San Juan College's Encore program offers a variety of humanities courses to suit your interests.
Try your hand at writing in our Writers’ Workshop, travel virtually with Armchair Traveler, or explore different cultures. If history's your thing, we've got archaeology courses like Exploring Bear's Ears Monument. For creatives, we offer Songwriting and Penmanship and Personality. There's something for everyone at Encore.
Humanities Classes
Gather to write, talk about writing, and share writing with each other. Have you always wanted to write but didn’t know where to start? This class is for you. Do you have a half-finished novel for which you need inspiration to finish? This class is for you. Do you write but wonder if your writing is any good, or want suggestions on how to make it better or publishable? This is your class! Classes include mini lectures on technique and style.
TRACI HALES is a retired San Juan College professor of writing.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2025SU ENGL 104 E12
7/22-8/19, TUE, 10 am-12:30 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 206
2025FA ENGL 104 E24
9/9-10/14, TUE, 10 am -12:30 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 206
2025FA ENGL 104 E08
10/21-12/2, TUE, 10 am -12:30 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 206
In a supportive atmosphere with inspiring prompts, meaningful feedback on your work and discussions on technique, style and publication, we’ll write and learn about writing. Fiction writers, creative non-fiction writers, as well as poets are welcome. Class will be offered online through Zoom; students should plan for some additional time during each week for self-paced class projects. Please provide your email and ask for your SJC login at registration.
TRAVIS WADE is an Assistant Professor of English and is the Director of the Creative Writing Program at San Juan College. He is also a former San Juan College graduate who grew up in Farmington and now resides in Aztec. He completed his Master of Fine Arts degree in Poetry and Creative Nonfiction at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA.
1 credit hours
Cost: $5 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $195 non-residents
2025FA ENGL 104 E05
7/25-9/26, FRI, 11 am-12:30 pm, Live Online
2 credit hours
Cost: $10 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$122 residents under 65, $390 non-residents
2025FA ENGL 104 E10
10/3-12/12, FRI, 11 am-12:30 pm, Live Online
(no class 11/28)
Explore the rich narrative and prophetic visions of the Book of Daniel through a close, chapter-by-chapter study. This course examines its historical setting, literary features, and enduring themes—such as faith under pressure, divine sovereignty, and apocalyptic imagery—while inviting thoughtful discussion and deeper insight into one of the Bible’s most intriguing texts.
Instructor: RON AWTREY
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2025FA HIST 104 E12
9/18-10/29, WED, 1:30-3:30 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 206
Travel with us from the classroom as we cruise along the main Rivers of Europe. Visit the cities and villages along the Rhine, Rhone, Loire, Danube and more. Learn useful tips about various European cruise lines in a relaxed, fun and interactive environment. $15 supply fee for food sampling in class.
AGNES WALISER was born in the French speaking part of Switzerland. This class expands upon her popular French for the Armchair Traveler classes.
Cost (including supply fee): $21.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours),
$77.50 residents under 65, $211.50 non-residents
2025FA HUMA 104 E14
8/14-10/9, THU, 10 am - 12 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
While many people focus blame on Hitler for the atrocities of the Holocaust, the historical roots of antisemitism in Europe and tensions between Christian and Jewish communities actually reach back centuries. Although Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism developed side-by-side in the first century and shared common narratives, Jews in Europe during the Middle Ages encountered increasingly frequent demonization in public disputations, art, and literature. Examine the theological differences and social tensions between Christians and Jews that eventually led to marginalization and expulsion of Jews in parts of Europe in the Middle Ages.
CYNTHIA RAPP SANDHU holds a Master of Theological Studies degree from Boston University School of Theology, and this class, which she has taught before, was developed from a National Endowment for the Humanities summer institute she attended at the University of Oxford.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2025FA HIST 104 E10
8/15-10/3, FRI, 10 am-12 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
If you’ve always wanted to visit Normandy, l’Alsace, Paris, or Quebec, get ready with this staycation class. Discover the richness of French language, culture and geography through regional vignettes and practical conversations such as ordering from a menu or shopping at a farmer’s market. $15 supply fee for food sampling in class.
