Humanities Student Spotlight:

Life-Long Learning with Program 60

After retiring from a rewarding public school teaching career six years ago, Maya Schulze decided to enroll in Ohio State’s Program 60 and take courses in subjects she was truly interested in. Her husband, Fred, joined her in this educational pursuit three years later. Together, they have taken approximately 60 courses, the majority of them in the humanities. If they were traditional students, Maya would almost have enough hours to earn an undergraduate degree from OSU, and Fred enough to fulfill a major. But they are not traditional students. They’re retired individuals enjoying the experience of learning about subjects they have a passion for, want to know more about, or were never exposed to when they were undergraduates years ago.

Program 60 allows individuals over 60 years of age to take courses at no cost, if there is room in the class. Participating students do not earn credit, but they also do not take exams or write papers. The Schulzes typically sign up for courses in History, English, Film, Italian, and Art History. Younger students have been welcoming, even initiating conversations and recommending professors, although some occasionally wonder why they’re taking a class when they “don’t have to.” After hearing their reasons, students sometimes urge their grandparents to sign up. The Schulzes have been very impressed with College of Humanities professors, frequently taking several courses from a particularly effective instructor.

They note that History and English courses today are quite different from those they took in college nearly 50 years ago (Maya majored in English at Radcliffe College, Fred in Russian at Haverford). Professors use more primary sources and include more stories about and written by those once left out of history books and literary canons, for example, women and people of color. The Schulzes feel that Program 60 courses have added meaning to their non-classroom experiences, such as museum visits and a trip to Italy after completing courses in Italian history, art, and language. They plan to keep taking courses for as long as they are able, and would recommend the Program 60 experience to anyone who enjoys learning and new ideas.

For more on Program 60, please visit http://www.continuinged.ohio-state.edu/CED_pro60.html.