Metaphysics Degree

It has been some time since I visited the DegreeInfo pages but after some browsing I see they are as informative (and fun) as ever.

A question ...does anyone know of a PhD program allowing a major in Metaphysics? I spent my first 40 years in science and now...just for fun and enjoyment...something a little different.

Can anyone assist?

Thanks,
Carol Anne

 

Steve Levicoff always liked to tell the story of his classmate at Union Institute & University (then just The Union Institute) that did a Ph.D. in Supreme Military Science (the use of Transcendental Meditation to solve problems). Steve has also said that you could major in basket-weaving, as long as you could show it was doctoral-level basket-weaving.

Considering that, I think UI&I would be your best bet.

 

Thank you for the tip....unfortunately Union Institute is $15,000 plus per acedemic year...I am Canadian so this is quite steep for me.

Any other ideas????

Thanks,
Carol Anne

 

There are at least two separate definitions of "metaphysics." The first is that branch of philosophy dealing with the essential nature of reality, ontology, etc. The second is related more to subjects like mysticism, occultism, etc. It's not clear which one holds your interest. If it's the former then there are a number of doctoral programs in Australia and South Africa that will be more affordable than Union. If it's the latter then you'll have more difficulty finding programs. It seems to me that I once heard of a school that offered a doctoral degree program in Paranormal Psychology but this was not a DL program and it was probably fairly expensive. At the risk of stirring up a pot of old trouble, this could be one of those circumstances where an unaccredited program could conceivably be the best (or only) choice.
Jack

 

Carole Anne,
You should look at the South African and Australian schools. They are quite affordable and GAAP accredited. You will probably need to contact each school to see if Metaphysics is offered as a discipline.

 

If it's the second type of metaphysics mentioned by Jack, then the unaccredited Akamai University may meet Carol Anne's needs. Many people would consider Akamai University to be a degree mill, and perhaps it is. But I like it because it offers some interesting and unique programs. I wouldn't recommend Akamai's programs in business, IT, education, public health, human services, and other conventional professional fields. But for a degree in Magickal Psychology or Parapsychology and Paranormal Studies? Why not?

 

How about the College of Metaphysical Studies .

 

Metaphysics - Thank You

Thank you all for your interesting posts. I definately have some homework to do.

Carol Anne

 

Re: Metaphysics - Thank You

As a final note, this "homework" issue never ends.

Jack

 

American College of Metaphysical Theology offers a Ph.D. in Metaphysics. Tuition is only $249.

www.americancollege.com

 

Hmmmmmm....most students can complete all coursework in 60 days.....I think not. ...but thanks anyway!

Carol Anne

 

Are we forgetting the American Institute of Holistic Theology Vibrations?

http://www.aiht.edu/newsletter/vibev2n2/travel.html


There seems to be 100 schools teaching metaphysics but none that are accredited.

 

I have several comments that build on what Jack Tracey wrote.

As Jack said, the word 'metaphysics' can mean a specialty within academic philosophy or it can be kind of a synonym for 'esotericism'. You need to decide which direction you want to pursue.

Despite your having been in science for 40 years, I'm not sure if a graduate program in academic philosophy is appropriate for you, unless you have studied philosophy extensively if informally. If you haven't, perhaps you should set your sights a little lower and pursue a bachelors degree first.

If I were going to do a philosophy bachelors degree by DL, I would probably enroll in the University of London external programme in philosophy. See my post on them in this thread:

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10549

If you just want to study philosophy for your own enjoyment and edification, you probably don't need a degree at all. If you have any interest in academic philosophy on a non-degree basis, here's a website that might be of interest to you:

http://www.shef.ac.uk/~ptpdlp/index.html

If your interest is mysticism, you should probably pursue a program in some form of religious studies. Mysticism usually occurs in the context of particular religious traditions and one would probably best pursue it by a study of those traditions. I posted about a number of largely Buddhist DL options, both degree and non-degree, here:

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11838

Whatever the tradition, mysticism is experiential and earning advanced degrees isn't really the point. You will probably need to be looking for an opportunity to practice and you will probably need personal instruction.

If you want a real DL graduate program in parapsychology, your best bet is probably the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology:

http://www.itp.edu/academics/global.html

In fact, ITP might be one of the world's better parapsychology options, DL or no DL. This thing is regionally accredited, offers DL masters degrees and Ph.D.s and features Charles Tart on its core faculty. In parapsychology it would mean something to say that you studied with this man:

http://www.paradigm-sys.com/cttart/

ITP might be useful as well if you want to approach mystical and religious experience from a psychological perspective.

Programs specifically addressing occultism? That's tough.

