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Masters in Transpersonal Psychology/Consciousness Studies

Compulsory Modules - Experiential

Ongoing Spiritual Practice 1&2 (15 credits each)

Through personal ongoing spiritual practice students have the chance to experience Higher States of Consciousness (HSC) themselves. It is expected that students either already bring their own form of spiritual practice with them, or else participate in regular exercises. While the background of this practice is non-denominational, every student can choose a practice according to his or her own background. For those without a practice or a preference, a meditation group will be on offer that meets regularly. It is expected that students implement this practice into their every day life and thus give themselves a chance to experience higher states of consciousness in the short term, and alter their general state of consciousness on the long run. It is imperative that students are willing to implement their own spiritual practice on a daily basis, reflect on their experience in journal writing, and be open to discuss their progress with the tutor.

Compulsory Modules - Taught

Research Methods (20 credits)

Within Transpersonal Psychology new elements of research are being introduced, by discussing such things as the state of consciousness during research, access to more creative modes of research during spiritual practice. This course will introduce more intricate issues of research methods, such as more advanced quantitative and qualitative research methods, as well as specific transpersonal research methodology. This module is designed to provide a learning environment that allows students to apply advanced research methodology, methodology and design planning to complex subjects, such as studied within Transpersonal Psychology and Consciousness Studies, have an understanding for transpersonal aspects within the research process itself and the role of consciousness, and apply and combine these different aspects in one's own research.

Neuroscience and Consciousness (20 credits)

Neuroscience has made great progress and important contributions to the debate on consciousness. The student will learn about the most current and up-to-date debate in consciousness studies and neuroscience. Specific aims are to provide the opportunities, stimuli and environment

1. to discuss current approaches to understanding consciousness
2. to handle the most important learning and reference resources
3. to have a good knowledge and understanding of current neuroscience
4. to have knowledge of physiological measures and methods
5. to investigate empirical findings and critically discuss their implications for a theory of consciousness
6. to identify topics of debate and enable students to actively and constructively participate

History of Transpersonal Psychology and Different Transpersonal Approaches (20 credits)

Transpersonal Psychology has a history of 40 years and many sources. Depending on the particular background it can be approached differently. To appreciate the multifarious approaches to Transpersonal Psychology it is necessary to know about this background. This will allow the student to understand why Transpersonal Psychology is not a unified field, and also, why integration within mainstream psychology has not happened yet. This is the prerequisite to contributing to its integration.

This module will pave the way for the deeper understanding of issues around the question, whether and how Transpersonal Psychology has any scientific merit, and what needs to happen to make Transpersonal Psychology scientifically viable. Specifically it will foster an academic climate that is conducive

1. to discuss historical sources of Transpersonal Psychology
2. to learn accessing the most important learning and reference resources
3. to have a good knowledge and understanding of the divergent streams of Transpersonal Psychology
4. to critically evaluate the empirical database for the claim that Transpersonal Psychology have anything to offer beyond conventional approaches to psychology and consciousness
5. to identify potential pitfalls, as well as future topics in need of development, and to enable students to actively and constructively participate

Designated Modules - Experiential

Field and Voluntary Work/ Placement (10/20 credits)

Voluntary work and placements in institutions that work with a transpersonal psychology or spiritual background help students to see theoretical concepts at work. They can gather experience for practical applications and thus improve their chance on the market through hands-on work during their studies.

As transpersonal psychology is not only a theoretical discipline but has arisen from practice and wants to inform practice, this module offers a chance of immersing into practical work experience by voluntarily participating in a work environment that either professionally or as a charity employs some transpersonal or spiritual concept. The overall aims are to provide students with a learning experience that enables them to

• experience transpersonal and spiritual concepts at work
• immerse oneself in a respective work culture
• critically judge one's own practical skills and discover blind spots through feedback from professionals
• learn through practical application of concepts about their usefulness and limitations
• develop and apply respective practical skills
• discover the ethical dimensions of working within a transpersonal context

Experiential Group Work 1&2 (10 credits each)

A main thrust of transpersonal psychology is its ability to offer new practical approaches to counselling, therapy and other practical areas. In order to be able to apply these techniques skilfully and decide about further training options, a minimum of own experience with these techniques is necessary.

This module offers a chance of experiencing some of the practical techniques used in transpersonal psychology oneself by participating in group experiential work. Some techniques will be introduced and discussed. Apart from that the group offers a chance to experience some central concepts of transpersonal psychology, such as “synergy”, “group consciousness”, “higher self” and to critically reflect on them.

