Open houses and orientation sessions are being offered Jan. 8 to 11 for Coastal Carolina University's Lifelong Learning noncredit courses for the spring semester. These sessions will include registration, mini-lectures and refreshments, as well as information about classes.

Registration continues for the classes, offered by Coastal at its Conway campus and three higher education centers located in Georgetown, Litchfield and Myrtle Beach.

The Division of Academic Outreach at Coastal is offering 230 Lifelong Learning courses during the day and evening hours, including subjects such as art and photography, computer technology, foreign languages, history and government, literature and writing, music, theater and film, personal growth and skills, religion and philosophy, and science and nature.

The Waccamaw Higher Education Center orientation and open house will be held Monday and Tuesday Jan. 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To get to the center, turn west at the Willbrook Boulevard/Piggly Wiggly light in Litchfield; it is between the Hampton Inn and the fire station. For more information about the Waccamaw center call 349-4030.

Monday, Jan. 8, at the Waccamaw Higher Education Center:

-- 10 a.m., Dr. John Cappello presents his approach to weight loss, followed by Kathy Shader and "Laughter Therapy."

-- 10 a.m., Carol Rose will present an overview of all of the computer courses to be offered at Waccamaw and Georgetown.

-- 11 a.m., Reid Johnson will present "Some Myths and Mistakes about Politics, Science, and Religion that Hurt Older Adults Today" as precursors to courses he will be teaching this spring. Richard Hull will also present an overview of Botany for Gardeners and Jan Modjeski will discuss her course on "An Exploration of Deep Ecology."

-- 1 p.m., Various history teachers and their courses will be surveyed, including Don Ullmann on the history of Germany, Tom Flanagan on Irish history, Margaret McGreevey on "China: A Cultural Mosaic," Yukiko Murata on Japanese culture and Sue Mushock-Myers on "The South for Northerners."

-- 2 p.m., Several courses on personal growth and skill development will be presented, including Pat David's "Women's Voices: Self Discovery and Celebration"; Dwight Fee on Conflict Resolution and the Uses of the Enneagram and Elaine Miller on "A Course in Miracles."

Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Waccamaw Higher Education Center:

-- 10 a.m., Jim Pool, former Boston defense attorney, presents an overview of his courses on "Detective Fiction as Literature," "Criminal Justice as Portrayed in the Media" and "American History on Trial."

-- 10:30 a.m., Sam Syme introduces his courses on historic Islam and the "Age of Imperialism (1815-1914)."

-- 11 a.m., Music appreciation instructors present "The Art of Listening with Sarah Kelly," "Operas by Verdi with Rita Martino," and classical, country and jazz courses with Lloyd Kaplan.

-- 1 p.m., Jim Remington introduces his course on "World Religions in a Shrinking World," and Norm Whiteley presents the premise of his course "When Jesus Became God."

The Conway (main campus) orientation and open house will be held Wednesday and Thursday Jan. 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second floor of University Hall. Entering from U.S. 501, University Hall is the first Coastal building on the right; from S.C. 544, it is the last building on the left. For more information about the Conway campus, call 349-4001 or 349-4003.

Wednesday, January 10, at University Hall, Conway campus:

10 a.m., Basem Hilal invites anyone interested to join the Academy of Gardening's first class for the winter/spring term. After a half-hour in the classroom, students will adjourn to the greenhouse.

10:30 a.m., Sam Syme introduces the two courses offered at Conway and Myrtle Beach: "The Reign of the Romanovs" and "The Tudors and the Stuarts."

11 a.m., Jennifer Hughes of Kimbel Library will demonstrate how students can access the university databases.

Noon, Basem Hilal invites those interested in Arabic culture to attend a free lecture in the Commons dining room. Students may bring their lunch or purchase one for $5.

1:30 p.m., Don Ullmann (German history) and Yukiko Murata (Japanese culture) will present an overview of their upcoming courses offered at Conway, Myrtle Beach and Waccamaw.

Thursday, January 11, at University Hall, Conway campus:

10 a.m., Jim Pool, former Boston defense attorney, presenting an overview of his courses on criminal justice as portrayed in the media and American history on trial.

11 a.m., Music appreciation instructor Lloyd Kaplan will give an overview of the three courses he is teaching this term: "The Classical Period in Myrtle Beach," "Country Music in Conway" and "Small Group Swing and Female Jazz Vocalists at Waccamaw."

11 a.m., Jamie Ligas of Kimbel Library will demonstrate how students can access the university databases.

1 p.m., Karen Fuss describes her various courses on Waties Island and river ecology.

To receive a copy of the catalog, you may call or visit any of the centers prior to the Open House. Course descriptions and the orientation schedule are also available on our Web site at www.coastal.edu/outreach.