CGS - College of General Studies - University of Pittsburgh

Did you know that your library offers dozens of downloadable e-books and audio books that work with most eReaders and MP3 players? If you'd like to learn more about how to use these downloadable services, as well as receive a hands-on introduction to the major devices that work with these services, such as the Kindle and the Nook, then this class is for you. Join the Allegheny County Library Association in partnership with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for conversations with these expert librarians, Sarah Beasley, coordinator, e-Resources, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and Wes Roberts, senior librarian, JCEC & PC Center, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Each session is limited to 25 participants.

(Note: This course meets at the Monroeville Public Library.)

Can our schools better prepare our youth to compete in global markets? Do schools and teachers have the resources to meet these challenges? Are these efficiently and equitably shared? Do public school teachers have the incentives to deliver quality schooling or are public schools an endangered species? What, if anything, can be done about escalating college tuition? These and similar pressing questions have been prompting a closer look at economists' studies of school reform. This course reviews results of such research and the extent to which they have helped to clarify the choices necessary for resolving these issues.

Arnold Katz *, PhD, economics professor emeritus, University of Pittsburgh, taught and carried on research in human capital theory - the core of the analytic underpinnings of the economics of education - for more than 30 years.

Develop more advanced drawing skills with the use of a micron ink markers using several ink techniques: parallel lines, dots or stippling, cross hatching, hatching and scribble lines that will create countless effects for a variety of styles. Complete drawings and colored art work with the addition of watercolor paints or water soluble colored pencils. A supply list will be sent prior to the first class. This course is limited to 20 people.

Elaine Bergstrom * (See biography under the Drawing and Sketching course description.)

The principles of reactor safety are described and how they failed in these three reactor meltdown accidents is explained along with lessons learned. The problems with disposal of radioactive waste are analyzed. The risks from nuclear power are quantified and put into perspective with other risks we must live with. Treatments offered include lots of numbers (but no mathematics beyond arithmetic). Participants are given many opportunities, with "no holds barred," for raising any subjects for discussion. Background material and references are available in the instructor's book, The Nuclear Energy Option, which is posted unabridged as item #12 on his website, www.phyast.pitt.edu/~blc.

Bernard Cohen *, PhD, is professor emeritus of Physics and Astronomy. He has authored six books and numerous articles and presented invited lectures throughout the world. He has received prestigious national awards from the American Physical Society, Health Physics Society, and the American Nuclear Society and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

There have been 44 leaders of our country in American history. Some have succeeded well beyond expectations and others have been abysmal failures. How is the job of the president defined by the Constitution? By custom? By the media? By public demand? We will examine historians' "ratings" of presidents and consider specific great and near-great presidents and those who "didn't make the grade." In evaluating great and near-great presidents, we will discuss the policies, actions, and leadership skills that made them effective. As well, we'll consider what caused the failures of other presidents.

Louise Mayo *, PhD, is professor emerita at the County College of Morris, New Jersey and has over 30 years of college teaching experience in American history and American government. She is the author of James K. Polk: The Dark Horse President, among other books.

While much of what we hear about sex and gender is old wives tales, there have been many serious scientific studies on sex. This course attempts to explain some of the newer ideas in this field including a discussion of chromosomal and non-chromosomal sex determination, the consequences of embryonic/fetal development including developmental anomalies, and the role and function of sex hormones. Some behavioral issues are discussed. Come with an open mind and be prepared to be surprised.

Betsy Peitz *, PhD, is emeritus professor of biology at California State University, Los Angeles. She taught biology majors and non-majors at all levels and developed and taught a course on the biology of gender differences.

Everyone knows someone who has related an amazing life story or two. You can be the one who captures them! Learn how to collect and write life stories of family, friends or even strangers. Select and screen candidates, coax and capture their stories, write them, and share the wealth and wonder. This course is part journalism, part creative non-fiction, and all about writing - preserving others' stories and making them come alive. And you also learn to capture what happens in this process. That's your story, and it might be just as interesting as the ones you're told!

