This four week course will introduce you to the science, practice and potential of Lucid Dreaming, or the conscious realization of dreaming while in the dream state. Topics covered will include a variety of lucid dream induction techniques, methods to stabilize and explore the lucid dream state, scientific research on lucid dreaming and potential activities to engage in while lucidly aware (e.g., accessing creativity, enhancing emotional or physical health, engaging a responsive inner awareness, seeking information outside of one’s knowledge and conducting spiritual practices).
During the course, we will also take a special look at lucid dreaming and topics in the field of parapsychology, such as lucid dreams and deceased dream figures, precognitive and telepathic information in lucid dreams and more, along with thoughtful approaches to examining the results of personal experiments. We will also provide supportive advice for those who wish to use lucid dreaming for their own purposes.
Suggested Readings: Lucid Dreaming Plain and Simple, by Robert Waggoner and Caroline McCready.
Religion is one of the most common and profound aspects of human life. It often deals with experiences that are considered extraordinary or outside the normal operation of nature. Historically, these have been called supernatural experiences, but today they might be called paranormal.
Parapsychologists take a scientific approach to the phenomena and experiences that are sometimes reported in religious contexts. This course will explore parapsychology from the viewpoint of different world religions. It will survey key parapsychological topics and how they are understood by some of the major world religions (including indigenous religions, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam).
It is important to note that this course will be presented from a religiously neutral point of view. That is, it will focus on the phenomena and perspectives, but it will not presuppose the truth or falsity of any religious beliefs.
The course has two main objectives:
By the end of this course, students will have demonstrated an understanding of:
Course Introduction
Background on World Religions
Extrasensory Perception - Part I
Extrasensory Perception - Part II
Psychokinesis - PK
Survival - Part I
Survival - Part II
Field Investigations and Conclusions
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:
This 8-week academic course will discuss the nature of spontaneous experiences, the types of experiences explored by parapsychologists, and how researchers take a structured approach to understanding what people experience and how they understand their own experiences.
We will explore topics like precognitive dreams, clairvoyant experiences, poltergeists, near-death experiences, spontaneous after-death communication, ghosts & apparitions, and reincarnation experiences. From classifications of experiences to examinations of peer-reviewed research articles, this course provides a foundation for understanding psi in daily life.
Suggested Readings:
The Gift by Sally Rhine Feather & Michael Schmicker
Various articles, videos, and other information provided throughout the course.
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:
This survey course will examine altered states of consciousness (ASC) including those induced by meditation, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, music, and substances. ASCs will be explored from the perspectives of neuroscience, psychology, consciousness research, parapsychology, and anthropology. As this is a survey course, it provides essentially an overview of a spectrum of ASCs, with a deeper exploration/focus on dreams.
Mid-Term Quiz
Final Quiz
Various articles, videos, and other information provided throughout the course.
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:
This four-week course will orient you towards some of the skills needed to share thoughts and express ideas that are accessible and of interest to others. The same skills are useful for writing about your own psi experiences, those of others, fictionalized versions of your own experiences, or straight-up fiction. Class sessions will cover basic writing concepts such as purpose, audience, genres, narrative voice, setting, imagery, dialogue, style/tone, and narrative structures – in parapsychological contexts, with examples focused on psi experiences.
Through exercises and critiquing, you'll explore your own writing with the instructor and with other students. You'll post it in an online forum each week, reviewing it online and in class discussions. Through the above process, you’ll develop your writing in ways that will interest potential readers. This four-week course is Part I of a two-part series. Part II will involve longer or more involved written work, to take place at a future date. You must take Part I to qualify to register for Part II, but you can also take Part I by itself. (Students taking this course to complete a certificate program must take both Part I & Part II.)
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:
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