LEWISTON — The Senior College program at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College will present 22 courses in the fall semester, Sept. 23 through Nov. 18.

Now in its fifteenth, the upcoming semester includes both new and continuation courses, ranging from the history of French North America, Spanish and French languages, the operas of Wagner, Impressionist art, the Civil War soldier, and the U.S. Constitution, as well as others described below.

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 Sept. 1, 2013, through Aug. 31, 2014, is required and provides access to the computer lab and library 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 then $10 for each additional course. All classes are held during the day at L-A College, 51 Westminster St., except as noted below.

The Fall 2013 semester courses offerings are as follows:

“Henry David Thoreau’s Walden Pond and Maine Experience”: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Mondays, Sept. 23 to Nov. 4. Instructor June Spear is a retired educator and a past member of the Senior College Board.

“The Book of Revelation”: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for four Mondays, Sept. 23 to Oct. 21. Instructor Mike Akerley, O.P. is a lay member of the Dominican Order.

“Jewelry Making”: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for four Mondays, Sept. 23 to Oct. 21. Instructor Lorraine Giasson. This beginner’s level course will cover making necklaces, bracelets and anklets using beads, chains and findings.

“1001 Drama Activities”: 1 to 3 p.m. for seven Mondays, Sept. 23 to Nov. 18. Instructor Hugh Keene. This course will include stagecraft and direction, spontaneous readings and improvisations.

“Wagner without Fear”: 1 to 3 p.m. for seven Mondays, Sept. 30 to Nov. 25. Instructor John Serrage. This course covers the life of Richard Wagner with a sampling of his most lyrical operatic works.

“What It means to be Human: Life’s Lessons from the Frontiers of Science”: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for eight Tuesdays, Sept. 24 to Nov. 12, at Schooner Estates in Auburn. Instructor Charles W. Plummer, Ph.D. A thought-provoking and witty study of human behavior.

“Those Were the Days!”: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Tuesdays, Sept. 24 to Oct. 29. Instructor Barbara V. Randall. This course provides an historical and literary review of England from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present.

“Metis: People of Two Cultures”: 1 to 3 p.m. for four Tuesdays, Sept. 24 to Oct. 15. Instructor Elder Mike Deerhawk Akerley will provide a look at the Metis people of eastern North America and the etymology of their culture.

“Survey of the U.S. Constitution: Amendments 1-27”: 1 to 3 p.m. for six Tuesdays, Sept. 24 to Oct. 29. Instructor Crystal Ward will continue her study of the U.S. Constitution with an analysis of the Amendments 1-27.

“Explore Maine’s Southern Lighthouses”: This is a special offering for nine Wednesdays from Aug. 14 to Oct. 9. Instructors Duane Prugh and Tom Barden will provide a series of field trips to over 30 lighthouses and associated museums. Several trips are by boat and physical activity may be difficult for some persons. Course cost will be approximately $300 to cover ongoing expenses.

Registration deadline is Aug. 1.

“A Softer World: The Impressionists”: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Wednesdays, Sept. 25 to Oct. 30. Instructor Kirsten Larsson-Turley. This course will view and study an inspired collection of the work of some of the most popular painters of the Impressionism style.

“Critical Thinking”: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for four Wednesdays, Sept. 25 to Oct. 16.

Instructor Patrick Norton, former Director of the Maine Legislature’s Office of Policy and Legal Analysis and currently an instructor at USM, will provide ways to develop thinking skills to detect poor arguments and challenge assumptions.

“The Civil War Soldier in Camp and Combat”: 1 to 3 p.m. for eight Wednesdays, Sept. 25 to Nov. 13. Instructor Andrew Hall. This course will explore the life of the Civil War soldier in both camp and combat, and World War II parallels will be discussed.

“A History of the Hoiocaust”: 1 to 3 p.m. for eighth Wednesdays, Sept. 25 to Nov. 13. Instructor Rabbi Hillel Katzir. This course will survey the antecedents and important events of the Holocaust and other modern genocides, and will include a trip to the Holocaust & Human Rights Center of Maine in Augusta.

“Your Story – My Story”: 1 to 4 p.m. for eight Wednesdays, Sept. 25 to Nov. 13. Instructors Rosanne Ducey and Pauline L. Fortin. The course focus will be on memoir writing through plot development, characters and dialogue. No experience needed. All are welcome.

“Advanced Conversational French II”: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for eight Thursdays, Sept. 26 to Nov. 14. Instructor Ann Anctil. For students seeking to improve their conversational skills, this course will introduce easy reading and writing to expand methods of communicating.

“U.S. National Parks”: 1 to 3 p.m. for five Thursdays, Sept. 26 to Nov. 14 at Schooner Estates in Auburn. Instructor Joanne Lebel. Repeated by popular demand, this course provides history and facts about our National Parks.

“Espanol: Practicando y Platicando”: 1 to 3 p.m. for eight Thursdays, Sept. 26 to Nov. 14. Instructor Barbara Oliver continues her Spanish language course with use of advanced communication skills.

“French North America”: 1 to 3 p.m. for eight Thursdays, Sept. 26 to Nov. 14. Instructor James Myall is the coordinator of USM’s Franco-American Collection. The course provides a multi-disciplinary study of French cultures in North America from 1600 to the present.

“American Short Fiction, 1900-1940”: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for eight Fridays, Sept. 27 to Nov. 15. Instructor Lincoln Ladd. This course covers the reading and discussion of short fiction written by Edith Wharton, Ernest Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald and Eudora Welty.

“Learning to Paint with Acrylics”: 10 a.m. to noon for six Fridays, Sept. 27 to Nov. 1. Instructor Anita F. Poulin. Students will use acrylic paints, paste and gel with brushes and pallet knives, and should know basics of drawing and how to mix colors.

“Religious Freedom in America”: 1 to 3 p.m. for eight Fridays, Sept. 27 to Nov. 15. Instructor Rabbi Hillel Katzir. Repeated by popular demand, this course will discuss how the religion clauses to the U.S. Constitution impact our lives.

Course registration is my mail only with registration closing Friday, Sept. 13. Registration forms are available at the Senior College office and can be downloaded from the website. Some courses have limited enrollment and early registration is advised. For more information call 753-6610 or online at usm.maine.edu/seniorcollege.