Lifelong Education and Learning

Lifelong Learning Opportunities

Opportunities exist for adults of all ages. In addition to the information below, you may also be interested in the library's Online Resources for Education. These include LearningExpress Library for academic or career licensing test prep, and LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) and Universal Class for online video courses.

• Fairfax County Public Schools — Adult and Community Education (ACE)
  Offers a wide variety of day and evening courses for career, personal and academic growth. Courses include GED and adult high school completion and English language learning. FCPS offers classes locally or online. Open to adults of any age. View the online catalog.
• Massive Open Online Courses
  MOOCs are free, online, college-level courses from universities and other providers worldwide. The sites below organize lists of available MOOCs and provide direct links, making course selection simpler:
  • Class Central
  • Course Buffet
• Northern Virginia Community College — Workforce Development
  NOVA offers a variety of non-credit courses and certificate programs online and in person. Find brief course descriptions and details on registration, prices, dates, times and locations.
• Older Adults
  The following nonprofit organizations offer lifelong learning opportunities to older adults:
  • Encore Learning
    College-level, noncredit courses, lectures, special events and activities for people over 50. Classes take place in Arlington, Virginia. Requires membership dues and a fee per course.
  • Lifetime Learning Institute of Northern Virginia
    LLI/NOVA, sponsored by Northern Virginia Community College, offers noncredit courses to older adults. Requires a membership fee.
  • Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
    • OLLI at American University
      The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at American University offers courses and lectures to older adults in the Washington, DC area. Requires a membership fee.
    • OLLI at George Mason University
      The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University offers courses for people in their retirement years. Classes take place in Fairfax, Reston and Sterling, Virginia. Requires an annual fee.
• Road Scholar
  This nonprofit organization, provides lifelong learning adventures in the United States and around the world for adults of all ages.