This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Acting? Painting? Aromatherapy? Pursue Your Interests in Rutgers Classes for Over-50 Learners

Have you ever harbored the urge to act, paint, or delve into historic events, cultures or even aromatherapy? If you are over 50, Rutgers offers opportunities to explore your interests.

Have you ever harbored the urge to act, paint, or learn about your favorite films or writers; or delve into historic events, cultures or even aromatherapy? If you are an over-50 learner, Rutgers offers  opportunities to explore these and other interests, and meet new people at the same time through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers University (OLLI-RU).

Registration is in progress until December 21 for OLLI-RU’s upcoming winter 2013 session, running from January 9 through February 7. Most classes will be offered at two locations: the Reformed Church of Highland Park, 23 S. Second Ave., and the Western Monmouth Higher Education Center, 3680 Route 9 South, Freehold. The facilities are handicapped accessible with free on-site parking.

OLLI-RU courses are taught by active and retired educators from high schools, colleges and universities, including Rutgers. There are no grades or tests, and a college degree is not required for any of the noncredit courses or seminars.  Classes meet once a week for five weeks.

Find out what's happening in New Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The 43 courses offered during the winter session cater to a wide range of interests, including visual arts, music, film, American history, nature, literature, and poetry in both lecture-style and hands-on learning environments. New classes this session include Introduction to Aromatherapy: From Magical to Practical, an Interactive Study; The Genius of Charlie Chaplin, Tap Into Your Inner Actor; and Understanding the Maya.

Registration is required by Dec. 21. The fee for most courses is $35. To register or obtain a complete listing of winter session classes, call 732-932-7233, ext. 4201, or write to OLLI-RU, 178 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, N.J., 08901, send email to olliru@docs.rutgers.edu , or go to olliru.rutgers.edu .

Find out what's happening in New Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rutgers is one of 119 schools to receive funding from the Bernard Osher Foundation, established in 1977 to benefit a wide range of educational and cultural activities. Osher, a Maine native and San Francisco resident, is a successful businessman, community leader and patron of the arts and education. His wife, the Honorable Barbro Osher, consul general of Sweden in San Francisco, serves as chair of the foundation.

Founded in 1993, OLLI-RU is a unit of Rutgers’ Division of Continuing Studies. Since its inception, the program has grown from 80 students and four courses offered in its first semester to nearly 2,000 students and more than 100 courses offered this fall.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?