Peace Studies 280
PEAC 280: Introduction to the Concepts, Process and Practice of Mindfullness
Prerequisites: None
Credit Hours: (3)
The purpose of the course is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of mindfulness through the study of the concepts and practices of mindfulness, and the research on mindfulness. The emphasis in the course is upon engaging in mindfulness practices. Students will explore skills and attitudes that enhance self-awareness and self-regulation, and social awareness and inter-relational mindfulness. Students will study how fostering inner peace promotes outer peace in the world. The course will offer opportunities to cultivate these skills in students’ daily lives with opportunities to apply what they learn to their academic and professional interest areas.
Note(s): Cultural or Behavioral Analysis designated course. A daylong retreat is a required component of this course.
Detailed Description of Course
This course is an interactive, collaborative learning experience that provides students with the opening to explore accessible techniques ranging from mindful awareness in sitting, walking, eating, and resting that may enhance their ability to have greater concentration, focus, and well-being. The development of self-awareness is threaded throughout the course with reflective and personal growth opportunities. The course provides an opportunity to develop and integrate a personal mindfulness practice. If practiced consistently, the results are real and very far-reaching. In the largest sense, mindfulness meditation allows you to live in harmony with the realities of the world—to embrace life's ever-changing impermanence, to live in equanimity with the inevitable ups and downs of being human, and to feel deeply connected to the whole of life. The course consists of readings, brief lectures, small group discussions, journal work, and self-observation practices in home and class settings.
In light of a mindfulness framework, students will examine how their behaviors, communications, and relationships relate to the realities and cultures of other people. They will have the opportunity to analyze how there are conflicts regarding behaviors, beliefs, and cultures. The result of class experiences, through discussion and journaling, students will describe how their background, cultures, and beliefs influence how they understand the world.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The course will consist of but not be limited to: readings, brief lectures, small group discussions, journal work, and self-observation practices in home and class settings. Learning will require mandatory attendance, active participation, critical thinking, and creativeness on the part of each student.
Student Goals and Objectives of the Course
- Students will understand how it is in human nature to not be present when thinking about their behaviors, their beliefs, their culture, the different aspects of society and the world in general.
- Students will analyze how mindfulness meditation can positively influence how they approach their beliefs and the beliefs of others, their behaviors, aspects of society and the world in general
- Students will learn about all aspects of mindfulness meditation and the mind, body, and spirit, benefits.
Through the context of behaviors, beliefs, cultures, social institutions and environments, Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to pay attention in the present moment, in a particular way, on purpose and non-judgmentally;
- Apply mindfulness skills in describing their beliefs, behaviors and attitudes in relationship to society as a whole.
- Describe the biological, psychological, social, and sociological components of stress; and the somatic elements of the stress reaction and the relaxation response;
- Critique and explain the emerging research on the effects of mindfulness practice for emotional, mental and physical well-being;
- Communicate their experiences with meditation and contemplative practices, and describe the progress of their personal practice over time;
- Describe and apply the practical skills of formal mindfulness meditation and informal mindfulness practices in their personal and interpersonal experiences.
- Analyze how an awareness of one’s self as a member of humanity helps them to conceptualize the social institutions they participate in and their environment in general;
- Explain how to cultivate positive emotions such as curiosity, gratitude, joy, kindness, compassion, equanimity, and forgiveness;
- Describe and apply practical skills of relational mindfulness that enhance effective communication for deepening relationships and for responding in challenging situations;
- Describe and apply mindfulness skills for self-compassion and self-care.
Assessment Measures
Course assessment include but are not limited to tests, class discussions, journal reflections, presentations, self-evaluation papers and other measures.
Other Course Information
A daylong retreat is a required component of this course.
Review and Approval
April 20, 2017
March 01, 2021