- MVS 210 Veda: Fabric of Consciousness
Is human knowledge inevitably partial or can we fathom complete knowledge? How are insights of ancient seers into the nature of reality relevant to our contemporary lives? This course examines questions such as these in light of Maharishi Vedic Science (“Vedic” is from “Veda,” meaning knowledge). You will learn about Vedic literature — including Yoga, Vedanta, and the Upanishads — in light of the direct experience of consciousness. From time immemorial, Vedic literature has been studied for its enlightening wisdom; this course explores Maharishi’s unified structure of Vedic literature as the dynamics of consciousness knowing itself. Qualities of consciousness — such as expanding, unifying, and analyzing — are explored in the branches of Vedic literature, in human physiology and in the structure of the universe. (4 credits)
- MVS 227 Personal Growth of Consciousness
In this course students learn about and practice a range of Vedic technologies to maximize personal growth of consciousness, including a seven-day retreat, Maharishi’s videotaped lectures, training in physical health and fitness, group-building projects, and a class-agreed daily routine protocol. In addition, we will explore Maharishi AyurVeda diet and cooking, some simple self-administered Panchakarma therapies, Maharishi Gandharva music, and artistic expression — writing, music, drawing, and painting. There will be a capstone project to integrate knowledge and experiences gained during the course. (4 credits)
- MVS 241 Models of Development: Frontiers of Human Potential
This course will explore models of human development across the lifespan. You will examine Piaget’s model of cognitive development; Loevinger and Cook-Greuter’s models of ego or self-development; Kohlberg’s model of moral development; and the Science and Technology of Consciousness of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. (4 credits)
- MVS 302 Dharma: Insights from Maharishi’s Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita
What action in life is best for your personal development – your “Dharma”? How does this relate to family, social, and global responsibilities? How do we make the right decisions for ourselves and others, and act in a way that is enjoyable, not stressful and exhausting? This course studies timeless questions and dilemmas such as these, discussed in the Bhagavad-Gita — using as a guide Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s translation of and commentary on chapters one to six. (variable credits)
- MVS 309 Social Transformation and World Peace
Course participants study how Maharishi applied the ancient knowledge of Yoga technologies to create contemporary solutions for world peace. This includes a focus on the principles of and published scientific research on creating coherence in collective consciousness. There is an in-depth review of Maharishi’s historic unfoldment of this knowledge from 1960 to current strategies to create permanent world peace in this generation. By way of comparison, there is also a brief review of other peace-creating strategies. The course includes both theoretical understanding and direct experience of peace-creating programs, with emphasis on the relationship of personal inner peace and peace creation in the public domain. (4 credits)
- MVS 370 Maharishi’s Yoga: Theory and Practice
This course explores themes related to Yoga philosophy in light of effortless, natural practice of Transcendental Meditation. The course introduces Yoga both as a settled inner state of mind and a path of development, as brought out by Maharishi in his books and lectures. Topics include Yoga and the brain, Yoga and health, development of full human potential, Yoga and Dharma, and the role of Yoga Asanas in the eight limbs of Yoga brought out in the traditional Yoga text, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. (4 credits)
- MVS 391 Senior Writing and Speaking Project
During this course, students develop and present a summative oral presentation and write a paper that serves to integrate and complete the knowledge and experience gained from the Consciousness & Human Potential major. Note: A total of 4 credits is required. Students should take the course after having completed all other requirements. (8 credits)
Modern Science
- MVS 240 EEG, Brain, and Enlightenment
Brain functioning underlies conscious processing, states of consciousness, and enlightenment. Students learn how to record EEG (brain waves) and other physiological measures (breath rate, heart rate, and skin conductance), learn the brain signatures of the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique and of higher states of consciousness and conduct original research testing a research question that they generate during the course. 4 credits)
- MVS 308 Research Design and Methodology
This course reviews contemporary methods of research design and methodology, and issues from the philosophy of science, in light of fifty years of research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs. These precise, systematic, and effective programs for developing human consciousness open up new frontiers of researching mental potential, brain functioning, health, behavior, education, and social relationships. This course develops your ability to evaluate and explain research design and methodology – skills that can be transferred to a wide range of applications. (4 credits)
Self-development module
- MVS 300 Science of Being and Art of Living
The Science of Being and Art of Living was Maharishi’s first book, published in 1963. In this course, both through reading and through studying Maharishi’s videos, students investigate the main themes of the book — Being, the essential constituent of creation; how to contact and how to live Being; how to live one’s full potential in thought, speech, action, and relationships; and God-realization. (4 credits)
- MVS 331/332 TM-Sidhi Program
The Transcendental Meditation Sidhi® (TM-Sidhi®) program is a simple, natural, effortless set of procedures that accelerate the personal growth gained from the Transcendental Meditation technique. The TM-Sidhi program is designed to accelerate the growth of creativity, learning ability, physical health, and psychological well-being that TM technique practitioners report.
