Master of Arts in Consciousness, Psychology, and Transformation

A paradigm is a model of reality, or aspects of reality, held by a community, and affirmed and enacted through communal behavior. Society today is shaped by past paradigms of consciousness as well as those which are newly emerging. This course explores the nature of paradigms, how they emerge, how they are sustained and how they are changed. We give particular attention to the evolution of various paradigms of consciousness and reality – from indigenous to modern, postmodern, holistic, and integral – and examine the potential of each to contribute to personal, social, and global transformation.

This course focuses on emotional intelligence—the capacity to recognize, understand, regulate, and creatively channel the wisdom and energy of emotional experience, as well as to empathize and relate to others’ emotions. Students learn what emotions are and how they arise physiologically, experientially, and behaviorally. A phenomenological approach enables students to connect with and describe emotions in order to enter more directly into the multi- layered, visceral experience of their emotional lives. The practice of mindfulness allows students to observe, track, and comprehend their experience with openness, curiosity, and acuity. Mindfulness also enables students to identify and work with habitual cognitive schemas and emotional reactions.

Prerequisite: CNS 5012

This course applies emotional intelligence, along with intuition, social knowledge, and cultural competence, to interpersonal contexts. Students practice techniques of effective listening and understand how emotional triggers can block interpersonal connection. The course also focuses on effective communication, the capacity to attune to another’s experience while remaining connected to one’s own. Students explore how emotional triggers through relationship and provide an opportunity for the expansion of self-awareness and integration. Topics include the principles of nonviolent communication, conflict resolution, and the process of coming into conscious relationship.

This experiential course gives students the opportunity to explore their authentic body experiences from a variety of somatic modalities, and in so doing to contact their own lived body wisdom. Students develop greater body consciousness through exercises addressing parts of the body, body systems, and their body in relationship to self, other and the natural world. A variety of movement practices promote creativity and self- expression, supporting the development of emotional intelligence and interpersonal communication. Students integrate a repertoire of body-centered skills to apply to personal challenges, spiritual growth and life enrichment.

This course imparts a meta- perspective on human development and on the evolution of human consciousness. Developmental models assist us in perceiving the growth potentials across the human lifespan, culminating in conscious leadership. The course introduces various models of human development, such as Erikson’s psychosocial development, Kohlberg and Gilligan’s moral development, Fowler’s faith development and Kegan’s adult development. The course also explores basic elements of Ken Wilber’s integral theory, including the four quadrants, the difference between states and stages, and premodern, modern, and postmodern altitudes. Topics include models of consciousness, the relationship of Self/self, and the potential of integral psychology to deepen our understanding of and engagement with personal psycho-spiritual development as well as social/global change.

Prerequisite: CNS 5013

This course explores the multiple meanings of diversity, leadership, and community and directs students in a self- inquiry process about — who am I, who am I becoming, who are we, and who do we want to be as leaders in an emerging paradigm of global citizenship, interrelationship, interconnection, and compassion? Students explore diversity, community development, leadership skills, new breakthrough ideas, and technologies for expressing their highest and deepest values as agents of transformative change in the personal lives, families, and communities.

Transpersonal psychology explores the higher and deeper dimensions of human experience and relationship, including religious visions, sacred encounters, mystical moments, synchronicities, past-life memories, near-death experiences, cosmic consciousness, ecstasy, psychic phenomena, and prophetic dreams. This course explores major transpersonal concepts, theories, practices, and research findings. Topics include transpersonal models of human consciousness and development, the relationship of Self to self, non-ordinary states of consciousness, the perennial philosophy, meditation, lucid dreaming, entheogens, shamanic journeys, parapsychology, neurophenomenology, transpersonal therapies, spiritual emergency, and spiritual bypassing. Through readings, contemplative exercises, written assignments, and in-class discussions, students deepen insight into their own and others’ psychological and spiritual experience and development.

This course introduces the basic principles of Living Systems Theory using theoretical and experiential components. Students apply these principles and practices to a selected area of interest (ecology, psychological development, community/cultural development, education, business or spiritual leadership, etc.). We also explore feedback processes, the interdependence of all life, creative emergence, individual development, family systems and the impact of systems thinking on organizational transformation and social change.

The complex challenges of our time demand that we give the best of ourselves to the world, yet many of these challenges leave us with little time for self-care or self-cultivation. An integral life practice, which draws on both ancient and modern insights and techniques as well as the principles of cross-training to maximize the effectiveness of our efforts, offers a streamlined approach to transformative practice and thriving. Through this course, students engage in individual and collective self-assessment exercises, and learn to design and implement an integrative program of practices to promote physical health, emotional balance, mental clarity, and spiritual awakening.

Terrapsychology is a growing field of studies, ideas, and practices for reimagining and restorying how deeply and intimately our psychological life is involved with our surroundings, whether human or other than human. More informally, we tend to see how the world gets into the heart and how the heart reflects the world. Drawing on depth psychology and ecopsychology, terrapsychology explores how terrain, place, elements, and natural processes show up in human psychology, endeavor, and story, including myth and folklore. In this course students will be introduced to terrapsychology and its practices and ask: What emerges when we listen, imagine, and feel into rich intersections of psyche, story, symbol, body, mood, and place? When we put the presence of the world at the center of psychology?

