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Project NatureConnect |
Graduate Student Cooperative Program:
methods, admissions, procedures, tuitions, and understandings.
Greetings and Welcome, Prospective Participant:
This page is actually a small book that details the path from being interested in Applied Ecology NSTP to being recognized as a master in the subject because you have become one.
Select here to first read a time saving overview of this page
To be sure the program fits your needs and interests it is required that you call Dr. Cohen and explore your best choices with him. This will give you the opportunity to customize the program to your personal goals.
Eighty percent of what we call education is learning to put into words what we already innately know from nature. Although this page seems educational, it is an INSTRUCTION page meaning that you probably innately know less than 10% of it.
If the page type is too small for you, in the preferences of you browser you can set the default to a larger font size. You may also read/print this page in MSword but the links will be absent.
You can print out this page and the Application Form which includes Scholarship applications, too. Then, first just drift through the pages a couple of times to get a feel of what they cover. After that locate topics of interest and questions you might have. These pages are like a synopsis of the Degree Program's workings.
A good way to master the information presented here is when you get to the Admission Procedures and Application portion, begin by starting to fill out the Application. As you run into information you don't have, use the links on the Application and the information and links on this page or the contents page to fill in the missing details. This way, instead of feeling inadequate or ignorant about administrative details, you can instead proudly feel you are doing research.
In general this page shows
-How to complete the Application and be admitted to the program with or without a scholarship
-Your degree and/or certification options
-How to proceed once you are admitted
-Forms to use and groups you will join to implement the programPlease note that the information below is not set in stone. Written petitions, once discussed, that make sense for individual circumstances and the program are often accommodated.
Feel free to call if questions arise 360-378-6313
Academic Owls and Howls,
Mike Cohen
TOPICS:
Required Course of Study for MS, Ph.D
Certification Programs and Tuitions
Course Schedule and Sequence Steps
Admission Procedures and Application
Cooperative Participation after Admission to Program
This program trains students in a readily available, nature connected psychological process that enables those who use it to help our society solve the difficult problems we cause and face due to our excessive disconnection from Nature. This skill becomes a tool that students can add to their professional interests to create a new niche for themselves that includes NSTP. The degree is centered upon helping the student master the use of NSTP as a component of their profession as well as identifying and developing new situations where they may apply it upon graduation.
We are born as part of nature yet nature and nature-centered people in their wisdom, neither cause or exhibit our runaway problems.You can not separate a person from their biological and psychological support system without injuring both. We and natural systems suffer because we learn to live, on average, less than twelve hours per lifetime in tune with nature. Like an arm torn from a body, our excessive indoor lives and stories traumatize and separate our psyche and reasoning from their natural origins in nature and its intelligence.
Skillfully, a surgeon can physically reattach an amputated arm to the body. Only then can nature's attraction energy powers heal the separation and restore integrity. Gradually, the separation trauma and its destructive symptoms subside. With respect to Organism Earth, the disciplines of Applied Ecopsychology and Integrated Ecology act like the surgeon. Skillfully their techniques enjoyably reattach people's thinking to natural system attraction energies in the environment and each other. These connection the then recycle and restores our disconnected reasoning, senses and interests.
Backyard or back country, the educational methods and materials of Applied Ecopsychology and Integrated Ecology empower us to create moments that let Earth teach. We learn to sense, enjoy and validate the natural attractions found in natural areas and in our inner nature. We learn to honor these attractions and thoughtfully rebond them into our thinking. We learn to speak, feel and interact with the wisdom, love and spirit that guides natural people and Earth. This has proven to reduce stress, recycle destructive thinking, and catalyze responsible personal, social and environmental relationships. Through this process all things become partners for personal and global recovery.NSTP works because our stressful, nature disconnected lives contaminate our innate thinking and relationships causing us to unnecessarily inflict and suffer great personal and environmental problems. Good research documents that engaging in a sensory, reconnective, learning-with-Nature process helps us meets this challenge. The Natural Systems Thinking Process enables us to let our wounded emotionality genuinely interlace with the natural system powers that purify contamination. Our problems fade as our discontents transform into constructive participation.
