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Introduction to Parapsychology - Fall 2020

This course is a requirement for all certificate programs.

In this course students will be introduced to the topics that are studied by professional parapsychologists. Topics will include an overview of the phenomena (Telepathy, Clairvoyance, Precognition, Psychokinesis, and Survival Issues), history, research methodologies and researchers that make up the vibrant field of scientific parapsychology. The course textbook is Introduction to Parapsychology, 5th edition by Harvey Irwin and Carline Watt. Besides the weekly class broadcasts, there is an online discussion forum for students to share their ideas, answer questions about the lectures, and communicate with the instructors.

Students who choose to be graded in this course will receive letter grades based on their participation in the weekly discussion forums, and their scores on two multiple choice/short answer essay tests given in weeks 4 and week 8.
Students who complete this course with a passing grade will receive a certificate of completion from the Rhine Education Center.

Paranthropology: A Cultural Approach to Psi

How do native cultures view psi phenomena?

How do culture-based beliefs and folklore around healing and psychokinesis differ between places like China, Mexico, and the Australian Outback? Why are seers and clairvoyants accepted in some cultures but shunned by others, modern culture included? How are culture-bound/religion-bound magic, witchcraft, and sorcery beliefs related to psychic abilities and experiences?

This 8-week academic seminar will be a high level overview of the ideas and beliefs of psychic experiences, the human mind and spirit, and related areas (life after death, reincarnation, etc.) as those beliefs have been “seen” by anthropologists and parapsychologists around the world. 

We will look at and discuss the possible instances of psi phenomena best reported in studies of divination, witchcraft and sorcery beliefs and practices, various cross cultural studies, modern beliefs in the occult and supernatural, and the application of psychic functioning in archaeology and anthropology.  From the parapsychological side, we will examine the ways culture affects belief, which in turn affects the psychic experience.

The format for the seminar course is a short(ish) lecture and live discussion each week. Additionally, there will be weekly discussion questions (following up on our live discussions), a short-answer midterm quiz and short-answer final quiz.


Remote Viewing - 2020

This 4-week online introduction to remote viewing (RV) will discuss RV’s origins and history, scientific protocols, methodologies, applications, success stories and failures, explanatory theories, skeptical critiques, and much more, including brief instruction in the RV process and an opportunity to perform your own remote viewing trials during the course of instruction. The controversy surrounding teaching of remote viewing will be discussed, and you will be introduced to the roles played in remote viewing by some of the most significant personalities in the field, including such luminaries as Ingo Swann, Hal Puthoff, Russell Targ, Joseph McMoneagle, Ed May, and others. Course Materials: Required Text: The Essential Guide to Remote Viewing – the Secret Military Remote Perception Sill Anyone Can Learn (Intentional Press, 2015 – available postage free at http://www.guidetoremoteviewing.com ) Additional reading material in digital format will be provided during the course. Students will also need access to some way of digitizing and uploading their remote viewing work (a scanner, camera, phone, etc.)

Eight (8) Important Studies in Parapsychology

This 8 week academic course will explore a different scientific study in parapsychology each week.  Students will be asked to read a scientific paper to prepare for each week, and the class will examine the purpose of the study, the methodology presented, the analysis technique, and the significance of the study to the field of parapsychology.  Each week, the studies will be reviewed in class, and students will be asked to discuss specific topics in the courseroom to help provide additional insight into the study.

Studies will include Zener card research done at the Duke Parapsychology Lab, the Ganzfeld technique, studies of Remote Viewing, micro-PK experiments from the PEAR Lab, studies of healing, and poltergeists, among others.

The special issues related to research in parapsychology will be included in this course, and students will have an opportunity to discuss these issues and creatively provide ways to address these issues.

It is strongly recommended that students taking this course have a background in Research Methods or have taken a course in Research Methods for parapsychology.

Human Consciousness & Survival Studies

This 8 week academic course examines the phenomena, experiences, and research related to the survival of human consciousness outside of the physical body. The course reviews the characteristics of Near Death Experiences (NDEs), Out of Body Experiences (OBEs), and after death communication (Mediumship) and examines the current research that is occurring in this area. Additional topics related to the survival of consciousness, including apparitions and hauntings, will also be explored.

Besides a discussion of the description of the phenomena and the evidence supporting the survival hypothesis, the course will also discuss qualitative investigations and laboratory studies into the effects of these experiences on individuals, and counselling efforts that have been used to help people with these experiences.

