Welcome to SPACE, our adult continuing education program which offers interactive monthly courses for personal enrichment! Learn more here.
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Courses added in the last 30 days (newest first)
Smith of Wootton Major: Tolkien and the Dark Side of Faerie
Added Jan. 7, 2026
The last story Tolkien ever published is one of the most curious stories he ever wrote, and provides rare insight into his final thoughts on storytelling and the world of Faerie he first explained in "On Fairy-Stories." This module will explore the ways in which Tolkien explored philosophy, mythology, and the nature of inspiration in his final adventure into the Perilous Realm.
The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:
The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:
| Outline | 8-Session Structure |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Session 1: Introduction and the Golden Key |
| Session 2: Smith (Part I) | |
| Week 2 | Session 3: Smith(Part II) |
| Session 4: Smith(Part III) | |
| Week 3 | Session 5: The Drafts (Part I) |
| Session 6: The Drafts (Part II) | |
| Week 4 | Session 7: Essay on Faerie |
| Session 8: Overview and Conclusion |
Precepted by
Patrick Lyon
The Art of Juggling
Added Jan. 7, 2026
This month-long module would teach students the art of juggling, from the absolute basics to some of the more advanced flourishes and tricks. Juggling is actually much easier than most people think, and as long as students put in the practice and repetitions necessary to learn, most people can start successfully doing a 3-ball fountain by the end of the first session.
Course Outline:
Course Outline:
-
Week One
- Session 1: Basics, Concepts, Philosophy, 1/2/3-ball patterns
- Session 2: Review of 3-ball fountain, advanced 2-ball patterns
- Session 3: Overhand and Underhand Patterns
- Session 4: Knees and Bounces
- Session 5: Pillars, The Crane
- Session 6: Spins, Flourishes, and Back Patterns
- Session 7: Mill's Mess and the Weave
- Session 7: Synchronizing and The Kick
Precepted by
Patrick Lyon
The God Who Conquered Rome: From Pagans to Persecutions to Power
Added Jan. 7, 2026
How did a small, persecuted Jewish sect from a remote province transform the greatest empire the world had ever known? The Roman Empire's conversion to Christianity is one of history’s most influential moments that reshaped the very soul of the West. This eight-lecture journey traces the often turbulent process that turned a pagan empire into the foundation of medieval Europe. We’ll move beyond simple tales of conversion to explore a gripping story of clashing worldviews, political opportunism, spiritual fervor, and astonishing adaptability.
The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:
The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:
| Outline | 8-Session Structure |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Session 1: I A World of Many Gods: Pagan Rome Meets a Jewish Sect |
| Session 2: The Offensive Faith: Why Christianity Was Different | |
| Week 2 | Session 3: Seeds in the Cracks: Growth and Adaptation in the Second and Third Centuries |
| Session 4: The Imperial Convert: Constantine and the Cross of Victory | |
| Week 3 | Session 5: From Faith in Caesar to Caesar's Faith: The Christian Empire Takes Shape |
| Session 6: City of God vs. City of Man: Collapse and Reinvention | |
| Week 4 | Session 7: The Christian Landscape: Rites, Rivalries, and the Erasure of Paganism |
| Session 8: The Imperial Church: Justinian's Dream and the Legacy of a Baptized Rome |
Precepted by
Adam Beaton
C.S. Lewis and the Medieval and Renaissance World
Added Jan. 5, 2026
C.S. Lewis was not only the author of beloved classics, including The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, and his science-fiction Space Trilogy; he was also a scholar of Medieval and Renaissance Literature.
Our text for this class is Lewis’s final masterpiece, The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature. In this book, Lewis shares his detailed knowledge of the medieval and renaissance worldview, editing and expanding the lectures he gave at Oxford and Cambridge universities. As such, it is an excellent overview of both a) The medieval and renaissance mind, and b) How Lewis himself thought about the period.
We will read through The Discarded Image week by week, taking our time to discuss and understand the ideas Lewis is describing and the places those ideas also appear in his own work.
Our text for this class is Lewis’s final masterpiece, The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature. In this book, Lewis shares his detailed knowledge of the medieval and renaissance worldview, editing and expanding the lectures he gave at Oxford and Cambridge universities. As such, it is an excellent overview of both a) The medieval and renaissance mind, and b) How Lewis himself thought about the period.
We will read through The Discarded Image week by week, taking our time to discuss and understand the ideas Lewis is describing and the places those ideas also appear in his own work.
Precepted by
Dr. Gabriel Schenk
Signum Classics: The Roots of the Mountains (Part 2)
Added Dec. 15, 2025
“And there abide the ghosts of those that may not rest; and there wander the dwarfs and the mountain-dwellers, the dealers in marvels, the givers of gifts that destroy Houses…”
Over two months, let’s read The Roots of the Mountains by William Morris!
Ensconced at the roots of the mountains, the peaceful Dalemen are craftspeople, woodsmen and shepherds. Only the restless Face-of-God dares to roam beyond the safe confines of his village. In the wilds, he soon discovers his world is far from safe, as the Huns are poised to invade Dale and cast its people into slavery.
Taking up his sword alongside the beautiful Sun-Beam, Face-of-God vows to protect his folk at any cost. Only by bringing together the disparate tribes of the Dale do they have any hope of victory.
William Morris returns to the world of wights and shield maidens. An epic of bravery and sacrifice, imbued with a deep love of Norse myth, Morris revives the medieval romance tradition where true love endures against terrible foes.
Over two months, let’s read The Roots of the Mountains by William Morris!
Ensconced at the roots of the mountains, the peaceful Dalemen are craftspeople, woodsmen and shepherds. Only the restless Face-of-God dares to roam beyond the safe confines of his village. In the wilds, he soon discovers his world is far from safe, as the Huns are poised to invade Dale and cast its people into slavery.
Taking up his sword alongside the beautiful Sun-Beam, Face-of-God vows to protect his folk at any cost. Only by bringing together the disparate tribes of the Dale do they have any hope of victory.
William Morris returns to the world of wights and shield maidens. An epic of bravery and sacrifice, imbued with a deep love of Norse myth, Morris revives the medieval romance tradition where true love endures against terrible foes.
Precepted by
Dr. Julian Barr