Semester Program & Course Descriptions
The Sophia Center's basic academic course of study offers a Master's degree in nine months. It is designed for those who can become full-time students for a traditional late August through May academic year. A rich diversity of courses designed to focus and amplify your spirit.
At the heart of the Sophia Center's course of study is the fourfold wisdom that Thomas Berry offers as a guide to the future: the wisdom of indigenous peoples, the wisdom of women, the wisdom of the classical traditions and the wisdom of science. Our nine-month program for a master's degree or Sophia certificate offers a rich choice of courses that focus and amplify this wisdom.
Students may also attend this program on a part-time basis, completing their course of study on a schedule that fits their personal needs. Residential arrangements are available on campus. This program may also be taken on a part-time basis over more than two semesters.
Courses Schedule for 2010/11 are indicated in green
CORE COURSES: SPIR 200 thru SPIR 213
SPIR 200. Spirituality of Earth, Art, Spirit (Conlon & Visiting Faculty) A new cosmology (the emerging narratives of universe, evolution, and geo-justice) that is reshaping human experience on earth and drawing us forward toward an engaged cosmology through the celebration of compassion, creativity and depth.
SPIR 201. Geo-Wisdom, Cosmology and the Human Spirit (Conlon, & Visiting Faculty) This class is designed to evoke an integral and inclusive human presence that is open to the divine through reflection on story, shared dream experience and engaged cosmology. Participants will focus on the integration of mind and body, science and spirituality, the cognitive and the intuitive, ecology and justice as they prepare to participate in the Great Work of our time, the transformation of the dominant cultural paradigm to make possible a new era of peace and well-being for the entire earth community.
SPIR 204. Weekend Module (Conlon & Visiting Faculty) Weekend Program modules. (Click here to view descriptions)
Semester students will attend the Friday evening and Saturday morning presentations by visiting faculty, and also the Saturday afternoon dialogue session during the monthly Weekend program modules. Required of all students.
SPIR 211A/B. Public Forum (Conlon) Distinguished roster of contemporary spiritual leaders—including artists and poets, prophets and mystics, theologians, scientists, intellectuals, and social leaders—interact with Sophia students in colloquies that explore diverse perspectives of the new cosmology. Required of all students. (Click here to view descriptions)
SPIR 212. Sophia Wisdom Circle (Conlon) Incorporates modes of community building that provides an opportunity to integrate personal experience with the themes generated from the Sophia curriculum.
SPIR 213. Sophia Praxis (Conlon) Recalling past experience and reflecting on current engagements, through observation of projects and program students will particiate in a process designed to creat a dynamic integration between one's involvement in the Great Work and the focus of the Sophia Center curriculum. Required of all students.
SEMINAR COURSES: SPIR 220 thru SPIR 237
SPIR 220. Cosmos and Consciousness (Schmitt) Human consciousness is but one form of nature becoming aware of herself in a universe alive with infinite varieties of intelligence. This course explores the workings of our mind as it is experienced within many dimensions of the human and natural world.
SPIR 221. The Universe Story (Swimme) This course clarifies the new, empirically-based cosmology, a scientific narrative called, “the most intimate change in outlook the human race has yet encountered.” (Note: This course taught at CISS in San Francisco and must be taken for credit.)
SPIR 221B. The Epic of Evolution (Swimme) Covers the central ideas and discoveries of the evolution of the univese. This narrative is a cosmological epic, an account of how things came to be and how the human fits into the cosmos. The importance of a new transculturalepic is a new story with relevance for people throughout the planet and can seve as a basis for a single multivalented human community. The focus is on the early parts of the universe, the birth of the cosmos and the development of the stars.
SPIR 223. Mystics of the Middle Ages (Flinders) The words, music, and earth-centered art of medieval mystics —including Hildegard of Bingen, Mechtild, Fracis of Assisi, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila, and John of the Cross— can inspire and counsel contemporary transformative experience. We enrich our own spiritual practice through the study and appreciation of the original and prophetic words, music, and earth-centered art of medieval mystics.
SPIR 225. Visions of the Future (Schmitt, Weiss) While French Jesuit paleontologist Teilhard de Chardin worked to integrate the scientific theory of evolution in Christian spirituality, indian teacher and mystic Sri Aurobindo performed a similar task in the East. The convergence of these complimentary visions gives understanding and momentum to our embrace of the future.
SPIR 227. Mystics in the Modern World (Flinders) This class will enrich your spiritual journey through an appreciation of the prophetic words of earthmen mystics, both medieval and modern, through an integration of action and contemplation.
SPIR 228. Soulwork for the New Millennium (Conlon) Designed to confront contemporary pathos and ecological bereavement while aligning personal stories with the story of the universe in nurturing a synthesis of wisdom sources and the work of engaged cosmology and geo-justice.
SPIR 234. The New Consciousness: Body, Mind & Spirit (Schmitt, Flinders) The science of holism defines the body/mind as a mirror, an expression, a hologram of “all that is.” Explores alignments between the body/mind and the complexities and contradictions of the universe.
SPIR 237. Evolving on Purpose: The Role of Human Being in the Evolutionary Process (Weiss) Examines the general nature of evolution, the function of humans in the evolutionary process, —a broad philosophical perspective and detailed analysis. We will envision the evolutionary future, and outline ways in which we can participate more fully in making that future real.
