During this intensive programme learners pursue a series of courses which help them build a strong foundation in the various aspects of the integral thought and vision of Sri Aurobindo. A 7-day personal contact period is also included. Students also complete an appropriate research methods course, and submit a final research paper as part of the programme requirements.
Towards the end of the programme, the student makes a formal presentation of his or her completed research paper at SACAR. Guidance is provided for this presentation. For foreign applicants, we generally suggest appropriate alternatives for this final presentation (they may email at sacaroffice@gmail.com for details).
Important note for August 2010 candidates for PGD, MA, M.Phil & PhD programmes
7-day PCP will be held at SACAR, Pondicherry from August 1 - August 6, 2010 Oct 4-10, 2010
Foreign applicants, please email at sacaroffice@gmail.com for details
- 18 months for full-time students
- 3 (three) years for half-time students
- Maximum time allowed to complete the programme: Three (3) years
PROGRAMME COURSE WORK(Total credits = 52)
Compulsory Courses (credits are in parenthesis)
7-Day Personal Contact Period at SACAR (4)
Sri Aurobindo and His Essential Thought (4)
Research Methods in Philosophy and Transpersonal Inquiry (6) OR Qualitative Research Methods for Education (6)
Presentation & Submission of thesis at SACAR (6)
Elective Select 4 (all these courses may not be offered every semester)
Foundations of Indian Culture (8)
Principles of Integral Education (8)
The Philosophy of Evolution of Consciousness (8)
The Vision of the Future (8)
The Rhythm of Social Development (8)
Towards Human Unity (8)
The Psychology of Yoga (8)
Poetry of the Future (8)
Research Phase (6)
Preparation, Submission and Approval of Research Proposal
Research and Dissertation Development
Submission of Completed Draft
Viva, Revision of Dissertation and Final Submission
Important Note:
Independent Study options are also available for M.Phil students. This allows students to somewhat individualise the coursework according to their interests. The student supervisor along with other faculty at SACAR will make the final approval of any such independent study options. Independent Study courses may be taken for 2 to 8 credits.
In selected cases, the course titled Sri Aurobindo and His Essential Thought may be waived for some students. Such decision will be made by SACAR Director. In these cases, the student may choose an independent study course for equivalent number of credits.
Based on the review of student’s writing ability, Academic Writing course may also be required for some M.Phil students. Such decision will be made by SACAR Director.
Personal Contact Programmee (PCP)
While most of the course facilitation and instruction happens online, the programme also includes one 7-day visit to SACAR campus. This personal contact period is scheduled at the beginning of the programme. During this time, learners work closely with facilitators in Pondicherry and participate in different academic activities organized at SACAR. These may include lectures, discussions, preparing projects and conducting other research work in consultation with SACAR faculty. They are also given demonstration and hands-on training for the online learning system used for the programme. Additionally, learners benefit immensely by experiencing and absorbing the spiritual atmosphere of Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville.
Sri Aurobindo and his Essential Thought
This course introduces the learner to some of the key details of the outer life and personality of
Sri Aurobindo. Learners also learn about his spiritual collaborator, the Mother, and gain a brief overview of their vision and work. Through the selected readings learners are exposed to the multiple facets of Sri Aurobindo as a political revolutionary, nationalist and globalist, philosopher, social thinker, psychologist, yogi and a poet. They also write a short paper on any one particular facet of
Sri Aurobindo and his work in that area.
Research Methods in Philosophy and Transpersonal Inquiry
This course examines research methods in two related areas pertinent to Sri Aurobindo Studies: philosophy and transpersonal psychology. The first half of the course focuses on research in philosophy, and the second half on research in transpersonal psychology. In addition to research, the first half will also cover basic issues in the writing of papers in philosophy. Other aspects of research in philosophy covered include types of research topics in philosophy, principles of selecting a topic for research, stages in the execution of a research project, collection and organization of data, and presentation of results. Types of research methods in transpersonal psychology covered include Integral Inquiry, Intuitive Inquiry, Phenomenological Inquiry, Organic Research, and approaches to the study of Exceptional Human Experience. The validity of research findings and ethical considerations are also examined.
Qualitative Research Methods for Education
This course helps students become familiar with qualitative research paradigm including methodologies and practical approaches for conducting qualitative inquiry. Emphasis will be given to those methodologies that are more relevant for practitioners. Through the experiential component of the course students will gain practice in narrowing down their research focus, selecting an appropriate methodology, and designing and conducting a small practice research project. Throughout the course, emphasis will be given to research designs, methods, and writing styles that are more meaningful and valid for practitioner research.
Foundations of Indian Culture
This course will provide a broad overview of spiritual foundations of Indian culture from its ancient times to contemporary scenario. The learners will also have an opportunity to engage in cross-cultural study and analysis. In addition to the main text, Sri Aurobindo’s Foundations of Indian Culture, the course material also includes several articles and selections from other relevant books.
Principles of Integral Education
This course covers the basics of Integral Education as developed by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. This educational philosophy and approach aims to develop the whole person, including the spiritual part, by bringing out what is latent in the being and seeking to emerge. Thus, it is a learner-centered approach, grounded in the individual student's unique personality, capacities, and style and rhythm of progress. The focus of this course is on the nature and training of the spiritual, psychic, mental, vital, and physical parts of the being. Towards the latter part of the course, the student will also learn briefly about the educational philosophies of some other Indian and contemporary Western thinkers more for developing a broader understanding and appreciation of holistic approaches to education as emerging from within Indian thought.
