and commitment of the class permit.
A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Tuesdays, beginning February 16,* 7–9:30 p.m.
C310 Wells Hall, 10 sessions, $85
Instructor: Luis Donadoto, MSU Department of
Spanish and Portuguese
*No class March 9
Recommended Text:
Ultimate Spanish Beginner-Imtermediate (book & CDs)
Living Language
ISBN: 978-1-4000-2119-2
Register Now
Transition to Retirement: Planning the Rest of your Life!
If you are approaching retirement or have already retired, this course will provide you with planning resources that will assist you as you transition and settle into retirement. When should you retire? Will your finances cover your expected lifestyle? Will you continue to work or seek volunteer opportunities? How will your social network change? Do you want to travel, explore new hobbies and leisure activities, or educational opportunities? What will you do to maintain your health and well-being? Will you down-size your housing or seek a retirement community? Join Patrick Scheetz, recently retired from a 40-year professional career at Michigan State University, who will provide you with a variety of resources for transitioning into a retirement with purpose and one that can bring a rewarding "rest of your life!"
Thursdays, beginning March 18, 7–9 p.m.
61 Kellogg Center, 3 sessions, $45
Instructor: L. Patrick Scheetz, Evening College Lecturer
Register Now
Wines of Italy
Italy was called enotria or “land of wine” by the ancient Greeks. For over two thousand years, wine has been an essential part of the culture and economy of the Italian peninsula. Italian cuisine enjoys widespread interest in America, but most of the great Italian wines remain strangers to American palates. You will discover the uniqueness of Italian winemaking and learn how the European Union rules are influencing winemaking in Italy. This course may serve as an introduction for those with a new interest in wines, an exploration for more learned palates, or simply an opportunity to capture a bit of the warmth and charm of Italy. Participants must be 21 or older. A LIMITED ENROLLMENT COURSE
Mondays, beginning February 15,* 7–9 p.m.
Willy Room, Kellogg Center, 8 sessions, $155
Instructor: Joel Lichty, Wine Consultant and
Evening College Lecturer
*No class March 8
Register Now