- PH 260 Maharishi Self-Pulse Reading
Self-Pulse Reading is the most ancient and most natural means of determining the level of balance or imbalance in the mind and body. Taking the pulse enlivens the connection between mind and body, consciousness and matter. Furthermore, the procedure of taking the pulse produces a balancing effect on the mind and body. This course presents Maharishi’s revival of this ancient technology. In this course students will learn how to read their pulse and detect imbalances early, before they manifest as symptoms of a disease; how to determine where imbalances are; and how to restore balance. This course includes public speaking exercises. Materials fee: $10 (4 credits)
- PH 262 Diet, Digestion, and Nutrition
Diet, digestion, and nutrition are fundamental to health. How we metabolize food and drink directly affects the strength, vitality, immunity, and longevity of the physiology. This course provides very practical knowledge of what to eat, when to eat, and how to eat to maintain or restore perfect balance of the three Doshas – the three principal governing qualities of intelligence in the body. Topics include: influence of consciousness on the process of digestion and nutrition, effects of different foods on physiology, categories of food according to their influence on the three Doshas, and basic principles of Dravya Guna (Materia Medica) – Vedic herbology. This course includes public speaking exercises, as well as two field trips: one to local organic and natural food stores, and one to a local organic dairy production farm. Based on availability, Ayurvedic cooking demonstrations are included. Field trip fee: $20; Materials fee: $20 (4 credits)
Veda
- MVS 102 Sanskrit: The Language of Nature
Reading the Vedic Literature in the Sanskrit script is a technology of Maharishi’s Science and Technology of Consciousness for enhancing the development of higher states of consciousness. In this course, students learn to read the Vedic Literature in Sanskrit in the traditional way — for the value of the sounds, without studying grammar or meaning — and discover how this practice affects brain functioning. Students also learn the basic principles of Maharishi’s Science and Technology of Consciousness, Vedic Science, including the recent discovery of how human physiology forms a perfect replica of natural law, as embodied in the 40 aspects of the Veda and Vedic Literature. This historic discovery reveals that the natural laws governing the universe are the same laws governing our physiology — meaning that each of us has access, within our own physiology, to the total potential of natural law. (4 credits)
- MVS 321 Reading the Vedic Literature: Upānga
During this course, students read the classical texts of Upanga in the Devanagari (the original Sanskrit) script. Students read the texts for their sound value, which creates benefits in their consciousness and physiology. Prerequisites: MVS 102 and permission of the instructor (4 credits)
- MVS 322 Reading the Vedic Literature: Upa-Veda
During this course, students read the classical texts of Upa-Veda in the Devanagari (the original Sanskrit) script. Students read the texts for their sound value, which creates benefits in their consciousness and physiology. Prerequisites: MVS 102 and permission of the instructor (4 credits)
- MVS 323 Reading the Vedic Literature: Brāhmana
During this course, students read the classical texts of Brahmana in the Devanagari (the original Sanskrit) script. The texts are read for the sound value, which creates benefits in their consciousness and physiology. Prerequisites: MVS 102 and permission of the instructor. (4 credits)
Transcendental Meditation teacher training module
- MVS 490 TM Teacher Training Course
This course comprises the Transcendental Meditation Program Teacher Training Course, providing the knowledge and experience of consciousness as the basis of life and preparing one to present the knowledge to others. It also gives an opportunity for personal development through deeper personal experience of the unified field of natural law and understanding of the Science of Creative Intelligence. Participation in the course does not automatically qualify a student to graduate as a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation program. Further training and fieldwork may be needed before graduation as a teacher. Students must have a minimum of at least one year of progress in a degree at Maharishi International University before taking MVS 490. The course must be appropriate to the degree the student is taking. Academic credit for the completion of this course is offered by Maharishi International University, Fairfield, IA, under a contractual agreement with Maharishi International University, Netherlands, who controls the acceptance to the course, the cost of the course, and the content of the course. (12 credits) Prerequisites: STC 108/109 or FOR 500 and completion of one year of MIU coursework. This course is taught under contractual agreement with a non-accredited, non-federal-aid-eligible organization. Students must apply to and be accepted by that organization.
- MVS 570 TM Lecture Training and Checker Training
During the lecture portion of this course, students learn the four parts of the standard lecture for introducing prospective students to the scientifically validated benefits of regular practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique. During the checker training portion of this course, students are trained in the procedure of how to check the correct practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique. (variable units) Prerequisite: consent of instructor
- MVS 492 TM Teacher Training Fieldwork Internship
In this course, students who have qualified as teachers of the Transcendental Meditation technique work full time for at least four months teaching these programs. Two credits are given for each month students are engaged in this internship. (Maximum of 8 credits during a semester; may be repeated for a second semester) Prerequisite: MVS 490
Study abroad
- MVS 485 Rotating University
Rotating University courses offer opportunities to study Consciousness & Human Potential abroad. Students travel to a country that has sister institutions to MIU or plays a special role in worldwide Transcendental Meditation organizations — such as India, South Africa, Switzerland — to study the Science and Technology of Consciousness in that context. The course may include videotaped lectures of Maharishi, study of Sanskrit, and excursions to relevant locales. In some cases, the focus includes study of deep cultural traditions of a country such as China and how these traditions parallel the Science and Technology of Consciousness (4 credits). faculty
Jess Nohle is this program’s admissions counselor for US students. Jess will provide you with all the details of becoming a student, including connecting you with the program director or faculty.
As a student, you’ll learn the Transcendental Meditation (TM®) technique. This effortless, evidence-based technique has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, improve health, and help the brain to function optimally, enhancing clear thinking and heightening creativity.
Dr. Fred Travis, Department Chair and Director of the Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cognition is the author of over 80 published papers in:
This course is your entryway into MIU and Consciousness-BasedSM education. We dive into an ancient yet radically new framework for understanding the universe and our place in it. This model holds that consciousness, not matter, is fundamental. With this in mind, we look at some of life’s big questions: How can we develop our fullest potential as human beings? How do art and stories help us understand that potential? How can our own growth help create a more just and peaceful society? What do the world’s great wisdom traditions have in common? How can we improve education and healthcare? The new paradigm we explore in this course infuses all your classes at MIU. In this course, you'll learn the Transcendental Meditation® technique to awaken the full potential of consciousness in your life. Comments from students
