Doctoral Degrees Awarded by the
University of Sedona

Graduates in Action Worldwide Program

What Can I Do With My Metaphysical Degree?: Graduates in Action (Worldwide) for examples of the various and diverse services our participating graduates are providing with the credentials they have earned through our university system.

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Doctoral Degrees Descriptions

A Ph.D. is a highly recognized title to display on your resume, business card, website, or book cover. The University of Sedona has 17 Ph.D. degree specialties from which to choose.

Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D.

Ph.D. Specializing in Ancestral Healing:

This degree addresses the vital issue of remediating deeply embedded ancestral trauma, whether it be societal, for one’s immediate family, or individual clients. Practitioners with this degree help identify and heal wounds passed on from generation to generation and prevent the creation of these debilitating, stagnant energy imprints for future generations. The deep emotional scars of one’s ancestors, as well as generational patterns of negative or misguided thinking, can prevent individuals, families, and entire cultural groups from receiving and enjoying the prosperity, peace, mental clarity, joy, intuition, and creative gifts that are their birthright. Through one-on-one counseling, lectures, workshops, and books, a practitioner with this degree can help clients uncover generational patterns and hidden belief systems that hold them back and utilize meta-physical modalities to transcend them and move forward.

Ph.D. Specializing in Bible Interpretation:

This degree is chosen by those wishing to specialize in researching, teaching, and writing about biblical symbolism to uncover spiritual truths for spiritual reawakening and life improvement from a metaphysical or mystical perspective. To earn this degree, the student will study word definition, usage, context, historical background, logic, precedent, and inference relating to biblical interpretations. This degree is more philosophical and academic in nature than the Doctor of Divinity in Bible Interpretation, which targets ministry

Ph.D. Specializing in Conscious-Centered Living:

This degree focuses on bringing Higher Consciousness, or God’s Inner Presence, into every aspect and every moment of one’s life and helping others do the same through spiritual counseling or by example. Through metaphysical practices and God-centered mindful awareness, individuals learn to identify the limiting behaviors, emotional reactions, and judgments of the ego, so they can choose words, thoughts, and actions based on mindful living and the loving influence of the all-powerful, ever-present Universal Mind. Conscious-centered living goes beyond asking, “What does God want me to do?” to actually knowing the highest spiritual path for every situation, every decision, and every deed––and characteristically acting accordingly. This degree specialty takes holistic life coaching and counseling to a higher level of spiritual evolution. Recipients of this degree frequently offer mindfulness classes or retreats, write books on conscious cognizance or Cosmic Consciousness, or use the knowledge and techniques gained as an adjunct to their current jobs, such as teachers helping students focus, remain calm, and improve their emotional disposition and grades through mindfulness and heart-centered awareness. 

Ph.D. Specializing in Conscious Business Ethics:

This degree is ideal for those who manage an organization, those who plan to or already are coaching others on best business practices and policies, those who operate their own healing or counseling center, and those who simply wish to improve the quality of their own work environment. Establishments with managers and employees who operate based on Higher Consciousness decision-making and actions, rather than ego-based behaviors, experience higher levels of success, a more satisfied workforce, growth, prosperity, and longevity. When companies practice mindful awareness, they do what is best for the whole by considering the impact of each choice on their staff, customers, suppliers, the environment, and the community. Leading by example, these mindful leaders ensure a strong foundation of intention, integrity, support, goodwill, and ethical behavior, which flourishes and establishes a business standard going forward. An individual with this degree would have the knowledge and skills to integrate these components into a company’s culture, mission, and day-to-day operations.

Ph.D. Specializing in Comparative Religion:

Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals, and concepts among the world’s religions and metaphysics. It is an ideal specialization for students wishing to research, teach, and write about the comparison of various religious teachings to the basic teachings of the IMM––where metaphysics has evolved into a dogma-free religious faith among many people. Anyone considering opening their own spiritual center or working at a nondenominal place of worship would do well with this degree, as such a person would engage with peoples of many faiths. Individuals with this degree might also write books or blogs, or speak on the original teachings of the world’s greatest religions and philosophies, which often spoke the same messages of love, truth, oneness, humankind’s innate abilities and power, and our personal relationship with our Creator. This awareness brings peace and harmony into the world.