Too bad you aren't in France. The Ecole Practique des Hautes Etudes, Religious Studies Section, Sorbonne, Paris, has the famous Antoine Faivre who occupies a chair in 'History of Esoteric and Mystical Currents in Modern and Contemporary Europe'.

My own San Francisco State has Jacob Needleman who writes on this subject. (He was my advisor when I was there.) Needleman advises doctoral students at CIIS, but this stuff isn't available by DL. Here's a review of a book that Faivre and Needleman collaborated on:

http://www.cosmopolis.com/df/bkrmodeso.html

Apart from the Sorbonne, this kind of esoteric study usually isn't found in dedicated programs but is available as a specialty in other major departments. SFSU and CIIS treat it in their 'philosophy and religion' majors. I think that if you wanted to track this stuff down, you need to scour the literature, find authors you like, and see where they are teaching. (You sometimes find literature professors interested in things like renaissance Neoplatonism, for example.) You are unlikely to find much that's credible and scholarly being offered by DL.

Here's a more flaky alternative that I nevertheless kind of like; the University of Philosophical Research:

http://www.uprs.edu/

This is an outgrowth of the Philosophical Research Society founded in the 1930's by Manley Hall, an old-style Los Angeles occultist. Hall's greatest legacy is the Philosophical Research Library, which houses one of America's best collections of books on Western esotericism:

http://www.prs.org/library.htm

UPRS offers a DL MA in Consciousness Studies. You need to be aware that UPRS isn't accredited, it's just California approved. But it does have some credibility (to me at least) and might be a viable choice for somebody who wants to study for fun and personal growth. UPRS' dean of studies is Jeffrey Mishlove, the only man ever to earn a Ph.D. in Parapsychology from UC Berkeley (it was a self-designed major). Mishlove also hosted the 'Thinking Allowed' TV show. The UPRS faculty also includes Phil Elwood, a noted religious studies scholar from USC who has written extensively on new religious movements.

BTW, the full text of Jeffrey Mishlove's book 'Roots of Consciousness' is available free on-line here:

http://www.williamjames.com/Intro/CONTENTS.htm

This book is kind of a free esoteric education in itself. Check it out.

 

Carol Anne - For some reason I'm having difficulty in sending PMs so I'll post the info here. With a restricted budget you've got to look toward Australia and South Africa for these doctoral degrees. There are a few offered in each of those two countries. There are two things to remember though. First, if you haven't got much of an academic background in Philosophy they are very unlikely to admit you to a PhD program. Second, don't tell them that you're doing it just for fun. They're all very serious about this stuff and that's what they expect from their applicants. Bill's suggestion of the University of London was a good one. If the BA level is too basic then you could try a Postgrad Diploma program from one of the Australian schools. Either way you'll probably need to do a Masters program just so you can show your research skills (the PhD programs essentially require this). If your looking for something a bit more light-hearted, you can do a search of this forum for the "Pathways To Philosophy " program. If you search further on this forum you'll find that there have been some very informative threads relating to Philosophy degree programs on all levels. Good luck,
Jack

 

Re: Re: Metaphysics Degree

This program looks interesting but they provide all of their own educational material and I am uncomfortable with this.

They offer a Doctor of Religious/Metaphysical Philosophy which allows specialization in Theology, Ethics, Comparative Religion, Holistic/spiritual/complementary healing practices, Pastoral Counselling or Esoteric Arts.

This program seems to be getting closer to what I am looking for...just not quite right.

Thank you Jack.

 

.

If you want a real DL graduate program in parapsychology, your best bet is probably the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology:

http://www.itp.edu/academics/global.html

In fact, ITP might be one of the world's better parapsychology options, DL or no DL. This thing is regionally accredited, offers DL masters degrees and Ph.D.s and features Charles Tart on its core faculty. In parapsychology it would mean something to say that you studied with this man:

This site looked very interesting...

Here's a more flaky alternative that I nevertheless kind of like; the University of Philosophical Research:

Actually I like this one too. It is a bit flaky but perhaps that's what I am looking for. (just not too far north of flaky though)


Thank you for your thoughtful reply and in particular the resources you gave links for.

Two questions... have you heard anything regarding the University of Edinburgh?

I found this while searching:

Koestler Parapsychology Unit

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

School of Philosophy, Psychology
and Language Sciences
University of Edinburgh
7, George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9JZ
United Kingdom

As well, have you heard anything regarding Universal University of Holistic Spirituality? They offer a PhD in Metaphysics. They are unaccredited but the faculty seem to have traditional credentials.

Thanks again for your assistance.

Carol Anne