Is it possible to get a Degree in astrology?
First, let’s get one thing straight. I STRONGLY believe that astrology is total BS. I was an astronomy and physics major at college, and my work now is doing astronomy research. No need to lecture me on how astrology is nonsense, you’d be preaching to the choir.
The reason why I ask is because I was having a frustrating conversation with one of my old friends, who believes strongly that astrology has a real power of interpretation of people’s personalities and behaviors, chances of a good relationship, etc. He mentioned that he started believing this when he started living with a roommate who “is majoring in astrology,” sopposedly at SF state university (which has no such program, i checked). This artlice suggests that there is one such program in the country. Do you know of others?
To make this a point of real discussion, rather than a fact-checking mission, should there be programs like this? After all, it is a lucrative business for those who become successful. Can anyone explain to me why a school would or should offer an astrology program?
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I’m sure you can get all 360 degrees in astrology, which, if you add $2.50 will buy you a ride on the West Side IRT.
I pray for humanity that degrees in Astrology do not exist.
I of course pray to the jug of milk in my fridge.
Kepler College offers an M.A. in astrology.
Lifted from their site:
Eastern and Western Traditions: The History, Philosophy and Transmission of Astrology
Astrology played a pivotal role in the intellectual history of both the ancient and medieval Eastern and Western cultures. This MA program will trace the diffusion and cross pollination of astrological doctrines among the Mesopotamians, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Persians, Arabs, and the medieval Europeans, and explore the ways in which these astrological doctrines influenced the philosophical systems, religious beliefs, and political history of each of these host cultures.
I’ll bet you can at Fairhaven. I think you can pretty much make anything up there.
I’m sure there are many colleges that offer degrees in astrology. (Or, if not quite that precisely focused, then degrees in Divination, etc.) I know for a fact that John F. Kennedy University in northern California offers degree in Parapsychology (or at least, they used to).
Is this wrong? (shrug) Many people find religion to have no more basis in fact than astrology does, and countless colleges & universities offer degrees in all sorts of religious disciplines…
OK checked out Keppler College which is evidently not accredited by any of the six regional college accreditation agencies.
“Kepler College is authorized by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board” The HECB is a financial aid board. not an accreditation group. This means you can get loans to go there just like the trade schools the advertise on TV. This status is only current through Spring of 2010.
With their faculty of 11 instructors they claim to provide classes in all subjects including math and sciences.
It’s possible to get a degree in anything as long as you can borrow the money. Remember these education loans can never go away, even with bankruptcy.
It’s a diploma mill.
The answer to this question is written in the stars.
Hmm…interesting. I would say the should of the degree offering would depend if it’s a BA or BS (or MA/MS). the BS being BullSh!t, of course! ;)
If I recall correctly, Dr. Science had a degree in…. science!
I suppose so, you can get a degree in chiropractics, and anyone with half a brain knows chiropractic practitioners might as well be homeopathic memory water sellers.
No. Not from any reputable university. I’m sure there are organizations issuing certificates. Astrology is not science. They got the cause and effect part completely wrong. Seasons do have an influence on pregnant women and hormonal changes affect the unborn baby. But Pluto got nothing to do with that. Let alone Eris which might actually not be on some astrology menus yet.
Why does this bother you so much? You can get a degree in mythology too. Does anybody make a big deal out that? Astrology can be a useful psychological tool for those lost with self identity. You don’t have to BELIEVE in it. To me, it’s equivalent to using Jung’s archetypes. You also have to keep in mind that science wouldn’t have facts without intuition first. Facts are also changeable. They are not set in stone…and the majority of what you study in college is based on theory anyhow. Back off already.
…and yes mattbrowne, asteroids, dwarf planets, and other small space objects are on the menu.
@Yeah_k Facts are, by definition, set in stone. States of affairs may change, and so the set of current facts may change, but something that is a fact is a fact. Maybe you agree and just didn’t word your response clearly, but it’s worth clarifying the point.
Thank you Savoir Faire, point taken.
No worries. I have my doubts about the usefulness of astrology or Jungian archetypes even if we don’t believe in them, but I’ve had that argument more than enough in the past few weeks. As such, I’ll simply state my agreement with you that the mere existence of the degree is not cause for alarm. One of my close friends is an atheist with a degree in religious studies. That something is available for study should not itself be offensive. It’s merely available for study, which also makes it open to critique—just as everything should be.
Of course, I totally agree which is why I’m critiquing.
…and of course if we don’t understand something maybe we should study it so we can make sense as to why it exists in the first place instead of calling it total b.s.
It would indeed be nice if people understood what they wanted to criticize. Seems too much to ask from some people, though…
Could you specify who you are implying in the word “people” since you want to stray off the main topic and go into your realm of projection?
I was agreeing with you. Sincerely.
@Yeah_k – Mythology is the scientific study of myths which can be seen as an early form of human psychology. Mythology isn’t about the promotion of talking snakes. It’s about the meaning of this, asking question like what does the snake represent? It’s about archetypes and mental patterns, even evolutionary psychology. Our brains are evolved systems their origin predating homo sapiens.
You can’t compare astrology to mythology. Astrology is nonsensical pseudoscience.
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