Ph.D. Specializing in Holistic Life Coaching:

This type of coaching is based on a whole-person concept of working with the body, mind, and spirit to help clients reach specific goals. This is usually a one-on-one approach. A holistic life coach discusses what is happening in the client’s environment and the experiences of the client to help identify underlying and limiting beliefs to develop a metaphysical practice that works to meet the client’s objectives. Generally speaking, a coach works with someone on a specific goal and establishes the best route to achieve that goal, with emphasis on Universal Consciousness, or God’s Inner Presence for achievement.

Ph.D. Specializing in Holistic Life Counseling:

This means of counseling is based on working with the whole person––body, mind, and spirit. One-on-one counseling approaches and metaphysical techniques are used to help clients uncover past experiences and hidden belief systems currently impacting their lives and preventing them from enjoying the fruit of a successful life. This form of guidance involves the spiritual release of past negativity and harmonizing their physical, mental, and spiritual energies. This enables individuals to realize the inner transforming power of Universal Consciousness, or God Presence.

Ph.D. Specializing in Metaphysical Counseling:

Metaphysical counselors help clients discover the root cause of their limiting beliefs and develop strategies to change them, leading to increased prosperity, peace, love, wisdom, and health. Primarily done one-on-one, this holistic approach uses metaphysical tools for facilitating healing, such as dream interpretation, spirituality assessment and awareness, meditation, prayer, affirmative thinking, and other similar methods. Metaphysical counselors also facilitate spiritual awakening and connection to God, Source, All that Is, the Divine, Higher Power, or whatever one chooses to call one’s innate spiritual connection.

Ph.D. Specializing in Metaphysical Parapsychology:

Metaphysical parapsychology is a discipline that seeks to investigate the existence and causes of psychic abilities, near-death experiences, life after death, and other similar studies. Metaphysical parapsychology uses psychic mystical research as a means to greater spiritual truth and discoveries. Someone interested in this degree might delve into reincarnation, psychometry, telepathy, divination, channeling spirit, precognition, spirit guides, dream interpretation, lucid dreaming, astral projection clairaudience, clairvoyance, clairsentience, claircognizant, or clairolfaction for their dissertation. Graduates with this degree might use their expertise to help others or themselves interpret dreams for spiritual growth; receive intuitive messages or guidance from spirit; channel inspiration for sermons, books, and other creative endeavors; connect with transitioned souls to bring peace or lessen grief; or understand reincarnation, near-death experiences, and karma.

Ph.D. Specializing in Metaphysical Science:

Metaphysical science explores reality beyond what physics currently acknowledges and uses the knowledge gained to benefit life on earth, both individually and collectively. By its very nature, metaphysical science covers a wide range of subjects, such as yoga, astrology, polarity, karma, spiritual healing, tarot, graphoanalysis, quantum field, vibrational energy, and more. Although the range is wide, the basic denominator is the search for truth, purpose, and meaning in life, which cannot be isolated from basic spiritual questions. There are numerous career opportunities in this all-encompassing field of metaphysics, including teaching, spiritual counseling, life coaching, healing, ministry, and professional speaking, to name a few. This program is designed for students wishing to write books, teach, or minister in any metaphysical capacity in which they are called.

Ph.D. Specializing in Mystical Research:

This degree is appropriate for someone who wants to specialize in experimentation and research into mystical, transcendent consciousness as a means to higher spiritual truth and union with God, or Universal Consciousness. Research in this field usually centers on a practice or practices intended to nurture those experiences or awareness, such as mystical meditation or yoga. Mystical research can encompass such topics as Kabala, Sufism, Vedanta, Hinduism, Christian mysticism, Shamanism, and others. A dissertation written for this degree demonstrates how certain metaphysical practices enabled mystics of various faiths and philosophies to reach states of Universal Consciousness, awakening in them mystical abilities and knowingness. Individuals dedicated to mysticism naturally desire to help others through spiritual healing, teaching others about mystical union through seminars or books, or advocating for love, peace, and oneness. A guided, mystically oriented meditation MP3 or MP4 file must be submitted with the dissertation to earn this degree.

