Bluffton University’s Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR), an educational program for retirees, is offering nine courses on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays this spring, beginning March 25.

Each course costs $35; the cost to take three or more is $100. Registration and, if applicable, course fees are due at the time of registration. Most classes will meet in the ILR classroom, located in Shultz Hall of Riley Court on campus.

To register or for more information, contact JP Schumacher, ILR director, at 419-358-3346 or [email protected].

Spring courses include:

Colloquium
Mondays, March 25-April 29, 9-10:30 a.m.
Among the topics are celiac disease (gluten intolerance), optical illusions, dragonflies and former Bluffton football coach Carlin Carpenter’s new book, “Coaching Football Ain’t Easy.”

Art in Modern Architecture, including:
Modern Architecture (Mondays, March 25-April 15) and A Virtual Tour of the Toledo Museum of Art (Mondays, April 22 and 29), all from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
The “Modern Architecture” portion of the course is a look at some of the major architectural movements and notable architects of the 20th and 21st centuries, beginning with a discussion of the development of the skyscraper at the end of the 19th century.

The History of the Internet and Internet Vocabulary
Mondays, March 25-April 15, 1:30-3 p.m.
Following this short course, during the same time period on April 22 and 29, will be tours of several campus buildings, including the new Sommer Center for Health and Fitness Education on April 22. Registration, but no fee, is required for the tours; participants need not be registered for the Internet course.

Fun Numbers, and Other Numerical Things
Wednesdays, March 27-May 1, 9-10:30 a.m.
Topics will include puzzles, palindromes and parabolas. An inexpensive calculator is recommended.

Spirituality and Elderhood: Exploring Spiritual Disciplines
Wednesdays, March 27-May 1, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
The course will explore classical spiritual disciplines of Western Christianity, and how elderhood is a time of life uniquely suited to their practice.

Book Review
Wednesdays, March 27-May 1, 1:30-3 p.m.
A description of the books, and presenters, will accompany registration.

The Development of the Great American Musicals
Thursdays, March 28-May 16, 9 a.m. to noon
Spanning 60 years, films to be screened are “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “Kiss Me Kate,” “South Pacific,” “The Music Man,” “Hello Dolly,” “1776,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Introduction to Acrylic Painting
Thursdays, March 28-May 2, 1:30-3 p.m.
Participants will learn to use color and space to paint landscapes on canvas. No experience is required for the class, which has a $10 material fee and will be limited to 12 students.

A Clogging Experience—Intro to Clogging
Thursdays, March 28-April 25, 1:30-3 p.m.
The location of this class will be confirmed when participants register. Hard-soled shoes are recommended.