A few educational institutions around the world offer opportunities to study parapsychology, spirituality, complimentary and alternative medicine and other areas of post-materialist science.
Medicine, Health and Healing
University of Southern Denmark CCESCAM
The Centre for Cross-disciplinary Evaluation Studies in Complementary and Alternative Medicine is a virtual research center with researchers from the University of Aarhus and the University of Southern Denmark in cooperation with independent practitioners in alternative treatment and with the oncology departments at the university hospitals of Aarhus and Odense. Helle Johannessen (dec'd) was director of CCESCAM as well as Manager of the PhD-programme for Social Studies in Medicine.
For more information on CAM in Germany, see this article on integrative oncology from the Chair of Complementary and Integrative Medicine at the University of Duisburg-Essen. It inlcudes a comprehesive list of chairs of Complementary and/or Integrative Medicine at universites across Germany and Switzerland.
Competence Centre for Complementary Medicine and Naturopathy
The Centre for Complementary Medicine Research at the University Hospital 'rechts der Isar' of Technische Universität München is one of the world's leading centers for quality assurance, clinical research and health services research in the field of naturopathy and complementary medicine. Numerous randomized trials, observational studies, systematic reviews and methodological studies have been completed. CAMbrella, the EU research network for complementary and alternative medicine is coordinated by the Centre.
Institute for Transcultural Health Sciences (IntraG)
Associated with the European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), IntraG studies issues of health and medicine from the perspective of cultural science. Topics include the culture of medicine, medicines of the cultures of the world, health and disease in historical and global context, and disease prevention. Professor Harald Walach is director.
University of Duisburg-Essen
This university's tagline is "Open-minded" which bodes well. Under the Chair of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, the university offers training for physicians and therapists in scientifically evaluated methods of modern Integrative Medicine, including Naturopathy, Mind-Body Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine.
CAM-Cancer
Originally funded by the European Commission within the Framework 5 Programme, it is now hosted by the National Information Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIFAB) at the University of Tromsø, Norway. CAM-Cancer prepares and disseminates evidence-based information for health professionals in order to assist them in informing their patients and to build an international authoritative network around CAM in cancer led by a panel of experts in CAM research and/or in cancer care with privileged contacts to cancer organizations.
In recent years, nearly all courses and degree programs in complementary and alternative medicine have disappeared from British universities. Nonetheless, a few educational and research options remain.
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster offers undergraduate, postgraduate and profession courses as well as research degrees in Chinese medicine including acupuncture and medicinal herbs.
Research Council for Complementary Medicine
The RCCM is a UK Registered Charity founded to develop and promote quality research into complementary and alternative medicine.
California Institute for Human Science (CIHS)
CIHS offers innovative graduate programs and research in body, mind and spirit, covering psychology, integral health, life physics and comparative religion and philosophy.
Bastyr University
Bastyr is the largest university for complimentary and alternative medicine in the US, offering 17 academic degree and certificate programs. Building on its science-based foundation, the University has been the recipient of a number of multimillion-dollar research grants from the National Institutes of Health.
Energy Medicine University
Energy Medicine University is dedicated to providing higher education of academic excellence for study and research in the field of energy medicine, including alternative, bioelectric, complimentary, holistic, indigenous, integrative, intuitive, spiritual, and traditional modalities.
Georgetown University CAM Program
The Complementary and Alternative Medicine Program at Georgetown University works with students interested in healthcare combining science, CAM, and evidence. The program focuses on science-based evidence for the most common complementary and integrative medicines used in the US.
The Graduate Institute, Bethany Connecticut
The Graduate Institute offers both a Master of Arts and a Certificate in Integrative Health and Healing. An on-site program, students explore topics from ancient medicine to contemporary practice, learning many complementary and alternative modalities that treat the whole person. In the context of this program, health is understood as the optimal alignment of body, mind and spirit—not merely the absence of disease. The program provides a unique and extraordinary opportunity to study the best of Eastern and Western medicine in a hands-on, interactive learning environment.
