Paranormal Research Schools
Humanity has long been intrigued by that which can't easily be explained. Strange occurrences and abilities are usually relegated to the paranormal. Since the founding of the oldest paranormal society in the United States -- the American Society for Psychical Research in 1882 -- people have been actively studying these phenomena. Today, a few colleges run parapsychology units and even offer coursework and degrees in the field.
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University of Edinburgh
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The Koestler Parapsychology Unit at Edinburgh offers psychology Ph.D program with a concentration in parapsychology. A well-respected school in Scotland, Edinburgh first opened up the official study of paranormal activity in response to a bequest in the name of Andrew Koestler and wife, Cynthia. This bequest of their entire estate led to the creation of the Koestler chair, and later the Koestler Unit, under Robert L. Morris.
University of Arizona
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The University of Arizona takes a slightly different approach to the paranormal with the Center for Consciousness Studies. It offers many psychology courses focused on spirituality, religion and altered states of consciousness. Established in 1998, the center's eventual goal is to create a graduate degree program in consciousness studies.
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University of Virginia
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The Division of Perceptual Studies is a part of the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia. The division does not offer courses in the paranormal, but it occasionally holds lectures on the subject and sometimes professors associated with the division offer related classes in other divisions. The division is primarily research-focused, but it welcomes students as research assistants and allows graduate students to associate with the division to conduct research as part of degree programs in other departments.
Goldsmiths University of London
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The Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at this British school runs a course of the same name and studies the paranormal through research. A module of the PSc psychology program, the course helps those interested in parapsychology study the topic. The unit focuses more on paranormal subjects, such as mental telepathy and clairvoyance. Members of the unit also edit the "Skeptic," which was established in 2001 and is the United Kingdom's longest running skeptical magazine.
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