Richard * Haverlack has been working as a volunteer for a local hospice organization (inpatient and in-home) for four years specifically to do the story catching. In sharing what he has learned he hopes others may benefit, and the stories otherwise lost will instead be captured for the future. Professionally, he has years of technical and marketing course presentations and teaching MBA courses at the Keller Graduate School of Business of DeVry University.

We discuss various aspects of health care economics and politics based mostly on a review of articles in the medical literature and the general press. Topics for discussion include how to control costs, measure and improve the quality of care, expand coverage to the uninsured, and address the politics of health care reform. The first session includes a brief presentation by Dr. Schneider. This study group is limited to 20 people.

Richard R. Schneider *, MD, is a retired board certified cardiologist, former clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, and former chairman of the Department of Medicine at Jefferson Hospital. He is the author of The Cost of Courage, a medical memoir.

(Note: This course meets at Monroeville Public Library.)

This course begins by discussing Fitzgerald's biography against the background of the Roaring '20's, when "gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession." We continue with a brief overview of his important novels and look at some short stories and autobiographical sketches. We read and discuss The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night, with guidance on the main themes of Fitzgerald's work and approaches to interpretation, especially the vogue of Freudian psychology and the boom preceding the Great Crash.

Clifford Johnson * holds a PhD in English and American Literature. He taught at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Kassel, Germany, and Concord, University in West Virginia. He recently retired after over 25 years as a certified financial planner.

With the advent of GPS units, we can now tell where we are in the world to within a small number of feet. But it has not always been so. In the United States, you can buy a map in a gas station; in other countries, possession of a map of the area was a treasonous offence. Historically, maps were considered trade secrets of individual sea captains or national secrets of a country. The standardized representations we are familiar with are the result of centuries of evolution and refinement. This course covers the history of "modern" maps, over the last 600 years or so, and the problems that people encountered in creating and using maps.

Joseph M. Newcomer * holds a PhD in computer science and has decades of interest in the history of technology, including maps. He has made pilgrimages to museums of maps, to Greenwich, England (home of 0°), and has a large collection of books on map history and technology.

Cuba and the U.S. have had an intimate relationship on and off for long periods of time. While the impact has been felt more strongly on Cuba than in the U.S., the island holds a special place in the minds of many Americans. The course retraces the history of the island, from its discovery in 1492 to the most recent developments. Items such as geography, natural resources, the legacy of colonialism, United States influence, the role of the former Soviet Union, and the successes and failures of the Revolution are covered.

Jose Juves * is a native of Cuba, living there through the first three years of the Revolution. He has studied the history of Cuba for many years. He travels to Miami and Puerto Rico regularly and meets recent immigrants from Cuba to get personal descriptions of conditions on the island.

"I AM THE GREATEST" crowed Cassius Clay (later known as Mohammed Ali) in the 1960's. In that place and at that time, perhaps he was. Others, many others, however, have achieved the pinnacle in sport. This course is not a mere laundry-list of magnificent athletes. It explores the great debuts, the streaks, and the dynasties; the memorable individual plays and games you wish you could have attended; and the performances not only judged to be great, but perfect. Enjoy the entertainment in sport and grieve at its dark side. Here's an opportunity to explore, learn, and offer.

Gerald Frankovich *, MS in civil engineering, is a life-long sports enthusiast. He has organized numerous golf competitions, won medals in crew, and is a PIAA-certified sports official in baseball, football, and volleyball. In retirement, he offers his time and efforts to Pitt's Nationality Rooms Program, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and Phipps Conservatory.

We look at the experience of Russia's Jews from the Partitions of Poland (1772) to the fall of the Soviet Union (1991) and review the manner in which that community evolved in both tsarist and Soviet times to the new realities associated with the dramatic transformation of Russia after 1856 and then again after 1917. The Russian Jewish experience is significant for a number of reasons. The Jews of the Empire constituted the single largest Jewish community in the world at the turn of the 20th century, and emigrants from that community created both the Jewish communities of the United States and of Palestine.

Alexander Orbach *, PhD, is professor emeritus in the University of Pittsburgh Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Religious Studies, where he served as director of the Jewish Studies program for over 10 years.

