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.
- The registration deadline for Winter Osher Online courses is December 30, 2024.
We hope you enjoy this new addition to our Osher Institute. Please email us if you have any questions.
January 2025 Courses & Field Trips
Zoom
- Rock Year by Year 1962–1965
- Ancient Art and Architecture: From Prehistory Through the Roman Empire
- Themes in Philosophy 1
- Volcanoes of the West
Zoom with Osher Online (Register by December 30, 2024)
- First Class: A History of the Post Office in the United States
- Reclaiming Native Ground: Native America Since 1900
- My Native Land in Memory: Stories of a Cuban Childhood
- Modern War: What Is It Good For?
- The World of Musical Satire
In Person
- Fire and Ice, the Geology of Washington
- History of the Federal Reserve
- Climate Pledge Arena Tour (Field Trip)
- America in the 1850s: Origins of the Civil War
- Readers Theater
- U.S. Environmental History
February 2025 Courses & Field Trips
Zoom
- The Seattle Public Library’s Central Library – Photo Ops Galore! (Zoom + Photo Shoot)
- Pesty Birds: The Top Four Troublemakers in Seattle — It's Not Their Fault!
- Great American Standards From Broadway Shows
In Person
March 2025 Courses & Field Trips
Zoom
- Time to Sketch
- Pearl Harbor: The Story and the Backstories (also available In Person)
- An Inborn Trip into Sacred Hindu and Non-Dual Texts for Overly Rational Western Minds
In Person
- Pearl Harbor: The Story and the Backstories (also available on Zoom)
- Beowulf: The Old English Epic
- How Your Senses Lie To You
- Georgetown: Beer, Burials and Railroads (Field Trip)
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
- Dec. 5: UFO Northwest: How Washington State Spawned the Men In Black (In-Person)
- Dec. 11: Exploring the Complexities of CBD and its use in Older Adults (Zoom)
- Dec. 13: Mount St. Helens – The Untold Story (In-Person)
- Dec. 18: Cloud Brightening – What is it? (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.