The History and Philosophy of Conscious Evolution
This course introduces Conscious Evolution, its underlying principles, and its emergence into contemporary scholarship. Colleagues explore the foundational literature and research in the field, including the work of Sri Aurobindo, Eric Chaisson, Teilhard de Chardin, Jean Gebser, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Rudolph Steiner, Ken Wilber, Arthur Young and Christian de Quincey. Study is focused on analyzing diverse perspectives on consciousness – from its prehuman origins to its evolutionary potentials – and understanding how complex biological, psychological, and technological systems develop.

A paradigm is a framework of beliefs about reality shared by a community and affirmed through communal behavior. In this course, colleagues examine how "paradigms of consciousness" have changed over the centuries: from Indigenous (magical), to pre-Classical (mytho-poetic), to Classical (philosophically dualistic), to pre-modern (religiously dualistic), to modern (materialistic and mechanistic), to postmodern (constructionist and deconstructionist), to an emerging paradigm of holism that draws upon chaos theory. Colleagues are challenged to explore the underlying beliefs that affect their own perceptions, experiences, and interactions.

In today's world, modern science is assumed to be the final arbiter of knowledge. But, understanding based on scientific data, sensory perception, or reason alone, cannot yield a full understanding of consciousness. This course explores how we know, and it seeks to integrate alternative ways of knowing into the study of Conscious Evolution. Colleagues explore the many "gifts" that make knowledge available to us, including our ability to sense, our ability to reason, our ability to feel, and our ability to intuit. This course also explores the potential for creating a new "science of consciousness" within contemporary scholarship – one with a radically expanded methodology that opens the domain of consciousness inquiry using alternative ways of knowing.

Physiology, Neurobiology, and Conscious Evolution
Consciousness is inextricably tied to the physiological and neurological systems that enable us to experience reality. In this course, colleagues examine the mind-body relationship and the presence of consciousness in the brain and nervous system. They explore the factors that influenced the evolution of the triune brain: the reptilian brainstem (instinct), the lower mammalian limbic system (emotion), and the higher mammalian neocortex (reason). Emphasis is placed on studying the body of consciousness, while never losing site of the importance of subjective experience.

Art and Expression in Conscious Evolution
While we generally perceive the arts as forms of creative expression, in the study of consciousness they play a quite different role – they are a primary source of information about how reality is observed and experienced both personally and culturally. In this course, colleagues develop an understanding of the significance of artistic works on the nature and evolution of consciousness, examining the role of light and vibration in art and science.

The Wisdom Traditions and Recent Syntheses
Consciousness is a new topic in the area of science, but it has been the focus of many of the world's great spiritual traditions for millennia. In this course, colleagues are introduced to the "perennial philosophy" from the perspective of various wisdom traditions, including the Judeo-Christian, Islamic, and Eastern traditions. Colleagues explore different views on time, evolution, and consciousness, and they discover how ancient wisdom continues to offer value and meaning for people today. Study is focused on developing a clear understanding of each tradition's view on personal and cultural transformation, especially in light of current global crises.

Transpersonal Values and the Global Challenge
The "breakthroughs" of progress are often precipitated by periods of social "breakdown," as individuals and institutions become progressively out of step with emerging new realities and ways of life. Pioneering leaders - whether they are scientists, artists, or activists - carry with them a vision for humankind's evolutionary potential and embrace these challenging moments as opportunities for cultural transformation. In this course, colleagues examine the ways in which individuals are embedded within the social matrix. They are encouraged to exercise their own capacities for transforming current global crises and create a vision for a positive, more hopeful future. 

This course is a mentorship opportunity that allows colleagues to apply the principles of Conscious Evolution to practical situations that are related to their personal interests and goals. The mentorship should fall within a self-selected area of interest and should demonstrate professional development and personal growth through disciplined inquiry. The mentorship is conducted with a leader in the field of Conscious Evolution, and requires a minimum of eighty hours of contact time. Systematic journal writing, a comprehensive written report, and an oral presentation are required to document the experience and provide an assessment of the learned concepts.

Colleagues are required to undertake a self-directed research project. Each participant is required to conduct an in-depth research study, based on emerging developments in the field of Conscious Evolution, which rigorously pursues new knowledge and insights. Colleagues may choose between an applied or scholarly project to demonstrate their final accomplishment within the program.