Opportunities
In theory and practice, NSTP contributes to most areas of endeavor because it modifies the destructive bonds that resist change. Many areas of society benefit from this contribution
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Cooperative Education at IGE
Upon IGE acceptance and enrollment by submitting a Cooperative Application Form, the Master's Doctoral or Certificate candidate becomes a member of the IGE Graduate Student Learning Cooperative and participates to the fullest in helping it meet its goals. Under the supervision of Dr. Cohen and his faculty guide staff, and in cooperation with cooperating universities, the IGE Cooperative facilitates all NSTP courses, processes, examinations, grades and field experiences and collects all funds necessary for the successful completion of the degree program at an appropriate university.
The function of the IGE program, via the Cooperative, is to academically and professionally help you attain a skill level excellence that guarantees your acceptance into degree programs upon submission of your application and registration. Through us, you take your oral competency examination, obtain approval for your research or project, its completion and its defense. IGE makes a financial donation on your behalf to or other Degree program for their services in this regard.
When a student becomes a member of the Cooperative, they are connected by email to a study/support group of other students and faculty. All questions are first addressed to this group so them may learn from them and share their knowledge of them. In this way, coop members gain expertise in helping the Coop operate and meet its goals.
Participation Catagories
Your participation in the program usually falls into one part of each of the two catagories below :
Programs: Applying for either:
1. The Degree program that you complete following your completion of the Certification Program ( the degree program has scholarships available)
or
2. Applying for the Certification Program only (no scholarships available, no previous degree needed).
or
3. Applying for the Certification Program only on a Post Doctoral level.
Qualifications: Applying with:
a. no previous degree (apply for Certificate only),
or
b. with a completed previous degree
or
c. with a petition for a BS or MS degree waiver based on prior experience and training.
Participation outside of these catagories may only take place by successfully petioning to for special permission. (360) 378-6313
Required Course of Study
The requirements for graduation at the Master's level are the completion of a minimum of 36 graduate credits as outlined below and a thesis research project completed in accordance with the University's standards. Each credit represents a minimum of 45 hours of interactive instruction and supportive learning.
The requirements for graduation at the Doctoral level are the completion of a minimum of 48 graduate credits and a dissertation or project completed in accordance with standards. Each credit represents a minimum of 45 hours of interactive instruction and supportive learning
While all students must complete the credit hour and their project, thesis or dissertation requirements for graduation, students may may petition their support group and mentors to substitute transfer courses completed at outside institutions, or documented life experience, for parallel prescribed course work in the IGE courses. For approval, students document their strategy and ability to introduce NSTP into these experiences and courses in order to make these substitutions.
Enrollment Eligibility
IGE enrollment is open to eligible students from any area of interest who wish to pursue multidisciplinary studies in Applied Ecopsychology or Integrated Ecology under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Cohen in collaboration with Project NatureConnect and the IGE Graduate Student Cooperative. Course work standards and procedures are mentor based and designed to parallel the philosophy and procedures and meet the requirements for excellence at as described on their web site.
Semesters, each 6 months long, usually start in January, April, July, and October. 6-15 credits may be taken for each semester period. 18 credits may be taken with special permission. Courses may be started at any time and transferred into the following semester
CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS AND TUITIONS
The Integrated Ecology Department of the Institute of Global Education serves as a training and course program for a number of Universities and Programs that cooperatively affiliate with us.
All the IGE programs described below start with working towards Certification and then optionally continuing on with your Degree. All are fully compatible with our cooperative affiliates academically and financially. The Certificate program leads to either
A - IGE CERTIFICATION: 36 credits:
Three Levels. Approximately $70/credit. $2320 total includes three training levels and equivalence of up to 36 credits, all core course books and your application fee. You may optionally continue into a B or C below but scholarship funding is not guaranteed to be available.