Adults who remember Bing Crosby mostly recall the cool character, "the orange juice Bing," rather than the movie business's supreme attraction of the 1930s and 40s, or radio's most popular program host, or the hottest-selling recording artist of that day. There are few today who recall that Bing Crosby was voted the most admired person in America in a magazine poll in the early 1950s. More recently, Bing Crosby has been portrayed as a "hollow man" who ran out on his friends, was indifferent to his family obligations, and was a cruel and demanding parent. Examine all of these different Bings through biographical insights, original recordings, candidly-recorded studio chatter, radio air checks, film clips, memorabilia, and perhaps, the opportunity to speak with a member of the Crosby family.

Mike Plaskett * has been co-host for 30 years of the nationally syndicated radio show, Rhythm Sweet & Hot, which covers the popular and jazz music of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.

(Note: This course meets at Monroeville Public Library.)

We read a representative selection of work by Robert Frost, possibly America's most popular poet. Our initial sessions mark the differences between Frost's benign public image and the more complicated vision expressed in the poems themselves. The balance of our meetings attempt to do justice to Frost's superb metrics and immediacy. This is not to be a scholar's or a specialist's course, but rather a group exploration of a single poet and how well he fits, or doesn't, into his image as an American poet, and how well he satisfies, or doesn't, today's discerning reader. Our texts are The Road Not Taken and Other Poems and A Boy's Will and North of Boston both from Dover Books.

David Walton *, PhD, is semi-retired from the University of Pittsburgh School of Arts and Sciences, Department of English, where he has taught a variety of literature and writing courses over the last 20 years. He is a regular book reviewer for several national newspapers, a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in literature, and the author of two collections of short stories and a novel.

"I want you guys to talk me out of this!" -- Cowardly Lion

According to Joseph Campbell, we are all on our own hero's journey in life. In this course, we will screen five films that develop various interpretations of the hero's journey and the quest for the grail in life's experience. Besides learning what the hero's journey is and how our hero's quest is translated into film in modern America, we meet other interesting archetypes such as the Shadow, the Trickster, the Shape Shifter and the Mentor. We begin with Sundance-acclaimed Smoke Signals and also view Winter's Bone, Top Gun, Chinatown, and Coming Home.

Walt Peterson * is a writer and teacher. He has studied Joseph Campbell, and now Christopher Vogler's work, to understand how these concepts play out in writing, teaching, film, and in his life, too.

Examine the origins and unfolding of one of the defining events in 20th century world history: World War II. Born out of the unresolved tensions from World War I and the Great Depression, this conflict brought to a close more than four centuries of European global dominance, heralded the beginnings of the Cold War, and fundamentally altered America's relationship with the rest of the world in ways that remain deeply relevant to today's news and headlines.

Jared N. Day * (See biography under The Gilded Age: American Politics and Society in Late 19th Century course listing.)

We examine the role(s) of women in the Bible, the ways in which such roles were constructed in antiquity and reinforced in the Western tradition, and the contemporary viability of this tradition. This class critically examines the polarity of "mother" and "fallen woman" as the prototypical models of appropriate female behavior and social acceptance, and the way in which salvation is construed for each type. At the same time, we consider the way in which men constructed the images of women in light of their historical context.

Rebecca Denova * , PhD, is a visiting lecturer in the University of Pittsburgh Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Religious Studies and regularly teaches courses on the history of early Christianity, ancient religions in the Mediterranean world, and various topics related to ancient popular religion and society.

After WWI, the US controlled the world economy due to our creditor position. In 1944 we reorganized the economy of the world for our benefit at Bretton Woods. However, our wars and military spending had by 1960 made us a debtor nation, but miraculously we came to control the world economy as a debtor nation. Now we run gigantic deficits but our creditors are forced to buy our debt. This has been a miraculous system (for us) but it has led to distortions in our economy which are now coming home to roost in the form of unemployment and recession.

Charles (Chuck) Hier *, PhD, teaches at the University of Pittsburgh and Akron University, including courses on Soviet Russia, modern era Europe, and world history.

(Note: No class will be held April 12; course ends April 19.)