CREATIVE PROCESS COURCES: SPIR 243 thru SPIR 269B
SPIR 243. Painting as Spontaneous Expression (Houck) We will use painting as a tool for self-discovery and spiritual exploration. The “Point Zero Method” is a radical way of dissolving creative blocks.
SPIR 254. Tai Chi (Dwyer) A Chinese exercise system that emphasizes deep breathing, centering energy and slow, balanced posture to enhance coordination and awareness.
SPIR 258. The Ecstasy of Sound: Music as a Spiritual Practice (Berezan) Vibration is at the core of all that exists in the universe. Many cultures have long believed that the world itself was created through sound, and some believe that illness is a musical problem, a result of a lack of harmony in the system. In this class we will explore music as a spiritual practice and a path to opening our hearts and uncovering our true nature. We will engage in a wide range of musical experiences from traditional and contemporary traditions, designed to open our hearts and create equanimity, joy, ecstasy, and healing. Our time together will include sessions of toning, chanting, harmony and rhythm, improvisational sounding, meditation and silence, in a safe,humorous and sacred environment. No musical experience is necessary
SPIR 261B. THREE DAY INTENSIVE: Thomas Merton and the Call of the True Self (T. Smith) Merton’s life and work serve as a guide to help us understand ourselves, our relationship with the sacred, others and the world of nature. (October 28, 29, & November 1, 2010)
SPIR 262. The Indigenous Wisdom Through Our Ancestral Stories (Banda) With a focus on Africa, but including the other continents, we will explore the wisdom that is contained in our folklore, legends and myths.
SPIR 263. Embracing the Revelatory Moment (Conlon) Through rituals, discourse, and creative process, this course amplifies the enchantment of beauty, the turbulence of creativity, and a celebratory response to the sacred impulse that can be found in the new earth story.
SPIR 265. Archetypal Mythology in Dream-Work (Friedman) In this course we will discuss major archetypal motifs from our own and other cultural mythologies. Exploring through dream-work is a creative and alchemical experience which can be powerfully transformative and healing.
SPIR 267. Chant, Meditation & Movement (Park) The course explores various meditation practices, focusing on body movement and chant; includes body movement practices expressing ones life narrative and spiritual jorney through Shamanic dance, Buddist ritual, Islamic mystic dance as well as contemporary hip-hop from spiritual and social prespectives.
SPIR 268B. Spirit, Science and Story (Flinders) “Come home to your true nature.” the Chinese mystic Lao Tsu urged us, and his conterparts in other spirit-ual traditions concur. But where do contemporary biologists stand? Is unitive consciousness our native state?
SPIR 269. Personal Mythology Through Art (Firpo) Myths are needed to mirror the discovery of personal mythology and to track the soul's movement in concert and collusion with divine energies. The discovery of one's personal mythology via the portals of creativity, meditation and art, and combined creative media assists in making tangible the power for accessing and moving one's individual mythological process concretely into consciousness. Once this occurs, consciousness provides a mirror and offers a new symbolic language and dialogue with the world's processes, thus revealing and re-mythologizing the collectively disowned shadow, and depths of beauty we all swim in.
SPIR 270. Experiencing Buddhist Thought and Culture (Nakasone) For the next few weeks we will explore Buddhist thought and culture through lectures, visits to the Asian Art Museum, Chinese, Thai, and Japanese Buddhist temples, and art exhibits. In addition to a review of the origins, beliefs, and history of Buddhism, we will learn from devotees who are struggling with modernization and spiritual diversity. This experimental emersion will introduce the student to a vision of reality that illuminates the Buddhist approaches to life and death, aging and spirituality, its rituals and creative expressions.
THREE DAY INTENSIVES
SPIR 261. Thomas Merton and the Call of the True Self (T. Smith)
October 28, 29, & November 1, 2010 -Merton’s life and work serve as a guide to help us understand ourselves, our relationship with the sacred, others and the world of nature.
SPIR 297. Embracing Darkness (Kovats) April 1, 2, 4, 2011 The gift of darkness will be explored from the perspective of cosmology and chaos theory. Students will be invited to befriend darkness as an essential component of a dynamic spiritual life. Silence, meditation as well as lecture, music and story will be part of this course content.
OTHER COURSES:
SPIR 290A. Spirituality of Earth, Art, Spirit (Conlon) See 200 for course description
SPIR 290B. Geo-Wisdom, Cosmology and the Human Spirit (Conlon) See 201 for course description.
SPIR 291 A-E. Weekend Program Modules (Conlon, Visiting Faculty) Click here to view descriptions
SPIR 292 Summer Institute Intensive (Visiting Faculty) Click here to view description Involves plenary presentations, interactive dialogues, creative process classes, and ritual celebrations presented during the Sophia Center Summer Institute. Pre-Institute and Post-institute Retreats/Workshops are sometimes offered as well.)
SPIR 297. THREE DAY INTENSIVE: Embracing Darkness (Kovats) (April 1, 2, 4, 2011) The gift of darkness will be explored from the perspective of cosmology and chaos theory. Students will be invited to befriend darkness as an essential component of a dynamic spiritual life. Silence, meditation as well as lecture, music and story will be part of this course content.
SPIR 298. Master’s Project (Sophia Faculty) The Master’s Project is primarily designed to express and share how a student has integrated the Sophia curriculum into his or her vocational goals.
SPIR 299. Independent Study (Sophia Faculty) Design and develop courses not offered in current curriculum.