B - DEGREE CERTIFICATION: IGE certification that you have achieved the equivalency of a degree. For $400 plus telephone conference costs, you complete your degree project or research program and thesis/dissertation. After you successfully pass your written and oral exams, IGE certifies you have completed the equivalency of an MS or Ph.D. degree at a high standard of excellence. The printed Certificate you receive and your transcript on file convey this.
No diploma or degree is issued by IGE for we choose not to be licensed or accredited as a degree granting institution. We do, however, work cooperatively with degree granting institutions (see below).
C. M.S. or PH.D DEGREE: An accredited or unaccredited MS or Ph.D degree through IGE and a cooperating university available at the time of your Certification.
NOTE: It is best to start on this track as part of A and then drop out or switch later if you choose because it makes Scholarship funds available now that may not be available later.
D - POST DOCTORAL CERTIFICATE: IGE certification that you have passed oral and written comprehensives on a Post Doctoral level
DEGREE PROGRAMS AND TUITIONS
COURSES $70-$200/credit.
MASTERS DEGREE Up to $7500 total
DOCTORAL DEGREE up to $10,500.
Commitments for Scholarship assistance and Ambassador work/study are readily available via the Degree Application Form.
NOTE that these tuition fees are the final totals of the Degree programs, the only extras being telephone conference charges and non-required options you select. These totals match the tuition totals other appropriate Universities when you add up all the extra fees required by these institutions.
For special candidates Scholarship assistance allows the Degree tuition be as low as the tuition for the Certificate.YOUR BEST CHOICE AT IGE: Although you may do the Orientation Course independently, it is wise to first apply to the program using the Degree Application and Scholarship Form and then start coursework via the Orientation Course.
The advantage is that this secures from the start you total cost of the degree program within your budget. It includes Orientation Course books and fees, other courses you may take, and Certification once you complete your written and oral comprehensive exams. These all risk extra costs if done separately.
COURSE SCHEDULE AND SEQUENCE STEPS
The general schedule and least expensive sequence with the greatest degree opportunities for completing the Certificate Training and/or Degree Program appears below. Students may follow the sequence but set their own time schedule as long as they complete their tuition payment commitment contracts. Programs should be completed as follows :
Certification ....... 3 years maximum, 1 year minimum
Masters Degree. 4 years maximum, 1 1/2 years minimum
Ph.D. .................6 years maximum , 2 years minimumMutually acceptable Petition/Contracts for varying the time and sequence are accepted.
STRUCTURE AND PROCEDURE
For best results, to enter the program you must make a decision and commit to either the Certification Program or the Degree Program. You can optionally change this decision at a later time.
The Degree Program has scholarship benefits available; the Certification program alone does not. Note that the Degree Program automatically includes the Certification Program and simply adds the Degree component and scholarship to it.
The Certification Program is completed with a Certificate. At that time entrance into a degree program can become an option but Scholarship funds may not be available.
Sequences.CERTIFICATION:
Apply
Join Co-op
No Financial aid
1 year minimum
Certificate Issued
M.S. or Ph.D.DEGREE:
Apply
Scholarship Option
Join Co-op
1-6 years
Level 1,2 and 3 Certification
Research Semester
Degree
- A. The Degree and Certification programs are coordenated through IGE and universities
cooperatively affiliated with IGE.
.
. - B. Matriculation: After originally
declaring for and proceeding with the degree program (via the
Certification Program structure)
students officially qualify for and enter the Degree Program
when they have first completed the three levels of the Certification
Program. The Certification Program structure consists of all
the courses needed for a degree with the exception of 6 MS or
up to18 Ph.D credits of research and project/thesis/dissertation
courses
...
Once certified, degree students matriculate, enter and complete with IGE the research credits and Project/Thesis/Dissertation that are required by the University to obtain the Degree. The total cost of this certification and the degree sequence is covered by the original degree tuition and scholarship contract.
