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%)
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:
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