Ph.D. Specializing in Pastoral Counseling Psychology:

In choosing this degree, the student will discuss the work of caring for, understanding, and exploring how human beings function as individuals, in families, in small groups, and in the greater community, and how employing metaphysical practices and spiritual principles can help alleviate social and familial disfunction, as well as restore relationships with family, coworkers, and society. The student will explore what psychological, behavioral, and social science research have to say regarding pastoral concerns. Graduates with this degree bring the transforming power of God, Universal Consciousness, Divine Creator, or whatever one prefers to call it into the lives of those seeking help for addiction, PTSD, marital or familial challenges, grief, emotional issues, financial hardship, and more. Important Note: The awarding of this degree does not give one the right to practice as a psychologist. This degree signifies a person with ministerial standing having studied the psychology of pastoral counseling.

Ph.D. Specializing in Spiritual Healing:

The channeling of healing energy, or prana, from its spiritual source to someone requesting it is called spiritual healing. The healing energy comes through the healer from a higher source––Universal Consciousness, Infinite Universal Energy Source, or God––and not directly from the healer. Methods of healing can include spiritual mind healing, absent healing, passing over of the hands, and more. Note: metaphysical treatments are not in conflict with medical treatment, which can help prepare the body for healing while metaphysical treatments direct Universal Consciousness to do the actual healing.

Ph.D. Specializing in Transpersonal Counseling:

Transpersonal counseling is concerned with the study of humanity’s highest potential, attempting to describe and to integrate spiritual experience within modern psychological theory. Transpersonal counselors use metaphysical techniques, such as archetype identification, shadow work, tapping into the collective unconscious, transpersonal symbols, and so forth, to help individuals transcend to a higher personal and spiritual level. This is generally done on a one-on-one basis. Studies should include analytical psychology based on Carl Jung’s work, archetypal psychology of James Hillman, spiritual psychology of Robert Sardello, psycho-synthesis founded by Roberto Assagioli, and/or the theories of Abraham Maslow, Stanislav Grof, and others. The focus of trans-personal counseling is the transpersonal, self-transcendent, or spiritual aspects of the human experience.

Ph.D. Specializing in Transpersonal Ecology:

From a metaphysical perspective, transpersonal ecology is concerned with the fundamental energetic and spiritual connection of all organisms to each other and the environment. Not one of God’s creations has more value than another or has more rights to the fruits of this Earth than another. Humankind must learn to live in harmony with respect and concern for the symbiotic relationship of all living things and Mother Earth, which so graciously supports them. To realize this spiritual truth of ultimate oneness, one must transcend the boundaries of the egoic self and live centered in love for all of creation. This nurtures a positive, energetic bond between themselves and the environment, opening wavelengths of unspoken communications, resulting in a healthier Earth and more joyful, peaceful, and prosperous life for all who inhabit it. This degree is ideal for advocates for spirituality and the environment who want to raise awareness of this vital matter, speak on or write books on the subject, and improve life as most currently know it.

The Theocentric Psychology Program coursework evolved from the Pastoral Counseling Psychology Program and was first offered to our graduates as an additional Doctorate on September 10, 2010.

Theocentric Psychology, as developed by Dr. Masters, founder of the IMM University System, focuses on awakening to the innate potentials for benefiting a person’s life by focusing on Universal Presence or God at the center or nucleus of consciousness within oneself. It is not a practice of, nor seeks to replace, behavioral, clinical psychology or psychiatry dealing with mental illness or acute dysfunction. Instead, Theocentric Psychology seeks to greatly enhance or add to the lives of those who are relatively well adjusted but intuitively know they have a greater potential within themselves to bring forth and live more fulfilling lives. This could be in occupational or career pursuits, creativity and the arts, athletics, love within one’s life, as well as the God-Presence benefits of inner peace and happiness that is lasting. A Theocentric Psychology doctoral degree best serves those whose focus is on the value of attaining enlightenment and/or the application of the KNOWINGNESS that enlightenment brings to all major areas of one’s life.

For detailed information on the Theocentric Psychology program, click here.

View the curriculum here.

Course material includes 15 lecture videos, 30 instructional daily “Improve Your Life” audios, and 121 lesson modules. For additional information, a sample lecture, degree requirements, tuition, and enrollment, visit: https://universityofsedona.com/theocentric-psychology-faqs/

Two Ways to Enroll in the Doctor of Theocentric Psychology:

Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D. Specializing in Relationship Dynamics

Topics presented include: creative loving, psychically attracting love, finding real love in a neurotic world, healing love relationships, sexuality as a means to spiritual enhancement, improving your love karma, your love power, giving and receiving unconditional love, and many more! 

