Now that the kiddos are back in school, it’s time for you to think about how you’re going to exercise your brain this fall.

The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture has released its fall course catalog. You can click here to thumb through your options.

I’m thinking hard about the Speaking of Movies class, led by Dr. Scott Churchill and Dr. Larry Alums. Dr. Churchill teaches psychology at the University of Dallas, but he’s a regular at local movie press screenings, and I can assure you, his expertise isn’t limited to psychology.

The On Shakespearean Comedy one-off class on Sept. 15 also sounds interesting. With the Dallas Theater Center opening the Wyly with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, it’s fitting that DTC Artistic Director Kevin Moriarity will be on hand for this discussion of why the Bard’s comedies are still among the best ever produced.

And it’s not too late to look into the informal classes offered at SMU. There are a number of arts-related courses to consider. Beginning in October, I’ll be there on Wednesday nights taking Rick Worland’s The Films of Alfred Hitchcock. We’ll be watching and discussing The 39 Steps, Shadow of a Doubt, Rope, Strangers On A Train and Psycho – plus the first episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. If you’ve heard Dr. Worland onThink or talking movies after a screening, you know you’ll be in for an education.

And while we’re talking about movies, you might consider heading to the Nasher Sculpture Center tonight for the Book to Film series. Tonight’s film is One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Be sure to stay for the post-film discussion featuring Dallas Morning News Movie Critic Chris Vognar and SMU professor Dennis Foster. Oh, and get there early. The screening that I moderated last month with James Faust of the Dallas Film Society filled up to the point where people had to be turned away.