UCLA Extension courses

We are living in a golden age of photography, with near-universal access to high-quality, portable cameras. Yet, the bridge between a casual snapshot and an artful creation often feels elusive. This course offers an accessible, unintimidating introduction to…

In this course, we explore the ancient power of Qi emission, adapted specifically for self-therapeutic application. We learn to identify blocked and turbulent energy in the body and remove or transform this unneeded energy that may be sourcing the physical…

Shui-Mo Hua is a traditional Chinese ink wash painting style that emphasizes expressive brushwork and the spiritual essence of subjects rather than realistic depiction. In this course, we explore the foundations of East Asian ink painting through the Chinese…

The ideal group for those who love acting, theatre, language, and Shakespeare. Each week, we read scenes from the play aloud, then analyze and discuss them from an actor's perspective (scripts in hand, no memorization required). We explore the different ways…

Before Hollywood officially became the filmmaking capital of the world, downtown Los Angeles served as a magnet for fledgling silent filmmakers seeking creative independence and diverse locations. In this course, we discuss the incentives that pulled…

The rich history of Asian design reveals centuries of cultural and socio-political narratives expressed through objects of beauty. In this course, we explore the decorative arts of China, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam; including painting,…

When governments lose the trust of their people, revolutions become the primary engine of political change and remain one of the most powerful forces in modern history. In this course, we follow the evolution of revolution across four centuries. We begin with…

Claude Debussy was a foundational French composer and pianist of the fin de siècle who captured the essence of French Symbolist culture. His revolutionary harmonic idiom broke from the dominant Wagnerian influence of the 19th century, establishing a distinct…

Hollywood boasts a plethora of beautiful homes and glamorous retreats where legends of the film industry lived, worked, and played. As the Hollywood movie industry took hold, the stars and their directors cultivated a glamorous lifestyle through their homes,…

In this course, we explore the powerful connection between music, rhythm, and the aging brain—discovering how active engagement with sound can strengthen memory, elevate mood, and support a meaningful sense of self in the later chapters of life. Drawing on…

Many artists maintain rich writing practices—letters, journals, and personal reflections—that are rarely discussed alongside their visual work. Yet these writings often reveal how artists process, question, and give meaning to what we see on the canvas. In…

Cuba’s architecture evolved from its Spanish colonial past to the bold experimentation of the 20th century. In this course, we explore how the island nation’s unique history—from elegant baroque, neoclassical buildings, and grand plazas to iconic modernist…

Most people who want to cultivate their creativity rely on the same expected techniques, such as a regular routine, class instruction, or group accountability. This course instead identifies two secret side doors into your creativity. Techniques deployed…

Contemporary philosophy often utilizes film to ground abstract concepts, offering a visual language for exploring identity, reality, ethics, and the divine. This course features five thought-provoking films, using them as catalysts for deep discussion about…

A new generation of independent filmmakers emerged in the 1990s, including such luminaries as Quentin Tarantino, Allison Anders, Robert Rodriguez, Hal Hartley, and Spike Lee. They would become as synonymous with Generation X as MTV, grunge music, and flannel…

In the 1930s, Hollywood perfected the Wild West formula, painting the frontier as an exotic frontier awaiting conquest, while one-dimensional heroes and outlaws settled scores with a single bullet. In this course, we view iconic film clips from The Treasure…

The bebop era emerged in the early 1940s, marking a revolutionary shift in jazz toward harmonic complexity, rapid tempos, and intense improvisation. In this course, we explore bebop’s social, historical, and musical developments, focusing on the innovations…

Hotels are not always just simple backdrops in the world of cinema. In this course, we explore six films, in which hotels provide the central location and serve as a microcosm of society. The 1924 silent German film, The Last Laugh ( Der letzte Mann ), made…

This course provides a detailed investigation into the upcoming elections on November 3, spanning from federal contests to municipal elections. We analyze the high-stakes races for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives before shifting to California’s…

The nation is poised for a pivotal midterm election cycle that serves as both a battle for control of Congress and a referendum on the current administration. This election punctuates a tumultuous era in American politics, marked by a nearly successful…

Operetta and vintage musical comedy were once the western world's most popular form of stage entertainment. This course—utilizing video clips from live productions, early films, and television—traces the evolution of American musical comedy from its operetta…

According to a December survey from S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan, Gen Z Americans spend more than five hours a day on social media - nearly double the amount of time as millennials. According to Deloitte's 2026 AI report, worker access to AI rose by…

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations must adapt quickly to complexity, uncertainty, and changing customer needs. Driving Value through Agile Principles and Mindset introduces students to the foundational concepts of Agile methodology…

MAE 265A Control and Trajectory Planning for Autonomous Aerospace Systems. Prof. Lopez Lecture, four hours; outside study, eight hours. Requisite: course 171A. Introduction to autonomous aerospace systems with focus on dynamics, control, and motion planning.…

This course is designed for marketing professionals, business leaders, entrepreneurs, consultants, and technically curious practitioners who want to move beyond basic AI tools and implement AI-powered marketing systems end-to-end. Participants gain both…