In the decade since the 9/11 World Trade Center attack, American writers have tried to come to grips with a gamut of emotions, including anger, anxiety, shame, loss, and vulnerability. How to write about an issue so overwhelming that it has changed America, seemingly forever? From an ever-expanding field of literature, this course avoids the angels and demons that quickly populated America's political debate and instead concentrates on fiction and poetry to examine a human tragedy that continues to haunt us. We read two novels, Ward Just's Forgetfulness and Don DeLillo's Falling Man, and the anthology, Poetry After 9/11, edited by Dennis Loy Johnson and Valerie Merians.

Abby Mendelson * (See biography under the Beat Writers course listing.)

He's clever. She's wise. He's sharp. She's quick. What is it, exactly, that makes a person intelligent? At the start of this course, you learn about the study of intelligence, including our early attempts to appreciate the human mind. Next, you come to understand Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligence through presentations on some of the world's great thinkers. Finally, you gain insights on the learning process by studying Daniel Pink, Ken Robinson, and others who have shed new light on elements such as creativity, passion, and motivation. Be smart and take this class.

Carrie Kennedy *, MEd, was first introduced to multiple intelligence while earning her master's degree. She later studied with Howard Gardner at an international teacher's conference at Harvard. She incorporated his ideas into her classroom teaching and her writing, including her textbook on classical mythology. She is currently working on a book for parents on the subject of learning styles.

(Note: This course meets at Monroeville Public Library.)

Among the most important and influential literatures are the scriptures of the world's religions. In an academic, nonsectarian manner we examine the diversity of scriptures and some of their differences and similarities. Our special focus is what the scriptures say about fully living life in the here and now. Scriptural references come from Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Joel Mlecko *, PhD, is emeritus professor of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Religious Studies Department. As a Commonwealth Speaker, he spoke throughout Pennsylvania on the state's religious diversity. He taught for Elderhostel and Chautauqua Institution, was a Research Scholar at Tantur Institute in Jerusalem, and a Fulbright fellow to India.

The primary campaigns of 2012 provide the basis for information and discussion to help us gain a basic understanding of both rhetoric and political communication. Major emphasis is on the presidential primary campaigns of both major parties and candidates as well as other parties/candidates. We attempt to determine, via the analysis of candidates' rhetoric and communication strategies, the effectiveness and impact of their message(s). Emphasis is on the communication and rhetorical elements, not on political science analysis.

Jerry Shuster *, PhD, is visiting associate professor of communication at the University of Pittsburgh where he teaches political communication and presidential rhetoric. He regularly does political analysis for regional, national, and international media both electronic and print and is the exclusive political analyst for WTAE-TV.

Beginning in 1951, Edward R. Murrow hosted "This I Believe," a daily radio program in which Americans read five-minute essays about their personal philosophy of life. They shared insights about individual values that shaped their daily actions. "This I Believe" essays later appeared in the midst of the NPR news program All Things Considered. Each week we will read about the beliefs of others and then discuss our reactions to those beliefs. Participants are also welcome, if they wish, to write essays of their own and read them to the group. Our text is This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women (paperback). This study group is limited to 20 people.

Evie Levine * taught secondary English in the North Hills School District for 34 years.

(Note: This course meets at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Oakland.)

Could an earthquake happen in Pittsburgh? There's a whole lot of shaking going on at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Come join us as earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and plate tectonics are explained and demonstrated so that you can be better prepared for such a disaster while traveling. Learn how to avoid an encounter with any of these natural disasters and what to do if you find yourself in one while it is happening. Immerse yourself in the powers of nature that you read about in the news.

Harlan J. Clare * is a retired earth and space science teacher from the Plum Borough School District where he taught for 32 years and served as the science department chairman for the district. Presently, he is a docent at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, teaching children and adults about the museum's collections.

This course emphasizes the importance of Israel's political system that does not include a Constitution, but does have Basic Laws and a multi-party political system spanning from the extreme right to the extreme left. We examine an election system that provides small parties within the coalition government an opportunity to put their trademark on all policies and decisions. Since 1967, the multi-party political system has been heavily involved in important decisions that have had major consequences for a young country, one that is experiencing dramatic changes in its relationship with its enemies, supporters, and its own citizens.

