LEWISTON — The Senior College program at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College will offer 12 courses for the fall semester, Sept. 20 through Nov. 12.

Now in its 12th year, the program semester will include such diverse subjects as England’s Romantic Age, American Religious History, a history of contemporary terrorism and utopian ideologies, two composers and their operas, a writer’s workshop, recent British fiction and courses in film and the Spanish language.

Open to all persons age 50 and older and their spouses, the courses will be presented by peers, with no entrance requirements, grades or tests. An annual membership fee of $25, valid from September through May, is required and provides access to the computer lab and library, newsletters and to Senior College courses at other USM campuses.

The course fees, which include the cost of most books and materials, are $25 each for the first two courses and $10 for each additional course. All classes will be held at L-A College at 51 Westminster St. except as noted.

The fall courses are as follows:

“Phun with Physics Revisited”: Find out how our physical world behaves as Hugh Keene covers some material previously presented along with new facts and demonstrations.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Mondays, Sept. 20 to Nov. 1. Keene is chairman of the Senior College board and has presented various courses in science. He was formerly chairman of the science department and taught physics at Edward Little High School.

“A History of Utopia and Terror in the 20th Century”: The course will examine the ideologies that promised utopias and total solutions to social problems but instead created a terrible human toll. The phenomenon of terrorism today is included in the study.

The course will be held at Schooner Estates from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for eight Tuesdays, Sept. 21 to Nov. 9.

Instructor Charles Plummer is a frequent presenter for Senior College programs at USM LAC and the Midcoast Senior College, and is a retired educator and administrator with 30 years in the Auburn school system.

“Two Composers and Their Operas”: The course will present the biographies and operas of composers Puccini and Tchaikovsky. Media to be used will include video and audio recordings.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Tuesdays, Sept. 21 to Oct. 26. Instructor John Serrage is a long-time Senior College presenter who has studied music and operas for many years.

“Presente, Imperfecto, Preterito”: In the Spanish course verb forms and vocabulary learned in previous courses will be practiced in new contexts. Emphasis will be on listening and speaking while new material is introduced.

Classes are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. for seven Tuesdays, Sept. 21 to Nov. 2. Instructor Barbara Oliver is a “survival” Spanish teacher and uses her knowledge of teaching methodology to guide students deeper into this Berlitz self-study course. She holds degrees from William and Mary College and Middlebury College.

“Creating Chosen Land: The Architectural History of Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village”: The short course will provide guided tours of the new architecture exhibit and the buildings at Shaker Village and mill site.

It will be held on-site at Shaker Village. Appropriate footwear is recommended and carpooling suggested.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for four Wednesdays, Sept. 22 to Oct. 13. Instructor Leonard Brooks is director of the Shaker Museum and Library and holds degrees from the University of Maine and Dartmouth College.

“Postwar British Cinema: Guinness and Sellers”: From the unique traditions of Shakespearean drama and the English Music Hall came two great comedic talents, Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers, who starred in a series of classic movies in the early 1950s. The course will screen several of their most memorable films, including “Kind Hearts and Coronets,” “The Ladykillers,” “Lavender Hill Mob” and “The Mouse That Roared.”

Classes are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. for six Wednesdays, Sept. 22 to Oct. 27. Instructor Ralph Tuttle has hosted many film courses at Senior College and is a past member of the board of directors.

“Organizing Photos is Fun”: The course will help tackle those boxes of unorganized photos that are still taking up needed space on shelves or in closets. Learn to sort quickly and how to store tho “keepers” for mounting in albums or scrapbooks. Guest presenters will address the sorting of digital photos and establishing family heirloom keepsake albums.

Classes are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. for eight Wednesdays, Sept. 22 to Nov. 10. Instructor Cathy Thorpe has hosted cooking classes for Senior College and is a past member of the board of directors.

“History of Religion in America”: An introduction to American religious history in which the U.S. has a greater number of religious groups than any other country, the course will discuss the divisions of major religious groups as well as those less well-known, from the Pilgrim landing in 1620 to the present day.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for seven Thursdays, Sept. 23 to Nov. 18. Instructor Alan Elze has taught a variety of courses at Senior College. A past member of the board of directors, he is retired from the U.S. Navy and has an MA in American history from the University of Rhode Island.

“Writer’s Workshop”: The course will provide a workshop setting to bring in writing, fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, concepts or finished work, for constructive comments by class members. Whether working toward publication or just wanting to hear responses to ideas, all writers are welcome.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. eight Thursdays, Sept. 23 to Nov. 18. Instructor Sarah Andersen Lawrence has been a teacher and a journalist in corporate communications. She holds a BA from Lawrence College and an MA from the University of Minnesota.

Writing Our Stories”: The course will provide a way to record memories using various styles, in-class exercises and a story written at home, providing a jump start for those whose writing has “stalled out” or fun for beginners.

Classes are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. eight Thursdays, Sept. 23 to Nov. 18. Instructor Evelyn Gerry Eastman began writing at an early age. Her work has been published in Writer’s Journal and local newspapers.

“George, Percy, John and Mary”: Barbara Randall will provides understanding and information about the Romantic Age in England, with close attention to the writings of Byron, Shelley and Keats, as well as reading Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.”

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. seven Fridays, Sept. 24 to Nov. 5. Randall taught English at Edward Little and has traveled around the world. She is a former member of the board of directors.

“Late 20th Century British Fiction”: The last 15 years of the 20th century in Britain saw the publication of some superb fiction. The course will read and discuss three exemplary works,“An Instance of the Fingerpost” by Lain Pears, “The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro and “After Rain” by William Trevor, that differ in subject matter but share literary excellence.

Classes are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. eight Fridays, Sept. 24 to Nov. 12. Instructor Lincoln Ladd has presented several literature courses at Senior College and is a retired educator who has taught at North Carolina State University and UNC-Greensboro, and the University of Maine at Farmington and Augusta. He is a member of the board of directors.

Classes for all courses will not be held on Oct. 11 and Nov. 11.

Course registration is by mail only and forms are available at the Senior College office, 51 Westminster St., and can be downloaded from the Web site. Senior College is an affiliate of the Elderhostel Institute Network and an initiative of the Osher Learning Institute at USM. For more information on courses and enrollment, call 753-6510 or visit online at www.usm.maine.edu/lac/seniorcollege.