Every good scientist recognizes the importance of taking a skeptical perspective to research and study results. From examinations of early spiritualists to recent psi challenges, skeptics have played an active role in the progress of parapsychology and our understanding of psi phenomena.
This course will discuss parapsychology from a skeptical perspective including an evaluation of how skeptics have helped and hindered the progress of the science. Important concepts of critical thinking will be introduced, including how true skeptical thinking has been a part of the parapsychological process both in and out of the lab.
This course will also look at popular misunderstandings and misconceptions about psi phenomena, the onset of pseudo-skepticism, and the role of true skepticism in scientific investigations.
There is no specific text for this class, however, students will be provided with short readings or videos which will help them to better understand content of the lectures.
Evaluations and Grading
Students who are taking the course for a grade will be assessed using a letter grade based on the standard letter grade format.
A – 90 - 100
B – 80 – 89
C – 70 – 79
D – 60 – 69
F – Below 60
Participation in the forums is a large component of the grading, and substantive postings are necessary to get full credit for each discussion topic.
The following activities will be considered to contribute to the courses as follows:
Discussions (Total 40%): 5 points for each of the 8 weeks including responses to other people's posts
Assessment #1 (30%)
Final Project (30%)
This 4-week course will go beyond the tools usually associated with paranormal investigations. Students will examine a wide range of technologies and applications allowing for a deeper exploration of paranormal phenomena. Emphasis will be placed on properly deploying these technologies during field investigations and how to interpret the resulting data.
The course will explore both quantitative (numerical) and qualitative (experiential) data collection techniques. Topics will include understanding and measuring human physiology and biofields, testing non-local effects on random number generators, documenting the intuitive processes of investigators, and more.
Students will come away with a new appreciation for the complex relationships between various paranormal phenomena and an expanded set of tools to use during their own investigations.
In this first week, we’ll briefly review relevant phenomena, and define the roles and relationships between equipment and investigators in field work. We will also gain an appreciation for a mixed methods approach (qualitative and quantitative) to field investigations through examples pulled from real-world case reports.
Over the years, paranormal researchers have amassed a vast tool box of devices to assist them in their field work. In this class, we’ll examine some atypical investigation devices, and also explore new ways to breathe life back into your existing toolkit using new techniques. Finally, we’ll take a look at resources to help you create your own investigation tools.
While electronics can be helpful in documenting various aspects of paranormal investigations, incorporating phenomenological (experiential), physiological, and properly controlled psi-focused techniques can provide a deeper understanding of reported phenomena. Examples include field recording and analysis of psychophysiological data (heart rate, skin conductance, body temperature, etc.), dowsing, remote viewing, lucid dreaming, mobile ganzfeld, and the use and scoring of other types of standardized research instruments (questionnaires and surveys).
In the final class we’ll bring all these elements together to see how mixed methods techniques can be deployed in the field. We’ll also review some specific experiments that students can try on their own. Finally, we’ll discuss ways to report findings to a larger audience so they can help add to the body of research findings.
There is no specific text for this class, however, students will be provided with short readings or videos which will help them to better understand content of the lectures.
Students will be expected to view the class broadcasts or the recordings of the classes each week and participate in any live discussions during class. Students will be expected to participate in weekly written discussion forums and activities. Each student will be expected to provide an original posting each week and to respond to at least one other student in the discussion forums.
One multiple choice or short answer final evaluation will be assigned after the 4th class. This will be due 10 days after the final class is broadcast.
Students who are taking the course for a grade will be assessed using a letter grade based on the standard letter grade format.
Participation in the forums is a large component of the grading, and substantive postings are necessary to get full credit for each discussion topic.
The following activities will be considered to contribute to the courses as follows:
Discussions (4) 40%
Final Evaluation (1) 60%
Total: 100%
How does Nature reveal the divine, the miraculous, and mystical, and what are the similarities between cultures that give us profound insight into its power?