Overall aims are to provide a safe environment in which students will be able to

• experience transpersonal and spiritual concepts at work
• immerse oneself in a respective group process
• critically judge one's own capability to operate functionally and synergistically within such a group context
• learn through active participation fundamentals of applying transpersonal concepts in a group setting
• develop and apply respective practical skills
• explore the ethical dimensions of working within a group context
• critically appraise the possibilities and limitations of group work
• develop the ability to autonomously lead groups towards coherence

Approaches to Mysticism in East and West (10 credits)

The development of Transpersonal Psychology is closely linked with the spiritual practice and experience of the founding figures, as well as with the integration of knowledge stemming from the spiritual traditions of the world. A solid knowledge of these traditions is therefore a precondition for understanding claims of transpersonal psychologists.

The student will learn about the most important mystical traditions. Specific aims are to provide opportunities

1. to discuss differences and commonalities in these approaches
2. to understand the different historical, political, social and cultural backgrounds for the formation of these approaches
3. to evaluate limitations and promises of different mystical traditions
4. to investigate empirical findings and critically discuss their implications for an understanding, modification or evaluation of mystical claims
5. to understand the preconditions for epistemological claims made based on mystical experiences
6. to identify topics of debate and enable students to actively and constructively participate

Designated Taught Modules

Transpersonal Approaches to Psychotherapy and Counselling (10 credits)

Transpersonal Psychology is useful in practical counselling and in psychotherapy, which is at the same time one of its sources. This module introduces some of the more prominent transpersonal approaches to therapy.

The student will learn about the most important transpersonal approaches to psychotherapy and counselling. Specific aims are to provide opportunities for students

1. to discuss specific contributions in these approaches that are different from standard psychotherapeutic methods
2. to critically assess their merit and potential pitfalls for practice
3. to evaluate their applicability in everyday practice
4. to investigate empirical findings and critically discuss their implications for an informed integration of such therapeutic models into practice
5. to appraise the indications and counter-indications of such methods
6. to critically analyse some naïve-realistic assumptions behind these models
7. to identify topics of debate and enable students to conduct potential research into efficacy and mechanisms of such therapies

Spirituality and Health (10 credits)

Spirituality and health is emerging as one of the new areas in the Health Sciences. In this module, the knowledge base as well as pertinent questions will be discussed, and the interface between traditional psychology of religion, spirituality, transpersonal psychology and health will be analysed.

The major empirical findings of psychology of religion and recent developments in the field of spirituality and health will be discussed. Aims are

1. to discuss how psychology of religion, spirituality and health interrelate
2. to explore how spirituality can both contribute to health and be a health hazard under certain circumstances
3. to critically evaluate current healthcare practices in the light of knowledge from transpersonal psychology
4. to investigate empirical findings and critically discuss their implications for an informed integration of spiritual models into health care practice
5. to scrutinise how transpersonal approaches could inform conventional health care practice and delivery
6. to critically analyse preconditions and requirements for structural changes towards such transpersonal models
7. to enable students to constructively contribute in an area of health care practice

Parapsychology (10 credits)

Parapsychology, historically speaking, was the first discipline that scientifically studied supernatural claims and thus has close relationships with the subject matter of Transpersonal Psychology. Unlike Transpersonal Psychology, parapsychology has had a long academic tradition and accumulated a host of empirical data, as well as methodological refinements pertinent to consciousness studies.

Important research paradigms, methodological precautions and major findings will be discussed. This module will provide an opportunity

1. to discuss how parapsychology can inform spirituality and transpersonal psychology
2. to explore which findings from parapsychology are necessary starting points for consciousness studies
3. to critically evaluate the validity claims of parapsychological results
4. to investigate how current models of consciousness and the parapsychological database are interrelated
5. to scrutinise how methodological refinements introduced by parapsychology are relevant for transpersonal psychology and consciousness studies
6. to critically appraise the solidity of the parapsychological data-base and discuss counter arguments
7. to enable students to constructively contribute towards a topical area of their choice at the interface between consciousness studies, parapsychology and spirituality

Dissertation (60 credits)

Ultimately, the goal of good academic training and solid studies is the capability to conduct methodologically sound, valid and informative own research projects. This module is designed to autonomously formulate and conduct a research project under supervision.

Within this module three types of research projects can be conducted:

• Literature based research in the form of a literature review together with theoretical analysis of a pertinent question, including systematic reviews, using appropriate methodology as necessary
• A qualitative empirical study
• A quantitative empirical study, including quantitative meta-analyses.