Skip to main content
Santa Clara University Homepage

Sneak Peek

  1. Home
  2. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
  3. Course Offerings & Registration
  4. Sneak Peek

Summer 2026 Sneak Peek

  • Course Registration will begin on Wednesday, May 27
    • Link to register for courses will be sent on Tuesday, May 26
  • Summer 2026 Course Offerings Now Available on our Website
  • Summer 2026 Digital Course Catalog - Coming Soon!
  • Courses begin on Tuesday, June 23, and end on Friday, August 28
  • For information on How to Recruit New Members and Bring a Friend, click here
  • Click on the individual course links to view full course descriptions
    • OLLI recommends reading the full course description before enrolling!

An introductory examination of the modern history of Iran, beginning with the critical exploitation of oil resources in 1908 and tracing the nation’s development to the present day.

The history of espionage and intelligence offers fresh perspectives on the wars, conflicts, and rivalries of the modern period as we look at how nations have collected and assessed information, employed secret agents, cultivated defectors, and designed elaborate campaigns of deception.

Through simple, playful activities and theatre games, you’ll enjoy laughter, teamwork, and fresh ways to stay present in the moment. No experience needed—just curiosity and a spirit of fun!

  • IN-PERSON ONLY: Muslims in Russia, with Asya Pereltsvaig - Monday, June 29, July 6, 13, and 20 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. THIS COURSE WILL BE RECORDED. Bring a Friend.

We'll look at the two Muslim-majority areas in Russia, Chechnya and Tatarstan, exploring their historical conversion to Islam and the demographic, social, and cultural distinctions between Muslim and non-Muslim Russians.

Birds evolve in unique ways on islands. Some islands are dead ends in the evolutionary process; others serve as pathways to species radiation, resulting in bird families spreading across the world.

How does Santa Clara County get its water? We'll trace flows from Sierra and Delta sources into local distribution networks and look at water treatment, distribution, and quality.

Before there was Rome, there were the Etruscans. Although they had a complex political system and a written language, we know almost nothing about their history or how they arrived in Italy, or from where.

Everyone has heard of climate change, but what are the facts, what are the misconceptions about our current climate situation, and what are some easy-to-achieve solutions?

Migration is a central theme of the Bible, from the journeys of Abraham and Moses to the Babylonian Exile and the role of migrants in the explosive growth of the early Church.

We'll trace Mussolini's fascist regime from its late-19th-century roots through its rise, rule, and fall, covering artistic, philosophical, and political influences, as well as postwar legacies.

Rock music has featured in movies and television programs, from early "rocksploitation" films through the Beatles' films, and on to the mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap.

A deep exploration of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, with attention to the historical context of the play, the language and dramatic elements within the play, and connections to current productions.

This course explores communication revolutions from the Gutenberg press and the "gatekeeping" age of radio and TV to the rise of memes and chatbots.

From Vivaldi and Handel to Strauss and Respighi, Herrmann and Rautavaara and more, JKB will introduce you to some of his "desert island" pieces.

Osher Online

- To get to these courses, you will log into a portal, where you will find the Zoom link and other course materials (instructions will be provided to those enrolled)

- These courses will be presented via Zoom and will not be recorded. Space is limited.

We will trace the evolution of literature specifically written for children, from its earliest forms to the modern era.

Video introduction: https://vimeo.com/1143166902?fl=ml&fe=ec

Explore how tiny Portugal played an outsized role in world history and survey its landscape, art, architecture, and food to learn why Americans are flocking there today.

Video introduction: https://vimeo.com/1143855904?fl=ml&fe=ec

We will trace French, British, and Irish canals of the 17th and 18th centuries, then follow the story into the 19th century as we examine American canals, exploring how canals reflect national politics and ambitions and why they remain vital to global shipping today.

Video introduction: https://vimeo.com/1143922822?fl=ml&fe=ec

We will use coffee to examine climate change, social life, health, North–South dynamics, social and economic justice, tourism, and slavery as we explore coffee’s history, its shift from an elite beverage to an everyday staple, and research on health, farmers' incomes, and climate resilience.

Video introduction: https://vimeo.com/1140515675?fl=ml&fe=ec

We will introduce key aspects of Deaf Culture in the United States and explore what defines the Deaf community as a cultural minority by examining cultural identity, group norms, social interaction, values, and traditions, while emphasizing awareness, diversity, and language preservation.

Video introduction: https://vimeo.com/1139062445?fl=ml&fe=ec

Often overlooked in traditional design and architecture courses, twentieth-century women designers profoundly shaped how we perceive and experience built environments, interiors, and decorative objects.

Video introduction: https://vimeo.com/1145289503?fl=ml&fe=ec

We will explore Hindu traditions from classical to contemporary times, emphasizing ritual, knowledge, and devotion. We will examine early and classical Hindu thought through the concept of dharma, then explore major deities through their narratives, practices, and iconography.

Video introduction: https://vimeo.com/1137712232?fl=ml&fe=ec

Keep yourself and your loved ones safer in today’s complex healthcare system by learning how to reduce risk from common problems such as medication errors, care accidents, infections, diagnostic mistakes, and procedural or surgical complications.

Video introduction: https://vimeo.com/1143453581?fl=ml&fe=ec

We will explore book musicals, concept musicals, and the rise of European mega-productions, spotlighting influential composers, lyricists, writers, choreographers, directors, and performers.

Video Introduction: https://vimeo.com/1145343112?fl=ml&fe=ec

How to access the course recordings: the OLLI office will email the link to the recording 24-48 hours after the course session. The recording will be available for viewing for two weeks after it is published.