Course summary

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University? At Buckinghamshire New University you will gain a chance to learn about psychology, philosophy and spirituality, discovering its relationship to nature and mental health within a supportive community. We have 3 core goals for this course: We will create a safe, supportive and reflective space in which you can learn and grow as a student community in dialogue. We will foster authentic, trusting and respectful relationships so you can succeed in your studies. We will help you achieve your aspirations for your future so you can make a positive difference to your life and our world, empowered and supported by BNU. Within the course we are bringing together a specialist team of lecturers, visiting experts and practitioners linked to our Centre for Positive Psychology initiative. These partners have a passion for the area of spirituality, ecology and mental health and are passionate about this unique opportunity at BNU. In addition to the great course benefits, we have one of the most highly regarded student unions in the UK. We are regularly voted in the top 5 for student satisfaction in the UK by our students for the high quality of our student union. The union gives you opportunities to join sports clubs, volunteer and get involved with the university all for free. Thanks to the big deal, union activities are free for students and offer you a chance to join societies, sports clubs and explore new interests. We also host music events, trips and night time events. What will I study? If you can bring the passion and commitment to the discussions and your studies, we can give you the grounding and skills you need to apply your knowledge in a meaningful way. Not everyone on the course will come in with an academic background, your contribution is important for all of our shared learning journeys. Together, we will explore spirituality, ecology and mental health from perspectives such as transpersonal, humanistic and existential psychology, as well as ecopsychology, parapsychology, counselling and coaching, complementary and alternative medicine and items from the wider physical and social sciences categories. We will explore topics such as the varieties of spiritual experience and spiritual practices, the science of meaningfulness, wellness & wholeness, the power of belief, intention & attention, the importance of responsibility, ethics & values, ideas of connectedness, sacredness, discernment & resonance, and models of spiritual transformation & growth, to name a few. We will draw on new research to uncover wisdom from the world’s spiritual traditions: the relationship of spirituality with nature, the relationship of spirituality with mental health, the different pathways to spiritual development and different spiritual worldviews. Gain the opportunity to apply learning to life by developing an evidence-based approach to spiritual practice at home and work. You will apply your knowledge and skills to creating or participating in community projects in the module ‘Serving Gaia’, as well undertaking a piece of research in the form of a literature-based, interview-based, work-based, resource-based or performance-based project. How will I be taught and assessed? The teaching approach can be characterised by empowering learning through ‘meaningful activity’, ‘learning by doing’ and ‘learning as research’. To this end, you are at the centre of your learning experience so you get to choose. You will be encouraged to explore the practices and perspectives that resonate with you. In essence, we will invite you to become your own expert in the topics / fields of your choice. You will be assessed in a number of ways throughout your studies including reflective accounts, media presentations, written essay, research proposal, ‘how to’ video, blogging and your dissertation.