This hands-on creative experience is designed for beginners and novices who share a love for art, travel, and personal expression. In this course, we master the fundamentals of sketching and simple watercolor washes, progressing from basic color mixing to…

At the beginning of her career, Cyndi Lauper was told that success was just around the corner—if only she could use her amazing voice to sound more like Barbra Streisand. "I think that job has been taken," she replied, knowing that success would come only if…

This course provides an overview of the Business of Sport, blending theoretical knowledge with practical application, while exposing students to a diverse range of career opportunities across professional, collegiate, interscholastic/youth, and recreational…

This is a dynamic course introducing an interdisciplinary program that explores the powerful intersection of talent, commerce, and cultural influence in sports and entertainment. Discover how athletes and artists build sustainable brands, negotiate power…

In this course, we explore the profound spiritual landscapes of ancient China and India, seeking the soul of the traditions that have shaped Eastern thought for millennia. We begin by examining the origins of Taoism and its founder, Lao Tzu, alongside the…

In this course, we explore how depression, anxiety, and mood changes uniquely manifest as we age, focusing on the many factors that influence emotional well-being in later life. We examine how physical health changes, grief, caregiving roles, and social…

The Art Nouveau era emerged in late 19th-century France amidst a swirling landscape of societal change and creative rebellion. Characterized by sinuous curves and organic forms, the movement looked to nature as its ultimate sourcebook, stylizing plants,…

Edvard Grieg was the preeminent figure of Norwegian musical nationalism, celebrated for his ability to transform folk traditions into sophisticated art music. A master of the Romantic era, Grieg established a distinct Nordic identity that broke away from the…

Unlike his tragedies, William Shakespeare’s comedies generally revolve around themes of love, mistaken identity, and social disruption, almost always culminating in the celebratory union of marriage. While modern audiences may find the humor evolves beyond…

With nearly one hundred Academy Award nominations collectively, the Newman family has been a fundamental force in shaping the sound of American cinema over the last century. Their work traces the evolution of movie music, from grand orchestral scores and the…

Building upon the illustrious art-collecting legacies of their parents, Helen Clay Frick and Electra Havemeyer Webb became visionary collectors and preservationists in their own right. Their work transformed family traditions into expansive public…

John Cheever, the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Chekhov of the American landscape," masterfully captured the tension between mid-century social grace and the hidden complexities of the human psyche. In this course, we explore Cheever’s iconic fiction, spanning…

Traits commonly associated with ADHD often fuel creative thinking by fostering divergent thought, novel idea generation, and unique perspectives, leading to strengths in artistic endeavors, problem-solving, and innovation. In this course, we explore the lives…

Hollywood may be more famous for its divorces than its weddings, but few subjects have sparked as entertaining, insightful and funny movies as Hollywood’s take on marriage. In this course, we analyze how even the most entertaining films can deliver…

Fandom is one of the most powerful cultural and economic forces shaping modern entertainment, sports, gaming, and brands. This course examines fandom as a structured system and how fan communities form, grow, organize, commercialize, fracture, and endure,…

A hands-on workshop where participants learn how to design, build, and deploy their own Custom GPTs and create simple AI automations using platforms such as ChatGPT and Perplexity. We’ll focus on practical, real-world use cases that help educators and…

From their beginning in the late 1890s, silent films often focused on producing comedies. Mostly improvised and often rather silly, they required few if any subtitles to be understood by most audiences. Early films emphasized visual and physical humor such as…

Art and science are not separate disciplines, but two sides of the same fundamental human impulse to observe, understand, and create. In this course, we explore the indivisible connections between the aesthetic and the methodical, examining the convergence…

This course is designed for students with a solid foundation in French who wish to further develop their understanding of linguistic concepts through intermediate-level grammar and vocabulary. We complete guided grammar exercises and practice expressing…

Music has always been a source of controversy and scandal. In the search for originality, some artists push the envelope and either pay the price or use it for self-promotion. There have been fascinating episodes of plagiarism, cultural appropriation, and…

In this course, we trace the evolution of jazz from its origins to the present day, exploring how its defining characteristics have transformed over time. Through guided listening and analysis, we learn to identify and appreciate major jazz styles…

In this course, we discover the extraordinary artistry of Jack Boul—painter, printmaker, and beloved American University professor—whose work appears in the National Gallery of Art, the Phillips Collection, the Smithsonian, and private collections nationwide.…

Many contemporary artists are using their art to engage with cultural, social and personal narratives. These artists share a common thread in their work—they all explore themes of identity, culture, and social issues, often drawing from their own backgrounds…

For over 75 years, the Lean and Six Sigma methodologies have been helping organizations meet and exceed customer requirements while becoming more efficient and profitable. Lean and Six Sigma help organizations develop and deliver near-perfect products and…

This course is designed to introduce students to French music and poetry, two beloved and expressive art forms. Each week, we explore two iconic songs and poems from the early 20th century through the present, gaining fundamental language skills in a…