Fariba Bogzaran
Dream Studies
In 1995, I accepted an teaching appointment at John F. Kennedy University (JFKU) in the Graduate School of Holistic Studies. In my interview for the position I announced my vision that I was interested in developing Dream Studies program and the Dean of the School, David Goldberg, was very supportive. Of course I had gained the trust of the institution for six years as an adjunct faculty teaching many courses on psychology, dreams and art. But creating a new program with no history was certainly challenging. At this time, I closed my private practice and put all my energy into the creation of the dream studies program.
The proposal for the dream studies program took several months to develop. I never forget what went through my mind while walking to the Academic Standards meeting with the dream studies proposal in my hand. What could I say to defend dreams in an academic setting? How could I convince the faculty and the chairs of different departments that dreams belong to interdisciplinary studies? How would I voice the importance of this field so that we could defend it with our accreditation Board? How would I take the step toward making dream studies a field amongst the other established disciplines? I had a major task at hand and my only guide and support was my strong conviction that dream awareness is one of the essential steps to discovering our full potential as human beings and its study was essential in the development of human consciousness.
Developing a program in an academic institution is not an easy task. Every step towards the creation
The proposal for the dream studies program took several months to develop. I never forget what went through my mind while walking to the Academic Standards meeting with the dream studies proposal in my hand. What could I say to defend dreams in an academic setting? How could I convince the faculty and the chairs of different departments that dreams belong to interdisciplinary studies? How would I voice the importance of this field so that we could defend it with our accreditation Board? How would I take the step toward making dream studies a field amongst the other established disciplines? I had a major task at hand and my only guide and support was my strong conviction that dream awareness is one of the essential steps to discovering our full potential as human beings and its study was essential in the development of human consciousness.
Developing a program in an academic institution is not an easy task. Every step towards the creation
of this program had to go through several committees to be approved. This process can take months or sometimes years. I spoke often with Mena Potts at the Union Graduate School about the development
of their Ph.D. program on dreams. To have her program was a great support while at the same time I
was proposing an on-site (classroom) program that had different implications.
The development of this program had an organic beginning with offering one course on dreams "Theory
The development of this program had an organic beginning with offering one course on dreams "Theory
and Practice of Dreams" in 1990 and then growing as I proposed other courses on dreams. The program
first began as a concentration within the Department of Interdisciplinary Consciousness in 1996 and then became an independent program in the fall of 2000. To keep the interdisciplinary nature of the program,
first began as a concentration within the Department of Interdisciplinary Consciousness in 1996 and then became an independent program in the fall of 2000. To keep the interdisciplinary nature of the program,
core courses on dreams were developed with different tracks under the programs in integral psychology, consciousness studies, holistic health and art. Therefore the certificate program's 36 units is cognitively,
experientially and experimentally oriented and has a holistic model of viewing, and working with dreams.
One of the major aspects of developing an educational program within an accredited institution is the creation of a solid professional library. Knowing the importance of this pillar I began working on the
library collection when I taught the first course at JFKU in 1989. At that time, they had only a hand full of books on dreams whereas they now have one of the most extensive collections of books and journals
on dreams. . .
For me, the most meaningful part of this development has been to witness student's major life transformations as they go through the program and to see the harmonious community being created by having one common interest-dreams.
As for the dream movement? We have seen so many movements come and go. People go through phases of being interested in a topic, but the dream movement is here to stay as it has always been since the
ancient times. The difference at this time in history is that dream awareness is crawling into all different walks of lives and is demanding our attention by connecting us together. More and more people will discover that dreaming is an important and integral aspect of our lives and I know that more academic institutions will become open to acknowledge dream studies as a valid and important discipline in their educational systems.
As students of dream studies graduate, we will see more courses taught at colleges and high schools and we will see the creation of more dream centers all over the world. Dream awareness can helps us to
think metaphorically, and work through our habitual behavior. Dream awareness teaches us
the depth of our creative nature.
experientially and experimentally oriented and has a holistic model of viewing, and working with dreams.
One of the major aspects of developing an educational program within an accredited institution is the creation of a solid professional library. Knowing the importance of this pillar I began working on the
library collection when I taught the first course at JFKU in 1989. At that time, they had only a hand full of books on dreams whereas they now have one of the most extensive collections of books and journals
on dreams. . .
For me, the most meaningful part of this development has been to witness student's major life transformations as they go through the program and to see the harmonious community being created by having one common interest-dreams.
As for the dream movement? We have seen so many movements come and go. People go through phases of being interested in a topic, but the dream movement is here to stay as it has always been since the
ancient times. The difference at this time in history is that dream awareness is crawling into all different walks of lives and is demanding our attention by connecting us together. More and more people will discover that dreaming is an important and integral aspect of our lives and I know that more academic institutions will become open to acknowledge dream studies as a valid and important discipline in their educational systems.
As students of dream studies graduate, we will see more courses taught at colleges and high schools and we will see the creation of more dream centers all over the world. Dream awareness can helps us to
think metaphorically, and work through our habitual behavior. Dream awareness teaches us
the depth of our creative nature.
by Fariba Bogzaran, Ph.D.
(excerpt and edited)
(excerpt and edited)
Holistic Dream Studies in Academia - CON'T.
Dream Network, 2003 ©, Vol. 22, #1.
False Awakening. For detail see Art, One Night of Sleep.
Lucid Dreaming. For detail see Art,
One Night of Sleep
One Night of Sleep
REM, for detail see Art, One Night of Sleep
