Welcome to SPACE, our adult continuing education program which offers interactive monthly courses for personal enrichment! Learn more here.

Dr. Julian Barr

Signum Tutorials Program • SPACE Preceptor

Creative writing, classics and literature

Julian's main research interests are in classical rhetoric, medical history and early Christian literature. He also continues to write fantasy novels inspired by ancient mythology, as well as narrative non-fiction. [see full bio...]

Current and Upcoming Modules

September 2025
October 2025
November 2025
February 2026
March 2026
April 2026
May 2026
June 2026
July 2026
August 2026
September 2026
October 2026
November 2026

Highlighted Modules

Non-Sequential Series
Non-Sequential Series

All Modules

Book Club: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Discussion-based Medium intensity
Gulping gargoyles, let's read the next Harry Potter book! By popular demand, here is the long-awaited Harry Potter book club! We will get together twice a week to explore the series, reading through the books at a relaxed pace. Connect with fellow readers and share your insights as we discover (or ...

Book Club: Dune by Frank Herbert Non-Sequential Series

Discussion-based Medium intensity
Kull Wahad, let’s read Frank Herbert’s Dune! In this series of three modules, we will closely read Frank Herbert’s masterwork. We will explore themes like heroism, mythology, history, ecology, politics and religion while following the dynastic struggles between the Atreides family and the r...

Book Club: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Discussion-based Medium intensity
Merlin's beard, let's read the first Harry Potter book! By popular demand, here is the long-awaited Harry Potter book club! We will get together twice a week to explore the series, reading through the books at a relaxed pace. Connect with fellow readers and share your insights as we discover (or re...

Book Club: Chapterhouse Dune Non-Sequential Series

Discussion-based Medium intensity
In this two-month module, we will read and discuss the Frank Herbert's final Dune novel, Chapterhouse Dune. The universe as we know it is gone, as the Honored Matres sweep across the stars and destroy everything in their path. On the remote world Chapterhouse, a handful of rebel Bene Gesserit...

Book Club: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 1

Discussion-based Medium intensity
Expelliarmus! Let's read the seventh Harry Potter Book! We will get together twice a week to explore the series, reading through the books at a relaxed pace. Connect with fellow readers and share your insights as we discover (or rediscover) the magic. Over two months, we will follow seventeen-year...

Book Club: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2

Discussion-based Medium intensity
Expelliarmus! Let's read the seventh Harry Potter Book! We will get together twice a week to explore the series, reading through the books at a relaxed pace. Connect with fellow readers and share your insights as we discover (or rediscover) the magic. Over two months, we will follow seventeen-year...

Book Club: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Non-Sequential Series

Discussion-based Medium intensity
Wands at the ready, let's read the fourth Harry Potter book! We will get together twice a week to explore the series, reading through the books at a relaxed pace. Connect with fellow readers and share your insights as we discover (or rediscover) the magic. Over two months, we will follow fourteen-...

Book Club: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 1

Discussion-based Medium intensity
Avis! Let's read the sixth Harry Potter book! We will get together twice a week to explore the series, reading through the books at a relaxed pace. Connect with fellow readers and share your insights as we discover (or rediscover) the magic. Over two months, we will follow sixteen-year-old Harry's...

Book Club: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 2

Discussion-based Medium intensity
Avis! Let's read the sixth Harry Potter book! We will get together twice a week to explore the series, reading through the books at a relaxed pace. Connect with fellow readers and share your insights as we discover (or rediscover) the magic. Over two months, we will follow sixteen-year-old Harry's...

Book Club: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 1

Discussion-based Medium intensity
Protego! Let's read the fifth Harry Potter book! We will get together twice a week to explore the series, reading through the books at a relaxed pace. Connect with fellow readers and share your insights as we discover (or rediscover) the magic. Over two months, we will follow fifteen-year-old Harr...

Book Club: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 2

Discussion-based Medium intensity
Protego! Let's read the fifth Harry Potter book! We will get together twice a week to explore the series, reading through the books at a relaxed pace. Connect with fellow readers and share your insights as we discover (or rediscover) the magic. Over two months, we will follow fifteen-year-old Harr...

Book Club: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Discussion-based Medium intensity
Blimey, let's read the third Harry Potter book! We will get together twice a week to explore the series, reading through the books at a relaxed pace. Connect with fellow readers and share your insights as we discover (or rediscover) the magic. Over one month, we will follow thirteen-year-old...

