Pagan Colleges?

[Lamia Moonrose]

So I'm at that point in my life where college is becoming a very real thing. I was talking to my guidance councillor today, and I made a comment about how I wish I could study various aspects of Paganism and metaphysics for the rest of my life. His reply was simply “Why can't you?”

The problem is the fact that while affordable, all the colleges I've found offering these types of classes are online. My parents would never go for it. And the few I've found that have campuses arn't accredited. (And neither are the online courses, Im guessing)

Does anyone know of any accredited colleges NOT in Florida (I'm desperate to leave this state far behind) that offer degrees based on metaphysics, holistic study, ect. and have an actual campus? And what kind of jobs could I do with this kind of degree?


Thanks!  

[too2sweet]

Your best bet is to look to schools that have Religious Studies programs, but even then you probably aren't going to find anything that is "paganism" specific. There are some schools that will let you (with the help of your professors) create your own degree, but I'm not really sure exactly how to go about doing that.

If you are in the PFRC guild, you may want to ask there, as well. They would probably be able to point you in the right direction.  

[Sanguina Cruenta]

Yeah, I'd recommend looking into similar areas rather than metaphysics or anything specifically.... look into ancient languages, classical studies, mythologies, comparative religions, etc.... there should be some theology papers on Kabalah and so on.

The university I work at has ancient history as a subject you can major in. It includes papers on Roman religion, Greek religion, Egyptian religion, ancient languages, classical mythology etc.

Then there's anthropology which may be of more help to you in the area of modern paganisms, because you can look into how different groups worship, celebrate, hold ritual and so on.

The further on you go in uni the more you specialise. So for your first year, before you pick a major, I recommend taking some ancient history papers, particularly ones related to classical studies or to ancient religions, and at least one language (Greek, Latin, Egyptian, Old Norse etc) because these are really useful, then a couple in anthro and one or two in comparative religions. I don't know how many papers you'd take first year; we took seven or eight. If you give yourself a wide range to start with you can then work out what direction you'd like to go in, and you might find out that there's something you find interesting that you didn't suspect at this stage.  

[ncsweet]

You may want to check out Cornell Universtiy. Though it encompasses a variety of Religions, they have a Religious Studies program that sounds like it might be what you are looking for...

Quote:

Religious Studies

The Religious Studies Program offers an interdisciplinary major drawing from the resources of a variety of departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. The academic study of religion stands apart from a purely confessional approach in that it draws upon a diverse array of humanistic and social scientific disciplines in an effort to situate religious practice and belief within an historically and theoretically critical context. What this means is that students are neither asked to adhere to nor explain away particular religious stances. Instead they are asked to develop the intellectual tools that will enable them to understand how normative claims about human beliefs and practices concerning the supernatural are implicated in constructing and contesting various social identities. Religious Studies majors pursue a variety of career paths, including academia, medicine, law, theology, business, and non-profit organizations.

Heck if I was getting ready to go to college, I'd consider it. It sound really interesting.  

[Daearen]

There is this wicca college in Dallas, Texas. ^^ I'm actually wanting to look into it myself. But i've only heard of it. I'll come back with more information =3  

[StellaLuna SkyWind]

Mmm... my friend's sister just took a few courses on the religion, and i think one more focused on something you're looking for. I'm pretty sure it was at CSU stanislaus [turlock, California], but I could be completely wrong. I'll ask him to ask or, or see If i can contact her some way for more information.  

[Morgandria]

lCobaltl

There is this wicca college in Dallas, Texas. ^^ I'm actually wanting to look into it myself. But i've only heard of it. I'll come back with more information =3

It won't be Wicca - I pretty much guarantee that. It'll be eclectic neo-paganism, wrongly called Wicca.

Wiccans, those who are properly oathed and initiated, will not charge anyone money to learn the practice of Wicca. To do so is considered crude, and spoken against in the Ardanes.  

[doistu]

I kind of envy American colleges.
Here in the UK if you go to university you study a single subject for 3 years and get a degree in that subject only.
Example, I study Psychology. Within that course I study the history of psychology, cognition and perception, approaches to psychology and statistics for behavioural sciences.

But if I understand correctly in America you go to college and can do classes in philosophy, history and sports if you wanted to.  

[Sam Oaken Willow 17]

doistu

I kind of envy American colleges.
Here in the UK if you go to university you study a single subject for 3 years and get a degree in that subject only.
Example, I study Psychology. Within that course I study the history of psychology, cognition and perception, approaches to psychology and statistics for behavioural sciences.

But if I understand correctly in America you go to college and can do classes in philosophy, history and sports if you wanted to.

True. At my school I'm required to take music, PE, a language, math, english, speech, and science classes. None of them apply (when it comes to credits, anyway) to my major.