FALL 2010     • • MSUAA Member Savings

The University of Oxford’s Department for Continuing Education and the MSU Alumni Association’s Evening College are offering MSU alumni and friends access to a selection of Oxford’s online courses. Courses run for 10 weeks (100 study hours) and cost approximately $400-500 U.S. dollars depending on daily exchange rates. Participants will enroll in these noncredit personal enrichment courses choosing from topics in Archaeology, Art History, Creative Writing, Economics, English Literature, History, and Philosophy.

 

In a typical course, you will interact online with around 25 other students and your Oxford tutor. A wealth of graphic and text material will be provided complementing your readings from one or more textbooks that you will purchase for the course. These stimulating courses will give you an in-depth knowledge of the topics chosen. Courses have limited enrollment with September and October start dates.
 

You can view full course descriptions and prices and register beginning May 10, 2010 for these courses on the University of Oxford’s website at www.conted.ox.ac.uk/msu. Oxford is offering these courses to MSU alumni and friends worldwide. MSU Alumni Paid Members save 20% on their registration fees.  If you are not a member, join now!

Course topics include the following:
Archaeology:
Exploring Roman Britain

Britain’s inclusion in the Roman empire for c.400 years has left us with impressive remains - Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman baths at Bath and villas, forts and roads all recognisable in the British landscape today, but what was life like and how affected were people in different communities around the country during that time?

Greek Mythology

What are Greek myths? Who told them and why? How can we interpret them? Why are they still so powerful? How much history do they contain? This course will explore these fascinating tales from the past and attempt to make sense of them.

Origins of Human Behavior: the evidence from archaeology

What makes the human species different from other primates? When did we become human? How did the brain and intelligence, language and social organisation evolve, and art, symbolism and religion emerge? Explore these questions and others through the archaeological and fossil evidence for the development of human behaviour from six million years ago to the end of the last ice age.

Pompeii and the Cities of the Roman World

Pompeii is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Its fame and uniqueness are,of course, due to the remarkable way in which it was preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. Using evidence from Pompeii, you can study public buildings, monuments, inscriptions and painted posters that reflect public life, houses and gardens that reveal how the people lived, shops, markets and streets where they earned their living, and tombs where they buried their dead.

Ritual and Religion in Prehistory

How can we begin to understand the spiritual lives of people in the distant past? When do religious ideologies first appear on the human evolutionary timescale? How can we recognise and interpret ancient myth and ritual from prehistoric burial mounds, temples, art and artefacts? Examine how tangible archaeological evidence from across the world can demonstrate ritual activity and sacred tradition.

Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Settlers

Ravagers, despoilers, pagans, heathens - the Vikings are usually regarded as bloodthirsty seafaring pirates, whose impact on Europe was one of fear and terror. Yet these Vikings were also traders, settlers and farmers with a highly developed artistic culture and legal system. This course uses recent findings from archaeology to examine these varied aspects of the Viking world.         

Exploring Roman Britain

Britain’s inclusion in the Roman empire for c.400 years has left us with impressive remains - Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman baths at Bath and villas, forts and roads all recognisable in the British landscape today, but what was life like and how affected were people in different communities around the country during that time?

Greek Mythology

What are Greek myths? Who told them and why? How can we interpret them? Why are they still so powerful? How much history do they contain? This course will explore these fascinating tales from the past and attempt to make sense of them.

Origins of Human Behavior: the evidence from archaeology

What makes the human species different from other primates? When did we become human? How did the brain and intelligence, language and social organisation evolve, and art, symbolism and religion emerge? Explore these questions and others through the archaeological and fossil evidence for the development of human behaviour from six million years ago to the end of the last ice age.

Pompeii and the Cities of the Roman World

Pompeii is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Its fame and uniqueness are,of course, due to the remarkable way in which it was preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. Using evidence from Pompeii, you can study public buildings, monuments, inscriptions and painted posters that reflect public life, houses and gardens that reveal how the people lived, shops, markets and streets where they earned their living, and tombs where they buried their dead.

Ritual and Religion in Prehistory

How can we begin to understand the spiritual lives of people in the distant past? When do religious ideologies first appear on the human evolutionary timescale? How can we recognise and interpret ancient myth and ritual from prehistoric burial mounds, temples, art and artefacts? Examine how tangible archaeological evidence from across the world can demonstrate ritual activity and sacred tradition.

Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Settlers

Ravagers, despoilers, pagans, heathens - the Vikings are usually regarded as bloodthirsty seafaring pirates, whose impact on Europe was one of fear and terror. Yet these Vikings were also traders, settlers and farmers with a highly developed artistic culture and legal system. This course uses recent findings from archaeology to examine these varied aspects of the Viking world.

Exploring Roman Britain

Britain’s inclusion in the Roman empire for c.400 years has left us with impressive remains - Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman baths at Bath and villas, forts and roads all recognisable in the British landscape today, but what was life like and how affected were people in different communities around the country during that time?

