Transpersonal Psychology and Consciousness Studies

Advertisement

Transpersonal Psychology and Consciousness Studies is an emerging new field within psychology. It is an exciting area that offers both new scientific insight into the functioning of human consciousness and practical skills in applying altered and higher states of consciousness to practical, psychological, educational, and other tasks. This course studies higher states of consciousness, which differ from our everyday mode of functioning. Consequently, this programme offers both experiential elements, and traditional taught elements that aim at conveying cutting-edge knowledge and critical analytic skills for dealing with such experiences and their consequences and ramifications.

Students will not only learn how to access such higher states of consciousness, but also to critically analyse the experiences and do high quality research in this exciting new area embedded in a research environment specialised in this area.

The course combines compulsory experiential, compulsory taught, and elective experiential and taught modules and offers a research dissertation to be completed for a full MSc.

The experiential modules are designed to help students gain first-hand experience in higher states of consciousness. For that it is required that students take up and regularly (ideally daily) practice some spiritual discipline, such as meditation or contemplation, Tai Chi, Chi Gong or Yoga, and reflect upon the experiences in a reflective journal. Further experiential elements, such as experiential group work or placements in a work environment that practices with a transpersonal background, complement personal experience. Students who already have their own practice on a regular basis or other relevant background experiences can apply for accreditation of their prior experiential learning. Compulsory taught modules convey the necessary analytical skills and cutting edge knowledge, while discretionary taught modules support the knowledge base of students.

The research dissertation is a qualitative or quantitative empirical study, or a thorough analytical, theoretical or systematic review or meta-analytical study of 15,000 to 20,000 words.

For a full MSc award 180 credits are necessary to be awarded from:

* 30 credits from two compulsory experiential modules
* 60 credits from three compulsory taught modules
* 30 credits from either experiential or taught elective modules or a combination of both
* 60 credits from the research dissertation
* 120 credits without the dissertation will automatically award a Postgraduate Diploma

Special course features

* Experiential modules (ongoing spiritual practice, group experience, placements) with individual tutoring
* Cutting edge knowledge in transpersonal psychology and theories of consciousness
* External guest teachers

Typical modules

Compulsory experiential modules (15 credits each) include: * Ongoing spiritual practice 1 and 2

Compulsory taught modules (20 credits each) include:

* History of Transpersonal Psychology
* Neuroscience and Consciousness
* Research Methods

Discretionary experiential modules (10-20 credits) include:

* Experiential group work 1 and 2
* Placements

Discretionary taught modules (10 credits) include:

* Mysticism East and West
* Counselling and Psychotherapy
* Parapsychology
* Spirituality and Health

Reading list

* Lancaster Approaches to Consciousness: The Marriage of Science and Mysticism 2004 Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan
* Ferrer Revisioning Transpersonal Theory: A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality 2002 Albany SUNY Press

As this programme contains as a strong component experiential elements it is mandatory that students considering applying are willing to open themselves to their own experience and take responsibility for it. This course is not suited for persons with acute personal problems and does not replace proper psychological treatment. If in doubt, contact the course leader.Applications are welcome from students holding a good honours first degree in: * the social sciences or allied health sciences * graduates of other sciences with an interest in learning about the area (e.g. neurosciences, biology, medicine, education, economy, etc.);in some cases individual admission procedures will apply and extra qualifications may be required (for instance, a basic research methods course if the first degree did not cover this area) English Language Requirements CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 60 (Grade C)