Ivan Frank *, PhD, lived in Israel for 11 years and was drafted and served in the Israeli army. He was a Fulbright Fellow in 1998 to Israel and Jordan. He is a retired high school social studies teacher.

(Note: This course meets at Mount Alvernia, 146 Hawthorne Road, Millvale.)

Explore the meaning of earliest icons, discuss the results of iconoclasm, and study its influence on Russian iconography. Experiencing the stillness and lyrical quality through line and color makes it possible to see icons with the heart instead of the mind. The contemplative poetic images of icons offer a source of hope, inviting us to enter their simplicity and to touch the silence that compels us to discover their spiritual significance. A small text, Icons, a Sacred Art by Linda Proud, published by Jarrod Publishing, 2000 (reprinted in 2002) as a Pitkin Guide assists the participants in their awareness of this art.

Sister Rosaire Kopczenski *, O.S.F., Sister of Saint Francis, holds an MFA in art and history of art. She takes commissions for painting icons, holds group and individual classes on painting icons, and lectures on the background and history of icons.

This course looks closely at a few works of American Indian literature in order to better understand their way of life and culture, the issues and conflicts inherent in living as an Indian in a white world, and their philosophy and its connection to the natural world. We examine texts from different Indian nations from different parts of the country and attempt to differentiate between them.

Kenneth Boas *, PhD, is an instructor in the University of Pittsburgh, School of Arts and Sciences, Department of English. He has taught courses, presented papers, conducted workshops, and published on American Indian literature and spirituality.

Remember the first time you saw a bridge, an island or a museum wrapped in hundreds of yards of fabric and wondered, "How could this possibly be art?" In this course, we examine the extraordinary work of the artist Christo and his partner, Jeanne-Claude, and the couple's process of building consensus and gaining permission to install large-scale, environmental artworks. Using slides, the Internet, and a series of documentary films, our class looks at and discusses Christo's early work, Valley Curtain, Running Fence, Islands, Pont Neuf Wrapping, Umbrellas, Wrapped Trees and a new work currently in development, Over the River. We also look at Jeanne-Claude's approach to financing the couple's landscape-altering projects.

Carolyn Speranza * began exhibiting art in 1985 with solo and group shows followed by performance work, screenings, web-based art exchanges, and site-specific media projects. She completed several residencies and received numerous grants. She taught art courses at art museums and universities, including Carnegie Mellon University and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Recently, she curated the exhibition, Too Shallow for Diving: The Twenty-First Century is Treading Water.

In the 1970s standup comedy in America truly came of age. Comedians exploded into the national consciousness almost like rock stars, and at least four artists -- Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin, George Carlin, and Steve Martin -- achieved iconic status. This course examines the phenomenon of 1970s standup comedy by charting the courses of these legendary careers. Along the way we investigate the influence and impact of Lenny Bruce, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Saturday Night Live, Laugh-In, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, comedy clubs like The Improv and The Comedy Store, the medium of the comedy album, and the changing mores of the decade itself. Video and audio clips are featured prominently. Note that some content may be offensive.

Jonathan Gotsick * is a student in the Graduate Creative Writing Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to returning to graduate school, he worked as a writer, actor, and comedian in Los Angeles. He is a paid regular at the World Famous Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. As a comedian, he has toured widely, performing in over 25 states in the U.S.

We begin with a quick review of the history of Islam, starting with the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the fragmentation of the Middle East. During the last 100 years, the Arab nationalists and religious conservatives attempted to rebuild the Arab identity under the banner of religion. We take a look at current events in the Middle East that reveal the failure of Arab nationalism and religious conservatives to provide a dignifying life (Karama) for their own people and how the pro-democracy rebellions erupting across the Arab world came about and how they are affecting Arab nations.

Youssef Ragheb *, MD, is a native Coptic Egyptian. He studied in Egypt and practiced in the United States as well as the United Kingdom where he was an interpreter for Arabic-speaking patients. He teaches Arabic at the University of Pittsburgh.