Greek Mythology

What are Greek myths? Who told them and why? How can we interpret them? Why are they still so powerful? How much history do they contain? This course will explore these fascinating tales from the past and attempt to make sense of them.

Origins of Human Behavior: the evidence from archaeology

What makes the human species different from other primates? When did we become human? How did the brain and intelligence, language and social organisation evolve, and art, symbolism and religion emerge? Explore these questions and others through the archaeological and fossil evidence for the development of human behaviour from six million years ago to the end of the last ice age.

Pompeii and the Cities of the Roman World

Pompeii is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Its fame and uniqueness are,of course, due to the remarkable way in which it was preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. Using evidence from Pompeii, you can study public buildings, monuments, inscriptions and painted posters that reflect public life, houses and gardens that reveal how the people lived, shops, markets and streets where they earned their living, and tombs where they buried their dead.

Ritual and Religion in Prehistory

How can we begin to understand the spiritual lives of people in the distant past? When do religious ideologies first appear on the human evolutionary timescale? How can we recognise and interpret ancient myth and ritual from prehistoric burial mounds, temples, art and artefacts? Examine how tangible archaeological evidence from across the world can demonstrate ritual activity and sacred tradition.

Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Settlers

Ravagers, despoilers, pagans, heathens - the Vikings are usually regarded as bloodthirsty seafaring pirates, whose impact on Europe was one of fear and terror. Yet these Vikings were also traders, settlers and farmers with a highly developed artistic culture and legal system. This course uses recent findings from archaeology to examine these varied aspects of the Viking world.

Art History:
Indian Art: a History
The history of South Asian art over the last two thousand years is extraordinarily rich and diverse from Buddhist and Hindu architecture and sculpture to paintings and architecture from the Rajput and Mughal courts, and the impact of European colonialism. By examining the religious, ritual, social and political contexts in which these buildings and objects were made and use you will understand their impact and beauty in deeper ways.

Islamic Art and Architecture
From Spain and West Africa to South-East Asia and China, Muslim societies produced art of tremendous vitality and diversity for around 1500 years. This artistic production includes architectural monuments such as mosques, palaces, and civic centres to textiles, manuscripts, and portable objects in ceramic, gold, silver, metal alloys, ivory, and rock crystal. This introductory course explores the main stylistic and iconographic themes in Islamic art and highlights the diversity of its expressions.

Italian Renaissance Art: c.1400–c.1500
From Bellini and Botticelli to tapestry and tableware, the material culture of the Italian Renaissance continues to fascinate us to this day. This course is an opportunity to explore a wide variety of art forms and to discover more about the cultural, social and historical background that made this period so unique.

Learning to Look at Modern Art
Should art shock or please? Modern Art, from the twentieth century to the present moment day, is full of challenges, as well as delights. By looking at and discussing a wide range of art works, from the sunflowers of Van Gogh to the ‘readymades’ of Marcel Duchamp, you will be encouraged to understand all its forms. Modern art reveals continuities and ruptures with the art and experiences of the past as well as offering new ways of thinking about our own times. This course was written by Mary Acton, author of our Learning to Look at the Visual Arts course.

Learning to Look at the Visual Arts
Do you ever look at a painting and wonder why you like it? Learning to look at paintings, prints and drawings from a more analytical and objective point of view can help to deepen your understanding, and appreciation, of art. As a group, we will discuss a wide range of pictures, exploring how composition, space, form, tone, colour, subject matter and visual techniques, all work to affect us when looking at a painting. By helping you to develop a visual vocabulary, this course will enrich the ways in which you engage with and interpret art.

Learning to Look at Western Architecture
What does a building tell us about the world for which it was created? From Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance palaces to skyscrapers and modern houses, by looking at a range of building types and historical styles, this course enables you to 'read' the architecture of the Western world in a critically informed way. Learning to recognise and to differentiate between the major architectural styles of the Western tradition will help you to understand how buildings reflect the imaginations of their architects and the societies in which they lived and worked.

Van Eyck to Memling: Northern Renaissance Art c.1430–1480
Was the Renaissance an Italian invention? Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, Memling show that another Renaissance blossomed in Northern Europe. This alternative tradition, celebrated texture and detail with unprecedented virtuosity. We will explore these artists huge influence upon their Italian contemporaries and the history of art in Western Europe up to the present day.

Creative Writing:
Writing Drama
Drama is a hugely popular art form. This creative and critical course will help students to turn their passion for drama, whether stage, radio, television, or film, into the craft of dramatic writing, and to understand and appreciate the work of established dramatists.

Writing Lives
Is there a true story that only you can tell? This course is designed to provide you with the skills you need to turn experiences, recollections and real-life phenomena into literary works that are enjoyable and accessible to a wider audience.