Morgan State University CAM Research Training Program
The Complementary and Alterntive Medicine (CAM) Research Training Program was established to advance scientific research on diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be a part of conventional medicine and to train CAM researchers.
National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM)
The oldest accredited naturopathic medical college in North America. Its graduate programs in naturopathic medicine, classical Chinese medicine, integrative medicine research, global health and nutrition blend ancient healing wisdom with modern science in challenging curricula.
National University of Health Sciences
NU was an early leader in the field of chiropractic medicine and continues as a leader, balancing healing arts and science with broad-scope integrative medicine and patient-centered care with programs in naturopathic medicine, oriental medicine, acupuncture, biomedical science and massage therapy.
New York College of Health Professions
A private nonprofit, New York College offers accredited degree programs, continuing education and certifications in holistic health sciences, including programs in massage therapy, oriental medicine, acupuncture, holistic nursing for rns and the science of self-improvement.
Regis College
Regis is a leading university in Greater Boston that has been preparing students for success in an evolving, global world since 1927. Our renowned faculty provides a values-based education integrated with cutting-edge technology and an industry-focused curriculum. Regis College offers majors and professional programs to prepare students for in-demand fields such as nursing, health, public service, education, and business communication.
Rutgers University Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ICAM) is a university-wide initiative, housed in the School of Health Related Professions (SHRP). It serves as a focal point for complementary and alternative (integrative) medicine within the Rutgers of New Jersey.
St. Catherine University Holistic Health Studies
The Holistic Health Studies program at St. Catherine's Henrietta Schmoll School of Health provides a rich, graduate-level immersion in academic research which typically incorporates an experiential component — "mindbodyspirit" research. Their transdisciplinary curriculum draws from all corners of life and all disciplines of study.
Southern California University of Health Sciences
For over a century SCU has trained men and women for careers in patient care. SCU includes the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, the College of Eastern Medicine, the School of Professional Studies and the Institute of Science.
University of Miami Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine
The Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine is dedicated to creating healthy solutions for the mind and body through research and education into acupuncture, massage, sequential acupressure techniques, nutrition and guided imagery.
University of Michigan Integrative Medicine Program
University of Michigan Integrative Medicine provides patient care services at the Integrative Family Medicine Clinic, facilitates research into CAM therapies, and provides medical education curricula, faculty development opportunities, and several interdisciplinary courses to support the study of integrative medicine.
University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality & Healing
The Center helps create well-educated, collaborative healthcare professionals who provide whole person care and conduct cutting-edge research in arts and healing, health coaching, mindfulness-based stress reduction, nature-based therapeutics, tibetan medicine and yoga and whole systems healing.
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Health Sciences Center offers alternative and complementary therapies in acupuncture, Ayurvedic medicine, botanical medicine, chiropractic, curanderismo, energy medicine, homeopathy, massage therapy, mind–body medicine, and Native American healing traditions. The Internal Medicine Resident Program offers an Integrative Medicine Residency Track.
University of Virginia Contemplative Sciences Center
The mission of the Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC) is to advance the study and application of human flourishing at all levels of education—K-12, undergraduate, graduate, professional, and lifelong. In particular we are focused on how educational institutions can better understand and facilitate the types of knowledge, mindsets, and practices that promote flourishing.
Consciousness Studies
Institute of Paranormal Psychology (IPP)
The IPP has conducted hundreds of workshops, conferences, courses and seminars in the field of parapsychology and related areas. It offers several certificate courses and conducts research into paranormal phenomena.
NUPES Research Center in Spirituality and Health, University of Juiz de Fora
NUPES's mission is to develop interdisciplinary research about the relationship between spirituality and health. Alexander Moreira-Almeida is the Founder and Director of NUPES.
University of São Paulo Institute of Psychiatry
The Program for Health, Spirituality and Religion (PROSER) aims to provide therapeutic care, study and research and to investigate and generate information about the relationship between health, spirituality and religion.
