The New School
(212-229-5630; newschool.edu)
* Beatlemania: Popular music and cultural mythology
Ideal for diehard fans and music aficionados, this course explores the many lives, and afterlives, of The Beatles. Exploring their extended family, there is a focus on the worldwide reach of their influence, from their place at the forefront of the “British Invasion” of the US in the 1960s to the recent inauguration of the Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland.
By exploring the band’s dialogue with the major political events, social movements and cultural developments of their time, students develop an understanding of the reasons for The Beatles’ enduring popularity and the cultural significance of popular music in general.
Course materials are drawn from a variety of media — musical recordings, television, cinema, photography, even video games — and sources ranging from music journalism to media theory.
* The Harlem Renaissance
This course offers an in-depth exploration of the pivotal period in African-American social and cultural history known as the Harlem Renaissance.
Following the Great Migration (the influx of southern blacks into northern cities in the early 20th century), African-Americans in New York City produced a body of work remarkable for its breadth and the complexity of its themes.
This course looks at the work of artists and intellectuals of the era in relation to other social, cultural and historical phenomena that define modern times.
* Documentary production workshop
Students learn the essentials of shooting a five- to seven-minute documentary. The course covers how to develop an idea, research the topic, interview subjects, create a visual strategy and master basic skills of location scouting, lighting and shooting.
Explore the use of still photographs, artwork and stock footage, working individually or in groups.
By the end of the term, students should have a working rough cut or fine cut edited with Final Cut Pro.
* Mindfulness and meditation in psychology
To tune into this class, you’ll have to learn how to tune out – literally. This course involves an experiential component in which students themselves practice mindfulness and meditation. Drawing from Buddhist meditation, the practice of mindfulness has found application in therapy and research. This course is designed to familiarize students with mindfulness and meditation in psychology. Students learn about the historical origins of these practices and their overlap with psychology.
Personal stories
This online workshop is for writers from all backgrounds who are inspired to write personal stories.
Mine your childhood memories and life experience for solid nonfiction writing. Students work to create gripping narratives driven by language, landscape, memory, religion and music.
New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies
(212-998-7200; scps.nyu.edu)
* Special topics in healthcare management
This course, for admitted students in an NYU credit or degree program, explores a different topic in health-care management each semester as it applies to health care.
Recent issues such as patient safety, health communication, complementary and alternative medicine, health policy, health-care technology and delivery systems, risk management, professional ethics and the politics of health-care will be discussed.
* Marketing yourself for a successful career transition
You’re not alone! Acquire the skills needed to change careers, pursue positions in new industries, change jobs within the same field or re-enter the workforce after an extended absence regardless of background, work experience and age.
Learn strategies for selling oneself to potential employers using time-tested techniques. Develop a personal marketing plan, mission statement, proposition and positioning statements and define core competencies and successes
* Philanthropy: The art of the ask
Asking for a gift is both an art and a science. Without an understanding of the most effective methods of asking for financial support, no fund-raiser responsible for soliciting gifts from individuals, corporations or foundations can succeed.
In this course, successful fund-raisers discuss their approaches and a philanthropist reports on their reaction to different “asks.”
* Web analytics: Integrating Web site and e-mail data for effective digital marketing programs
To effectively measure digital marketing programs, it is critical to integrate Web analytics and e-mail profile data. Gain helpful information that maximizes returns on investments by tracking and analyzing the behavior of customers, browsers and nonresponders.
Learn about analytics software used for Web mining, how data is passed between applications, the importance of real-time updates and warehousing options.
BERKELEY COLLEGE
(800-446-5400;
berkeleycollege.edu)
* Paralegal studies certificate program
Approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), this 308-contact hour, non-credit program will prepare you with the technical skills, general knowledge and communication abilities necessary to be successful entry-level paralegal.
Courses include introduction to paralegalism, contracts and uniform commercial code, computerized legal applications, torts, LEXIS and WESTLAW, legal research and writing.
HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY
(516-463-6600; hofstra.edu)
* Photoshop photo manipulation
Use Photoshop and its tools to enhance your images. Open to beginner or intermediate-level computer users.
* Introduction to healthcare information technology
This is the fast-growing segment of the health-care industry. Recent government initiatives are dedicating billions of dollars into this field for the purposes of driving costs down through the increased quality of care, decreased error rates and more expedient claims adjudication, payments and fraud detection.
Learn the technologies and policies simultaneously as they impact patients, providers and the government.
* Understanding the greening of real estate sales
This course creates an understanding of the impact of environmental laws, “green” terminology, energy efficiency and landlord/tenant issues on real estate sales for the real estate professional.
* Get that novel started: Strategies for writing fiction that sells
Have you dreamed of penning a novel but are daunted by the task?
Novelist Saralee Rosenberg has published both fiction and nonfiction books and understands that the hardest part is getting started.
This intensive six-week workshop will give emerging writers the support and knowledge they need to complete a manuscript.
Topics include coming up with the big ideas, plot and character development, narrative no-no’s, good dialogue and cliffhanger endings. Participants will also have a chance to share their work and have it critiqued.
* Estate planning
Get an understanding of the fundamentals of estate planning, including tools and techniques that cover differing situations.