Jun 18, 2025  
Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Catalog 2024-2025 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Consciousness and Human Potential, MA

Location(s): Online, On-Campus


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Program Description

In this program, the nature and range of individual and collective consciousness are studied from the perspective of modern science and from the perspective of Maharishi Vedic Science. The core of Maharishi Vedic Science is students’ direct experience of their inner Self through the Transcendental Meditation technique and TM-Sidhi program, and procedures such as Maharishi Yoga Asanas, reading Vedic Literature in Sanskrit, and self-pulse reading. These programs offer a transformative daily routine to deepen the inner experience and give a new platform for understanding theoretical discussions of the full range of consciousness.

The themes of knowledge explored in this major include brain and consciousness, human development, higher states of consciousness, the self-referral mechanics of creation, the structure of Veda and Vedic literature (including Yoga, AyurVeda, the Upanishads, Vedanta) as organized by Maharishi, and the Veda and Vedic literature in human physiology.

MA CHP Specializations

Students may add a one-semester Specialization to the MA in Consciousness and Human Potential in one of six areas of study. Some specializations can only be completed on campus.

  • Advanced Maharishi Vedic Science
  • Educational Applications of Maharishi Vedic Science
  • Physiology and Health
  • Reading the Vedic Literature
  • Yoga Teacher Training
  • Transcendental Meditation Teacher Training

MA CHP students who have successfully completed the TM Teacher Training Course (TTC) will automatically graduate with an MA in Consciousness and Human Potential with a Specialization in TM Teacher Training.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of regular TM retreats either at MIU or their local TM center.

Program Length

Students have three options for completing the MA in Consciousness and Human Potential:

  • On MIU’s campus - 10 months, beginning in August
  • Online - 30 months
  • On MIU’s campus with additional professional development - 30 months

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the MA in Consciousness and Human Potential, students will be able to:

  1. Identify and articulate improvements in their behavior, perception, thinking, feeling and, where relevant, overall growth of consciousness resulting from practice of the technologies of Maharishi Vedic Science.
  2. Read the Vedic Literature smoothly in Devanagari regularly with attention on correct pronunciation.
  3. Orally communicate principles of modern science and Maharishi Vedic Science and their application to addressing society’s most pressing challenges incorporating pertinent research findings and source documents.
  4. Communicate in writing principles of modern science and Maharishi Vedic Science and, where relevant, their application to addressing society’s most pressing challenges incorporating pertinent research findings and source documents.

Entrance Requirements

For entrance to the MA in Consciousness and Human Potential program, students must hold an earned bachelor’s degree. Transcendental Meditation practice is integral to each of the three delivery formats of the MA in Consciousness and Human Potential.

Students entering the 10-month or 30-month onsite program who are not yet practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique will receive instruction as part of their first course.

It is recommended that all students in this MA program also practice the TM-Sidhi program. Those students who have not yet learned the TM-Sidhi program may be able to learn these techniques after they have enrolled. Students entering the 30-month online distance education program must be practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique before they take their first course.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate with an MA in Consciousness and Human Potential, students must successfully complete the Science of Creative Intelligence or Exploring Consciousness course required for all graduate students and a minimum of 40 credits in graduate-level Consciousness and Human Potential courses.

MA in Consciousness and Human Potential Requirements


Science of Creative Intelligence (Choose 4 credits)


Choose one:

MA CHP Core Required Courses (minimum 40 credits)


A student who has completed one of the required courses as part of a previously earned bachelor’s or master’s degree may petition the MVS department to meet the requirement by substituting one of the following courses:

MA CHP Capstone Course (4-6 credits)


Forest Academy Requirement


  • Any Forest Academy courses 3

Total Credits Required 48


3 Completing FOR 500  or MVS 533  fulfills the Forest Academy requirement for the semester in which the course is completed.

MA CHP Specializations


Students may choose to add an area of Specialization to their MA in Consciousness and Human Potential in one of five areas of study. Each Specialization requires 18-36 credits of additional required courses. Practicum specializations are also available. Students are encouraged to take advantage of regular Transcendental Meditation retreats either at MIU or their local TM center.

MA CHP Specialization in Advanced Maharishi Vedic Science Requirements


MA CHP Advanced MVS Electives (18-36 credits required)


CHP Electives (Choose 12 credits)


  • Any MVS courses numbered higher than 202 Credits: variable

Total Credits Required 18-36


MA CHP Specialization in Advanced Maharishi Vedic Technologies Requirements


Required Course (repeated for credit / total 18-36 credits)


Total Credits Required 18-36


MA CHP Specialization in Educational Applications of Maharishi Vedic Science Requirements


Applied Research in MVS Course (repeat for 18-36 credits)


Total Credits Required 18-36


MA CHP Specialization in Physiology and Health Requirements


Physiology and Health Courses (18-36 credits)


  • Any graduate-level courses in Physiology and Health Credits: various

Total Credits Required 18-36


MA CHP Specialization in Reading the Vedic Literature Requirements


Required Courses (some courses may be repeated for credit | total 18-36 credits)


Total Credits Required 18-36


MA CHP Specialization in Yoga Teacher Training Requirements


MA CHP Specialization in Tm Teacher Training Requirements


In this five-month in-residence program, you will explore deeper levels of your own consciousness, immerse yourself in the unfoldment of Maharishi’s knowledge over the decades, and master the procedure to teach the Transcendental Meditation technique. MA CHP students who have successfully completed the TM Teacher Training Course (TTC) will automatically graduate with an MA in Consciousness and Human Potential with a Specialization in TM Teacher Training.

Total Credits Required 18-36


Students who are certified teachers of the Transcendental Meditation technique earn 2 credits per month for a maximum of 4 credits by working full time teaching the TM technique.

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