Psychology: Consciousness, Altered States of Consciousness and Parapsychology

What is consciousness? How do we study something as personal as experience? And how can science examine claims about unusual or unexplained psychological phenomena? This course introduces you to three main areas: consciousness, altered states of consciousness, and parapsychology.

This course will explain the interactions between conscious and unconscious processes and show how psychological research can study states of consciousness and parapsychological phenomena.

You will learn how conscious experiences can be analysed scientifically and gain knowledge of consciousness, its states, and their relation to parapsychological phenomena such as reputed extrasensory perception, telepathy, and psychokinesis.

You will also learn about altered states of consciousness and unusual (anomalous) experiences. The course explains what these states are, how they can be identified and how they differ from psychological disorders.

The course also covers scientific research on psychological phenomena. Here you will learn how psychology investigates claims about so-called Extrasensory perception (ESP) and related phe-nomena. You train your ability to search for scientific information, compare sources and explain your reasoning.

You will study on site in Lund at the Department of Psychology, and you are expected to attend all classes and participate actively.

The course is held in English.

Course syllabus

The syllabus contains the formal and legal details of the entire course. It’s a legal document outlining the course structure and requirements, intended mainly for administrative use.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

The teaching includes lectures, discussions, quizzes and take-home exams. These activities help you understand key concepts and practise thinking scientifically.

Short quizzes help you check your learning, and written take-home exams let you show your understanding in your own words. Active participation in lectures is crucial and supports your development as a critical and reflective student.

During the course you will learn to:

• clarify the importance of understanding and studying consciousness and its alterations
  
  
• separate the most important areas for scientific studies in parapsychology
  
  
• independently search, integrate and critically evaluate scientific information about states of consciousness and parapsychology
  
  
• discuss the difference between psychopathology and altered states of consciousness.

After completing the course, you will understand central areas of psychology linked to consciousness, awareness and unusual experiences. You gain valuable skills in scientific thinking, evidence evaluation and how psychological research is carried out.

The course also provides you with a foundation for further studies in areas such as cognitive psychology, parapsychology, and research methods.

Entry requirements

General requirements and studies equivalent to Swedish Upper Secondary School course Social Studies 1b or 1a1+1a2/Social Studies level 1b or level 1a2

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to the following: The general average (GPA) of your higher secondary school leaving certificate: 34 %, The Swedish national university aptitude test: 34 %, number of previous ECTS at application deadline (up to 165): 32 %. If students have equal credentials, seats are allocated based on their results on The Swedish National University Aptitude Test. If this too is equal, seats are allocated based on a draw.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 31,250
First payment: SEK 31,250

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.