Applied Consciousness Sciences Research Division of the University of Regensburg
Consciousness research is significantly represented in Germany by the Applied Consciousness Sciences research division of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University of Regensburg Medical Center, led by Dr. Thilo Hinterberger.
Meiji University Institute for Informatics of Consciousness
The Institute for Informatics of Consciousness is a research project at Meiji University focused on the scientific and cultural study of paranormal phenomena and altered states of consciousness, such as micro-PK and Near-Death Experience, without believer vs. skeptic prejudices. To realize this project, the speciality of members are interdisciplinary: cognitive science, biophysics, history of science, antropology and journalism.
University of Gothenburg Department of Psychology
The psychological research undertaken at the University of Gothenburg Department of Psychology includes consciousness studies. Adrian Parker, Professor Emeritus, offers doctoral supervision in the areas of altered states and parapsychology. Their offerings include aninternational course on consciousness studies and psychical research
Lund University Center for Research on Consciousness and Anomalous Psychology
The Center for Research on Consciousness and Anomalous Psychology (CERCAP ) at Lund University consists of a group of researchers and associates dedicated to the scientific study of unusual but not pathological experiences and events, including reputed parapsychological phenomena. Etzel Cardeña is director of CERCAP .
University of Edinburgh Koestler Parapsychology Unit
The Koestler Parapsychology Unit (KPU) is a research group based in the Psychology Department at the University of Edinburgh. Established in 1985, it consists of academic staff and postgraduate students who teach and research various aspects of parapsychology, including: the possible existence of psychic ability; belief in the paranormal; the psychology of anomalous experiences; pseudo-psychic deception and self-deception; and the social and historical relevance of parapsychology.
Northampton University CSAPP
Located within the Psychology division, The Centre for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes (CSAPP) is recognised as a Centre of Research Excellence and is one of the largest university-based research centres devoted to research into exceptional human experience. The centre is concerned with better understanding the nature and place within communities of belief and experiences that suggest a transpersonal aspect to the human condition.
University of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich is the best university in London for teaching excellence, according to the Sunday Times. Of particular interest is the course Psychology of Exceptional Human Experience taught by Dr David Luke.
Schumacher College MSc in holistic science
Schumacher College in partnership with the Plymouth University is the first in the world to offer a postgraduate programme in Holistic Science.
University of the West of England, Bristol, Dept of Health and Social Sciences
Anomalous experiences and parapsychology can be studied at the UWE Dept of Health and Social Sciences in the third year modules on The Psychology of Consciousness and The Psychology of Religion. One may also specialize in parapsychology or anomalous experiences in the dissertation module under Dr Nicola Holt, Dr Guy Saunders, Dr Jenny Parker or Dr Chris Alford.
University of York Anomalous Experience Research Unit
The Anomalous Experience Research Unit (AERU) was established in the summer of 2006 to research into the contexts, characteristics and consequences of experiences which suggest anomalous psychological processes and agencies, and exceptional states of consciousness. Although based in the Department of Sociology at York, the Unit seeks to develop interdisciplinary social science research on anomalous experiences.
University of Alternative Studies
The University of Alternative Studies offers internet-based higher education degree programs, certification programs, and intorductory courses for individuals with a serious interest in academic parapsychology.
The American Institute of Parapsychology
Dr. Andrew Nichols offers classes in psychic development, parapsychology and psychic science at the office of the North Florida Parapsychology Association in Gainesville, Florida. Workshops and courses cover various aspects of metaphysics and parapsychology including meditation, psychometry, dreams, auras, clairvoyance, ghosts and spirit communication. Other topics include divination (Palmistry, Numerology, etc.) and psychoanalytic studies.
University of Arizona Department of Psychology
The Department of Psychology is part of the School of Mind, Brain, and Behavior (MBB), and is housed within the College of Science, in keeping with its strong research-oriented approach and scientifically-derived knowledge base.
