Programs
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Washington (OLLI-UW) offers a range of programs for intellectually curious adults over the age of 50. We’re currently offering both in-person and Zoom courses.
Courses
OLLI-UW courses cover engaging subjects ranging from global events to the arts, from health science research to compelling issues of the day. Current and retired UW faculty or experts from the community lead the courses.
We offer a full schedule of more than 20 courses in autumn, winter and spring. Courses typically meet weekly for two hours for three to five weeks. Other courses are offered as a single session. OLLI-UW members pay a fee of $30–$75 per course, depending on the number of sessions. You can register online for courses.
To register by phone, please call the registration team at 206-543-2310. If you have any questions about courses or signing in, please email us or call 206-685-6549.
Course Packages
OLLI-UW members can now enjoy three-course ($200) and six-course ($400) package deals. Three-, four- and five-week courses are eligible for this deal. Osher Online courses and field trips are not eligible.
Osher Online
OLLI-UW is piloting a new partnership with Osher Online, a program developed by the National Resource Center (NRC) that acts as a central resource for all Osher Institutes (there are 125 in the U.S.). Osher Online offers online programs for any Osher Institute and its members, organized by the NRC.
Here's how you can participate:
- Register for a course and pay OLLI-UW, and we'll pass on your name and email to the NRC.
- NRC will host a couple of orientation sessions to help you get familiar with the various resources.
- Osher Online will send you the login information, and you'll have the chance to engage with speakers and members nationally.
- Courses are six sessions long and cost $90.
- Courses are not eligible for the course package deals.
We hope you enjoy this new addition to our Osher Institute. Please email us if you have any questions.
August/September 2024 Courses
Zoom
- Consciously Traversing the Razor's Edge: A Spiritual Inquiry Into W. Somerset Maugham's Novel of Attachment, Seeking & Letting Go
- Let's Talk Musicals
- Season Pass: Fall Theater in Seattle
- First Ladies: More Than the Women Behind the Men (Osher Online)
- Medieval Science: Exploring Insights & Discoveries (Osher Online)
In Person
- Fruits of a Summer's Worth of Growing Field Trip
- Photographing the Seattle Japanese Garden With Ray Pfortner
- William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
- Exploring Human Brains: How Do They Function (and Dysfunction)?
- Lessons in Chemistry: A Review
- Readers Theater
- Shakespeare: The Remix
October 2024 Courses & Field Trips
Zoom
- Museum Masterpieces in the United States: Part 2
- Geology of the National Parks: Where the Wild Things Are
- From Hope to Hostility: The Epic Journey of U.S.-China Relations Since Nixon – Course 1: The Movers & Shakers
- Bird Bills: Filling the Bill
- Architecture, Engineering, Design & Technology: Case Studies From the Past, Present & Future (Osher Online)
- Who Is Fredrick Law Olmsted? An Examination of This Visionary's Life, Work & Living Legacy (Osher Online)
- Psychology Fundamentals: A 101 Overview (Osher Online)
In Person
- Integrative Medicine: A Healthy Approach to Your Wellness
- Four Presidential Elections: Third-Party Candidates Who Made a Difference
- Seward Park Olmsted Tour
- Arboretum Autumn Walking Tour
- Puget Sound Geology: From the Olympics to the Cascades
November 2024 Courses & Field Trips
Zoom
- William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
- From Hope to Hostility: The Epic Journey of U.S.-China Relations Since Nixon – Course 2: Great Power Competition
- Sociology Thru Literature: Social Cohesion & Division
In Person
- Human Language: Uniqueness & Origins
- History of Polar Exploration
- Shakespeare’s King Lear
- Cosmic Wonderments, Puzzles, & Mysteries
Monthly Lecture Series
These lectures are talks by experts on a wide range of subjects. These events are free for OLLI-UW members and are held about once a month in several locations. Members are invited to bring their lunch and a guest. Once a quarter, OLLI-UW also hosts a lecture that is open to the general public. You can register online for our lectures.
Upcoming Lectures
- Optimizing Brain Health With Nutrition (in person)
- Spirit Whales & Sloth Tales: Fossils in Washington State (Zoom)
- Stroke & the Brain (Zoom)
- Hummingbirds: Masters of the Air (in person)
- The FDA: What It Does & What It Doesn’t Regulate (Zoom)
- Medications & Brain Health (in person)
- Gains & Losses in the World of Weight: How the Brain & Hormones Control Your Weight (in person)
- Introducing Parkinson's Disease: Not Just a Tremor (Zoom)
Designed and led by members, study groups are free to OLLI-UW members. Groups allow participants the opportunity to focus on a chosen topic for a brief or a sustained period of time. Many study groups are book groups.
Special Events
Guided museum and garden tours, summer field trips and other special events are offered periodically throughout the year. Some events charge a small fee.