This course, taken at the conclusion of the program, offers students the opportunity to integrate cumulative learning from the Consciousness and Transformative Studies curriculum, both personally and conceptually. The intent of the course is to assist students with reviewing and integrating core consciousness principles and practices and to gain stronger conceptual and practical mastery of the entire curriculum. Students review the foundational ideas from the core curriculum, gathered through student presentations. Additionally, students apply these concepts and principles in a personal essay exploring their own transformation of consciousness throughout the program.

In this professional development course students focus on building an effective online business structure, selecting an audience and creating content designed to promote oneself and business via social media. Through class lectures and discussions, videos, readings, written assignments and experiential exercises, students gain an understanding of how best get their messages and material out and promote themselves online. This class is dedicated to providing a participatory experience for students to create a strong, cohesive online presence designed to drive business and support further business development and creative outlets such as book publishing and media appearances. The practical knowledge and skills gained further students’ professional development and credibility as experts in their own topic areas, as well as support their creativity in projects aimed at consiousness growth and systems change.

The demand for coaching is ever increasing to meet the challenges of living in today’s complex world. Discover what is needed to develop an effective and trusted coaching relationship that creates meaningful and sustainable change. Learn how to coach from an integral perspective that engages the complexity and potential of the whole person –mind, body, heart and spirit. The focus of this course will be on understanding the coaching process and developing basic coaching competencies. This course includes practical training.

Prerequisite: CNS 5010

This course is designed to support students’ attainment of right livelihood. The project serves as a creative and practical bridge to help students translate and apply their CPT experience to their post-CPT professional life. By a process of intensive self-reflection and extensive career research, students create a transformative career plan. They reflect on their personal and occupational histories as well as insights, practices, skills, and ways of knowing and being developed in the CPT program.

This course introduces you to the most relevant theories behind coaching. It addresses human development, differences in how we learn, the role and limitation of willpower, and relevant major theories of change in individuals and work groups. You will continue to practice coaching and work with a practice partner or coachee. The goal of this course is to deepen your coaching and to become more skilled at understanding where your coachee is in their development, so that you can more successfully guide them to fulfill their potential. This course includes practical training.

This course weaves together material from prior coaching courses and focuses on practical training. You will review coaching basics and learn about various tools to help the integral coaching process. Practice how to coach from an integral perspective that engages the complexity and potential of the whole person – mind, body, heart, and spirit. At the end of this course students will be able to demonstrate integral coaching skills, show familiarity with the core competencies defined by the International Coach Federation (ICF), and fulfill the requirements of the Consciousness and Transformation Coaching Specialization.

Students learn presentation and facilitation skills that are based on concepts, principles, and practices of consciousness studies and holistic education, such as presence, mindfulness, meditation, creativity, empathy, authenticity, active listening and participatory learning. These skills are not only relevant to delivering professional presentations but also for teaching and training activities. Students plan, develop, market and present a workshop on a topic of their choice. The result is a workshop curriculum in an area of expertise that can be offered professionally in other settings.

This professional development course enables students to gain comfort and facility guiding both structured exercises and also sharing what arises for each member in a less structured context. Students learn to create, grow, and sustain a group so that its unfolding process is built on safety. This involves skillfully managing the natural ongoing process of self-disclosure, being mindful of how groups develop over time, learning basic skills of Non-Violent Communication, and giving and receiving feedback in emotionally healthy ways. Students learn about group facilitation from three distinct modalities: by participating in the small group of the class as facilitated by the instructor, by the theory related to formation and development of healthy groups, and by facilitating their own small group, with guidance and oversight provided by the instructor. Attention is given to creating group cultures that are holistic: body, mind, emotion, soul, and spirit.

Recommended Preparation: CNS 5275; Prerequisite: CNS 5017

This course explores principles and practices of Transformational Leadership, and application of these principles to personal and professional development. Course topics include: development of capacities such as a high level of self-awareness, deep listening personal accountability, integrity and emotional intelligence; challenging the status quo; encouraging creativity; fostering diversity, inclusion and supportive relationships; articulating a clear vision; managing conflict and motivating others to achieve their unique leadership potential; application of systems thinking/theory; creating vision and courage to implement change; embodiment of Wisdom and Compassion in Action, and strategies for actualizing and manifesting personal and professional intentions and goals. Course includes readings, experiential exercises, and application of leadership to personal and professional projects.

Using multiple soul-encounter technologies (Jungian Journaling, Entelechy Method, Guided Meditation, Cross Species Dialogue, 20-Years Process, and Voice Dialogue) students explore different aspects of their soul’s calling in relation to work, including the eight dimensions of purpose: Vision, Values, Powers, Essence, Give- away, Mission, Message and Delivery System. Emerging from multiple soul- encounters, students uncover a picture of their optimum work life: where they know their unique gifts and how (and where) to deliver them, for whom they are meant for, and a strong business plan that allows for success in both the survival dance of making a living and the sacred dance of embracing one’s true purpose.

Prerequisite: CNS 5010

This course enables students to share their vision, knowledge, and wisdom by getting published,and is intended for students who with the desire and potential to publish their work. The course assists students to refine and polish their writing and prepare a manuscript for publication. An internal prerequisite for this course is an already well-written paper of high quality, for which an A grade was received in a previous course. Students learn how to: structure the paper, identify their audience or readers, identify the value of their paper, fine-tune the text, write a pitch letter, and determine where to send multiple submissions. At the end of this course, students identify a suitable journal and submit their work for publication. Not all writers become authors without guidance; this course creates the container to step into authorship.