Click on “Finding Love in a Neurotic World” to listen to a 41-minute sample lecture.

Two Ways to Enroll for the Ph.D. in Relationship Dynamics:

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Students seeking pastoral employment, looking to open their own place of worship, or planning to start a ministry or work for a mission are more successful when they select a degree that targets these goals. If you fit into this category, you would do well to consider one of the following degrees, which by their very names advertise that your degree is religious or spiritual in nature.

Doctor of Divinity, D.D.

Doctor of Divinity, D.D. The Doctor of Divinity degree is usually chosen by someone who has already established a ministry, church, or mission, or is planning to do so. A degree in divinity can be directed toward a particular religion or be metaphysical in nature. Those interested in direct research or writing about a particular aspect of ministry, such as the New Testament and early Christian studies, ethics, religion, gender, and culture from a metaphysical perspective would do well with this degree.

Specializing in Bible Interpretation:

This degree is chosen by those wishing to specialize in researching, teaching, and writing about biblical symbolism to uncover spiritual truths for spiritual reawakening and life improvement from a metaphysical or mystical perspective. To earn this degree, the student will study word definition, usage, context, historical background, logic, precedent, and inference relating to biblical interpretations. This degree is ideal for someone seeking a clergy position in a metaphysically enlightened ministry or someone wanting to start such a ministry. (See the Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., specializing in Bible Interpretation for a more philosophical and academically inclined degree.)

Specializing in Pastoral Counseling:

Pastoral counseling is a branch of counseling in which ordained ministers, rabbis, priests and other ordained persons provide spiritual or metaphysical counseling services. Pastoral counselors integrate modern psychological and metaphysical thought and method with traditional religious training. Therefore, counselors are able to address psycho-spiritual issues in addition to offering the traditional spectrum of counseling services. Pastoral counselors can work from within a particular religious denomination, across several religious denominations, or in a nondenominational setting The focus of the counseling relationship is God or Spirit centered. 

Specializing in Spiritual Healing:

The channeling of healing energy, or prana, from its spiritual source to someone requesting it is called spiritual healing. The healing energy comes through the healer from a higher source––Universal Consciousness, Infinite Universal Energy Source, or God––and not directly from the healer. Methods of healing can include spiritual mind healing, absent healing, passing over of the hands, and more. Note: metaphysical treatments are not in conflict with medical treatment, which can help prepare the body for healing while metaphysical treatments direct Universal Consciousness to do the actual healing.

Doctor of Holistic Ministry, Mh.D.

Doctor of Holistic Ministry, Mh.D. Holistic ministry serves the whole person––body, mind, and spirit––seeing everyone through God’s eyes. This ministry involves every dimension of human need. Holistic ministers empower people to live inspired lives by delivering insightful spiritual teachings that offer new perspectives and help individuals meet their full potential. This degree is usually chosen by someone who is already working in a religious or metaphysical ministry or plans to in the future.

Doctor of Ministry, D.Min.

Specializing in New Thought Ministry:

This ministry emphasizes the practical implementation of the power of thought and feeling in helping spiritual enlightenment, wholeness, health, and prosperity to emerge. New thought ministers are open-minded and support a wide range of lifestyle choices and beliefs. This degree is usually chosen by someone already working in a ministry or spiritual center open to metaphysics, or someone planning to start a New Thought ministry of their own.

Specializing in Holistic Counseling Ministry:

A holistic counseling ministry involves working with the body, mind, and spirit in a metaphysical capacity. The goal is to harmonize physical, mental, and spiritual energies, thus enabling the inner transforming power of Universal Consciousness, or God Presence, to make positive changes in a person’s life. Whatever the challenge may be, Universal Consciousness stimulates the Universal part of the person’s mind to stimulate innovative solutions and healing. This degree is usually chosen by someone who is already working in a spiritual or religious center or someone planning to start a ministry or mission. 

