Looking For Cryptozoology Courses?
Posted by: Loren Coleman on December 17th, 2008
The following, which is a special guest blog by Carolyn Ettinger, founder of the Central Virginia Cryptozoology Club, is a compilation of recent and historical information on cryptozoology courses. – LC
Since there seems to be so much interest both here and on many online blogs about courses in cryptozoology, I have compiled a comprehensive list based on my own research. This includes a section on current courses and degrees (including two new ones, one which begins in January 2009) and a section on past courses (e.g. perhaps these colleges would be amenable to bringing them back in the future). I’ll also keep this list ongoing at my own website, which will have updates and changes as they occur. I hope everyone finds this helpful! ~ Carolyn Ettinger
Cryptozoology — Current Courses or Degrees
Lambton College
Cryptozoology-(HDVA-017-0)
Start Date: January 28, 2009 (6 week course)
Indiana River State College
Anthropology and the Paranormal (ANT 2010)
Includes “Cryptozoology: Bigfoot, Loch Ness, and Other ‘Mysterious’ Beasts”
Institute of Metaphysics
Online correspondence course offering a BS, Masters, and Doctoral levels of study in cryptozoology.
Pangea Academy
Offers five online courses: Cryptozoology Basics, Famous & Infamous Florida Cryptids, Legendary Primates, Swamp Ape Practicum, and Jaguarundi Practicum.
Universal Class Online
Cryptozoology 101
Continuing Education Credit (1.0) Option.
**Please be advised that these may not be accredited institutions or courses. This information is provided as a service and should be checked with the institution for accuracy. Take at your own risk.
Cryptozoology — Past Courses
University of Southern Maine
Cryptozoology Course taught by Loren Coleman (1989) [The course was given for credit, as well as was a for-credit 90-minute lecture presentation too. From 1989-2003, within the COR 126 course I taught, entitled “The Documentary,” one-third of the content of the course was often cryptozoological. – LC]
Indiana University
Course: “Bigfoot, Yeti, Sasquatch: An Anthropological Perspective” (Year?)
University of Calgary
CSPG Palaeontology Division
Fri. April 19 (Year?), 7:30 pm, Mount Royal College, Room B108
Anthony P. Russell (U of C, Biological Sciences), “Cryptozoology, science and scientists: The case for and against Cadborosaurus”
Oberlin College
Cryptozoology – (2005)
Bates College
Cryptozoology Symposium (2005)
Florida Keys Community College
Cryptids in Myth, Legend & Folklore I (2005)
(This class may still be offered through the Pangea Academy).
UMASS at Amherst
Introduction to Cryptozoology (Fall 2006)
Stanford University
Dinosaurs, Sea Serpents and Abominable Snowmen: Unknown Animals in Modern History (HIST 40S) (2006)
University of Florida
Fantastic Anthropology and Fringe Science- ANG 5242, section 8056 (Fall 2006)
Flamel College Online
Cryptozoologist Certification (Currently Being Revised); Home Study Basic Course
**Please be advised that these may not be accredited institutions or courses. This information is provided as a service and should be checked with the institution for accuracy. Take at your own risk.
The ongoing website where this listing of courses will be updated is being maintained by Ms. Carolyn Ettinger.
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
Very interesting Loren,
Too Bad my college doesn’t offer any courses like this. I would be first to sign up!
thanks for the info
A doctorate in cryptozoology from the ‘Institute of Metaphysics’ sounds as useful as a Zimbabwean seven-pound note. Who would your supervisor be, and who would be the external assessor? Take at your own risk indeed.
I want to go to Ball State for college, but I seriously don’t think that they have a course on cryptozoology.
And as Greatanarch said, having a degree or doctorate in cryptozoology wouldn’t do much for you in real life, or help you get a job.
Getting a doctorate in biology or zoology would be much more helpful (in and outside the subject of cryptozoology) and would give you something to fall back on if you don’t catch bigfoot.
Addenda:
As of this writing, Florida Keys Community College will be offering a class in “Legendary Bipedal Hairy Primates in Art History I” during the spring term of 2009.
It is also expected that, assuming enough students sign up for the class, that there will be a “Cryptozoology Basics” course at FKCC as well.
Both courses will be taught online and students taking the programs do not need to enroll as students at FKCC to register for the classes.
There have also been numerous inquiries about a Cryptozoology Field Study. This offering is being considered and will likely be part of the Pangea Academy’s spring term offerings for 2009.
Thanks scmarlowe–this is great information and I will add it to the ongoing curriculum updates on my site!
cryptocarolyn and others, you may also want to note that the Pangea Academy has a feature where people can suggest courses to be included in future curricula.
Once a student account is created (i.e. a person logs into the website as a member) they can click on the “Requested Courses” link located on the right hand side of the home page under “Course Categories” and enter their course request.
Their suggestion will be evaluated by our faculty and included in our offerings if there is enough demand (and a qualified instructor is available). Typically, we will run with a class if at least 4 or 5 students want to enroll.
FKCC requires a minimum of 8 to 10 students for a class to be a “go” for the semester and the class request procedure is a bit more complex. In that case, it’s best for prospective students to contact me so that I can prepare a syllabus for proposed curricula and “get the ball rolling.”
Incidently, both the Pangea Academy and Florida Keys Community College offer Certificates of Completion for these courses.
Very interesting. But it would also be interesting to see what is offered in other countries. A global or international database of cryptozoological course content…