(Note: The classroom session meets only March 16. The three field trips are March 23, 30, and April 13 from 1 - 3:50 p.m. A rain date is April 20.)

This course first introduces you to (or helps you review) the "tools of the trade" of bird watching. We discuss binoculars, field guides, identification techniques, Internet resources, and other topics. A slide presentation shows birds likely to be seen at this time of year. We then visit three of the city's parks where we observe not only the birds that have wintered here but also the arrival of spring migrant species. The field trips' meeting points are accessible by Port Authority buses. They take place over relatively flat terrain with frequent stops to see birds. Participants should bring binoculars to the field trips. This course is limited to 25 participants.

Vickie Dziadosz *, PhD, has course, research, and work experience in ornithology and years of birding experience in Pittsburgh.

This course is for those who have an understanding of photography and want to learn how better to manipulate their digital camera to give them the desired image. Composition, shutter, aperture, and lighting are all discussed in detail to give participants a better understanding and appreciation of the art of photography.

Germaine Watkins * has been a photography instructor for 12 years at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild teaching both traditional and digital photography.

(Note: This course runs March 19 - April 16.)

This course looks at the history and present day situation in Israel/Palestine from the perspective of the Palestinian people. For example 1948, the year of the establishment of the State of Israel, is discussed from the Palestinian perspective of the "Nakba," the Arabic word meaning "catastrophe." Occupation, settlement expansion, checkpoints, refugees and the "separation wall" are some of the issues addressed. Non-violent resistance and Christian Zionism are also discussed. It is the hope that this course will sensitize the participants to the narrative of all people in this conflicted part of our world.

Tina Whitehead *, M.A. in spiritual formation, has been traveling to Israel/Palestine yearly since 1997 and volunteering in East Jerusalem and Bethlehem since 2006, working with the Palestinian Christian peace movement, Sabeel, and the Bethlehem Bible College. In addition, she has been serving as a liaison for American tour groups who travel to the Holy Land, connecting them with the Palestinian Christian community.

The Peter M. Winter Institute for Simulation, Education and Research (WISER) is a leading medical simulation center training thousands of healthcare professionals each year to increase patient safety and enhance medical education. It is at the forefront of medical simulation with SimMan, a patient simulator that looks and responds like a real person; and simulation theaters that can be configured to nearly any scene from operating rooms to outdoor disaster scenes. Don't miss your chance to visit this unique facility. Each tour is limited to 15 registrants.

Registration deadline: March 9

Fee: $67 for members; $72 for nonmembers (includes motorcoach transportation, museum admission, and audio tour of the exhibition; meals on your own) All-day parking is available for $10 in the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Garage. Advance purchase is required.

Rembrandt in America is the first major exhibition to explore in depth the collecting of Rembrandt paintings in America. Consisting of approximately 50 works, the exhibition brings together autograph paintings by Rembrandt as well as others thought to be by the artist when they entered American collections but whose attributions can no longer be maintained. The exhibition therefore also presents a survey of the long career of Rembrandt as a painter, including his studio and a broader network of adapters, followers, and copyists. You also have time to visit the many other extraordinary collections that the museum offers. We will be stopping at Corky & Lenny's deli for dinner on the way home.

Registration deadline: April 13

Fee: $90 for members/$95 for guests (includes motorcoach transportation, tour, and lunch) All-day parking is available for $10 in the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Garage. Advance purchase is required.

The Wilds is one of the world's largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers. It is home to rare and endangered species from around the world living in natural, open-range habitat, as well as to hundreds of indigenous species. Traveling in an open-air safari vehicle (or an enclosed bus if the weather is inclement), our interpretive private guided safari takes us through all of the open range animal pastures. We learn about some of the conservation projects and scientific studies the Wilds is undertaking in the field of Restoration Ecology and visit the new Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center. This center is the only one of its kind in the United States dedicated to the breeding and scientific study of endangered mid-sized carnivores including cheetahs, African wild dogs, and dholes. Viewable animal management and research areas allow us to observe staff performing routine care and procedures.