As one grows older, the saying “healthy body, healthy mind” becomes increasingly important. Keeping your mind active can lead to improved memory and quality of life — an easy way to do this is to take advantage of classes right here on campus.

Saskatoon Seniors Continued Learning and the College of Arts and Science have come together to offer non-degree classes to individuals 55 and over. The classes are as stress-free as possible, with no textbooks, exams, essays or pre-requisites. They are an excellent way to gain knowledge about the world for its own sake.

Signing up for classes is simple — all you need to do is fill out a short registration form from the Saskatoon Seniors Continued Learning section on the Arts and Science Non-Credit Courses website. Along with a small enrollment fee for each class, mail in your registration package and you’re good to go.

In most cases, classes are held on campus for two hours once a week for eight weeks. Classes can be taken in either the spring, fall or winter terms.

The classes cover a wide variety of subjects, including political science, history, physics and music — a summary of some of these courses is outlined below.

The Cosmic Mystery: Discovering the Universe from Heraclitus to Hawking: this lecture series is an exploration of how we came to arrive at our current understanding of science.

The class follows the history of science, from its birth to the discovery of the expansion of the universe. In almost two months, several thousand years of knowledge will be studied and explored. This class allows your inner nerd to shine.

Morality and Justice in World Affairs: this class examines the effects of law, religion and philosophy in an international context.

This course will explore current topics such as terrorism, bombing and economic sanctions, among others. Class discussion is a major focus, allowing for the examination of many different viewpoints.

Europe, 1914-1924: Of War, Revolution and Counter-Revolution: from revolutions to a world war, this class will look at a decade packed with moments that changed the course of history forever.

The spotlight will not only shine on international affairs but also on some topics closer to home, such as the rise of opposing ideologies in politics. This is an intense class, but a highly enlightening one.

Aesthetics in Music: this class does not focus on music notation but instead on the style and aesthetics of music.

A variety of styles will be studied in this course, such as jazz, opera, classical and folk. With each genre, students will learn about its value within music culture, as well as how to get the most out of the experience when listening to different styles of tunes.

A unique aspect of this class is that students will have different instructors, including Dean McNeill, head of the University of Saskatchewan music department, and Eric Paetkau, the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra artistic director and conductor.

Learning is something that should not cease at the end of your formal education or career. With a vast history and important current events, there is much to be learned about the world. Saskatoon Seniors Continued Learning is an opportunity that is not one to be missed.

If you know anybody who would be interested in courses like these, be sure to let them know about it. Although registration for the spring term has closed, this is a great time to start searching for classes to take in the fall.

This is a great way to enjoy campus life and academia without the stress of due dates and exams — so take advantage of it!

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Kezia Fourie

Graphic: Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor