Transpersonal Psychology and Consciousness Studies
MSc
Transpersonal Psychology and Consciousness Studies is an emerging new field within psychology.
Course level
Postgraduate
Modes of study
Full time
Location
Park Campus
Entry requirements
Applications are welcome from students holding a good Honours first degree in:
- the social sciences or allied health sciences
- graduates of other sciences (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)
To establish fit between the course offering and student expectations, we require applicants to write an essay of about 1,000 words on why they would like to study the course.
Accreditation of Prior Learning or Prior Experiential Learning applies for candidates who have been accepted.
UKPASS code
035080 - view details at UKPASS
School
Attendance
1 year full-time starting in September or 2-4 years part-time starting in September or February. Each module involves between 15 and 40 hours of either formal teaching, or attendance at placements, groups or for tutorial meetings. Formal teaching takes place on 1 day.
Course content
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
- Ongoing spiritual practice
- Neuroscience and Consciousness
- History of Transpersonal Psychology
- Research Methods
- Experiential group work
- Placements
- 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
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. Transpersonal Psychology 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.
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
Assessment
The course combines compulsory experiential, compulsory taught, and discretionary 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 discretionary 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 analytic 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 discretionary modules or a combination of both
60 credits from the research dissertation
120 credits without the dissertation will automatically award a Postgraduate Diploma.
Compulsory experiential modules (15 credits each) include:
Ongoing spiritual practice I & II
Compulsory taught modules include (20 credits each)
History of Transpersonal Psychology
Neuroscience and Consciousness
Research Methods
Discretionary experiential modules include (10-20 credits)
Experiential group work I & II
Placements
Discretionary taught modules include (10 credits)
Mysticism East and West
Counselling and Psychotherapy
Parapsychology
Spirituality and Health
Attendance
Each module involves between 15 and 40 hours of either formal teaching, or attendance at placements, groups or for tutorial meetings. As a rule, formal teaching for all the modules takes place on one day. Some special events, such as special lectures with guest speakers or retreats may require attendance on other days, if chosen. The full MSc runs for one year full-time or 2-4 years part-time. Part-time students can start the programme either in September or in February; full time students only in September.
Facilities available
Dedicated laboratories and PC suites for Psychology students
Career opportunities
Transpersonal Psychology and spiritual approaches are increasingly considered helpful within the therapeutic professions. As this course aims at a broad qualification, the skills learned can be applied to a broad set of working environments. They can be used to enhance personal performance in many professions, find personal fulfilment in already existing careers, or help finding one's true vocation.
Course contact
For general application information please see our how to apply page.
Fees quoted are for home and EU students for the academic year 2010/2011. Tuition fees are payable for each year of the course. The fees are subject to annual increases in subsequent academic years.
Full time fees
£4000
This course is available to international students.
For further help for international students please see our international students pages.
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