Online Class: The Strangeness of Human Consciousness

Plunge into a captivating odyssey of self-discovery and expansion, exploring lucid dreaming as a tool for creativity, out-of-body experiences for personal growth, and synesthetic harmonies for understanding. This course melds historical, scientific, and mystical perspectives to challenge your perceptions and unlock boundless potential within.

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  • 15
    Lessons
  • 16
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 5
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.5
    CEUs
 
 
 

Course Description

Embark on an exhilarating journey into the enigmatic labyrinth of the human mind. Dive into the uncharted territories that blend the past, present, and an infinite realm of possibilities that await those daring enough to explore the "Strange Phenomena of Human Consciousness." This course isn't merely an academic pursuit; it's an odyssey that will challenge your perceptions, transform your understanding, and unleash powers within you that have long been dormant.

Imagine a world where the dreams that dance serenely in your slumber are not just shadows of your subconscious but lucid realms where you are the master creator. "Exploring the Depths of the Unconscious" invites you to not merely witness but command your dreams. Rooted in historical significance and bolstered by science, lucid dreaming becomes your key to unlocking creativity, overcoming fears, and finding innovative solutions to life's challenges. This is your gateway to an untapped world of boundless potential.

But our exploration doesn't stop in the ethereal waves of dreams. We move beyond and above with "The Mystical Dance of the Mind," where Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs) offer you not just spiritual insight but a tool for personal growth. Delve into ancient shamanic worlds and the heart of modern scientific inquiry and find empowerment beyond the physical boundaries. This duality of spiritual adventure and scientific exploration will arm you with profound insights into your consciousness and how it shapes the way you perceive reality.

Then, dare to see the world through a kaleidoscope of senses at once in "Exploring Synesthetic Perception and Creativity." Synesthesia, once thought to be a mere curiosity, unveils the intricacies of our neural landscape, merging art and science in symphonic harmony. Discover how this interconnected sensory experience has the power to fuel your creativity and open new pathways in your cognitive understanding.

Life and death stand at the edge of the unknown, yet within the framework of "Near-Death Experiences: Glimpsing the Afterlife," discover more than mere anecdotes; unveil learning that transcends the boundaries of this realm. Let this insight guide you through both the mystical and the intellectual corridors of the afterlife.

With "Mind Over Matter: The Historical Placebo," you'll immerse yourself in a narrative as old as humanity itself. The placebo effect, which bridges belief with tangible reality, invites you to question the capabilities of the human mind. Harnessing the placebo effect could become one of your most valuable skills, transforming your approach to personal health and wellbeing.

And who hasn't encountered a moment when time seemed to falter, or reality itself seemed to blur? The "Curious Case of Déjà Vu" will guide you through the mysteries, the intricacies of memory, perception, and reality, revealing how your brain flawlessly (or not) weaves its narratives.

The collective slumber our society sometimes finds itself in can be explained through the "Mandela Effect: From Individual Memories to Collective Beliefs." This exploration lays bare how our minds and memories reconstruct the world around us, challenging what we accept as true.

Your journey through altered states of meditation will bring healing calm and will explore the principles behind the "Holographic Principle: Is Consciousness a Projection?" As well, your engagement with "Dreamless Sleep Awareness," "Shared Dreams," and "Autoscopic Phenomena" will allow you to question the very fabric of reality.

By the end of this transformative adventure, the "Hard Problem of Consciousness" won't just be a philosophical or scientific dilemma; it will be the enlightening finale to an extraordinary exploration of what makes us human. Join us in this unparalleled journey, where every lesson ignites curiosity, every discovery empowers you, and each revelation transforms your perception of who you are and what you truly are capable of being. This is the course where your odyssey begins. Welcome to the "Strange Phenomena of Human Consciousness" - your mind will never be the same.

  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 
 

Course Lessons

Lesson 1. Exploring the Depths of the Unconscious: The Heritage and Techniques of Lucid Dreaming

Lucid dreams present an extraordinary realm where dreamers actively shape and direct their experiences, revealing endless possibilities for exploration. Historically significant and scientifically validated, lucid dreaming empowers individuals to discover solutions, resolve fears, and enhance creativity within a conscious dream narrative. 22 Total Points
  • Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Complete Assignment: Motives for Taking this Course
  • Assessment: Lesson 1 Review Exam

Lesson 2. The Mystical Dance of the Mind: Out-of-Body Exploration and Spiritual Insight

OBEs have been both spiritual quests in shamanic traditions and subject to scientific scrutiny through 20th-century research. This dual exploration highlights OBEs' roles as personal growth tools and cultural paradigms challenging our grasp of consciousness and perception. 20 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 2 Review Exam

Lesson 3. Exploring Synesthetic Perception and Creativity

Synesthesia bridges the realms of art and science, epitomizing how cross-sensory experiences influence human thought throughout history. Through neuroscience, synesthesia is recognized as more than a curious anecdote, revealing the complex neural connectivity behind vivid sensory blends. 19 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 3 Review Exam

Lesson 4. A Journey Through Near-Death Narratives: Cultures and Time

Near-death experiences illuminate the shared human quest for understanding the continuum between life and the afterlife, enriched by diverse cultural perspectives. Scientific exploration of NDEs offers insights into consciousness, bridging science and mysticism. 15 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Review Exam

Lesson 5. Mind Over Matter: The Historical Placebo

From ancient rituals to modern scientific inquiry, the placebo effect continues to intrigue by bridging gaps between belief and tangible healing. As an exploration of consciousness, it challenges our understanding of the mind's potential in affecting physical reality, offering new possibilities for therapeutic approaches. 10 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Review Exam