Introduction to Parapsychology - 2020

In this course students will be introduced to the topics that are studied by professional parapsychologists. Topics will include an overview of the phenomena (Telepathy, Clairvoyance, Precognition, Psychokinesis, and Survival Issues), history, research methodologies and researchers that make up the vibrant field of scientific parapsychology. The course textbook is Introduction to Parapsychology, 5th edition by Harvey Irwin and Carline Watt. Besides the weekly class broadcasts, there is an online discussion forum for students to share their ideas, answer questions about the lectures, and communicate with the instructors.

Students who choose to be graded in this course will receive letter grades based on their participation in the weekly discussion forums, and their scores on two multiple choice/short answer essay tests given in weeks 4 and week 8. Students who complete this course with a passing grade will receive a certificate of completion from the Rhine Education Center.

Presentiment: Exploring the Nature of Time

This 4-week online course will explore the phenomenon of Presentiment and how this phenomenon impacts the scientific view of time.  Presentiment is an unconscious form of precognition that has demonstrated that the physical body and sometimes the mind respond to events that have not yet happened. 

Feeling the future, precognitive memory, physical responses to future events, and how studying after a test can improve your test scores.  Scientific studies that have explored these events call into question our perception of time.  Based on these studies, this course will explore theories of time in physics and philosophy.

Field Investigations: Apparitions, Hauntings, & Poltergeists

This course is designed as an overview to introduce students to the methodologies of parapsychologists specifically with regard to the spontaneous occurrence of psychic experiences as they occur outside laboratory settings, with a main focus on cases of reported Apparitions, Hauntings and Poltergeists. Attendees will gain an understanding of the very basic skills and needed for investigation of ghosts, poltergeists, haunted places and related psychic experiences. The class will include:

    • The conceptual models of the phenomena,
    • How the scientific and psychic approaches can mesh together, and
    • How to assess a situation, investigate it, and resolve the case to the satisfaction of the people having the experiences.

Scientific Approach to ESP

This 8 week academic course will define the phenomena and experiences related to Extrasensory Perception (ESP) and provide an in-depth study of the current and historical evidence and research of Telepathy, Clairvoyance, and Precognition. The differences and similarities between these categories of psi experience/abilities will be discussed as well as an overview of what has been learned about psychological and physical variables and theories and models of ESP. Some of the basic topics related to Remote Viewing and applications of ESP will also be introduced in this class.

Introduction to Parapsychology - 2019

In this course students will be introduced to the topics that are studied by professional parapsychologists. Topics will include an overview of the phenomena (Telepathy, Clairvoyance, Precognition, Psychokinesis, and Survival Issues), history, research methodologies and researchers that make up the vibrant field of scientific parapsychology. The course textbook is Introduction to Parapsychology, 5th edition by Harvey Irwin and Carline Watt. Besides the weekly class broadcasts, there is an online discussion forum for students to share their ideas, answer questions about the lectures, and communicate with the instructors.

Qualitative Research Methods

Qualitative research methods typically gather information through interviews, questionnaires, observation, or a review of literature and art. Analysis methods vary for qualitative research, but there are extremely well-defined processes that will help the researcher to learn more about the event or phenomena being studied.

This course will describe some common methods of qualitative research and analysis techniques to gather information about psi phenomena outside of the laboratory environment. Through the review of articles and psi reports, the students will learn how qualitative research is performed and reported for paranormal and psi phenomena.

This academic course is designed for the serious student and qualifies for many certificate programs.

Advanced Field Investigations

In this course, students will explore the topics of field investigations more deeply, including methods related to specific models of paranormal phenomena from a scientific perspective of a parapsychologist. In addition, this course will discuss the history of paranormal field research, provide details on dealing with clients and finding resolutions during investigations, discuss issues related to “public haunts” vs. private home cases, and provide more complex methods for exploring the evidence and analyzing data to reach a conclusion. Technology used in investigations* will be reviewed along with EVPs, and psychic, mediums, and other sensitives. The technology will be evaluated at a basic level for best use in both private homes and public site investigations.

Field Investigation: Apparitions, Hauntings, & Poltergeists

This course is designed as an overview to introduce students to the methodologies of parapsychologists specifically with regard to the spontaneous occurrence of psychic experiences as they occur outside laboratory settings, with a main focus on cases of reported Apparitions, Hauntings and Poltergeists. Attendees will gain an understanding of the very basic skills and needed for investigation of ghosts, poltergeists, haunted places and related psychic experiences.

