About UPR

UPR is the formal University of the Philosophical Research Society.

The University of Philosophical Research emerged from, and is a DBA of, the Philosophical Research Society, a nonprofit organization founded in 1934 by Manly Palmer Hall for the purpose of providing thoughtful persons rare access to the depth and breadth of the world’s wisdom literature. Its mission, as stated in its original articles, was to provide education related to the study of human consciousness in the context of the disciplines of philosophy, religion, psychology and the sciences. It did so through lectures, publications and correspondence courses for many decades.

In 1998 President Dr. Obadiah Harris undertook to formalize the Society’s many educational offerings into an accredited formal University. He began selecting a faculty and building an academic program with them suitable for graduate level studies in Consciousness Studies.

In July of 2000 the State of California approved the University of Philosophical Research to issue a Master of Arts Degree in Consciousness Studies. Since that time the Philosophical Research Society has been doing business as The University of Philosophical Research.

In January 2003 the State of California approved the university’s second Master of Arts Degree Program, in Transformational Psychology.

Both programs have been offered in distance learning formats, which include recorded lecture, related reading and e-mail exchanges with course professors and teleconference discussion classrooms.

The University is now nationally accredited by the DETC and is dedicated to creating the best possible distance learning experience so that it can serve a diverse global student body as it grows.

Institution Ethics:

. Inclusiveness — UPR looks to include wisdom from its every source and to make it accessible to all who value it.

. Non-advocacy — UPR is not partisan nor does it endorse any particular tradition or personality.

. Freedom — UPR considers the quiet urging of each heart and the contemplations of each mind to be the proper personal guide in the process of self-discovery. Each person is urged to freely compare and reference the natural knowing of their own heart and mind with the finest expressions of humanity’s deepest insights. We expect that this educational process will create an internal resonance with those insights which will best lead each person on his or her unique path of learning and discovery.

. A Community of Discovery — UPR aims to foster an educational community characterized by stimulating and good spirited interaction. UPR stresses tolerance of other points of view and hopes to impart a general love and respect for the wisdom traditions that have emerged from diverse cultures. UPR believes that this ‘love of wisdom’ should be extended to the growing body of scientific knowledge that students need to pursue and integrate into the ever-evolving understanding of the nature of reality.