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 Music Composition for Beginners and Connecting with Poetry. There's something for everyone at Encore.
Humanities Courses
Learn how to prepare a variety of popular Japanese dishes in your own kitchen. This hands-on series introduces classic techniques, ingredients, and presentation styles used in everyday Japanese cooking. Each session explores a different dish or cooking method while building practical skills you can use at home. $15 supply fee for food in class.
Instructor: APRIL LOUGHRIDGE
Cost (including supply fee):$21.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$77.50 residents under 65, $216.50 non-residents
2026SP HUMA 104 E52
4/11 - 5/30, SAT, 10am-12:30pm, HHPC 55336
(no class 5/2)
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
2026FA ENGL 104 E10
6/26-9/11, FRI, 11 am-12:30 pm, Live Online
(no class 7/3)
2 credit hours
Cost: $10 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$122 residents under 65, $390 non-residents
2026FA ENGL 104 E05
9/25-12/11, FRI, 11 am-12:30 pm, Live Online
(no class11/27)
Take a closer look at what makes flight possible. In this multi-week ground school series, you’ll explore how airplanes get off the ground, stay in the air, and navigate from place to place. Topics include the basics of aerodynamics, weather, navigation, airspace, and communication presented in a clear, approachable way for curious learners. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit a local airport and see aviation in action. Learn the basics of flying an aircraft from a certified flight instructor with over 8,000 flight hours logged. NOTE: This class is designed for learning and exploration and does not include flight training or certification.
Instructor: RUSSELL GERVASE
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2026FA HUMA 104 E72
7/9-8/27, THU 3-5pm, 30th Street Education Center, Room 208
22026FA HUMA 104 E50
8/11-9/29, TUE, 4-6 pm, Health and Human Performance Center, Room 55336
Fresh, fun, and made by you. Learn how to prep sushi rice, roll your own creations, and build flavors you’ll want to make again at home. No experience needed, just come hungry and get ready to roll. A $15 supply fee for food for sampling is included in the price.
Instructor: APRIL LOUGHRIDGE
Cost: (including supply fee): $21.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$77.50 residents under 65, $211.50 non-residents
2026FA HUMA 104 E10
8/3-9/28, MON, 10:30 am -12:30 pm, Health and Human Performance Center, Room 55336
(no class 9/7)
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
2026FA ENGL 104 E18
8/11-9/15, TUE, 1-3:30 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
2026FA ENGL 104 E20
9/22-10/27, TUE, 1-3:30 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
2026FA ENGL 104 E24
11/3-12/15, TUE, 1-3:30 pm, 30th Street Education\ Center Room 208
(no class 11/24)
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
2026FA HIST 104 E20
8/14-10/2, 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
8/17-10/12, Mon,10 am-12 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
(no class 9/7)
Set sail (from your armchair) to explore some of Europe’s most captivating islands not covered in the previous Armchair Traveler classes. Journey through the beauty, history and charm of destinations like Rhodes, Corfu, Malta, Cyprus, Sicily, Capri, Sardinia, Corsica, Ibiza and many more, each with their own unique story and culture. Join us for relaxed and informative adventures. No previous classes required. $15 supply fee for food.
Instructor: AGNES WALISER
Cost (including supply fee): $21.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours),
$77.50 residents under 65, $211.50 non-residents
8/20-10/15, THU, 10 am-12 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
(no class 9/17)
From their origins, the Knights Templar rose from a pilgrim protection group to an elite order known
as the “Soldiers of Christ,” gaining great wealth and influence as both warriors and bankers. Their power led to a coordinated campaign to destroy them—but were they truly eliminated, or did some survive? This class explores their rise, fall, and the enduring myths and legacy surrounding them.
Instructor: LORALIE (LORI) MILLER
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2026FA HUMA 104 E62
9/4–11/20, FRI, 12:30-2:30pm, Room 208
Explore more of Japanese cooking with a focus on presentation and flavor. Learn how to style foods,
create beautiful bento boxes, and craft elegant sandos, then try your hand at soft, sweet mochi. Whether you’re new to Japanese cooking or returning, enjoy creating beautiful food and tasting what you make. A $15 supply fee for food for sampling is included in the price.
Instructor: APRIL LOUGHRIDGE
Cost: (including supply fee) $21.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$77.50 residents under 65, $211.50 non-residents
2026FA HUMA 104 E08
9/9-10/28, WED, 10:30 am -12:30 pm, Health and Human Performance Center, Room 55336
World religions share fundamental truths as well as differences that arise from the time and place of their origins. Enhance your knowledge of faith traditions by learning about their founders, their lives and times, their essential teachings, and some parallels and interconnections, as well as contrasts and differences between the traditions they established, in Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and the Baha’i Faith.
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
2026FA HIST 104 E02
9/10-10/29, THU,10 am-12 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
Handwriting is intimately connected with who we are and how we show up in the world. Many aspects of our nature, identity, and personality are reflected in our graphic expression and handwriting. This class will explore some significant and interestingly related aspects of handwriting. Topics will include preschool children’s art, development of writing systems, handwriting pedagogy and graphic maturity, forensic handwriting identification, personality assessment, grapho-therapy, alternate hand writing dialogue, handwriting in suicide notes, and models of human
nature.
