Mindfulness and Meditation: The Art and Science of Self-transformation



Overview

This course will teach participants the theory and practice of mindfulness/meditation practices, including techniques that involve breathing, visualisation, and recitation. We will move across Eastern and Western traditions focusing on how these techniques were created with the aim of transforming the self. We will also explore how these techniques have undergone significant transformation throughout the 20-21st centuries. 

The course is suitable both for those who have never tried meditation or those with previous experience who are interested in knowing more about the history, science, and experience of these practices. 

Programme details

Courses starts: 23 Jan 2025

Week 1: Introduction to the study of meditation

Week 2: Varieties of meditation techniques

Week 3: Meditation as a tool for self-transformation

Week 4: Therapeutic meditation for the homeless self

Week 5: The science of meditation: From modern Yoga to Transcendental Meditation

Week 6:  The effects of mindfulness on the mind, body, and prosocial behaviour

Week 7: Ethics of meditation: Controversies and adverse effects

Week 8: Stages of consciousness in meditation

Week 9: Matters of the heart: Meditations focused on love and compassion

Week 10: Course Summary and Poetry as Meditation

Certification

Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points 

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee for each course you enrol on. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. If you do not register when you enrol, you have up until the course start date to register and pay the £30 fee. 

See more information on CATS point

Coursework is an integral part of all online courses and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework, but only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education, you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee. 

 

Digital credentials

All students who pass their final assignment, whether registered for credit or not, will be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so. 

Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. 

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £285.00
Take this course for CATS points £30.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutors

Dr Miguel Farias

Miguel Farias is an experimental psychologist, former Lecturer at Oxford University, founding director of the Brain, Belief, & Behaviour Lab, co-author of ‘The Buddha Pill: Can Meditation Change You?’, and lead editor of the Oxford Handbook of Meditation.

Ms Sara Shah

Sara Shah has worked with numerous tech companies and startups as an advisor to build meditation and mental health content for apps. Her academic research focused on compassion and mindfulness-based meditation practices for populations suffering from PTSD, particularly female and child refugees.

Course aims

To study the varieties of mindfulness/meditation practices in the East and West, including its various aims in changing the self, the multiplicity of techniques, and scientific studies on its effects. 

Course objectives:

  • To study the major types of mindfulness/meditation practices across the world.
  • To explore the aims of these practices within religious traditions and within a secular context.
  • To discuss the potential effects of these practices in transforming, healing, or enhancing the self.
  • To understand key developments in the scientific study of meditation.
  • To try out forms of mindfulness/meditation practices within the course.

 

Teaching methods

Presentation of materials (images and text) in a seminar format; class discussion; brief mindfulness/meditation exercises.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  • understand and describe some of the major techniques of mindfulness/meditation practices;
  • understand and discuss the varieties of intended outcomes of these practices;
  • discuss the key elements in the scientific study of meditation and the more controversial findings;
  • articulate the differences between religious-based and secular therapeutic techniques, including the effects sought for transforming or enhancing the self;
  • have experienced various techniques from across Eastern and Western traditions. 

Assessment methods

Students will be assessed via a 1500 word essay related to the content of the course (e.g. Describe two meditation techniques which use visualisation and what are their intended outcomes on the practitioner).

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work the required standard.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

 

Application

We will close for enrolments 14 days prior to the start date to allow us to complete the course set up. We will email you at that time (14 days before the course begins) with further information and joining instructions. As always, students will want to check spam and junk folders during this period to ensure that these emails are received.

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment Form (Word) or Enrolment Form (Pdf)

Level and demands

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support