Beyond the Physical: Persistence of Spirit

Reincarnation. Spirit communication. Travelling out of the body. Apparitions & Hauntings. Near-Death Experiences. Does the spirit survive death? Is there scientific evidence that we are more than just a physical body? These questions have lingered with humanity for centuries, and beginning in the late 1800’s, the scientific community began exploring evidence for the existence of spirit. Though we are still far from an answer, extensive evidence has been gathered in rigorous scientific experiments including attempts to weight the soul, verification of past life memories, and complex experiments in spirit communication. How do scientists examine these topics often thought to be purely in the realm of religious scholars? Explore these and other topics in this 4 week course from the Rhine Education Center. This is a continuing education course, but students will be introduced to scientific articles and references that will help them to make their own decisions about life after death. Prepare to open your mind to a changing view of science while continuing to challenge your innermost thoughts and most firmly held beliefs.

Remote Viewing - 2018

This 4-week online introduction to remote viewing (RV) will discuss RV’s origins and history, scientific protocols, methodologies, applications, success stories and failures, explanatory theories, skeptical critiques, and much more, including brief instruction in the RV process and an opportunity to perform your own remote viewing trials during the course of instruction. The controversy surrounding teaching of remote viewing will be discussed, and you will be introduced to the roles played in remote viewing by some of the most significant personalities in the field, including such luminaries as Ingo Swann, Hal Puthoff, Russell Targ, Joseph McMoneagle, Ed May, and others. Course Materials: Required Text: The Essential Guide to Remote Viewing – the Secret Military Remote Perception Sill Anyone Can Learn (Intentional Press, 2015 – available postage free at http://www.guidetoremoteviewing.com ) Additional reading material in digital format will be provided during the course. Students will also need access to some way of digitizing and uploading their remote viewing work (a scanner, camera, phone, etc.)

Introduction to Parapsychology - 2018

In this course students will be introduced to the topics that are studied by professional parapsychologists. Topics will include an overview of the phenomena (Telepathy, Clairvoyance, Precognition, Psychokinesis, and Survival Issues), history, research methodologies and researchers that make up the vibrant field of scientific parapsychology. The course textbook is Introduction to Parapsychology, 5th edition by Harvey Irwin and Carline Watt. Besides the weekly class broadcasts, there is an online discussion forum for students to share their ideas, answer questions about the lectures, and communicate with the instructors. Students who choose to be graded in this course will receive letter grades based on their participation in the weekly discussion forums, and their scores on two multiple choice/short answer essay tests given in weeks 4 and week 8. Students who complete this course with a passing grade will receive a certificate of completion from the Rhine Education Center.

Paranthropology: A Cultural Approach to Psi

This 8-week academic course will be a high level overview of the ideas and beliefs of psychic experiences, the human mind and spirit, and related areas (life after death, reincarnation, etc.) as those beliefs have been “seen” by anthropologists and parapsychologists around the world. We will look at the possible instances of psi phenomena best reported in studies of divination, witchcraft and sorcery beliefs and practices, various cross cultural studies, modern beliefs in the occult and supernatural, and the application of psychic functioning in archaeology and anthropology. From the parapsychological side, we will examine the ways culture affects belief, which in turn affects the psychic experience.

Energy Healing & Psychokinesis

This eight week academic course explores the phenomena and scientific evidence for energy healing and psychokinesis. Some theories present these as different expressions of the same phenomena. This proposal will be explored in this course. Energy healing encompasses many techniques including laying on hands, reiki, qigong, healing touch, esoteric healing, and many, many more. Research on healing includes an observation of the phenomena and measurements of the effectiveness of these techniques on people, animals, plants and other organic matter. What does the scientific evidence indicate related to energy healing? Psychokinesis, PK, or Mind-Matter-Interaction all describe the same phenomena. Can people affect physical objects with only their thoughts or intentions? This course will explore examples of macro and micro psychokinesis and discuss the scientific research that has been done to understand how these phenomena might work and what psychological factors might cause people to demonstrate PK. This course will commit 4 weeks to each topic and explore the research and theories that discuss the nature of and evidence for energy healing and PK.

Introduction to Parapsychology

In this course students will be introduced to the topics that are studied by professional parapsychologists. Topics will include an overview of the phenomena (Telepathy, Clairvoyance, Precognition, Psychokinesis, and Survival Issues), history, research methodologies and researchers that make up the vibrant field of scientific parapsychology. The course textbook is Introduction to Parapsychology, 5th edition by Harvey Irwin and Carline Watt. Besides the weekly class broadcasts, there is an online discussion forum for students to share their ideas, answer questions about the lectures, and communicate with the instructors. Students who choose to be graded in this course will receive letter grades based on their participation in the weekly discussion forums, and their scores on two multiple choice/short answer essay tests given in weeks 4 and week 8. Students who complete this course with a passing grade will receive a certificate of completion from the Rhine Education Center.

