Parapsychology Degrees

Parapsychology Degrees – or a degree in Paranormal Studies – can open the door to many ghost-hunting opportunities.

As Gertrude Schmeidler said in her 1972 report to the American Society for Psychical Research, “The Ph.D. is the union card.” It doesn’t assure you that people will take you seriously… but it can help.

However, most universities edge away from controversy by calling their programs something other than “paranormal studies.”

Catchphrases include “consciousness” and “alternative psychology.”

Some colleges study psychic phenomena, including ghosts, “luck,” remote viewing, and others. Departments like psychology, biology, or social sciences usually sponsor these activities.

Ivy League universities conduct similar research, but it is not advertised, and they do not offer degrees in the field.

Choose a related major

In other words, your major might be in physics, biology, psychology,  engineering, or some other field. You may study parapsychology, but your diploma will look more mainstream. This can be useful in career terms if you don’t find a full-time career in paranormal studies.

Note: Even with a parapsychology degree, you’re unlikely to find full-time research work in this field.

Most full-time ghost hunters are self-employed, and find income from a variety of sources. That’s very different from the luxury of doing serious, full-time research in a respected scientific setting.

Some universities and research groups offer workshops and symposia related to paranormal studies. Some include academic credits or certification.

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Remember, you can take a free, four-week ghost hunting course, here.

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Some accredited colleges offer degrees that are custom-designed for the individual. They may also include credit for life experience. But, they aren’t likely to award a formal degree in parapsychology.

When I first wrote this article in mid-2006, no accredited American college or university offered a formal parapsychology or paranormal studies degree. The topic is too controversial.

Beware predatory “degree mills”

Many “degree mills” have sprouted up since the late 1960s. Their letterhead may look impressive, and they may claim a 30-plus-year history in the field. But they’re still degree mills. They have no accreditation and very little respect in the professional community. Don’t waste your time and money.

Likewise, a certified course isn’t a degree.  It provides a basic background in paranormal research. What you’ll learn gives you credibility among ghost hunters. For years, my own course was free.  The last time I checked, it was the only free, comprehensive ghost-hunting course online.

However, I had to close the course when people kept skipping the lessons and instead downloaded the certificate of completion.

Others charge money for similar courses. No matter how good the training is, I can’t recommend spending more than $100. And even that may be a waste of your time and money.

Educate yourself

Instead, invest that money in events, and any books you can’t find at your public library.  Read books by ghost hunters. Study regional folklore. Go on as many ghost hunts as possible. That’s the education you really need.

I know that people like to see “official” credentials. If you’re helping frightened people deal with ghosts in their homes, they’re more likely to trust you if you’ve been trained and certified in the field of ghost hunting.

Ghost hunting courses can save you years of “reinventing the wheel” when they tell you honestly what ghosts and hauntings are really like. For example:

• Ghosts don’t usually look like dead people.
• They rarely moan or rattle chains.
• Many ghosts think they can turn back the clock and resume their lives, or make retroactive changes.

However, that’s practical information.  It’s different from college courses that give you an overview from a psychological standpoint. It’s not a laboratory study of psi-related phenomena.

Here are a few universities that – in the past – have offered related courses and degrees.

Important: This list may not be current.  Curricula change steadily, sometimes from one semester to the next.

Universities that may offer courses in paranormal studies and parapsychology degrees

UK

• Edinburgh – The University of Edinburgh is among the most highly respected in the field of parapsychology, and has awarded parapsychology degrees. Their Koestler Parapsychology Unit hosts considerable psi-related research.
• Hertfordshire – Professor Richard Weisman researches luck and paranormal-related phenomena at the University of Hertfordshire.

USA

• • Arizona – The Center for Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona offers many courses that focus on issues related to alternative and paranormal studies. These include web-based courses as well as on-campus resources.
  • New Jersey – Princeton University takes a slightly different approach with Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR). It’s focused on the “Scientific Study of Consciousness-Related Physical Phenomena” including innovative paranormal studies and remote perception.
  • North Carolina – Duke University’s Rhine Research Center has been “an Institute for the Study of Consciousness,” and has offered many psi-related courses, workshops, and seminars.

JAPAN

• • The International Society of Life Information Science (ISLIS) once offered academic symposia and parapsychology research opportunities. However, as of early 2016, ISLIS seems to be offline.

NETHERLANDS

• • Amsterdam – The Psychology department at the University of Amsterdam has — in the past — offered courses in paranormal studies. In July 2006, parapsychology courses were not featured at their website, which is in Dutch. With further research, you may find their courses, or they may feature them later. (Also see the nearby University of Utrecht courses, below.)
  • Utrecht – Professor Dick J. Bierman at the University of Utrecht (UU) offered an Internet-based introduction to parapsychology. (As of late 2016, his name wasn’t at the UU site.  However, the University (on-campus) may offer courses — formal or as “clubs” — in related fields.

More parapsychology study links

• Cognitive Sciences Laboratory – government-funded STAR GATE research, etc. (Apparently, this link – http://www.lfr.org/LFR/csl/index.html –  has stopped working. That’s not a big surprise.)
• In France, see the Institut Metapsychique International.
• The Institute of Noetic Sciences (No. California) was started by astronaut Edgar Mitchell and fellow scientists.
• Saybrook Graduate School (San Francisco) has offered parapsychology in its studies.
• Union Institute and University (Ohio) has allowed some students to design their own degree programs.

MY FREE, ONLINE COURSES

For nearly 20 years, I’ve offered a free “Ghost Hunting for Beginners” course, previously called Introduction to Ghost Hunting. It’s an overview of ghost hunting.

IMPORTANT: Do not confuse my free “Introduction to Ghost Hunting” course with someone else’s IGHS Home Study Course, which – broken into several parts – used to sell for over $350. (As of 2020, it appears they’re selling those same courses for $10 to $20.)

I have never endorsed that course or the people who offer it.

My past, field courses

Between 2002 and 2008, I taught ghost-hunting courses in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Washington, and Florida.

All of my students received certificates of completion upon completing their respective courses.  (I have never claimed to “license” ghost hunters, and I’ve always been frank about certification and what it means.)

I had a great time and met wonderful people. Now, I’m dedicating more time to research and writing, and less to public appearances.