Specializing in Pastoral Counseling:

Pastoral counseling is a branch of counseling in which ordained ministers, rabbis, priests and other ordained individuals provide counseling services. Counselors integrate modern psychological thought and method with traditional religious training. Therefore, counselors are able to address psychospiritual issues in addition to offering the traditional spectrum of counseling services. Pastoral counselors can work from within a particular religious denomination or across several religious denominations. The focus of the counseling relationship is God or Spirit centered. This degree is usually chosen by someone who is already working in a religious or spiritual ministry or someone who plans to in the future.

Specializing in Holistic Ministry:

Holistic ministry serves the whole person––body, mind, and spirit––seeing everyone through God’s eyes. The holistic approach facilitates personal growth and connection to a higher power, leading to a deep sense of connection with the world and overall unity. We are all one with the Universe and its experience of oneness, wholeness, and completeness. Once realized, this oneness individualizes in your life as success in your personal destiny. This ministry involves every dimension of human need and is usually chosen by those already working in a religious or spiritual ministry or mission or those who would like to start one.

Doctor of Philosophy, D.Phil.

Doctor of Philosophy, D. Phil. The Doctor of Philosophy degree is designed to equip students for creative scholarship, independent research, effective teaching, and philosophical ministry. The program prepares students for teaching, specialized church ministry, scholarly writing, lectures, courses, and seminars probing life’s realities to better understand how to improve human life.

Doctor of Theology, D.Th.

Doctor of Theology, D.Th. The Doctor of Theology degree is usually chosen by someone who already has an established ministry or church. The minister does a theological study within a particular religious tradition, such as the Hebrew Bible, New or Old Testament, from a metaphysical perspective.

Note: In addition, you might consider one of the previously mentioned Ph.D. degrees such as the Ph.D. in Pastoral Counseling Psychology or the Ph.D. in Comparative Religion.

Anyone who fully embraces metaphysics and plans to serve a community of individuals who are already familiar with higher consciousness learning and alternative healing practices would do well to select one of the following degrees, which emphasize metaphysics in their titles:

Doctor of Metaphysical Science, Msc.D.

Doctor of Metaphysical Science, Msc.D. Metaphysical science explores reality beyond what physics currently acknowledges and uses the knowledge gained to benefit life on earth, both individually and collectively. By its very nature, metaphysical science covers a wide range of subjects, such as yoga, astrology, polarity, karma, spiritual healing, tarot, graphoanalysis, quantum field, vibrational energy, and more. Although the range is wide, the basic denominator is the search for truth, purpose, and meaning in life, which cannot be isolated from basic spiritual questions. There are numerous career opportunities in this all-encompassing field of metaphysics, including teaching, spiritual counseling, life coaching, healing, ministry, and professional speaking, to name a few. This program is designed for students wishing to write books, teach, or minister in any metaphysical capacity in which they are called.

Doctor of Metaphysical Counseling, Mc.D.

Doctor of Metaphysical Counseling, Mc.D. Metaphysical counseling offers insights to explain those aspects of a person that exist beyond the senses’ ability to perceive, yet may be influencing the individual’s belief system, behavior, relationships, and health. Primarily done one-on-one, this approach uses metaphysical tools, such as dream interpretation, spirituality assessment and awareness, meditation, affirmative prayer, positive thinking, and other similar methods. With a spiritual understanding of their challenges and the world in which they live, individuals can begin to make adjustments in their life for greater fulfillment. Metaphysical counselors also facilitate spiritual awakening and connection to God, Source, All that Is, the Divine, Higher Power, or whatever one chooses to call one’s innate spiritual connection.

Doctor of Metaphysical Hypnosis, Mhyp.D.

Doctor of Metaphysical Hypnosis, Mhyp.D. This degree is ideal for anyone choosing to specialize in teaching others self-hypnotic techniques as a means of reprogramming one’s mind for alignment with positive spiritual truth. Metaphysical hypnosis is an effective method of release into higher meditational consciousness. When used with visualization and affirmations, meta-physical hypnosis can reprogram the subconscious mind to create a winning mentality, eliminate bad habits, restore health and happiness, direct one toward success, tap into wisdom through Cosmic Mind telepathy, build self-esteem and self-confidence, enhance creativity, remember reincarnations, enable dream recollection, and align one’s thoughts and actions with Universal Mind. An MP3 or MP4 File of hypnotic induction for self-hypnotic conditioning must be submitted with the Doctoral Dissertation. Important Note: The awarding of this degree does not give one the legal right to practice hypnotherapy. Rather, it is suitable for a person with ministerial ordination that specializes in doing pastoral educational counseling or teaching in the spiritual uses of self-hypnotic practices.