Field Investigations: Apparitions, Hauntings, & Poltergeists

Eight (8) Important Studies in Parapsychology

This 8 week academic course will explore a different scientific study in parapsychology each week. Students will be asked to read a scientific paper to prepare for each week, and the class will examine the purpose of the study, the methodology presented, the analysis technique, and the significance of the study to the field of parapsychology. Each week, the studies will be reviewed in class, and students will be asked to discuss specific topics in the courseroom to help provide additional insight into the study.

Studies will include Zener card research done at the Duke Parapsychology Lab, the Ganzfeld technique, studies of Remote Viewing, micro-PK experiments from the PEAR Lab, studies of healing, and poltergeists, among others.

The special issues related to research in parapsychology will be included in this course, and students will have an opportunity to discuss these issues and creatively provide ways to address these issues.

It is strongly recommended that students taking this course have a background in Research Methods or have taken a course in Research Methods for parapsychology.

Psi in Movies, TV, & Comics

Is the truth really out there? Movies and TV shows like the Exorcist, Ghost, Stranger Things, The OA, and the X-Files all represent psychic phenomena and the paranormal with great insight and often engaging stories. Of course, many of the events in these shows are completely fictional, but some of the stories actually reflect real events or results that have been observed by parapsychologists! On the other hand, paranormal reality shows claim to present events and phenomena truthfully, but actually reflect a “reality” created by uninformed television producers. This fun, 4-week course will explore movies, TV (fictional and reality), and literature and separate the truth from fiction. It will explore how popular culture is influenced by psi experiences, beliefs, and misconceptions about the phenomena. More importantly, it will explore how media representations of psi influence the public's beliefs in and about psi, even to the point of affecting how people experience psi events when they happen.

Developing Your Intuition

The research findings from the field of Parapsychology have demonstrated that psi abilities-- ESP and PK (psychokinesis / mind over matter) – are functions of normal human beings, much like creativity. Some people are more creative than others in different disciplines, but everyone seems to have some creativity in them, provided they can find it and have some belief it can be developed and utilized. Developing one's psychic/intuitive abilities is much the same. Some people have a natural aptitude for certain psychic talents that spontaneously manifest themselves, others need to find which applications of psi they have aptitude for and work on bringing them out. This course will cover the major findings of Parapsychology relating to what makes a person more (or less) intuitive/psychic and will include exercises that will help you both test and develop the abilities you may have aptitude for, including a remote viewing experiment and a "Telepathy" game you can play with your family and friends. In addition, we will discuss the importance of specific characteristics and beliefs, the range of beliefs about ESP around the world, how personal belief -- whether arrived at because of culture, religion, education or family upbringing -- can effectively support or block psychic experiences, and how to assess psychic readings.

Experiencing the Exceptional & Extraordinary

What types of experiences do people report? Who reports them? What are some of the theories behind some of these experiences? How are these experiences evaluated and investigated? About Experiencing the Exceptional and Extraordinary This 4 week course will provide overview of the full range and depths of exceptional experiences, also known as anomalous events, including experiences of hallucinations, lucid and precognitive dreams, near-death and out-of body events, UFO sightings, alien abductions, psychokinesis, remote viewing, mysticism, anomalous healing, psi-events and past-lives.

Traveling Out of the Body: A practical & scientific perspective

This 4 week continuing education course will examine the phenomenon of Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs) and offer insights into how you can begin your own journeys to travel out of your body. OBE specialist and author Graham Nicholls will explore the history of OBEs, their relationship with near and shared death experiences, veridical OBEs, OBE science, and his own research into the nature of the experience. The course will provide an in-depth discussion of personal experiences and what these experiences suggest about the nature of out-of-body perception and the continuation of consciousness after death. Theories of nonlocal consciousness and network theory will be included as well as the work of scientists such as Brian Josephson, Rupert Sheldrake, and Sir Roger Penrose.

Art & Parapsychology: Exploring Psi through Art

This course is designed for artists, creative people, scientists, and anyone who has a sense that creativity and extended human consciousness may work together in the artistic, and possibly even the scientific process.

By reviewing the science of parapsychology and the works of contemporary and psi-inspired artists, this course will:

  • explore how creative expression can help you to recognize your own psi
  • inspire aspiring and experienced artists to draw on the findings of parapsychology as a basis for creative projects
  • encourage researchers to promote public engagement by presenting their findings in creative and artistic ways

Though the information presented in this interactive course is designed for everyone, additional material will be available people who want to take a deeper dive into the research, technology, or creation of more complex products.

Paranomal Phenomena: EVP, ITC, & Technology

This 4-week course will focus on the technology used to examine paranormal phenomena.  The course will explore Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP), Instrumental Transcommunication (ITC), and other technology that is often used in the investigation of paranormal phenomena.

