The Human and Our Sacred Living Universe: Orientation Course
Readings:
The Great Work by Thomas Berry (book info)
The Living Universe by Duane Elgin (book info)
The Universe is a Green Dragon by Brian Swimme (book info)
Course Description:
“This course should be taught at every university.”
~ Student
Our orientation course serves both as a stand-alone course for the general public and as an introductory course for our graduate programs. When universities were first created in the 12th century their original intent and meaning was to help students find their place in the Universe. U of Earth reclaims this original intent with this insightful and provocative course.
Is the Earth alive? Is the Universe sacred? In light of the more recent discoveries of science and a greater understanding of the world’s wisdom traditions students explore new answers to humanity’s perennial questions; the answers of which have always served as a guide to human behavior. Where did we come from? Why are we here? How should we live?
In addition, students will be introduced to an integral "three worlds" model of human development and our greater human potentials identified in current research. Investigating the major stages of human development from egocentric to cosmocentric this model serves as a guide for all future course work.
The Foundations of EcoPsychology: An Introduction
EcoT 601 ~ 3 Credits
Readings:
Ecopsychology: Restoring the Earth – Healing the Mind
by Mary Gomes, Kanner & Roszak (book info)
The Voice of the Earth: An Exploration of Ecopsychology
by Theodore Roszak
Reconnecting with Nature by Michael Cohen (book info)
Course Description:
Prerequisite: EcoT 600
This course is designed to give a broad overview of the field of Ecopsychology. Tracing the history of the development of the field, students will gain an understanding of the fundamental principles that guide the discipline while being introduced to work of its founders. In addition, students will begin to experiment with Ecopsychology practices in natural areas as they develop their art as a practitioner. Emphasis in this course is on developing our relationship with nature.
The Essentials of EcoTherapy: An Introduction
EcoT 602 ~ 3 Credits
Readings:
Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind (book info)
by Linda Buzzel & Craig Chalquist
Communing with Nature: A Guide Book for Enhancing (book info)
Your Relationship with the Living Earth by John Swanson
Nature-Guided Therapy: Brief Integrative Strategies for Health and Well Being by George Burns (book info)
Course Description:
Prerequisite: EcoT 600
This course is designed to introduce students to therapeutic application of the field of Ecopsychology known as Ecotherapy. Through the exposure to various concepts, methods, practices and processes the student will understand the breadth of the field. Through personal experience students will begin to develop the tools of the trade and create a sense of their own individual style as a practitioner of EcoPsychology. Emphasis in this course is on developing a deeper relationship with nature and understanding our inner-nature.
Our Sacred Work: Discovering Your Life Purpose & Greater Potentials
EcoT 700 ~ 3 Credits
Readings:
The Enneagram by Virginia Price & David Daniels (book info)
You Are Meant to Make by Tim Kelly (book info)
The Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood for
Our Time by Matthew Fox (book info)
Course Description:
“Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that has been put in every heart.”
~Rumi
Never before has humanity faced the depth and multitude of challenges that are before us. With that, it has become imperative that each of us discover our true purpose, the particular work we were made for. In this course students learn a method to assist others in discovering their "calling." Through personalizing humanity’s perennial questions that we addressed in our orientation course, the questions, “Who am I? Why am I here? How am I to live?” are explored in the context of each student’s personal typology. Using a unique system of identifying both your archetypes (deep patterns) and your enneatype (personality structure) students investigate their unique life purpose in the context of a changing definition of work in a changing society.
EcoT 701 ~ 3 Credits
Prerequisite: EcoT 600 Series
Readings:
Nature and the Human Soul: Cultivating Wholeness and
Community in a Fragmented World by Bill Plotkin (book info)
Soulcraft by Bill Plotkin (book info)
Coming Back to Life by Joanna Macy (book info)
Course Description:
In this course student will be introduced to a hopeful nature-based human development model. Students will investigate the value of ritual, ceremony and rites of passage while learning deep nature practices for uncovering lost and disowned aspects of the self, participate in practices designed to help clients discover and develop their particular soul gifts and create community with the more-than-human world. Emphasis is on the underworld (realm of soul) and understanding and developing a soulful life.