. - C. The Certification or Degree Application
is best submitted before you take the Orientation Course (OC). This is because the Certificate
or Degree Application Fee of $740 includes the cost of the Orientation
Course and its books plus two other courses and books. If you
take the Orientation Course first, you will have paid twice for
the OC and these other courses and books. That is an extra expenditure
of $100-$500.
. - D. To be eligible for the Degree Program
Scholarships you must enroll in the Degree program.
This assures you of the total cost of your degree with a scholarship.
Again, IGE can not guarantee Scholarship Funds will be available
at a later date if you need them then for a degree.
. - E. If upon completion
of the Certification structure while in the Degree Program, or before, you decide not to continue
with the Degree you may petition to leave the degree program
and not matriculate into it. A refund for the unspent degree
portion of your tuition will be made to you at that time.
. - F. The Certification Program is available without the degree through the Application Form.
SEQUENCE STEPS (Further explanation)
Step One:
Familiarize yourself with the program via its website description. It applies to all our programs unless otherwise stated. Have a previous required degree or its equivalence completed or in process via IGE or elsewhere.
Step Two:
CERTIFICATION OR DEGREE PROGRAM
ADMISSION AND APPLICATION INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES
Applicants for these programs in Applied Ecopsychology or Integrated Ecology may come from any field of interest.
SUMMARY OF ADMISSION PROCEDURES LISTED BELOW
(Hint: print out the Application Form now and use it as a questionaire)Have a previous degree or its equivalence completed or in process.
Read Overview article, review website
Call Dr. Cohen 360-378-7313
Submit Application (it includes a Scholarship Petition if applicable)
If you are accepted join the Student Cooperative and begin the Orientation Course.NOTE: Be sure to keep a record of all forms, payments, courses completed, phone calls made and other administrative transactions. They may be needed for documentation before you take your comprehensive exams or receive your Diploma or Certificate.
DETAILS:
PROGRAM SEQUENCE AND APPLICATION CATEGORIES that appear on the Application Form
As of October, 2002, IGE and its Application Form and procedures for entering the program in cooperation with any affiliated University, recognizes and honors the above listed admission categories.
Your application will usually fall into one of the following categories
( ) TRAINING CERTIFICATION ($2320) alone (described above) *
This program optionally leads into the Certification of Degree Equivalency described above or into one of the degree programs describe below
( ) MASTERS DEGREE ($7-$8,000) Master's level requires the completion of a minimum of 36 graduate credits as outlined below and a thesis research project completed in accordance with the University's standards. *
with Bachelor's completed or ( ) with BA equivalent. (see Bachelor requirements page)
( ) without Scholarship
( ) with Scholarship
( ) with Scholarship (and CCP payment plan when available)
( ) DOCTORAL DEGREE ($9,500-$11,000) Doctoral level requires the completion of a minimum of 48 graduate credits beyond the Master's and a dissertation or project completed.*
( ) with Master's completed
or ( ) with MS equivalent to be submitted during first semester.
( ) without Scholarship
( ) with Scholarship
( ) with Scholarship*While all students must complete the credit hour and their project, thesis or dissertation requirements for graduation, students may may petition their support group and mentors to substitute transfer courses completed at outside institutions, or documented life experience, for parallel prescribed course work in the IGE courses. For approval, students document their strategy and ability to introduce NSTP into these experiences and courses in order to make these substitutions.
Step Three
2. Call Dr. Cohen anytime and further explore your goals, including the amount of scholarship funding you need, if any, and if the program and you are right for each other. 360-378-6313.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Certificate Program
After submitting the Application Form form and $740 Application fee ($640-refundable if not accepted) and being accepted to the program, you proceed with the program by taking the Orientation Course using the accompanying textbooks as this produces the greatest learning and preparation for future use. Again, this saves $400-600 because it will include book and course costs that might otherwise be extra.
The Degree Program Application Form contains a petition for the amount of funding assistance you will need based on sections 1-8 above. It also includes a 400 word statement of the attractions you find (things you were attracted to and why) in the required activities and readings and in visiting the IGE website. In this statement Tell us why you want to be admitted to the program and your intentions at this time.
