Each course typically meets once a week for two hours during each of two consecutive six-week sessions. Courses are held on Carnegie Mellon's campus in Oakland. Subjects and times vary according to the members' interests and wishes.
Courses have different degrees of participation.
Some are 'sit and listen' while others involve writing, reading, discussion, artwork and even physical activities or field trips. Study leaders can be members of ALL, or experts from the city, the arts, sciences or press, retired or current professors, and business executives. Each study leader volunteers and leads courses in the tradition of university education.