AGNES WALISER was born in the French speaking part of Switzerland and has rich experiences to share from her travel and work in French speaking countries. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Cost (including supply fee):
$21.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$77.50 residents under 65, $211.50 non-residents
2025FA HUMA 104 E01
8/18-10/13, Mon,10 am-12 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
(no class 9/1)
Let out your inner Mozart and learn how to bring your musical ideas to life! In this hands-on course, you’ll start with the basics of reading and writing musical notation, then explore rhythm, melody, harmony, and simple song structure. Using music composition software on your personal computer, you’ll practice composing short pieces, notating them digitally, and listening to your creations come to life. No prior experience is required—just a love of music and a desire to create. Laptops encouraged.
Instructor: BOB BECK
2 credits
Cost: $13 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$125 residents under 65, $393 non-residents
2025FA MUSI 104 E20
8/25-12/15, T&TH, 2-4 pm, West Classroom Complex Room 1863
Each week, students will explore a selection of poems—some well-known, others simply splendid—and discover what makes them resonate. They’ll experiment with poetic tools like metaphor, imagery, rhyme, irony, and voice, then try writing a few lines of their own. In a supportive, workshop-style setting, participants will revise their work and explore creative forms such as haiku, sonnet, or the “golden shovel,” a contemporary poetic structure created by Terrance Hayes. Everything is a poem - dive in and enjoy the ride!
STEPHANIE MORAN has been teaching poetry most of her life and has taught English, American literature, ethnic literature, and reading and writing in four states and several colleges.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2025FA ENGL 104 E06
9/11-10/30, THU,10 am-12 pm, WCCL Room 1905
San Juan College’s One Book/One Community is based on the philosophy that a community that opens a book together closes it in greater harmony. Part alien-abduction adventure, part road trip saga, part romantic comedy, The Road to Roswell is packed full of Men in Black, Elvis impersonators, tourist traps, rattlesnakes, chemtrails, and Close Encounters of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth kind. We’ll discuss the book and participate in additional opportunities in conjunction with other activities on campus that may replace some scheduled class time, including the author’s visit to campus on October 17. Information about the One Book/ One Community activities will be available online: sanjuancollege.edu/onebook. Connie Willis is an acclaimed science fiction and fantasy writer. Her many books have won multiple awards, including eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards. Not only is she a member of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, but she was also named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
TRACI HALES retired from San Juan College where, in addition to teaching writing, she began the One Book/One Community program.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2025FA ENGL 104 E18
9/5-10/24, FRI,1-3 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
Explore how rock music and film came together to reflect and shape the social and political upheaval of the 1960s and ‘70s. This discussion-based course examines landmark rock musicals—including Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Tommy, The Wall, and Across the Universe—as cultural texts that grapple with themes of rebellion, war, love, and liberation. Each film offers a lens into the era’s shifting values and the enduring power of its soundtrack.
Instructor: DR. RICK WATERS
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2025FA MUSI 104 E10
9/18-10/23, THU,1-3:45 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
Scriptures are sacred to and at the heart of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Join this fascinating exploration of the origin of these scriptures, the languages behind them, their essential teachings, their development, and their final forms. Just as interesting is how they each came to us in the English language and the challenges of translation. You may be surprised by the parallels and intrigued by the contrasts.
MARK REDDY has studied comparative religion and has presented many workshops, classes, and study sessions on world religions.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2025FA HIST 104 E02
9/23-11/11, TUE, 1-3 pm, 30th Street Education Center, Room 206
The Bible and the Qur’an both share accounts about Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Jesus
and others. These accounts have striking similarities and a few significant differences. In this class we will
explore many of these parallel accounts and discuss their implications within the Biblical and Qur’anic world views. We will also set the stage by comparing the structure and content of the Bible and the Qur’an as sacred scripture.
Instructor: MARK REDDY
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2025FA HIST 104 E04
9/23-11/11, TUE, 3:30-5 pm, 30th Street Education, Center Room 208
Not only are some of the best writers women, but many of them are also in our own backyard. Read and listen to writers from Farmington, Albuquerque, and the Four Corners. We’ll discuss the readings and listen to those women either by Zoom, recorded interviews, or in person.
TRACI HALES is a retired professor of writing and former radio show host. She interviewed numerous writers on her show “Write on 4 Corners.”