On the Degree Application form you will find 4 major categories. Utilize the one that fits you as follows.
1. Standard Application, no scholarship requested:
Degree Program: After submitting theApplication Form form and $740 Application fee ($640-refundable) and being accepted to the program, you proceed with the program upon completing payment of your first semester or certificate level. The Orientation Course is taken using the accompanying textbooks as this produces the greatest learning and preparation for future use.
Certificate Program Alone After submitting the Application Form form and $740 Application fee ($640-refundable if not accepted) and being accepted to the program, you proceed with the program by taking the Orientation Course using the accompanying textbooks as this produces the greatest learning and preparation for future use.
2. Degree Application With Scholarship
After submitting the application form and a $740 Application fee ($640-refundable if not accepted) and being accepted to the program, the Orientation Course is taken. The $740 includes: payment for the Orientation Course and its books and materials, Application Fees, ECO 503, ECO 508, and entrance into the Graduate Student Cooperative. This $740 is payment in part of your total tuition due after scholarship funds are allocated.3. Application with Equivalency Degree Waiver.
Same as 1 or 2 above except you must be doing well in, or have completed the Orientation Course before finalizing your application. This is to assure you and IGE that you have the capacity to do the coursework at your degree level.
4. ORIENTATION COURSE INFO: If you want to take the Orientation Course for information alone or use elsewhere.
Submit the Orientation Course Application Form and the appropriate Application fee (non-refundable). Course Accreditation, optional, is an additional $42Course without optional study materials $35
Course with optional study materials $55-$125Email and postal mail the Degree program and Application Form which includes the Scholarship Application.
B. COOPERATIVE PARTICIPATION AFTER ADMISSION
Once you are accepted into the program you will receive and complete an IGE Graduate Student Cooperative Contract form. Complete the Student Cooperative application and submit it along with your first semester's minimum tuition payment. Await your email address for the Professional Group of Past Students and your assignment to your Graduate Student Cooperative support and study group This latter group will help you set up your personal web page and intergroup communication addresses. From this point on, most questions about your program should first be directed to your study group. If you find answers to them elsewhere, share these answers with the group to increase its ability to help others in this regard. It will connect you with the Cooperative and two email forms that you will use throughout your program:
Payment Contract Form
Course/Schedule/Project petition and contract form.
C. ORIENTATION COURSE Schedule yourself into a section of the Orientation Course via the Orientation Course Application. Begin with the Prerequisites and Course Instructions at your earliest convenience as you will help guide the course. This is fundamental as it pertains to all your course work and relationships in the IGE program. This course precedes any other IGE course you take. It may also have non-degree program participants taking it with you.
NOTE: At this time you will be welcomed into four different email mailing lists. Try not to get them confused with each other. Each is for a group that helps you cooperatively operate in, and supports, a specific part of the total program as follows:
1. Your personal guide/mentor/support group
of about six students and faculty that help answer and find answers to questions. They also peer review and approve your schedule and coursework, and you their's, including assigning grades to papers or projects. Use the Petition Contract Form with this group.
From this point on, most questions about your program should first be directed to your study group. If you find answers to them elsewhere, share these answers with the group to increase its ability to help others in this regard.2. The GWSG Graduate Student Cooperative
consisting of all the faculty and students presently active in the program. Newsletter, updates and formation of course study groups takes place through this list.3. The Professional NatureConnect List
that includes the GWSG list (2) as well as all program graduates and other professionals who are using NSTP and helping to support and guide the program.4. Your Orientation Course affinity group.
These are the 4-6 students who are taking the Orientation Course with you. Once this course is completed this list membership may change as you take additional courses with other students.5. An optional discussion group list is also available
Step Three:
Complete the Orientation Course and your Degree/Certificate Application including your first semester or certificate level tuition payment if you have not already done so. Use the Payment Contract form for all tuition payments when possible.