Writing Poetry
How can poetic form help me to turn the passion and intensity of life into memorable expressions? How can an appreciation of the techniques used by past and living poets help me to improve as a poet?

Economics:
Globalization
The credit crunch of 2008-9 brought the effects of the global economy to everyone's attention. From international trade and global inequalities to the impact on our carbon footprints, this course analyses the global economy - what 'globalization' means in practice, and why it takes the form it does.

New Economic Powers
In the global economy of the 21st century, Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) are suddenly emerging as major players, shaking up the existing order, and generating waves of uncertainty around the world. Will the U.S., Japan, and Europe be surpassed by these new economic powers? How did these countries achieve their success? Will that success last? What lessons can be learned from their strategies? And how will the world be reshaped by their emergence?

English Literature:
Ancestral Voices: the earliest English Literature
Old English literature isn't all about battles and boozing: find out more...

Brontës
How did three sisters living an apparently secluded and eventless life write some of the most original, passionate and dramatic novels and poetry in the English language

Contemporary British Fiction
This course is for you if: you enjoy reading and discussing novels; you belong to a book club or reading group; you read reviews of fiction, you have opinions and ideas about novels; if you have ever thought ‘so many books, so little time’, and wondered how to decide which authors to try; if you have ever been daunted by terms such as ‘modernism’, ‘magic realism’ or ‘postmodern’ - and if you would like to: take your enjoyment and appreciation of fiction to the next stage; develop your ideas into coherent, backed-up analytical arguments; have technical terms demystified.

English Poetry of the First World War
Some of the most powerful and moving English poetry of the modern period was written during or about the First World War.

Jane Austen
There's more to Austen than bonnets and romance. Much more.

Literary Theory
Literary theory has changed the way we think about literature, language, identity, and society. Although theory might sometimes seem intimidating, it can be very accessible and exciting. This course aims to demystify literary theory, showing how it illuminates literary texts and enriches our understanding and enjoyment of literature.

Shakespeare
If you associate Shakespeare with the dull grind of school, prepare to think again!

Trollope, Eliot, Hardy and Dickens: Reading Victorian Fiction
Madness, hilarity, doubt and devotion...

History:
Churchill: Soldier, Politician and Statesman
Sir Winston Churchill is regarded as one of Britain's greatest statesmen. His impact on the course of twentieth century history was profound yet his name still provokes controversy and debate. The aim of this course is to study Churchill's life in detail, to assess his successes and failures and to gain some insights into the complex personality of this fascinating politician.

Henry VIII
The reign of Henry VIII was a key turning point in British history. The aim of this course is to study in detail the political, religious and cultural changes of the period, and to assess the role of the king and other key personalities in the transformation of society.

History of Medicine
Focusing on the key turning points in the history of western medicine e.g. the advent of hospitals, the role of public health, the rise of biomedical research, this 5-week course offers insights into medicine’s past, asks what has shaped contemporary medicine and how do people study it.

Using the Victorian Census
The census returns for England and Wales dating from 1841 to 1901 are one of our most valuable sources for studying society, families and local communities in the 19th century, and their availability online now brings them within reach of anyone with access to the Internet. This practical course will introduce the census and show how it can be used to explore the world of our Victorian ancestors.

Philosophy:
Bioethics for Beginners
Do you think reproductive cloning is morally permissible? Do you check food labels to exclude any with GM ingredients? Would you worry if the government introduced compulsory depositing of DNA in the national DNA bank?

Introduction to Philosophy
If there was a machine that destroyed all your atoms in Alpha Centurai, and reassembled an identical set here on Earth, would it be transporting you to Earth, or replacing you with a duplicate?

Philosophy of Mind
The philosophy of mind is one of the most exciting areas within philosophy. It is concerned with questions about the nature of mind and the relation between our minds and the physical world. This course provides an introduction to philosophy of mind by introducing you to the mind-body problem, one of the most intractable problems in philosophy.

Philosophy of Religion
God, it is said, is omnipotent, omniscient, and omni-benevolent. But an omni-benevolent God would want to do away with evil if he knew about it, an omniscient God does know about it, and an omnipotent one could do something about it. So if there is such a God why does evil exist?

Philosophy of Science
From washing machines and electric toothbrushes to moon rockets and large hadron colliders, science makes our live easier and tells us about our world. But how does science itself work?|

Political Philosophy
If a group of people were stripped of their knowledge of their own particular place in society and characteristics (such as their level of wealth and intelligence), and asked to choose the principles of justice for society, what do you think they would come up with? Why would it be a good thing to ask them to choose these principles from behind such a ‘veil of ignorance’?

Reality, Being and Existence: An Introduction to Metaphysics
After a brief introduction to the nature of metaphysics, the course will focus on five central and traditional metaphysical questions: do we have free will? What is the nature of the causal relation - cause and effect - that binds our world together? What is the nature of time? How does something (for example, a person) change and remain the same thing? Does reality contain universal features as well as particular entities?