This 4-week survey course will review paramount movements through the ages to discover how nature has enabled humans to connect with the deeper consciousness of all living things. Students will explore how the people of the world share a reverence for nature, considering it to be divine, sacred, or populated by spiritual beings, and how ancient beliefs and present-day movements are influencing attempts to use the powerful forces of Nature to conjure the extraordinary and the unimaginable.
As we critically examine a multitude of nature-based practices, such as the belief in supernatural beings and supernatural forces, we will introduce concepts used in ancient and modern movements such as animism, alchemy, astrology, biodynamics, bioenergetics, druidry, hermeticism, geomagnetism, green magic, qigong, natural healing, nature spirituality, mythology, polytheism, shamanism, Shintoism, tribal nature-based religions, wiccan, etc. This journey will enable students to gain an introduction and deeper appreciation of our connection to nature and how it governs our own psychic and conscious development, nurturing our connection to nature's more ethereal realms.
Suggested Readings and Resources
Students will be expected to view the class broadcasts or the recordings of the classes each week and participate in any live discussions during class. Students will be expected to participate in weekly written discussion forums and activities. Each student will be expected to provide an original posting each week and to respond to at least one other student in the discussion forums.
Complete a final project as defined in the courseroom. A paper discussing your studies of a topic related to nature and psi.
Students who are taking the course for a grade will be assessed using a letter grade based on the standard letter grade format.
Participation in the forums is a large component of the grading, and substantive postings are necessary to get full credit for each discussion topic.
The following activities will be considered to contribute to the courses as follows:
Discussion Participation 40%
Final Project 60%
Learn about the paranormal through the study of investigations and reports of apparitions, hauntings, and poltergeists.
This 8-week course will take a deep look at a hand-picked group of professional investigations of apparitions, hauntings, and poltergeists, as well as significant surveys of similar experiences. Included will be key cases (like the Seaford Poltergeist case which produced the RSPK model), important investigative methods, and a discussion of two major surveys of spontaneous psi experiences and what they say about psi in general.
Instructor Loyd Auerbach will present his own cases with details, video shot on site, and insights that have not made it into published reports or television interviews. Students will have the opportunity to ask deeper questions about Auerbach’s cases.
There is no specific text for this class, however, students will be provided with short readings or videos which will help them to better understand content of the lectures.
Evaluations and Grading
Students who are taking the course for a grade will be assessed using a letter grade based on the standard letter grade format.
A – 90 - 100
B – 80 – 89
C – 70 – 79
D – 60 – 69
F – Below 60
Participation in the forums is a large component of the grading, and substantive postings are necessary to get full credit for each discussion topic.
The following activities will be considered to contribute to the courses as follows:
Discussions (Total 40%): 5 points for each of the 8 weeks including responses to other people's posts
Assessment #1 (30%)
Final Project (30%)
This course presents a practical skills approach to talking/writing about psychic/paranormal topics and parapsychology.
Students will gain an understanding of the importance of writing/speaking to general and specific audiences and how to do this. Included will be an emphasis on public speaking (including overcoming any fear of speaking in public) and media (how to be a good interview subject), as well as some basic marketing and publicity skills. Students will learn the best ways to personally come across credibly, to present the topics in an understandable way, and in a way that creates a positive impact.
Whether you are planning to write a book or articles or speak/lecture to general or paranormal-interested audiences, or even teach workshops, this course will provide the “how to” skills you’ll need to be understood and appreciated by your audiences. While the emphasis will be on psi-related topics, these skills will serve you well in a variety of contexts (maybe even your “real” jobs).
There is no specific text for this class, however, students will be provided with short readings or videos which will help them to better understand content of the lectures.
A detailed assessment/critique of one or more paranormal authors/experts’ appearances (lecture) or interviews (video such as YouTube, podcast or lengthy radio interview) - lecture or interview should be minimum 30 minutes. Assess how well they:
Evaluations and Grading
Students who are taking the course for a grade will be assessed based on thier participation and performance on the assigments.
Participation in the forums is a large component of the grading, and substantive postings are necessary to get full credit for each discussion topic.
The following activities will be considered to contribute to the courses as follows:
Discussions (Total 40%): 10 points for each of the 4 weeks including responses to other people's posts
Final Project (60%)
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