Transpersonal psychology integrates modern psychology with the wisdom traditions of the world. It sees human potential in a framework wider than modern psychology. Foundations of Transpersonal Psychology in Chinese (PHDC6101) systematizes and deepens the course experience of Introduction to Transpersonal Psychology (MTPC7403) within the Master's in Transpersonal Psychology in Chinese (MTPC) program. The two courses have much in common but differ considerably in their design and content. This course (PHDC6101) stresses academic research and the methodology of research, while MTPC7403 places primary focus on individual experience and transformation.
This 10-week course will introduce the definition, background, pioneering figures (e.g., James, Jung , Maslow, Tart, etc.), and contemporary scholars (e.g., Grof, Wilber, Welwood, Cortright, etc.) of transpersonal psychology, whose thoughts and practices have exerted significant influences on the field. Asian wisdom traditions, especially Chinese traditions, are also incorporated in the course design. Besides integrating these theories and skills, this course also offers transpersonal experiences, mainly in the form of breathing, mindfulness, meditation, and listening to and dancing to spiritual healing music. These practices enable students to look back and check with some of the learned theories. This course will also introduce the differences and similarities between transpersonal psychotherapies and conventional psychotherapies.
We will use Canvas and Zoom as the main platforms to conduct this course. The pedagogy entails communication by written assignments, listening to podcasts, watching recorded videos, attending live Zoom sessions with Q&A, and engaging in the live seminar. Students need to meet the reading requirements, submit assignments, and interact with fellow students on Canvas. Students also need to submit assignments for the experiential coursework, either by writing or sharing during a group video session.
Students need to take part in five live Zoom sessions on Sunday mornings, Beijing time. During the live sessions, the instructor will comment on students’ assignments of the week, answer questions from the assignments, and facilitate free discussions. In the fourth live session, a transpersonal counseling demonstration will be arranged for educational purposes.