Ph.D. in Integral Noetic Sciences
A rigorous doctoral pathway for original research into consciousness and the nature of reality.
The Ph.D. in Integral Noetic Sciences is a 94-quarter-unit doctoral program for students seeking advanced scholarly study at the intersection of integrative metatheory, consciousness studies, philosophy of science, contemplative traditions, and esoteric inquiry.
The program provides advanced coursework in spiritual, esoteric, and contemplative practices; relevant mixed methods research; and opportunities to deepen the student’s understanding of the discipline through INS electives and coursework from CIHS’s other programs.
Program at a Glance
A one-of-a-kind doctoral program built for advanced noetic inquiry.
The Ph.D. combines advanced coursework, doctoral-level research training, distinguished faculty, and access to CIHS’s unique research culture for students ready to make an original contribution to the field.
Advanced Research-Oriented Program
Develop original doctoral research at the intersection of consciousness studies, integrative metatheory, philosophy of science, contemplative traditions, esoteric inquiry, and noetic sciences.
World-Class Faculty
Study with scholars, researchers, and practitioners shaping the fields of integral theory, noetic sciences, parapsychology, esoteric traditions, psychedelics, consciousness studies, and transdisciplinary inquiry. Meet the INS faculty.
Accessible Online Format
The program is designed for distance students, with optional in-person retreats, workshops, and research opportunities at the CIHS campus in Encinitas, California.
Master’s Degree Required
Applicants should hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in a related field. Admission is subject to transcript review and may be subject to additional prerequisites.
Research Labs & Centers
Students have access to CIHS’s labs and research centers, including the Laboratory for Consciousness Science, Subtle Energy Research Laboratories, and one of the largest Faraday cages in the region.
Optional INS Retreats
Students may participate in optional in-person INS retreats and research gatherings on the CIHS campus in Encinitas, California. The next INS retreat is planned for September 2026.
Degree Requirements & Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Ph.D. program will be prepared to:
- PLO 1: Education Evaluate the strengths and limits of multiple contemplative and esoteric spiritual traditions in their various socio-political and historical contexts.
- PLO 2: Self-awareness Generate self-awareness of personal development and positionality and critical self-reflection about one’s own worldview, personality, and biography.
- PLO 3: Research Develop new views and integrative models of reality through the application of innovative first-, second-, and third-person methods.
- PLO 4: Models of Reality Appraise the transdisciplinary and scientific links between consciousness, subtle energy, and matter.
- PLO 5: Leadership Assess the leadership opportunities of various INS topics within ethical, global, and cosmological contexts.
Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. includes core coursework, elective study, advancement to candidacy, and a dissertation sequence.
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Curriculum
Advanced doctoral coursework and dissertation research.
Students complete doctoral core coursework, advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods, contemplative and esoteric traditions, metacrises, electives, and a dissertation sequence designed to support original scholarship in Integral Noetic Sciences.
Core Curriculum
Required coursework and dissertation sequence.
- INS 700 Academic Writing Within the Human Sciences (4 units)
- INS 701 Foundations in Integral Studies (4 units)
- INS 702 Consciousness Studies (4 units)
- INS 703 Counseling & Communication Skills* (4 units)
- INS 704 Spiritual Education — several options available (4 units)
- INS 705 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods (4 units)Prerequisite: INS 613 Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods or equivalent course from an accredited institution.
- INS 706 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods (4 units)Prerequisite: INS 613 Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods or equivalent course from an accredited institution.
- INS 715 Global Religions: Contemplative Traditions (4 units)
- INS 718 Global Religions: Esoteric Traditions (4 units)
- INS 730 Metacrises (4 units)
- INS 896 Dissertation Topic Research (5 units)Prerequisite: completion of all core and elective coursework.
- INS 897 Dissertation Methodology Review (5 units)Prerequisite: INS 896 Dissertation Topic Research.
- INS 898A Dissertation I (6 units)Prerequisite: INS 897 Dissertation Methodology Review.
- INS 898B Dissertation II (6 units)Prerequisite: INS 898A Dissertation I.
*INS 703 may also be satisfied with INS 645 Integral Spiritual Coaching.
Sample Elective Courses
Choose electives that support your doctoral inquiry.
- INS 720 Shamanism and Indigenous Religions (4 units)
- INS 723 Buddhism (4 units)
- INS 724 Christian Mysticism (4 units)
- INS 725 Islam (4 units)
- INS 726 Judaism (4 units)
- INS 727 Hinduism (4 units)
- INS 728 Taoism (4 units)
- INS 731 Integrative Metatheories: Wilber, Morin, & Bhaskar (4 units)
- INS 732 Wisdom Design (4 units)
- INS 752 Subtle Energy Systems I; Bodies & Chakras (4 units)
- INS 753 Subtle Energy Systems II: Beings & Worlds (4 units)
- INS 754 Anomalous Research Practicum (2 units)
- INS 755 The Phenomenology of UAP (4 units)
- INS 756 Plant & Animal Consciousness (4 units)
- INS 757 Varieties of Nonduality (4 units)
- INS 758 Varieties of Anomalous Experience (4 units)
- INS 759 Designing & Leading Integral Organizations & Businesses (4 units)
- INS 760 Adult Development & Integral Leadership (4 units)
- INS 767 Exopsychology (4 units)
- INS 768 Integral Leadership in Action (4 units)
- INS 769 Contemplative Science (4 units)
- INS 770 AI and Consciousness (4 units)
- INS 799 Independent Study (4 units)
Optional Concentrations
Focus your Ph.D. around a specialized area of inquiry.