Lesson 6. The Curious Case of Déjà Vu

Parallel processing and the brain's confabulation interplay cause déjà vu, where sensory inputs blend old memories with new experiences. This reflects how the brain constructs cohesive narratives, even if it errs, demonstrating the interplay between default memory templates and incoming stimuli. 20 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Review Exam

Lesson 7. The Mandela Effect: From Individual Memories to Collective Beliefs

Exploring the Mandela Effect, coined by Fiona Broome, delves into collective misremembering, exemplified by Mandela's incorrectly stored death date. This phenomenon exemplifies the fragility of human memory, demonstrating how our cognitive processes reconstruct information, forming the basis for discussions on consciousness and reality. 19 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 7 Review Exam

Lesson 8. Beyond the Veil: Exploring the Depths of Consciousness

Meditation and mindfulness cultivate a form of altered consciousness where focused practice leads to increased gray matter density and improved emotional regulation. These changes enable practitioners to engage with the present moment with newfound clarity, reinforcing the practice's therapeutic applications in stress reduction and mental well-being. 19 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Review Exam

Lesson 9. From Enigma to AI: Turing's Enduring Inquiry

Amid rapid AI advances, the Turing Test persists as a symbol of progress, reflecting machine intelligence's role and potential ethical implications in society. Through ethical considerations and AI integration, maintaining human-centric values becomes intrinsic to future AI developments. 19 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 9 Review Exam

Lesson 10. From Temples to Clinics: Hypnosis's Timeless Influence

The journey of hypnosis, from the ancient Egyptian and Greek rituals to modern hypnotherapy, highlights the evolution of understanding human consciousness and its potential healing powers. As hypnosis continues to develop, it remains a potent tool in bridging past wisdom with today's scientific insights, unlocking the enigma of human perception and experience. 19 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 10 Review Exam

Lesson 11. Quantum Insights into Consciousness

Blazing a path towards unifying quantum physics and consciousness, the Holographic Principle’s analogies beckon exploration into the encoders of our perceived reality. Amid debates, its invitation to question and expand human understanding remains its most significant allure. 20 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 11 Review Exam

Lesson 12. Exploring the Interplay Between Sleep and Consciousness

Exploring sleep unlocks secrets of consciousness, revealing it's not just rest but a vital puzzle piece. By understanding sleep architecture, we uncover how each stage, particularly REM and NREM, supports cognitive function and emotional wellness. 20 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 12 Review Exam

Lesson 13. Symbolic Whispers: The Archetypal Language of Dreams

Jung's theory of the collective unconscious suggests that shared symbols and archetypes connect individuals across cultures and epochs, offering deep insights into human behavior and psyche. In modern times, this concept continues to inspire studies in psychology and beyond, resonating with themes of interconnectedness in literature, media, and technology. 19 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 13 Review Exam

Lesson 14. Seeing Double: The Science and History of Autoscopy

In the fascinating world of human consciousness, autoscopic phenomena remind us of the complex interplay between self-perception and identity, where individuals might see a version of themselves from an outside perspective. Historically forming part of spiritual and folklore narratives, modern neuroscience is now uncovering the brain's role in these experiences, particularly the temporoparietal junction's involvement in multisensory integration. 10 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 14 Review Exam

Lesson 15. Qualia Unleashed: Exploring the Mystery of Subjective Experience

The future of consciousness studies, energized by interdisciplinary cooperation, prompts new philosophical and technological perspectives. This journey not only strives to resolve the hard problem but also kindles innovation and curiosity, expanding our appreciation of the conscious experience. 20 Total Points
  • Lesson discussions: End of Course Poll; Course Comments
  • Assessment: Lesson 15 Review Exam
271
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply at least three specific techniques for inducing lucid dreams, such as reality testing, Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD), and Wake-Back-to-Bed (WBTB).
  • Define the historical significance of lucid dreaming by identifying its role in ancient cultures and philosophies, including its use in Tibetan Buddhism and indigenous cultures.
  • Analyze the neurological and psychological mechanisms, including the role of the temporoparietal junction, that underpin out-of-body experiences.
  • Recognize how ancient civilizations, such as Ancient Egypt and China, conceptualized out-of-body experiences in relation to spirituality and afterlife beliefs.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the historical context of synesthesia by identifying and explaining at least three key historical figures and their contributions to synesthesia.
  • Describe the neurological mechanisms underlying synesthesia by summarizing the atypical brain connectivity and functions found in individuals with synesthetic experiences using fMRI or PET scan data.
  • Analyze the psychological transformations reported by individuals who have undergone near-death experiences, assessing changes in personal perspectives and values.
  • Define the historical and cultural contexts of near-death experiences by identifying key shifts and interpretations across different societies and time periods.
  • Analyze how belief and expectation influence neurochemical and physiological responses within the context of the placebo effect.
  • Define the historical evolution of the placebo effect and its impact on medical practices from ancient civilizations to modern science.
  • Define déjà vu and explain its occurrence within the context of memory processes, focusing on the overlap of past and present experiences.
  • Define déjà vu and explain its relationship to memory processes, as evidenced by increased temporal lobe activity during these experiences.
  • Define the term 'Mandela Effect' and explain its significance in understanding shared false memories within human consciousness
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
  • Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
  • View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
  • Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: The Strangeness of Human Consciousness
Course Number: 57700315
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: Available across all 50 U.S. states, this course includes key regions such as California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia. The course is also open in major English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK, and Ireland.
Last Updated: January 2025
CEU Value: 0.5 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Course Type: Curriculum-Based, Online Class
Instructional Method: Self-Paced, Asynchronous
Assessment Method: End of lesson review exams and course final exam
Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars

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