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Naturist Studies Institute Academics |
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The Naturist
Studies Institute offers a social ecology/sociology based certificate in naturist studies. The purpose of the certificate is
to give educators a theoretical background in naturism in order to
develop credentialed courses in higher education or community education.
The certificate in naturist studies is a 40 quarter hour
credit intensive study of theory, content, research methods,
praxis, and seminar residency applied to education, research, and social
policy of naturism and sustainability. It can be
completed in a minimum of 46 weeks. Moodle
distance learning course management system, lecture, powerpoint, independent research, email, chat,
praxis, and residency colloquia are methods of delivery.
We believe that education in America should be relatively free. Currently, the only cost for the program is books, transcript, and certificate fees. We recommend you shop online and find the cheapest price possible for text materials. Transcript and certificate fees are minimal and at cost. Academic volunteers from across the country who have graduated from accredited universities holding master degrees or higher mentor, advise, and teach students. Our goal is simple: to produce high quality, low cost education, and debt-free graduates who will in turn go to universities and colleges and establish naturist studies as a mainstream area of instruction. Naturist Studies Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, class, gender, age, religion or sexual orientation. Naturist Studies Institute does, however, reserve the right to dismiss any student for substandard work or for failing to cooperate with our program of instruction. This means students who are undisciplined will be terminated from the program. Academic freedom is protected. To determine if you qualify to pursue the graduate certificate in naturist studies, click on Admissions. To find out more about the program, proceed below to examine the naturist studies program. This program is not a self-paced program. It is, however, flexible. Still, even with flexibility, there are assignments due on specific dates. If you miss the residency seminar, you will not be able to graduate until it is completed. A two week summer residency colloquia is required. This seminar will be held in the Pacific Northwest. So plan your family vacation in conjunction with the seminar. Courses may be taken for undergraduate (4XX) or graduate (5XX) credit. Graduate students are required to do a research project beyond the requirements of the course. Once you register for the program, you must sequentially finish the program the first year. If you drop out and desire to resume studies, you must start over with the first course as the curriculum is subject to change. This program is currently not accredited but it is one of NSI's goals to earn accreditation. Should you desire to transfer credits from the naturist studies program to an accredited university or college, you should contact the dean of the academic department or your advisor for acceptance and transferability of credits. The following are the courses
that comprise the naturist studies certificate program. Click on the
respective syllabus for a better idea of the focus and
requirements of each required course.
NS
413/513 Social Theory of Body (5
credits) Social
theory applied to issues of the body and its freedom to include
embodiment, nudity, abortion, eroticism, play, health,
consumerism, and death. All
students are required to apply social theory of the body to naturism
through written assignments. An additional research project is
required of all graduate students. NS
423/523 Sociology of Leisure (5 credits) Social
and social psychological theories applied to leisure attitudes and
behaviors.
Specific theories relating to recreational naturism will be studied.
All students will apply social theories to recreational naturism through
written assignments. An additional project is required of all
graduate students. History
of the enclosure movement, culture of privacy, modernization, and globalization. Emphasis is on wilderness and
naturism as both a recapture
of the past and obstacle to hierarchy, domination, and privatization. The
sociologies of classical socio-environmental writers such as Aldo
Leopold, Edward Abbey,
Wendell Berry, and Joseph Sax will be studied.
All students are required to do a research paper based on the ideas
of classical socio-environmental writers and how those ideas
relate to naturism and its sustainability. Graduate students are
required to do an additional research project. Social
theory
applied to the study of naturism and sustainability. From a social
ecology perspective, the emancipation of naturism, its
environmental and sustainability implications, are viewed as a social
problem. All students are required
to do a research paper. An additional research project is required of
all graduate students. A
critical review of literature
pertaining to the body and nudity, critique of literature, study of
research design, methods, and proposal development.
Students are required to
design a research proposal. Theory
of social movements and
collective action. An examination of allied groups with naturism
such as environmentalists, gays, women, minorities, and alternative
families & lifestyles seeking emancipation are examined.
Nudity as a form of protest is evaluated. A practicum is required
by all students. An additional research and experiential project
designed and implemented by graduate students is required. NS
473/573 Teaching Body and
Environment (5 credits) NS
483/583 Residency Colliquia (5
credits) Colloquia in naturist studies. Two week residency
to be held during the summer in the Pacific Northwest. All
students are required to attend, participate, discuss and network with
other educators and researchers. Graduate students are required to plan,
research, and present some original ideas and foci with regard to issues
facing and the
future of naturist studies. This seminar will be held in the
Pacific Northwest during the summer.
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