- A University is launching Britain's first
course on Aliens from outer space. Students will study extra-terrestrials,
UFOs, intersteller travel and the search for life.
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- The life in the Universe course forms
part of an astronomy degree for students at Glamorgan University's school
of Applied Science.
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- -- Clarification from John Hayes --
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- The Daily Telegraph's wording of 'Britain's
first course on Aliens' is a bit misleading as Totton College in Southampton,
England have been running a course for around two years now - NOT a degree
course though....wonder what astronomers make of it?
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- The following is taken from http://ufoinfo.com/ufocourses.html
and was last updated on 18th June 1998:
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- Totton College, Southampton, England.
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- The course allows students to study the
UFO Phenomena and get credit for producing work. At the moment it is split
into six separate units:
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- (1) Historical Perspectives on UFOs.
This unit examines the role of UFOs in history from ancient civilisations
to modern day accounts and explores similarities and differences between
them.
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- (2) Theoretical Perspectives on UFOs.
This unit examines the possible theories behind what UFOs may be. This
will include exploring the ETH, geological phenomena, psychological phenomena,
meteorological phenomena and celestial phenomena. Students will be able
to analyse these theories and draw their own conclusions.
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- (3) Research Methods in Ufology. This
final unit allows students to conduct practical work related to UFOs. This
will include skywatching, letter writing, questionnaire design for collecting
sightings data among others.
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- (4) Alien Abduction. This unit covers
the historical progression of the contactee and abductee era examining
some well known and not so well known accounts of purported alien abduction.
Theories of the origins of such experiences will be examined including
temporal lobe epilepsy, psychopathology, objectively real, sleep paralysis
etc. Also included in this unit is an examination of the content of abduction
reports. Have they changed in recent years?
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- (5) The media and ufology. This unit
examines the role of the media as to exhibiting stereotypical images of
UFOs and aliens. Mediums that will be examined include magazines, books,
TV programmes, films, internet etc. This means that students will have
to sit through some old B-movies to examine the changing role of the media
in UFO perception!!!
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- (6) Primary Research in Ufology. This
unit will allow each student to produce a substantial piece of work on
an area of the UFO phenomenon that particularly interests them. The project
can either be a review of a particular concept or a more practically based
data collection exercise. The report will have to be skilfully written
up for potential publication and each project has to be presented to an
audience. This unit is by far the bulkiest but allows the student to indulge
in something they are particularly passionate about.
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- All of the units can be studied up to
the standard of A-Level (although this course is by no means an A-Level!!!)
and students will be expected to produce written and practical work in
order to gain credits which are recognised in education!!!
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- Other things to note are:
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- * If a student completes all six units
they have the equivalent of an A/S Level in Ufology. This is the first
in the UK - it is an official qualification accepted in the UK educational
system!!
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- * For people who cannot attend lessons
in Southampton, do not despair. We can offer the course as a correspondence
course where the student receives detailed handouts, assignments and has
regular contact with one of the course tutors!!!
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- We have people doing this already and
non-UK residents are very much more than welcome.
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- The address to contact for more information
on the course is:
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- Craig Roberts UFO Studies, Department
of Psychology Totton College Water Lane, Totton, Southampton SO40 3ZX
England
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- Phone: (01703) 874874 E-Mail: croberts@totton.ac.uk
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- The other tutors are Ashley Bennette
and Steve Rider. The course moderator is Steve Gerrard from the Southampton
UFO Group.
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- Regards, John Hayes
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- jhayes@cableinet.co.uk webmaster@ufoinfo.com
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