Atlantic University
Drawing on the best of the humanities, social and natural sciences, psychology, and religious and spiritual traditions, Atlantic University's vision is to offer the most unique and distinguished course of scholarship in the field of transpersonal studies.
California Institute of Integral Studies
CIIS is pioneering a unique educational vision. The university encompasses 18 leading-edge graduate programs and an undergraduate program that attract passionate learners and international renown.
The Graduate Institute, Connecticut, School for Consciousness Studies
The Master of Arts in Consciousness Studies program explores the growth, development and awakening of human consciousness. Students examine diverse theories and concepts of the structures and states of consciousness and the processes that lead to personal and developmental inner growth. Through the engagement with somatic awareness practices and by re-establishing the unity of mind-body consciousness, students learn to access intuition and embodied wisdom through personal and transpersonal knowing. Practices of mindfulness and presence are cornerstones of the program. On-site program.
HCH Institute for Hypnotherapy and Psycho-Spiritual Trainings
HCH is one of the oldest and most comprehensive state-approved hypnosis training institutes in California.
JFK University, Pleasant Hill, California
JFK University offers a Master of Arts in Consciousness and Transformative Studies at the Pleasant Hill campus. Courses in new physics, environmental sustainability, and neurophilosophy provide a new scientific paradigm for the study of consciousness and transformation.
Naropa University
Perform in an Indian classical music ensemble. Write a thesis on creativity and social action. Take yoga for credit. Volunteer in a community garden. Study Tibetan. Spend the weekend at a meditation retreat. Intern at the Peace Jam Foundation. Conduct research on the nature of consciousness. These are some of the opportunities available to students that make Naropa such a dynamic educational experience. The Naropa Institute attracted some of the country's most forward-thinking artists and scholars to teach--people such as Allen Ginsberg, Ken Wilbur, Anne Waldman, John Cage, Meredith Monk, and many others.
The Office of Paranormal Investigations (OPI) Parapsychological Studies Certificate Program
OPI is dedicated to the scientific investigation and understanding of spontaneous occurrences of psi phenomena.
Pacifica Graduate Institute
The mission of Pacifica Graduate Institute is to foster creative learning and research in the fields of psychology, the humanities, and mythological studies, framed in the traditions of depth psychology.
Rhine Education Center
The Rhine Education Center give students the opportunity to learn about the science and practices of parapsychology in a professional and fun environment. Certificates are available in Academic Parapsychology, Parapsychology Research, History of Parapsychology, and Knowledge of Psi Phenomena.
Saybrook Institute
The School of Psychology & Interdisciplinary Inquiry offers both master's degree and doctoral psychology students an option to declare a Specialization in Consciousness, Spirituality, and Integrative Health (CSIH). They offer a Dream Studies Certificate, among others.
Sofia University
Sofia University is a passionate, dynamic learning community that fosters multiple ways of knowing while embracing diverse paths of spiritual practice and development. Their Graduate School of Transpersonal Studies offers a Master of Arts in Transpersonal Psychology.
Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University
Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University, is a leading academic center for research and practice on spirituality in psychology.
University of Virginia Division of Perceptual Studies
A unit of the Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia, the Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) investigates apparent paranormal phenomena, such as: children who claim to remember previous lives, near-death experiences, out of body experiences, apparitions and after-death communications, deathbed visions, psychophysiological studies of altered states of consciousness and psi.
Should I study parapsychology?
"If you want to get into the field of parapsychology, my best advice is to go to a good, strong undergraduate university, whether there is a course on parapsychology or not. Get a background in psychology, anthropology, physics or some other social or physical science, but also make sure you take at least introductory level courses in other fields (especially psychology, physics and cultural anthropology) so you are familiar with concepts that might have a direct bearing on parapsychological research... Then, when looking for a graduate school, you might attempt to work up a master's program that will allow you to do research or investigation in parapsychological topics."
– Loyd Auerbach