MARK REDDY has a Master degree in the psychology of handwriting, has taught college classes, presented at many handwriting conferences and has done primary research on handwriting of suicides.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2026FA HIST 104 E04
9/10-10/29, THU,1-3 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
Music enriches our community, and under the leadership of Music Director Thomas Heuser, the San Juan Symphony’s concert season is sure to delight. Discover the beauty of music where once you only heard sound and appreciate your symphony experience as never before, with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide. Rediscover old musical favorites and deepen your understanding with cultural information and pre-concert symphony talks. For information on the San Juan Symphony’s 2026-2027 schedule and tickets, visit sanjuansymphony.org. Students should purchase symphony tickets on their own.
LAURA ARGOTSINGER holds a Masters in Music Education from Adams State University and is currently the Operations Manager for the San Juan Symphony.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2026FA MUSI 104 E14
9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 11/3, 11/10, TUES, 6-8 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
San Juan Symphony Pre-Concert Talks & Concerts: 10/4, 11/8, SUN, 3 pm
Step beyond the trailhead with confidence. In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to navigate the outdoors using maps, a compass, and GPS. Discover how to read topographic maps, orient yourself, and make sense of the tools that keep you on track. Whether you enjoy hiking, exploring, or just want to feel more self-reliant outside, you’ll leave with practical skills and a little more confidence in finding your way. Bring your own GPS and compass (instructor can provide recommendations). Class will feature outdoor sessions for practicing your new skills.
Instructor: JIM DICK
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2026FA SOCI 104 E06
09/14-11/9, MON, 1-3pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 206
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
2026FA ANTH 104 E06
9/21, MON, 6-8:30 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 206
9/23-9/25, WED/THU/FRI, 8:30am – 4:30 pm, two-night field trip
Discover French and European movies, including Babette’s Feast, Mediterraneo, le Grand Bleu and more. All movies will be shown in the original language with English subtitles. Join us and enjoy European cultures through movies.
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
2026FA HUMA 104 E58
10/1-11/12, THU, 2-4:15 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 206
Confused by conflicting nutrition advice? You’re not alone. This class takes a closer look at common food myths, fad diets, and trending nutrients to help you understand what truly supports your health. Learn how to read and interpret food labels, evaluate popular diet claims, and make sense of the nutrition information you see every day. Walk away with practical tools and a clearer understanding of how to make informed choices without the confusion.
Instructor: MELISSA MILLER, MPH
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2026FA HUMA 104 E48
10/6-12/1, TUE, 4-6 pm, Health and Human Performance Center, Room 55336
(no class 11/26)
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
2026FA HIST 104 E30
10/9-12/4, FRI, 10 am-12 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
(no class 11/27)
Travel with us from the classroom as we visit Belgium and Luxembourg, the French Alps and French Pyrénées, Châteaux de la Loire, Burgundy, Provence, Dordogne region, French Polynesia, as well as the old French Colonies. We will learn basic French conversation skills and sample foods from the various regions. $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
2026FA HUMA 104 E32
10/19-12/14, MON, 10 am-noon, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
(no class 11/23)
Create something small with big meaning. In this relaxed, hands-on class, you’ll design and make personalized charms and keepsakes that reflect your memories, interests, or the people and moments that matter most to you. These can be worn, shared, or simply kept as a reminder of something special. We’ll walk through simple techniques to transform your ideas into finished pieces, with plenty of room for creativity along the way. Bring along your ideas and enjoy the process of making something uniquely yours. A $15 supply fee is included in the total class price.
Instructor: APRIL LOUGHRIDGE
Cost: (including supply fee): $21.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$77.50 residents under 65, $211.50 non-residents
2026FA ARTS 104 E01
10/19-12/14, MON, 1-3pm, Room 1905
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
2026FA HUMA 104 E46
10/22-12/17, THU, 10 am-12 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
(no class 11/26)
Are you curious about the mysteries of Chaco Canyon, with its centuries of architectural brilliance and cultural dominance in the Southwest? Discover some of its secrets with an orientation class to learn the unique characteristics of Chaco Canyon and its Great Houses together with the hundreds of Chaco Outlier Great-House communities across the Four Corners. Ponder the landscape connections that influenced the function and placement of these Chaco Outlier communities, and the unique features still present on that landscape with two all-day fieldtrips to explore a few of them further. To get you prepared to get the most out of the class, a handout reading is required and is available at the Encore office for enrolled students. Learn the low impact way to visit these fragile archaeological sites, how to recognize “Chacoan” characteristics at a site and how its inhabitants engaged with the landscape and other communities. Mini workshops on artifact identification, map reading and site preservation will be included. Class size is limited to 11 for backcountry safety and site sensitivity. Four-wheel-drive or high clearance vehicles are needed for the two field trips which will be all day. Hiking a distance up to 1 mile over uneven terrain may be required. Carpooling is encouraged and if you ride with someone else, please offer to pay something for gas. Please ask for the required-reading handout at registration. A Fieldtrip Essentials list will be provided in class.
KRISTIE ARRINGTON is a retired BLM archaeologist with over 45 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, New
Mexico.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours),
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2026FA ANTH 104 E10
11/9, MON, 6:30-8 pm, 11/13 & 11/14, FRI & SAT, 8:30 am-4:30 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
