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 with classes like Islam Just the Basics and Native American Representation in Literature and Cinema. If history's your thing, we've got archaeology courses like Exploring Bear's Ears Monument. For creatives, we offer Songwriting: the Art of Simple Complexities. There's something for everyone at Encore.
Humanities Classes
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.
2 credit hours
Cost: $10 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$122 residents under 65, $179.50 non-residents
2024FA ENGL 104 E05
7/26-9/27, FRI, 11 am-12:30 pm, Live Online
2024FA ENGL 104 E10
10/4-12/13, FRI, 11 am-12:30 pm, Live Online
(no class 11/27)
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
2024FA HUMA 104 E14
8/22-10/10, THU, 10 am-noon, 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
2024FA ANTH 104 E06
9/9, MON, 6-8:30 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 206
9/11-9/13, WED/THU/FRI, two-night field trip
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 2024-2025 schedule and tickets, visit sanjuansymphony.org. Students should purchase symphony tickets on their own.
LEVI BROWN has a Bachelor’s degree from Fort Lewis College in Music Performance, Piano, and has performed numerous times in the San Juan Symphony on violin.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2024FA MUSI 104 E02
9/26, 10/3, 10/24, 11/7, & 11/21, THU, 6-8 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 206
San Juan Symphony Pre-Concert Talks & Concerts: 10/13 & 11/17, SUN
You probably love many songs that were written by everyday people like you. Discover the magic of songwriting and self-expression through the transformative process of crafting experiences, journal entries, and hopeful dreams. Non-musicians and musicians are welcome. Bring your excitement, courage, and perseverance. Once you learn a basic writing process, knowing song forms and functions, you’ll have skills to write memorable songs.
JAMES COLLINS spent 22 years in Nashville, studying with top songwriters. He played in many almost famous bands, studied music at Florida State University, and has written several classical pieces. He holds a B.A. in Arts & Letters from the University of South Florida.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2024FA MUSI 104 E10
9/17-11/5, TUE, 6-8 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
Immerse yourself in the popular songs of the French culture. Explore the lives and music of famous French singers such as Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel, Yves Montand, Joe Dassin, Michel Sardou and more. Through songs and interviews from the featured artists (all with subtitles), deepen your appreciation for French culture—and leave humming new songs in your head.
AGNES WALISER was born in the French speaking part of Switzerland. This class takes a different cultural approach to her popular Armchair Traveler classes.
Cost: $6.50 residents 65 and older (first 10 credit hours)
$62.50 residents under 65, $196.50 non-residents
2024FA HUMA 104 E18
10/3-11/21, THU, 1-3 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
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
2024FA HUMA 104 E22
10/17-12/12, THU, 10 am-noon, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
(no class 11/28)
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
2024FA HUMA 104 E01
10/21-12/16, MON, 5:30-7:30 pm, 30th Street Education Center Room 208
(no class 11/25)