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2025FA HUMA E26
9/25-10/23, TUE & THU, 2-4 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
Experience one of the newest and most controversial national monuments in the nation up close and personal. This semester’s class will focus on both front-country and back country areas within the original or “restored” Bear’s Ears National Monument and provide the student with information needed to explore further on their own. Three days and two nights in this spectacular area will put you in touch with monumental vistas and provide information about a variety of natural and cultural landscapes. Learn the low-impact, responsible way to recognize, visit, and monitor fragile archaeological sites. Mini workshops on artifact identification, site recognition and site preservation will be included. Class size is limited to 9 due to backcountry sensitivity. Since this class has been held before, the field trip will be geared to introduce some new areas to class participants and provide a variety of opportunities to engage with the landscape. The final management plan for the “restored” monument should be out by September so there will likely be new guidelines to be aware of when we visit. Register no later than 8/1 so that adequate room reservations can be made at the Recapture Lodge in Bluff. The instructor will reserve a block of rooms. Four-wheel-drive or high-clearance vehicles are needed. Please ask for the class handout with additional information at registration. $39 course fee payable at registration.
KRISTIE ARRINGTON is a retired archaeologist from the Bureau of Land Management with over 33 years of experience in the Four Corners area. She is currently the owner of Two Dog Cultural Resource Management Services, an archaeological and historic preservation consulting firm located in Aztec.
Cost (including course fee): $45.50 residents 65 and (first 10 credit hours)
$101.50 residents under 65, $235.50 non-residents
10/6, MON, 6-8:30 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 206
10/8-10/10, WED/THU/FRI, two-night field trip
Immerse yourself in French culture by watching French movies. All movies will have English subtitles. Come and enjoy Jean de Florette, Manon of the Springs, La Grande Vadrouille, Joyeux Noel, Les Intouchables, and more. A short discussion will follow each movie.
AGNES WALISER was born in the French speaking part of Switzerland. This class expands upon her popular French for the Armchair Traveler classes.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2025FA HUMA 104 E24
10/9-11/20, THU, 2-4:15 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 206
This course picks up where the “Origins and Impacts of Antisemitism” Encore course leaves off by focusing on the evolution of antisemitism from the Early Modern Period through the present day (16th-21st centuries). As secularism, industrialization, and nationalism grew in Europe as a result of the Enlightenment and the weakening of traditional religio-political kingdoms, the perception and place of Jews in society also changed. Antisemitism transitioned from Anti-Jewish theological accusations against Jews to new forms of “othering,” including claims of biological difference and charges of political sabotage, leading to the genocide of millions of European Jews during the Holocaust in the 1940s. The course also includes discussion of how antisemitic stereotypes continue to be used in contemporary contexts by various ideological and political movements.
CYNTHIA RAPP SANDHU holds a Master of Theological Studies degree from Boston University School of Theology.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2025FA HIST 104 E20
10/10-12/5, FRI, 10 am - 12 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
(no class 11/28)
Travel with us from the classroom as we explore Spain, Italy, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Greece, Scandinavian countries and more. Discover the rich culture, history and geography of these countries. No previous classes required. $15 supply fee for food sampling in class.
AGNES WALISER was born in the French speaking part of Switzerland. This class expands upon her popular French for the Armchair Traveler classes.
Cost (including supply fee): $21.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$77.50 residents under 65, $211.50 non-residents
2025FA HUMA 104 E18
10/16-12/11, THU, 10 am - 12 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
Travel with us from the classroom as we visit Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. Discover the histories and rich cultures of Central Europe and sample their foods. $15 supply fee for food sampling in class.
AGNES WALISER was born in the French speaking part of Switzerland.
Cost (including supply fee): $21.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$77.50 residents under 65, $211.50 non-residents
10/20-12/15, Mon, 10 am-12 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
(no class 11/24)
This relaxed and engaging course invites students to explore poetry from the paperback text Literature to Go, using selections chosen by the class for discussion. The book features a wide range of voices—from beloved classics to fresh, contemporary works that are funny, deep, moving, and sometimes delightfully unpredictable. No pressure to analyze or decode poems to death—this is about enjoying what poetry has to say and how it makes us feel. Along the way, students may even be inspired to write and share a poem of their own. Whether you’re new to poetry or already a fan, this course is about discovering the many ways poetry speaks to us all.
STEPHANIE MORAN has had poems published in the Four Corners Anthology , Aspen Anthology, La Confluencia, The Durango Herald, and High Country News. She believes that everything is a poem and enjoys reading poems and exploring what makes them memorable.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2025FA ENGL 104 E
10/28-12/16, TUES, 10 am-12 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