Students may complete the general Ph.D. curriculum or use elective coursework to pursue an optional concentration. Current concentration pathways include Anomalous Studies, Parapsychology, Psychedelics, Consciousness & Transformation, UAP & Consciousness Studies, Wisdom Design, or an Individually Designed Concentration.
Anomalous Studies
Explore extraordinary experiences, anomalous phenomena, and their implications for consciousness and reality.
Parapsychology
Study exceptional human experiences and capacities such as telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, precognition, healing, and survival research.
Psychedelics, Consciousness & Transformation
Engage non-ordinary states, transformation, healing, self-transcendence, and the ethical integration of psychedelic studies.
UAP & Consciousness Studies
Investigate UAP through first-person, second-person, and third-person approaches to consciousness, culture, science, and society.
Wisdom Design
Design wisdom systems for organizations, social innovation, wellbeing economics, and complex systems transformation.
Individually Designed Concentration
Create a customized course of study with faculty guidance around a focused research or professional interest.
Admissions
How to apply.
The CIHS admissions process is designed to be clear, personal, and program-specific. You can begin by requesting information, speaking with Admissions, or starting an online application when you are ready.
A clear path from inquiry to application.
Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree, or foreign equivalent, from a regionally accredited institution. Admission is subject to transcript review and may be subject to additional prerequisites depending on prior academic preparation.
Application Materials
To apply, applicants submit materials through the CIHS online application process.
- Completed online application
- Non-refundable application fee
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal essay describing your interest in CIHS and the program
- Current CV or resume, if applicable
- Representative academic or professional writing sample
Next Program Start Date
Fall 2026CIHS admits students throughout the year, with program starts available at the beginning of each academic quarter. We recommend beginning the admissions process early so there is time to review materials, answer questions, and prepare for the next available start date.
Faculty-Guided Application Process
CIHS admissions is not an anonymous pipeline. Prospective students may connect with admissions staff and program leadership who understand the field of study and can offer thoughtful guidance about readiness, timing, program expectations, and next steps.
State Authorization for U.S. Residents
U.S.-based distance students must reside in a state where CIHS is authorized to offer distance education. Please review CIHS’s State Authorization information or contact Admissions for the most current guidance before applying.
International Applicants Welcome
Applicants living outside the United States are welcome. CIHS works with students from many backgrounds and locations, and our admissions team can help applicants understand transcript review, program format, and documentation requirements.
Students whose native language is not English must submit a satisfactory English proficiency score through an approved test such as IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge CEFR, Duolingo, or Pearson Test of English Academic.
DR. ARTHUR SUN
“CIHS is the best graduate school. I love the emphasis on scientific rigor and spirituality, and the integration of personal growth in each class. The professors are amazing and the administration is committed to the success and growth of each student. CIHS is an integral school that encourages multiple perspectives. If you want to grow not just academically but personally and spiritually, as well, come check out CIHS.”
CHRIS ORREY
“Receiving higher education from an institute such as CIHS was the most transformative journey of my life. Academic rigor paired with spiritual awakening, psychological healing, and professional development put me through the wringer. I had never felt more complete, whole, and connected to the higher truths that I had never known I already knew. At the same time, my entire worldview was shaken and flipped upside down. I have come to see life, existence, and the perception of the physical world in an entirely new way. I have come to understand, witness and meet the force of nature that underlies human consciousness, that is to the extent of my own pscyho-spiritual evolution.”
FRANCESCA PARETTA
“CIHS has provided me with opportunities to understand psychology in a grounded scientific way, simultaneously exploring life, healing, and consciousness. CIHS is an ideal setting for those who are motivated to contribute to the evolution and progression of academic engagement, experiential learning, and research, and an equally supportive environment for healing practitioners seeking to deepen their skills and add to their credentials, where a multitude of perspectives are accepted and integrated, from wisdom traditions, to clinical understandings, to transpersonal awareness and beyond.”
MICHAEL SCOTT
“CIHS has been an incredible experience so far, both academically and personally. I have found a “home” here where I can study consciousness and subtle energy in ways I couldn’t at previous graduate institutions. The students, faculty, and administration are amazing and have such diverse backgrounds and interests. I can’t wait to see how the school continues to evolve and grow!.”
LAUREN HICKEY
“I am so pleased with my recent PhD from CIHS. Nowhere else could I have achieved such a blended education of psychology, spirituality, and consciousness. The instructors were all well qualified and knowledgeable and assignments were reasonable. CIHS gave me the confidence I needed to expand my private practice. I also have now begun running international retreats. I feel well prepared to present myself as an expert in the field.”