The Philosophy of Evolution of Consciousness
India has been a perennial source of spiritual philosophy wherein the experiences of the Reality, the World and Man have been analysed in a systematic manner. The different views, be they epistemological or dialectical, or cosmological, have had their own deep impact on the ideals and goals of an individual’s life upon earth.
The present course, while taking a cursory interest in the evolution of spiritual thought in Indian Philosophy, focuses upon Sri Aurobindo’s integral world-view and his integral Advaitism. What is of equal importance is his vision of individual and cosmic evolution and his faith in the higher destiny of man culminating in the descent of a supramental race. His views are at the same time essentially modern and synthetic in nature giving solutions to the present predicament of man.
The Vision of the Future
Sri Aurobindo is a bridge between the Vedantic ideals of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and the future evolutionary promise of a Supramental race. Hence his vision of the future comprehends the evolution the individual who would fulfil himself in an integrally transformed being; the evolution of the society culminating in a new Spiritual age; the evolution of the nations ending in a world unity based on the religion of humanity; the evolution of the human species concluding in a new race called the Supramental race.
This unique vision as seen by Sri Aurobindo has no parallels in human history. He has not only envisioned it but has poured all his spiritual force into the realisation of it. This course would guide the student in this adventure of human consciousness which promises to travel from the human to the divine.
The Rhythm of Social Development
This course provides students with an introductory knowledge of Sri Aurobindo’s theory of social development in the context of other theories, with a view towards understanding their application in today’s world. Learners will examine the theory in terms of self-understanding and how his concepts may be applied in the contemporary world.
Towards Human Unity
This course examines Sri Aurobindo’s theory of the evolution of political groupings of mankind that are leading towards the unification of the human peoples. It examines the relation of the individual and group in the historical development of societies, the problems of liberty and uniformity, the possibilities and problems of a world-government, and the necessity and possibilities of a free grouping of mankind. In considering recent political events and developments, it will examine the views of other social and political commentators and activists in international peace.
The Psychology of Yoga
The course will cover basic principles and important elements from each of four main branches of the Integral Yoga: the Yoga of Divine Works, the Yoga of Integral Knowledge, the Yoga of Divine Love, and the Yoga of Self-Perfection. In addition, the course will examine a selection of letters and conversations about yogic attitudes towards life, oneself, other people, work, difficulties, and spiritual practice.
Poetry of the Future
This course introduces the learner to the basic principles of prosody, Sri Aurobindo’s theory of the future poetry, and his correspondence relating to his own poetry and that of others. It focuses on the nature of spiritual poetry that is inspired by higher levels of consciousness, and the various characteristics and signs of inspired poetry. It will also examine a selection of his and others’ poetry in light of these basic principles and theory.
METHODOLOGY FOR RESEARCH PHASE
Important: Before proceeding to this stage, the student must have successfully completed the required Research Methods course and also the required coursework in the field of Sri Aurobindo Studies offered by SACAR.
Preparation, Submission and Approval of Research Proposal
a) Research Proposal:
The student works independently with his or her guide who provides necessary guidance for beginning work on the research proposal. As part of these discussions the students are asked to present their ideas for their M.Phil research project. The student works closely with the guide and completes a 4000-word proposal (approximately 15-20-double-space pages). This should also include a literature review that is relevant to the research topic. Necessary guidelines for proposal preparation and submission are provided by the SACAR guide.
b) Proposal Approval:
The guide reviews the proposal and offers guidance and suggestions to the student. If no re-write is necessary, the guide writes a narrative evaluation thereby approving the proposal. In cases where the student is asked to make major revisions and re-submit the proposal, the guide gives clear deadlines to the learner so that the final approval can be granted.
Research and Dissertation Development
The student begins the research into approved topic and commences the development and writing of a dissertation in consultation with the guide. The student submits a completed draft of the dissertation to the committee/ guide for review in the following semester.
The dissertation draft should be somewhere between 25,000-50,000 words (approximately 70-100 double-space pages) and should represent a significant contribution to the field, and not merely restate the writings and ideas of other authors. The M.Phil dissertation must be an original work demonstrating the candidate's ability to do independent research in the selected area/topic covering vast existing primary sources and other secondary literature relevant to the field of specialisation. The completed dissertation must be “defended” during an oral viva examination to be held during the last semester of the programme. Additional guidance for dissertation preparation and formatting is provided by the guide.
Viva, Revision of Dissertation and Final Submission
a) Viva Examination:
At an appropriate time to be determined by the student and programme guide, the student appears for an oral examination (viva) as part of the dissertation review process. During this examination the student briefly presents his or her research and addresses the questions posed by the Expert Committee formed for the purpose by the consent of SOITS/IGNOU. The committee may also offer suggestions for revisions to the dissertation. The viva is conducted on SACAR campus preferably.
b)
Revision and Submission of Final Dissertation:
After the viva the student makes revisions to the dissertation based on the Expert committee’s recommendations. Final formatting of the manuscript is also completed during this time. The revised dissertation, after the guide has reviewed and approved the final copy, is submitted to SOITS/IGNOU with a recommendation for the award of M.Phil degree to the student.
