University of Metaphysical Sciences

We've talked about some other schools like the University of Sedona that offer metaphysical degrees, but there is only one thread that mentions this school and none on this school in particular.

No coursework and 10,000 words you say?

On accreditation:

I'm surprised they can claim accreditation without identifying explicitly that they don't have CHEA/DOE-recognized accreditation.

 

They do, actually. But it's non-standard, loquacious and a bit rambling. Like a bad sermon. Their accreditation statement is here, Page 5. https://metaphysicsuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/UMSCatalog2020Digital.pdf?x93663 Interesting how they express it.

Atheist myself - not a good one, yet - but I'm not against this type of learning. I AM against it being sold in degree form. So are US recognized accreditation agencies, obviously.

 

Thanks for the link. That is a tough read.

From bachelor's to doctorate they encourage students to complete the program within 5 years. The founder earned an Associates from Full Sail and then a PhD from UMS.

That is the opposite of what most people would consider the depth of a PhD.

That sounds like hogwash. Starting with there being way more than 9 CHEA/DOE-recognized accreditors: RA are 7, plus 11 national accreditors. And then the fact that there are numerous accredited programs in unique fields like the Master of Arts in Consciousness and Transformative Studies at National or the Master of Arts in Spirituality at Merrimack or the Master of Arts in Happiness at Centenary.

 

Right. Like I said - a bad sermon. There's standard wording, something like "This school has no accreditation recognized by CHEA or USDoE" and they should have used it. I'm pretty sure it's required in that exact form.

Could that be... because it IS?

 

Maybe by some states or for some state authorization types (e.g., maybe for actively reviewed by the state but not for religious-exempt), but not others?

 

I dunno, Jonathan - the standard wording cites Federal agencies - DOE and CHEA - so I don't think so. Besides - State Authorization is not accreditation. I don't see a free pass, here.

Or maybe because I've seen the "standard" wording so many times I think it's a law. I'm trying to find chapter and verse. I'll get back to you.

 

Yes. And there are some states, e.g. Texas and Florida, where Governors don't give a hoot about Federal restrictions and run the State like it's their own private country. I'm not sure what anybody's doing here, till I see the law - if there is one ...and try to figure out whether or not anyone is taking that law into their own hands.

We used to have Abbott and Costello -- nice clowns. Now we have Abbott and DeSantis - grim clowns, indeed.

 

Right. Whoops - the "Unaccredited" disclosure IS obviously (now, anyway) - a State thing. here's California's.
https://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/regulations/npr-b-71.pdf

This is a California school, but the legislation does NOT state any particular wording - it's more specific about what they must NOT say. So I guess they're good to go.

 

Accreditation is, by design, a private and voluntary process. Anyone can open an accrediting agency and begin accrediting schools. There are a few states that regulate this, I believe, but otherwise it's a pretty wide-open concept.

 

Exactly. Explains the success of this accreditor - hundreds of schools in their portfolio. https://www.accreditnow.com/

Classic thread here:
https://www.degreeinfo.com/index.php?threads/accreditation.55974/#post-525440

 

I am all for religious freedom and support it but there is abuse too. My problem with this university is not so much the fact that the work required for a PhD is substandard but the fact they label PhD a religious based degree. I personally have purchased courses for less than 50 bucks from this school in meditation and have found them very good but not at a degree level. The ethical thing to do here would be to grant only DDs so the public does not get the idea that the PhD holder has all the research skills that are normally part of a PhD program.
Metaphysical schools like University of Sedona abuse the titles mainly because of business reasons. The Metaphysical student for this school is many times more interested in the PhD title with a professional sounding name like "Business Metaphysics" or "Metaphysical Psychology" so they can practice psychology or business with a religious based degree.
Technically speaking, because these courses are more for personal development, they should be labelled as diplomas or certificates but the market seems to prefer PhD titles so the holder can impress an audience with the PhD title for a seminar in meditation or stress management techniques.
There is indeed a conflict between the philosophy of the school that teaches humbleness, ethics, personal growth, etc and the fact that it grants PhD for 6 months of work effort with no scientific background. A religious school can claim that they don't believe in the scientific method but if this is the case, they should not be granting PhDs but DMins, DDs, or similar.

 

AADP is indeed an accreditation agency but for alternative medicine or holistic practitioners. In any case, the school that you are pointing out is almost dead, most of the courses are sold now as pdfs for low price. There was a time when this type of schools would be able to enroll students because the PhD title but nowadays, most people can do a search online and find out that this is a PhD with little academic value and holding this degree would actually hurt and not help with your reputation.
I was interested in metaphysics courses back in the 90s and contacted this school long time ago, they started sending me emails selling all their courses for 10 or 30 bucks with the option for a degree so this tells me that this school is very close to bankruptcy.