LEWISTON – The Senior College program at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College will offer 16 courses for the fall semester, Sept. 19 through Nov. 18.

Now in its 12th year, the semester will include such diverse courses as the writings of the Bronte sisters, a history of religion in America, French and Spanish languages, home landscaping, a study of Bible stories, espionage in film, travels to national parks, neurobiology, English history, memoir writing and the history of the Holocaust.

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 Senior College 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 are held at L-A College, 51 Westminster St., except as noted.

The courses are as follows:

“Producing a Play: Beginning to End”: Presented by Christopher Schario, artistic director of Lewiston’s Public Theater, the course will describe how a play is chosen, its casts and designs and the conducting of rehearsals and preparation for the production’s opening.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. four Mondays, Sept. 19 to Oct. 17. Schario has fine arts degrees from Ohio and Carnegie-Mellon universities and has acted Off-Broadway and taught in various theater arts programs.

“Home Landscaping”: Continuing the study of horticulture, the course will consider the art, methodology and psychology of designing or refining the home landscape.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. eight Mondays, Sept. 19 to Nov. 14; no class Oct. 10. Instructor Edward Corbett has advanced degrees in plant physiology and plant breeding. Corbett has taught plant science and home landscaping at UConn for 30 years.

“French Conversation”: The course is designed to meet the needs of travelers to Europe, Africa and Canada in conducting business in French-speaking areas, dealing with family encounters, shopping, current events and other related cultural differences.

Classes are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. eight Mondays, Sept. 19 to Nov. 14; no class Oct. 10. Instructor Ann Anctil worked as a French interpreter for more than 30 years in France and the U.S. and is familiar with Canadian and standard French. She holds a master’s degree in French from St. Joseph’s College.

“The Holocaust”: The European Holocaust conducted by Nazi Germany will be examined by its history of anti-semitism, the rescue of children through the Kindertransport, the model ghetto of Theresienstadt and the “final solution.”

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. four Tuesdays, Sept. 20 to Oct. 11. Instructor Jacqueline Littlefield has worked as education coordinator for the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine since retiring from public education. She conducts workshops on the Holocaust and human rights issues across the state.

“History of Religion in America”: The United States has a greater number of religious groups than any other country in the world. The course is an introduction to American religious history, from the Pilgrim’s landing in 1620 to the present day. Topics will include the divisions of major religious groups as well as those less well-known.

Classes are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. eight Tuesdays, Sept. 20 to Nov. 8. Instructor Alan Elze has taught a variety of courses at Senior College and is 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.

“Human Stories from the Hebrew Bible”: The people in the Hebrew Bible were flawed human beings trying to do better. The class will examine them, in what may be for some a new light, seeking to learn from the examples of their struggles.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. six Wednesdays, Sept. 21 to Oct. 26. Instructor Rabbi Hillel Katzir has served the Jewish community of central Maine at Temple Shalom in Auburn since 2003. He has taught Judaism and religion at USM, the Bangor Theological Seminary and many church and school groups.

“A Still Small Voice: The Shaker Quarterly”: The class core will be be discussion of selected passages from the Shaker official publication, “The Shaker Quarterly,” led by Leonard L. Brooks, director of the Shaker Museum and Library.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. four Wednesdays, Sept. 21 to Oct. 12. The course will be held at Schooner Estates in Auburn.

Instructor Brooks holds a BA from the University of Maine and an MA in library science from Dartmouth College.

“French Opera”: The course will concentrate on three works by France’s most popular opera composer, Jules Massenet, as well as works by Berlioz and Poulenc, while providing and clarifying the differences between French and Italian opera.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. eight Wednesdays, Sept. 21 to Nov. 16; no class Nov. 2. Instructor John Serrage is a long-time Senior College course leader who specializes in opera and is proficient in piano and organ.

“Cloak and Dagger: Spy Thrillers on Film”: Espionage and spying is the theme of the latest film series presented by Ralph Tuttle. The course will showcase classic thrillers: “The Third Man,” “The Man Who Never Was,” “Decision Before Dawn” and “Three Days of the Condor,” as well as several screenplays from novels of a master of the genre, John le Carre.

Classes are scheduled from 1 to 3:30 p.m. eight Wednesdays, Sept. 21 to Nov. 9. Tuttle has hosted a variety of film programs at Senior College and is a former member of the board of directors.

“Biology and Human Behavior: The Neurological Origins of Individuality”: The course is designed as an introduction to neurobiology and will focus on three major areas of study: how the brain works, how it influences events throughout the body and how the biology of the brain influences individuality and behavior.

Classes, scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. eight Thursdays, Sept. 22 to Nov. 10, will be held at Schooner Estates in Auburn.

Instructor Charles W. Plummer is a retired educator and a frequent Senior College instructor who holds BS and MA degrees in education and a PhD in religious studies and metaphysics.

“The Age of Anxiety”: Continuing the series of courses on English history and historical personalities, the course will focus on the years 1900-1950, which brought world wars, scandals and the dissolution of the English empire and are recent enough that class attendees can bring their memories. Final classes will include the reading aloud from the plays of George Bernard Shaw.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. eight Thursdays, Sept. 22 to Nov. 10. Instructor Barbara Randall taught English literature at Edward Little High School and is a former member of the board of directors.

“Espanol Para Viajar: Salud Comida Y Orientacion”: The course is a continuation of the recent Spanish language series and uses the Berlitz Essential Spanish text from the previous semester. Subjects addressed are health, food and “getting around” in Spanish-speaking locations.

Classes are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. eight Thursdays, Sept. 22 to Nov. 10. Instructor Barbara Oliver has traveled extensively in Spanish-speaking countries. She holds an MA from Middlebury College and has taught Foreign Language Methods at William and Mary College.

“U.S. National Parks”: Travel along with the instructor as she visits 50 of the U.S. national parks.

Classes are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. four Thursdays, Sept. 22 to Oct. 13. Instructor and tour guide Joanne Lebel’s personal goal of visiting all 58 parks is her inspiration. She recently retired as an assistant superintendent of schools after a long career in public education.

“Writing our Stories”: Discover how much fun a writing group can be as the class shares stories and memories. No previous writing experience is required.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. six Fridays, Sept. 30 to Nov. 4. Instructor Anita Greenblatt is a graduate of Andover College and a life-long learner. She has been an instructor in the Auburn Adult Education program for several years.

“Drawing Workshop”: Focusing on the principles and elements of art through the use of a variety of drawing techniques and media, the course will develop artistic compositions based on observation, imagination and photo reference.

Classes are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon six Fridays, Sept. 23 to Oct. 28. Instructor Linda DeSantis Pomerantz holds degrees in liberal arts and art education with an MA in teaching, and instructor Anita Poulin is an experienced artist and graphic designer.

“The Bronte Sisters Revisited”: The centerpiece of the course will be three of the 19th century’s most memorable novels. The class will read and discuss Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre” (1847), Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights” (1847) and Anne Bronte’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” (1848).

Classes are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. eight Fridays, Sept. 23 to Nov. 18; no class Nov. 11. Instructor Lincoln Ladd has taught English at North Carolina University, the University of North Carolina at Glassboro and the University of Maine at Farmington and Augusta.

Course registration is by mail only, with registration closing on Friday, Sept. 9. Registration forms are available at the Senior College office, 51 Westminster St., and can be downloaded from the Web site. Payments must be made by personal check or money order. Some courses have limited enrollment, and early registration is encouraged.

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 www.usm.maine.edu/seniorcollege.