Book Club: Heretics of Dune Non-Sequential Series

Discussion-based Medium intensity
In this two-month module, we will read and discuss the fifth Dune novel, Heretics of Dune. 1500 years after the reign of Leto II, humanity is locked on the path laid out by the tyrant. Yet a new threat emerges from the shadows: the Honored Matres, a deadly ecstatic cult bent upon the destruct...

Book Club: Hunters of Dune (Sequels of Dune: Part 1)

Discussion-based Medium intensity
The saga of Dune is far from over... Across two months, we will read Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's completion of Frank Herbert's Dune saga. Whether you are a new or continuing student in our Dune book club, all are welcome to join this class. Connect with book lovers, compare to Herbert's o...

Book Club: Sandworms of Dune (Sequels of Dune: Part 2)

Discussion-based Medium intensity
The saga of Dune is far from over... Across two months, we will read Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's completion of Frank Herbert's Dune saga. Whether you are a new or continuing student in our Dune book club, all are welcome to join this class. Connect with book lovers, compare to Herbert's o...

C.S. Lewis' The Four Loves and Greek Philosophy

Discussion-based Low intensity
What is love? This is the question C.S. Lewis explored in his classic book, The Four Loves. Over four weeks, we will read and discuss The Four Loves as a class, exploring his four classifications and their philosophical underpinnings. Comparing and contrasting Lewis with short excerpts...

Creative Writing: Setting as Character

Discussion-based Medium intensity
In this module, you will discover how to make your story's setting a vivid and fully-realized character in its own right! Through fun and engaging writing exercises, you will learn techniques to create immersive environments that grow and change along with your characters. Find out how to use sensor...

Creative Writing: Monkeys With Typewriters

Mixed Lecture/Discussion Medium intensity
In this hybrid module, we will explore Scarlett Thomas' book on writing advice, Monkeys with Typewriters. Starting with a brief introduction to literary theory and how it pertains to writers, the module will explore the philosophy and practice of storytelling. Through a combination of lecture...

Creative Writing: Aristotle's Poetics for Story-Tellers

Mixed Lecture/Discussion Medium intensity
What makes a good story? How can we make our characters feel like real people? Using a combination of recorded lectures, in-class discussion and exercises, you will find out how to employ Aristotle’s precepts on character, theme and emotional catharsis to enrich your creative practice. You will al...

Creative Writing: The Hero’s Journey

Discussion-based Medium intensity
How can we rise through suffering to become heroic? This hybrid module takes a deep dive into the stages of the hero’s journey structure and its applicability to your story. Considering different approaches to the Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, you will have the opportunity to share and reflect upon yo...

Creative Writing: Workshop

Discussion-based High intensity
We will meet to blend learning, discussion, and playing games with reading, appreciating, and commenting on one another’s work as it is submitted for peer review. Writers are encouraged—but never required—to submit new pieces in any state of draftiness or readiness up to 2,000 words each week for pe...
January 2026 February 2026 March 2026

Dune: A Study in Adaptation

Mixed Lecture/Discussion Medium intensity
Frank Herbert's Dune novels have been adapted for film, television and tabletop and video games. Using a combination of recorded lectures, in-class discussion and exercises, this hybrid module will examine the various adaptations of the novels, including David Lynch's film, the miniseries, Denis Vil...

Harry Potter - The Films

Discussion-based High intensity
Let's get together to discuss the eight Harry Potter films. Across one month, we'll get together to discuss each film in turn. What adaptation choices did the creators make and why? What works and what doesn't? What are the major themes of the films? And why did this film series become a phenomenon ...
February 2026

The Life and Legend of St Nicholas

Discussion-based Low intensity
Who was the real historical figure behind Santa Claus? In this module, we will read the earliest biographical sources about fourth century bishop, St Nicholas of Myra. Your preceptor will facilitate discussions of Nicholas' historical context and examine the development of his legend. Together, we w...

Year of the Novel: Creative Writing Series Non-Sequential Series

Discussion-based High intensity
Are you ready for an adventure in writing? The Year of the Novel provides support, in depth practice of the writing craft, and encouraging feedback for your story (even if it's not a novel). One cluster of modules is for Seedling Stories, just in their beginning stages; one is for Sapling Stories ...

All Modules as Support Preceptor