Center for Consciousness Studies

"Consciousness at the human level is essentially in the nature of self-luminosity. It shines by its own intrinsic light; as it reveals objects it also reveals itself as the knowing function" - Haridas Chaudhuri, The Evolution of Integral Consciousness (1977)

Since its origins in the mid-20th century CIIS has been committed to the exploration of the nature and potentials of human consciousness. This commitment is embraced and embodied by its many programs, ranging form Asian philosophy to integral psychology and counseling, and on through women’s spirituality, ecology, creative arts, and many more.

The goals of this center are to elevate CIIS into international prominence in the field of consciousness studies, and to support and facilitate consciousness studies both inside and beyond the institute. Also to act as a clearinghouse for faculty members and students both within CIIS and outside of it who interested in the field of consciousness studies.

Director

Allan Combs, Ph.D.
Professor of Consciousness Studies
ccs@ciis.edu

Ph.D. Focus On Consciousness Studies Program In Transformative Studies

This new Consciousness Studies Focus is a track witin our online Transformative Studies Ph.D. program.

This Focus leads to a Ph.D. in Consciousness Studies grounded in the well established and successful Transformative Studies online Ph.D. Program. Courses in this program provide the student with a foundation in transdisciplinary scholarship and complexity thinking imparted by some of the world's leading scholars in these fields. In this way students learn to integrate an "ecology of consciousness" approach, originally suggested by visionaries such as psychologist Frank Barron and systems thinker Gregory Bateson, with contemporary understandings of consciousness, ecology, and complexity.