Upon completion of the Orientation Course you will have experienced the tool and core process, tone and spirit of the degree and certification programs at IGE. As demonstrated by past degree recipients, by participating in the IGE program and courses as you did on the Orientation Course, you will continue to enjoy and learn from the high road and quality that leads to successful completion of your degree and professional future.
Make arrangements to Co-Facilitate the Orientation Course as part of your training and requirements in the ECO 501 course that follows the course.
Work out your first semester course schedule and before committing to each semester or new course first get suggestions and approval for it from your support group (1). 9. Read, or have read, the the Certificate, and Master's or Doctoral program descriptions. Share your degree program plans with course members and obtain approval and evaluation from the Orientation Course participants and facilitator for you to continue with the degree program.
Follow Tuition Information for details about remaining tuition payments.
If you carefully study and follow these steps , get approval from your cooperative support group for each one before you take a step, and document what you have done once you finish it, you will successfully and enjoyably complete your program
11. The Prior Learning factor: The actual time needed to complete a course depends upon the number of hours of prior learning that you want to bring into a course. To integrate each prior learning petition contract, in a three page paper, you explain how and why you would apply NSTP to that specific learning and describe one or more examples of where you did this and its results.
Prior learning may not be applied to core courses with the exception of ECO 503, ECO 504, ECO 522.Over time, with your study group and mentor's approval identify which, if any, previous experiences you want to substitute for some of your course work in courses that permit substitutions (see MS or Ph.D courses). The pages below will be helpful in this regard. Be sure that you are sure you know how to introduce NSTP into these situations as that is how you will be representing yourself to the evaluator of your comprehensive exams, your thesis or dissertation committee and the public.
- Bachelors Equivalency how to document educational equivalent undergraduate experiences.
- Masters Equivalent Education Waiver how to document educational equivalent Master's level experiences
- Course work Equivalency and Transfer to replace course requirements already met elsewhere.
Request permission from you guide group to follow the courses and sequence
Begin taking courses in the curriculum to the best of your ability and at an efficient pace. Be sure to use the proper sequence where indicated by the stated prerequisites for the course. Please bring questions that arise to your support group as well as respond, to the questions of others in the group. You may always find additional answers through the faculty and/or by writing the total cooperative.
From this point on you make all your course arrangements with your support group, guides and mentors. This is officially done through two online forms
Contract form for approved coursework, internships, equivalency determinations and most anything else: http://www.ecopsych.com/iupsformcontract.html
Payment form for tuition or other payments: http://www.ecopsych.com/iupsformpay.html
These forms may later be used to validate that you have met the requirements of the program so be sure to use and save them.
Never drop out of a course without the consent of its participants as the experiences you and they have are a course textbook you all share and learn from. Dropouts can destroy a course for others.
Individual reading and project or internship courses may be taken concurrently with online interaction courses once you complete EC0 500 and ECO 501.
Be sure to inform your study/support group of your course entry plans and obtain their advice about them.
Upon completing a course make sure you make note of the date and obtain and register your grade for it with your study group and on your website. In that way it enters the IGE archives for use at a later time.
Networking:
The IGE Graduate Student Cooperative Degree Program is designed to make the Natural Systems Thinking Process science available to you and the public through "we do it together" cooperative functions that lead to reduced costs. Each course and experience enhances you and the Cooperative by sharing information and support with a network of Co-op members and their contacts. This practice emulates the web of life and is as much a part of your degree program as is any other part.
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INSTITUTE OF GLOBAL EDUCATION Special NGO consultant United Nations Economic and Social Council
PROJECT NATURECONNECT
Readily available, online, natural science tools
for the health of person, planet and spiritP.O. Box 1605, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-6313 <email> www.ecopsych.com
ORGANIC ADVANCED ECOPSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION
The Natural Systems Thinking Process
Dr. Michael J. Cohen, Director
send email
All programs start with the Orientation Course contained in the book
The Web of Life Imperative.
.
