This 15-week (semester-long) course is an interdisciplinary offering that draws on anthropology, religious studies, philosophy, depth psychology and psychical research, among other fields. It is designed as an advanced undergraduate or Master's-level graduate seminar course to introduce participants to academic reincarnation research and theory.
The course covers all aspects of research on reincarnation, including reincarnation beliefs, methods of case investigation, findings from investigations, and the interpretation of those findings. It includes original lectures as well as readings from the reincarnation and larger scientific literature and involves participation through discussion among participants. It is self-paced with an estimated time commitment of 6-8 hours per week, including discussion periods.
Unit 1: Introduction to the Study of Reincarnation Signs
Unit 2: The Belief in Reincarnation
Unit 3: Research Styles and Interpretative Frames
Unit 4: Child Studies: Episodic Memories, Statements and Recognitions
Unit 5: Child Studies: Behavioral Signs of Reincarnation
Unit 6: Child Studies: Physical Signs of Reincarnation
Unit 7: Child Studies: The Intermission between Lives
Unit 8: Child Studies: Cross-Cultural Patterns
Unit 9: Child Studies: Psychological Issues
Unit 10: From Child to Adult: The Developmental Continuum
Unit 11: Past-Life Memories in Induced States of Consciousness
Unit 12: The Contributions of Shamans, Psychics and Mediums
Unit 13: Mind/Brain Relations, Survival of Death and Reincarnation
Unit 14: Postmortem Survival and Reincarnation: Philosophical Concerns
Unit 15: The Process of Reincarnation
The course is currently underway. It will be offered again beginning in January, 20121. Please write to jgmatlock@yahoo.com for more information.
Syllabus. View a more complete course description with a unit-by-unit (week-by-week) outline of requirements. This syllabus is provided for guidance only and may not match exactly the assignments of any given session.
Course Evaluations. See what previous students have had to say about the course.
About the Coordinator. James G. (Jim) Matlock, Ph.D., is an anthropologist and parapsychologist with more than 30 years' experience studying and writing about reincarnation signs. For more about him, visit his web site, www.jamesgmatlock.com.
Still have Questions? Send them to jgmatlock@yahoo.com.
Registration The registration fee for the Fall, 2023, session is $150, $75 for students enrolled full time at the undergraduate or graduate levels. All participants are also required to have purchased the course textbook, Signs of Reincarnation: Exploring Beliefs, Cases, and Theory, which is available through online booksellers.
- Coordinator: Jim Matlock