Instructor Loyd Auerbach is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable experts on the paranormal.  His courses are always well attended and some of the most exciting courses offered at the Rhine Education Center.

Developing Your Intuition

The research findings from the field of Parapsychology have demonstrated that psi abilities-- ESP and PK (psychokinesis / mind over matter) – are functions of normal human beings, much like creativity. Some people are more creative than others in different disciplines, but everyone seems to have some creativity in them, provided they can find it and have some belief it can be developed and utilized. Developing one's psychic/intuitive abilities is much the same. Some people have a natural aptitude for certain psychic talents that spontaneously manifest themselves, others need to find which applications of psi they have aptitude for and work on bringing them out. This course will cover the major findings of Parapsychology relating to what makes a person more (or less) intuitive/psychic and will include exercises that will help you both test and develop the abilities you may have aptitude for, including a remote viewing experiment and a "Telepathy" game you can play with your family and friends. In addition, we will discuss the importance of specific characteristics and beliefs, the range of beliefs about ESP around the world, how personal belief -- whether arrived at because of culture, religion, education or family upbringing -- can effectively support or block psychic experiences, and how to assess psychic readings.

Exploring Exceptional Experiences (4 week)

This 4 week course will provide overview of the full range and depths of exceptional experiences, also known as anomalous events, including experiences of hallucinations, lucid and precognitive dreams, near-death and out-of body events, UFO sightings, alien abductions, psychokinesis, remote viewing, mysticism, anomalous healing, psi-events and past-lives. Exploring Exceptional Experiences (EEE) will evaluate whether there are underlying similarities among all the phenomena and the issues with moving forward with a new scientific paradigm.

Psi in TV, Movies, and Literature

Is the truth really out there? Movies and TV shows like the Exorcist, Ghost, Stranger Things, The OA, and the X-Files all represent psychic phenomena and the paranormal with great insight and often engaging stories. Of course, many of the events in these shows are completely fictional, but some of the stories actually reflect real events or results that have been observed by parapsychologists! On the other hand, paranormal reality shows claim to present events and phenomena truthfully, but actually reflect a “reality” created by uninformed television producers. This fun, 4-week course will explore movies, TV (fictional and reality), and literature and separate the truth from fiction. It will explore how popular culture is influenced by psi experiences, beliefs, and misconceptions about the phenomena. More importantly, it will explore how media representations of psi influence the public's beliefs in and about psi, even to the point of affecting how people experience psi events when they happen.

Paranormal Phenomena: Technology

This 4-week course will focus on the technology used to examine paranormal phenomena. The course will explore Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP), Instrumental Transcommunication (ITC), and other technology that is often used in the investigation of paranormal phenomena. Instructor Loyd Auerbach is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable experts on the paranormal. His courses are always well attended and some of the most exciting courses offered at the Rhine Education Center.

Traveling Out of the Body

This 4 week continuing education course will examine the phenomenon of Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs) and offer insights into how you can begin your own journeys to travel out of your body. OBE specialist and author Graham Nicholls will explore the history of OBEs, their relationship with near and shared death experiences, veridical OBEs, OBE science, and his own research into the nature of the experience. The course will provide an in-depth discussion of personal experiences and what these experiences suggest about the nature of out-of-body perception and the continuation of consciousness after death.

Lucid Dreaming

A lucid dream is when you know you are dreaming while still in the confines of sleep. This course shows you how to build a holistic and sustainable lucid dreaming practice, which will open up new vistas of insight, creativity and healing. You’ll wake up to your waking life too as you unlock old energy patterns, igniting confidence, creativity, and vitality.

Developing Your Intuition

The research findings from the field of Parapsychology have demonstrated that psi abilities-- ESP and PK (psychokinesis / mind over matter) – are functions of normal human beings, much like creativity. Some people are more creative than others in different disciplines, but everyone seems to have some creativity in them, provided they can find it and have some belief it can be developed and utilized.

Developing one's psychic/intuitive abilities is much the same. Some people have a natural aptitude for certain psychic talents that spontaneously manifest themselves, others need to find which applications of psi they have aptitude for and work on bringing them out.

This course will cover the major findings of Parapsychology relating to what makes a person more (or less) intuitive/psychic and will include exercises that will help you both test and develop the abilities you may have aptitude for, including a remote viewing experiment and a "Telepathy" game you can play with your family and friends.

In addition, we will discuss the importance of specific characteristics and beliefs, the range of beliefs about ESP around the world, how personal belief -- whether arrived at because of culture, religion, education or family upbringing -- can effectively support or block psychic experiences, and how to assess psychic readings.