Minicourses at Madison Library

30th Anniversary: 1992-2022

Short, noncredit courses taught by the faculty of local universities, including Drew University.

Open to anyone in the general public interested in learning just for pleasure.
Minicourse format: one two-hour or one-and-a-half-hour class per week for five weeks.
Offered on weekdays during the day.
Classes have returned to in-person. We hope to soon offer hybrid classes, combining both in-person and Zoom for each class.
Tuition for one minicourse is $95.
Couples pay only one tuition for the online minicourses.
Maximum registration is 90 students.
Organized by the Friends of the Madison Public Library. Donations to the Friends are appreciated. Click HERE.

HISTORY OF MINICOURSES

In 2022, we celebrated 30 years of continuing education–the first 26 years as ‘Drew Minicourses’ and then as ‘Minicourses at Madison Library.’ Because of your support all of these years, we can offer college-level minicourses and transition from co-sponsor to sole sponsor and then from in-person to virtual during the pandemic. We celebrate you and your dedication to knowledge! Thank you!

The Minicourses at Madison Library began with the Fall Term in 1992. Originally named the “Drew Minicourses,” the program began as an informal partnership between Drew University’s Caspersen School of Graduate Studies and the Friends of the Madison Public Library. After 26 successful years together, Drew decided to focus on its matriculated student programs to align its resources with the university's mission.

Beginning January 1, 2019, The Friends continued with the program under the new name, “Minicourses at Madison Library,” and has expanded the pool of instructors to include those from Drew and other local universities.

These noncredit courses have drawn thousands of students from over 60 communities throughout northern New Jersey. Student response has been enthusiastic, with many people returning for classes each term.

Classes are taught for five weeks in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Since 1992, the program has offered the Madison community and the surrounding area hundreds of history, political science, literature, poetry, art, and science courses.

The courses are suitable for the general public without any prerequisites. The faculty members are chosen for their scholarship and ability as lecturers. Many of the teachers return at popular request. No examinations, grades, or required reading exist, but reading lists are available for those who wish to further broaden their knowledge. The classroom is accessible, and the parking is adjacent to the library.