Doctor of Metaphysical Psychology, Mpsy.D.

Doctor of Metaphysical Psychology, Mpsy.D. Metaphysical psychology refers to the particular way an individual interprets reality. It’s about discovering how thoughts, beliefs, and habits contribute to everything from general dissatisfaction with life to physical and mental illness. By integrating intuitive, Spirit-directed awareness into one’s physical life, Universal Consciousness, or God, can heal that which is holding one back or causing one to suffer. Metaphysical psychology goes deeply into cause and effect, mind versus Mind, and the importance of connecting with Spirit as one’s true source for health, peace, happiness, and prosperity. This degree is appropriate for someone wishing to specialize in educational counseling, teaching, writing, and ministry on how to apply higher metaphysical spiritual truth to improve life, love, success, and joy. Important Note: The awarding of this degree does not give one the right to practice as a psychologist. This degree signifies a person with ministerial standing having studied the psychology of metaphysically oriented pastoral counseling. 

Note: In addition, you might consider one of the previously mentioned Ph.D. degrees such as the Ph.D. in Metaphysical Counseling or the Ph.D. in Mystical Research.

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Full Doctoral Degree Program

To enroll in the full Doctoral program, which includes the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Degrees, click the button below:

Enroll with a Scholarship

Additional Doctoral Degree

For enrolled students interested in getting an additional doctorate, the fee for these degrees is $490 on a payment plan or $430 if paid in full upfront. The requirement is a submission of a dissertation with a minimum count of at least ten thousand words. Click the button below for an additional doctorate.

Enroll for an Additional Doctorate

Change of Doctoral Degree Specialty

Students may request to change their doctoral degree specialty after enrollment. This request must be in writing and is easily completed by filling out the form. To Change your Doctoral Degree click the button below.

Change Your Doctoral Degree

Continuing Education for Your Metaphysical Studies

Continue learning and growing in the metaphysical field through the University of Sedona’s Continuing Education opportunities.

You may complete and earn your Doctor of Theocentric Psychology and Ph.D. in Relationship Dynamics only after you’ve earned your regular master’s degree.

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Need help to select your degree if you are considering a metaphysical career?

Study Tools and Resources

Students have easy access to incredible resources that make obtaining their ideal metaphysical doctoral degree easier and more enjoyable than ever.

For starters, the Selecting Your Right-Fit Metaphysical Degree webinar takes you through a step-by-step process for choosing the degree that best meets your needs and goals. Plus, you will learn about the careers our graduates launched using their doctoral degrees from our Universities. We highly recommend you watch the webinar before making your degree choice. Another tool you may find useful is the Degree Specialty Assessment Questionnaire. Please watch the webinar before submitting the questionnaire.

We are always striving to make our metaphysical studies program a more informative and enjoyable experience whenever possible, so tools are frequently added to our Online Student Center to help students write their research papers. They include:

• Thesis/dissertation and presentations webinars that cover the entire process of writing a research paper including:
  • Presentation: Writing Your Thesis or Dissertation Can Change Your Life
  • Presentation: Thesis and Dissertation Topics: Help for Choosing
  • Thesis/Dissertation Webinars I and II
  • Presentation: The Easy Way to Ace Your Thesis or Dissertation with Outlining
  • Plagiarism: Avoiding it is Easy!

• Preformatted thesis and dissertation templates.
• Thesis and dissertation templates that format your paper for you.
• IMM’s private and closed Facebook group, offering support from students, graduates, and staff.
• Thesis and dissertation handbooks with complete guidelines for writing your paper.
• Sample theses and dissertations.
• Extensive recommended reading list.
• IMM Virtual Writing Assistant, offering tips on: writing a statement of purpose, easy ways to paraphrase and write in-text citations, avoiding accidental plagiarism, proofreading methods, jumpstarting creativity, how to access free books, and much more.

Faculty and administrative staff members are available by email, telephone, and website chat.
You will also have access to your own Thesis/Dissertation Advisor to help you navigate writing and researching your metaphysical research paper.